Norn Saber Online: Legendary Taiwanese Plagiarism
- Categories: Games, News
- Date: Jan 16, 2009 10:17 JST
- Tags: Comparison, Copyright, Eroge, Made in China, MMORPG, Plagiarism, Taiwan
Taiwanese anime fans have uncovered plagiarism of truly staggering proportions in the Chinese language MMORPG “女神ONLINE ～NORN SABER ONLINE～”, by “developer” Chinese Gamer International. It looks as though just about every single element of the game, from CG to sprites, and even TV commercials, is tainted with plagiarism.
Sadly, it seems the uniquely Chinese approach to copyright we have come to be familiar with is not restricted to the mainland…
In terms of the breadth and brazenness of its plagiarism, Norn Saber Online is undoubtedly in a class of its own:
(Originals are on the right)
Even Minamike is not sacred…
The actual game:
Even their opening comes from another title:
Original:
Norn edition:
Is there anything they won’t copy? No, because even their advertising is copied:
From a deodourant ad:
The Norn effect:
Will anything be done about this most egregious abuse of the original works, or is Taiwan merely on a similar footing to China after all? Though at least Taiwanese anime fans have exposed this debacle…
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Being chinese myself, I feel shameful. The biggest problem with Chinese is that they are greedy and only think of themselves, thus they only see the money in front of them, and easiest way is to copy. That's why when I am grown up, I will try my best to make China's own first brand name (of anything). Even among my friends (all Chinese of course), I am pretty much the only few creative thinker. The others might be smart, but they can't think innovatively nor enjoy innovative things. They copy what others enjoy. Hope this would change (hopefully I would be the one >: D)
Good for you.
Changed: The biggest problem with _people_ is that they are greedy and only think of themselves, thus they only see the money in front of them, and easiest way is to copy.
Ouch.......
Some of these images I'm sort of OK with, when not much beyond the pose is copied. A number of them are even cliché poses you'll find in dozens of eroge - I doubt they're all ripping off each other's works. For example, there's only so many camera angles to show the framed photograph someone is looking at while holding it.
Also, is dat sum May-Be SOFT in the top right of image #1?
This just turned bland game into horribly hilarious remarkable game.
If they get away with this, the reputation and word of mouth they'll get will be incredible. Sales will soar.
I was expecting that this kind of plagiarism would come from China but I'm surprised that it came from Taiwan
Lol, 100% plagiarism is the way to go. Epic fail, but epic lulz.
Wow, they didn't even TRY to hide it did they??
who cares?
let the anime fan be an anime fan
To think China was once a great nation, pioneer in everything.
Now just ... this.
Stop buying shit from them already, people!
To be fair, Japan did the same sort of thing for a while...
If I remember correctly, Japan had spies in some industries (automobile industry etc) in the US to copy their work methods to speed up their industrial revolution.
But they still made their own cars, right? They didn't just copy the designs and put their logo on it.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Or did you refer to something else, maybe?
Yeah heard that from a Japanese buddy too. Well Japan had it's fair share on copying and plagerising in it's past. Especially copying quite a bit from China and then making it their own, don't know how much Korea had an involvement. But I read that the Shinto Shrines designs were taken from Korea, or I think part of it's religious belief. Can't quite remember on that part.
Hard to say what isn't copied/imitated or plagerised nowadays, heck even music. Not that I can have a say in legalities with MP3's and the like. Since half the blooming world has copied Chinese, Egyptions, Greeks or even Babylonians inventions. Hell look at the so called English, it's pretty much a 'Mongrel Race' almost eveything is copied or made their own from all over Europe. Then again we all apparently originated from Africa(?).
Before it caught up to the west, Japan played plenty of dirty tricks to ensure it could catch up quickly, as China does now - for example, not so long ago it was impossible for non-Japanese companies to set up shop in Japan without a "partnership" with a local company, and there were laws which essentially made non-Japanese patents fair game to Japanese companies.
Naturally, as they got richer they had to stop this sort of thing. Probably China will follow suit, eventually.
Maybe they thought, that if they make it so obviously, everyone will think, that it can't be plagiarism because it's just TOO obviously.
This would be a big rip off to the original artist who created it. They may face some copyrighted issue here with Japan.
I don't think the japan can touch them unless there's a pact between taiwan and japan...
giving what I am seeing that they produce in their educational institutions, I really wouldnt be surprised about the amount of plagiarism flying around...most students (and some faculty in fact) are without the knowledge of what defines lawful use of materials.
Hate to admit the fact that I am from that island
...
...
...
Damn, someone must really suck at imagining different ways to draw angles and perspectives...
Epic indeed...
Hey, Taiwan might consider having their own Anime Industry with that kind of art, not bad.
From what I've gathered, it's common for this kind of thing to occur; the plagiarism I mean. You see, so long as the "image" is different, you're somehow able to "bypass" copyright laws. Obviously as we see in these posted images, they ARE ripoffs. I don't appreciate this fact one little bit; but the games themselves at least are tolerable, (If you can get past the heavy misuse of the English language, God-awful customer support, their lust for US Dollars, (Or other currencies), AND the way they just plain run the games....) All in all, it's not so bad.
