the term 'rip-off'

[MrBadExample]

So, I'm browsing the web the other day, and I came across some completely random persons review of Sacred.

I'll spare you the details of the hurtful things said, save that the conclusion was that Sacred (among other RPGs) was a 'Diablo rip-off'.

People declaring a 'rip-off' is one of my pet peeves ...

On the plus side, I also saw this clueless noob call 'World of Warcraft' a 'Diablo rip-off'. This was one of the funniest things I have ever seen; I laughed so hard that my glasses fell off my face and I started to see stars.

Once I regained my composure, I got thinking. (Warning: tangent)
I have seen 'rip-off' used many other places on the net. I have seen many games called a 'Diablo rip-off' (Sacred, WoW, Divine Divinity, Morrowwind/Oblivion, Baldurs Gate & Neverwinter Nights, etc.) and each time I become enraged. But this is not limited to RPGs. I have seen many cyberpunk movies declared 'Matrix rip-offs'. I have seen 'House of Wax' (the recent remake) declared an 'Exorcist rip-off'. I have seen horrors.

I am hereby expressing my outrage. Every time there is a popular game/book/movie/etc. made, there is always someone out there who declares the rest of the genre to be a 'rip-off'. I think there should be a standard rule. Something along these lines
"You are only allowed to post your opinion of 'rip-off' if you got a positive score on your IQ test"
That ought to eliminate all this whining.


I feel better now.
I would like to hereby apologize to anyone who was offended by this post (although if you were offended, you probably left by this point), I just get so sick of things being a 'rip-off' just because they are similar to something that is popular.

I will be good now (and this time, I mean it )

[AREA666]

You know you were making a good point until I realized you are ripping me off here. I have made rants before you posted this rant so you are CLEARLY ripping me off.

Anyway though, I do not mind the term if the person using it knows what they are doing like you said. If you want to say a game is a Diablo rip off, although clone would be a better term, then it should be a similar kind of game. I will use Baldurs Gate as my example for this. If a review wants to say one game is a rip off of the other then the first thing that should be done is the games should be similar. Diablo is to me a far more simple straigh foward kind of game then the BG series. One is all kill with little story and the other is all story with little kill. Yes they may both be and RPG but they are not even similar enough to compare, not even to mention that one uses D&D rules, and I assume Diablo just uses their own like Sacred does. Even then it can be said that Diablo is a D&D "rip off" since D&D is far older, and back further D&D has roots in Tolkien novels.

Atleast comparing Diablo to Sacred is a closer match, but even then Sacred has many things Diablo did not do and I would not be suprised to see a future Diablo game "rip off" some Sacred ideas, or even S2 for that matter since Diablo 3 is taking so long to be made.

Lastly I would laugh too at whomever made that Diablo WoW comment.

[MrBadExample]

Really? You did a rant like that?

Well, then I apologize for ripping off your rant.
As a small effort to make amends, go into the submission board under the post I started called 'look what i did'. Hopefully you will be pleased with what you see.



BTW, I presume your accusation of ripping you off was your idea of sarcastic humour. (It's so hard to be sure when you can't hear tone of voice)
If it is, that's fine by me. If it's not, I really do mean that apology.

(The previous paragraph, for the record, is my idea of sarcastic humour. I really must stop posting when I've been up more than 20 hours straight.)

[AREA666]

hah, yeah I was being stupid since obviously I have not made a post close to yours, but the general idea of ranting I have done, so I was making an analogy to you ripping me off on a Diablo to Baldurs Gate like way.

[Night Ω Wolfe]

ROFLOL!!! You crack me up Zero! I just love sarcastic humor and now we have a whole little group of people with that sense of humor yippee :Laugh:

And for the record I sooo agree with you, I get so ticked when I hear all those rip-off comments too. So if anyone DOES get offended well tough this is my forum and I agree so suck it up hehe. :Wink:

[Ari’laftia]

I think the only reason they are calling it a rip off cause they cant admit it to themselves they like it and want to play it...
Just let Sacred In...Become one with the grandness that is Sacred hehehe

[Night Ω Wolfe]

Hahaha that is soooo true! :Tongue:

[MrBadExample]

Hey! I contributed something to the website and a woman laughed at one of my jokes! Things are looking up for Zero Hunter!


Seriously, it is nice to know I'm not alone in my outrage.

As an afterthought, I decided it's actually a good thing such people exist. After all, if the universe didn't produce the kinds of people who need a recipe to make toast, I would have no one to make fun of or look down upon.

And just in case I offended someone, I only really look down on people who are idiots because they don't bother to think things through or research ahead of time (in other words, the people who are idiots out of some form of laziness I have yet to give name to), and not people who are born with an impairment. People who are born with a handicap can't really help it. On the other hand, people who are idiots because they simply don't bother trying can help it.

Of course, I tend to be in not-the-best physical shape because I rarely bother to work out, so maybe I shouldn't throw stones in case my house turns out to be made of glass.

[Night Ω Wolfe]

Haha I am not even going there LOL :LipSealed:

Well if you hate the idiots read more of Alucard's forum that is his biggest frustration in life because they flock to him like a moth to a light.

[Ari’laftia]

Zero,
Your worrying a bit too much about offending, Its absolutely OK to have an opinion, Especially here !

[Night Ω Wolfe]

Yeah we NEVER judge and mostly we will agree with you anyway haha!

[MrBadExample]

Oh boy, a free hand to say whatever I want! This will be fun! ;D


And for the record, I'm Canadian, it's in my nature to worry about offending.
I think Canadian comedian Glen Foster said it best when he said "Well, I'm not personally offended, but someone out there might be. So as a Canadian, I really don't think I should laugh at that."

[Night Ω Wolfe]

Oh your a freakin' Hoser that sooo explains it!! One of my best buds is our "token hoser". There now I just gave you the right to be offensive LOL. And I am not a bigot for anyone that might think that reading this. I think we all put waaaay to much power into words by making them not "politically correct" or "offensive" so I try to take at least some of the power out of them by using them with love haha. :Wink:


Ohhh and bring it on Zero! Show us what ya got in that mind of yours....

[AREA666]

Yes, with Alucard not posting a lot we all need to pull together to fill his void.

[MrBadExample]

Wow, I think you are the first person ever to call me a Hoser. Congratulations (I think )

Yes, I am Canadian. I recently confirmed this over new years on a trip to New York. I was riding on the subway when someone stepped on my toes, at which point I proved to myself that I am Canadian by apologizing to them (Canadian reflex action).

I find it's quite nice to live in a country where every murder is reported (a good half the time on the front page). Where many citizens have no problems leaving their doors unlocked at night (I never do that myself). Where a gun registry program is not really necessary (although the last government did waste billions trying anyway). Where there are five major political parties (just don't point out that the name of one party 'progressive conservative' is, technically, an oxymoron; I drew a lot of heat for that).

As for what is in my mind, you are probably better off not knowing. Somewhere in there is something that made me apply to work tech-support. Seeing as how I was willingly assisting techno-peons (who never really seemed to get the 'CD tray is not a coffee cup holder' concept), I am quite obviously a few transistors short of a processor. Best not to pry too far, lest you be stricken too.