If anything, these MMOs do their job right: Making us laugh at all the "replicated" material. Oh, and leveling up. That's fun.
So, to the Anonymous of 2-20-2011, think a tad more carefully before you troll another user simply posting the facts.
Signed, Mr. Zard
so if they have the same pose its plagiarism? lol your stupid
Those who can, create. Those who can't, make shoddy replicas.
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7748/talesm.jpg
Console RPGs aren't spared either.
Blurry, but that's what I get for screencapping youtube videos.
Those are an awful lot of event CGs for an online game. Of radically different activities, even. How do you play this game, anyway?
Moi chinese, moi hate chinese.
When I saw Gunslinger Girls got harrassed there, a vein popped.
Moi sad at myself being chinese...
You know, whoever made that game should have ate a FALCON PUNCH, then Chuck Norris' and Kamen Rider Kabuto's Rider Kicks (the Dreaded Roundhouse)!
*facepalm*
That's just so "NetGame Crisis Saga" for them, in the name of cash, they'll pirate.
Lol, Wonderland Online.. There's no reason to wonder why the CGs look exactly like Japanese Dating sim..
Haha....its funny. Although its probably going to sound like a excuse. Its really not that bad. The company that make this aren't some big shot companies. Online game is a lot more popular in Taiwan and it cost like $3 around per month. With adjustment to US living standard that still around $6-7. So the company really don't have much resource available to them to produce original work.
Anyway for those with Strong hate for Taiwanese/Chinese. consider that your motherboard/RAM/Graphic Card/PS2 and PS3 parts and lots of semi-conductors are made there. Why don't you try buying US made?
because, they are failing to be innovative
whenever a company starts a new project, it is usually when they see a theme sell successfully elsewhere. So by the time the products roll out, there is no more pie to go around. Endless cycle until the company decides to start doing MMOs that provide extra service for cash to keep themselves afloat
There is no doubt that The Zwei Worter is copied. The rest I am not totally sure. At least the ones on the left seem more fappable.
The Advertisement is not copied though.
Plagiarism.. Plagiarism.... A most disgraceful part in the world.
Lol. Wow. I'm just amazed. I saw the first comparison image earlier today, and that's still the most obvious + the opening. I know I myself am not particularly creative... but.. must you completely copy the work of others like that? D:
This is so kick ass lol
No it isnt. Would like to hear u say that if you were the original artist...
lol busted XD
I lol'd at how much they copy other's work :D
Not creative is one thing cuz not everyone has creative minds, but copying almost all scenes from other sources? man, that's epic
This is just absolutely pathetic. Even worse than Aurora Blade. Well, maybe not... But either way, China just plagiarizes way too much. -_-;;
It's good that know that even I, someone who has no artistic talent, can create great pieces as long as I move to Taiwan and rip off people who actually have talent.
I for one welcome our plagiarizing overlords.
I was ok with it until I saw the minami-ke rip.
*RAGES*
This is just lazy....
I mean... straight out plagiarism!
Play this game, get girlfriend. \o/
Correction:
Play this game, get a harem!
... I am speechless. Copying from 10+ VN/anime titles. I'd like to see when the companies sue the, ahem, "game developers".
The Gundam Seed copy was hilarious, though. Apparently, Abort = About?
If you copy from enough sources, would that make it research? :-) At least they're not as gruesomely bad at it as those Chinese who did that Shinkai knock-off.
This is so sad that it's awesome.
Strangely awesome and strangely DO WANT to see the demo.
What I really wonder is that if this is an online game (MMO?), then why the hell do they have character introductions in the opening?
I agree. Massively multiplayer online dating of the same seven characters is unlikely to sell well.
"I'm sorry, Takaya-kun. Mizuhara-kun has been online all week getting me presents and lavishing attention upon me without breaks for sleep or food, so I like him more than you."
And I don't know why it became a reply to you...
i second you onso..so awesome
this is. . . just wrong man. . . .
even the op is the same. . ..
*facepalm*
i wonder if the country of china plagiaris themself from some other country on other side of dimension? ;p
"Tonight on the 8 o'clock news: After returning from Xen, Gordon Freeman reported an eerie similarity of the alternate dimension to the People's Republic of China."
About the large battleship, Is it some Albion ? You might find this helpful http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/index.htm
Yep, it does look like Albion, just with different colours.
That's the Gray Phantom, not the Albion. You both fail.
http://mahq.net/mecha/gundam/0080/pegasus.htm
My bad, this link http://mahq.net/mecha/gundam/0083/pegasus.htm
Yeah, this just reminds me of that other Chinese MMORPG that I saw a while ago. It just copied all the character and monster designs for RO.
but I don't think I've ever seen plagiarism at this level, lol.
This is just too much LOL, I mean really, wow, um...
Yeah I have no words except they have some balls to do this. Even if it's just the easy way out.
It's because they have no ball that they don't make their own character
oh wait, not just character but also character pose, opening, and background too?
plagiarism is sure enter its warp hole
Nah, they got balls, because it takes a whole different kind of person to plagiarize something to that extent, and should know that it may very well incur legal action. I use "balls" in the same manner one would say "they have some nerve to do something like this" or gall. Doesn't mean I respect them for lack of brains and imagination though I know it sounds like I am. Then again, I don't know the legal affairs of Taiwan, so I really can't say that they would be in any trouble over this. Yes, in creating something original you should take pride in it, few things I have done I do take ~some~ pride in.
I know the using of "balls" actually
but, yeah to make your own something you must have creativity and take pride in it
plagiarism like this not in any way impressed me
especially the opening, it's really put me in rage
I have nothing against using existing material freely but this is going way overboard. Is there anything in that game that is actually original? Like the game system or something...unless there is, no one would have a reason to actually play it. However if they do have an outstandingly great and new game system, but no resources for making original images, then it is somewhat acceptable (Though why are such pictures even needed in an mmorpg anyway? If they had a good system, they wouldn't need such extras to get players...)
I am the leg of my boot.
Ctrl+C is my body and
Ctrl+V is my blood.
I have violated over a thousand copyrights.
Unknown to decency,
Nor known to shame.
Have withstood lawsuits to steal many artworks.
Yet, these hands will never pay for anything.
So as I pirate, UNLIMITED RIPOFF WORKS
Ok THIS is sig worry don't worry i do my best to always give credit thus shall your name be known across the boards i frequent.
Do you have enough copyrights, King of License?
COMMENT OF THE YEAR!!!
LOL hard
No originality and admit it or not they're running out of ideas.
Well... in China the concept of intellectual property, trademarks, and copyright doesn't exist. Neither does the whole concept of plagiarism.
Add to the fact that Chinese people are an ignorant bunch and more likely to claim that plagiarism occurred the other way around. I wish someone would give these mainlanders a taste of their own medicine.
Boo stinky mainlanders! HKers and Taiwanese fags rule!
... it is very sad because it occurred to me that it seems as if this game originated in Taiwan... the text is traditional, and the "shop" has items "exclusive to Taiwan territories"...
Makes me feel ashamed to be Taiwanese. No, I take that back; they should be ashamed, not me. Damn it, keep these kind of cheap acts in the mainland.
With that aside, holy crap @ the amount they copied Oo... I mean, the game isn't even related to those CGs is it?... and damn, the OP looks like it's made by amateurs... and the songs even sound somewhat similar. That's just sad. If they had the creativity to make a freaking game, they should at least have the integrity to finish off what they did and do some proper artwork for the other stuff.
I was just going to ask, is this from China or Taiwan? I would expect something like this to come from China, but Taiwan?
Leaving aside the title of the article, it is indeed Taiwanese, though the company also has HK operations.
Found another version of the OP/PV.
http://gnn.gamer.com.tw/4/31504.html
Notice the subtle difference. No flying ships in the air. No Hello Kitty on the bed. Yes.
Btw, it's confirmed that it is Taiwanese... just checked it up; two Taiwan servers (Venus and Apollo) and one Hong Kong server (Muse). Also, this game apparently had a Japanese for their voice (even though the text is Traditional Chinese)... just checked on their official website.
Yes the mainland would like to bomb the fuck out of you pansies too.
Yah, ok, we are the pansies... with the freedom of speech, better living conditions, democracry, and many other goodies.
You're just jealous.
what do you mean by 'keep these kind of cheap acts in the mainland'? shame on you. it's nothing to do with mainland right?
I must admit I thought this sort of thing didn't happen in Taiwan, though it would hardly be news in China.
It is unfortunate.
They do say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery...
I don't know if there's any connection, but the cg style, sprites, and even the damage graphics and the command/info bars for health are completely the same to a game I played called Wonderland Online. If this is the same people...this has literally less than 1% of originality.
Those are from WL chinese version. IGG is the older version.
WL is a actually a japanese game thought.
Ouch... can't understand stuff like this...
I mean, is there a Guiness Book entry for "most plagiarisms in one game"?
Because the art is not completely bad, and given the ammount of different stuff they got to copy, why didn't they just do something original?
Kinda hard to understand...
LOL, pegasus class ship
Oh my god, this is just....shyt.
I had to look back at the article to see which ones were the originals... On some of these, the copied art is way better than the source. Doh!
Now I understand even more why ppl hate the chinese. Simple jerks who provide low quality products and now it seems like Plagiarism is the next fad for them.
Goddamn it, that's plagiarism at its finest. Noone could do this much shameless copying in one's lifetime! Hope they get sued to oblivion.
All hail Japan!
Considering blatant copies of clothing, media, songs... even automobiles...
Something of this level was bound to happen.
Considering the effort they put into cloning all those popular animes I think the ripping was intentional. By taking the effort to rip off popular products instead of designing their own (which as someone pointed out, would have taken less effort) they manage to draw in 'fans' from many more sources instead of just fading into obscurity with an original design.
i think the word "inspiration" to them means to copy every damn thing and call it your own. /Facepalm
I wouldn't mind if the Chinese govt copies the governance of the West, if only they'd take copying to that level lol
A VN that blends Gundam and Minami-ke? Why not?
It might just work!
BTW, lolpegasus.