Monday, February 27, 2012

Agency vs Artist

A great example of how not to respond to a community after you have stolen images for a campaign from multiple artists with heavy backing in the community:

Blog Run by Artists' Whose Work Was Stolen by an Ad Agency for an Oil Company's Ad Materials: http://art-theft.blogspot.com/2012/02/oil-company-uses-artists-works-without.html#!/2012/02/oil-company-uses-artists-works-without.html
 
They threatened to sue the artists (ya know, the ones they stole the images from in the first place) and they tried to pull the blog down that started to try and pull the artists together that had their artwork stolen. The blog went down over the weekend and went back live late Sunday/early Monday am.

The Artists on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OilCompanyUsesArtistsWorks

Originally the artists were trying to ask for restitution from the oil company that hired the agency to work up the collateral, now that the artists understand an agency did the work they will be aiming for either both or just the agency. Not only are the artists reaching out for getting compensated for their work they are also reaching out to various media outlets and this is probably going to be a pretty big viral event for online artists within the steampunk community. Just something to keep an eye on.

Watch it unfold from the agency’s side here:
The Ad Agency on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scanpartner?sk=wall

The agency admitted to pulling images from various locations online in an e-mail to one of the artists which is now on file.
The issue was addressed in October but was never responded to by the agency. It was not until this weekend that it seems the agency has noticed anything was amiss.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Facebook Peeps! I Need Your Help!!

Get Tephra Cracked Monocle crew to dance to I'M SEXY AND I KNOW IT! https://www.facebook.com/#!/questions/371376826211210/

After smashing their kickstarter goals, they are SEXY!!

Want to help smash through their current goal too?
Check them out on Kickstater here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/257331192/tephra-the-steampunk-rpg

Make them earn every penny they have raised with this dance!!

(Even if you have not been able to donate, you can vote on the victory dance!!)


Many thanks for your help!!!

289 Backers - $16,862 pledged of $1,000 goal - 54 hours to go!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012




274 Backers

$15,907 Pledged of $1,000 Goal

3 DAYS TO GO

3 Days To Go! How far will TEPHRA go?!

267 Backers
$15,542 Pledged of $1,000 Goal
3 DAYS TO GO 



TEPHRA, The Steampunk RPG recently posted on KICKSTARTER!
What could this mean to you?
This is a chance to have your character immortalized into one of the adversaries to be included in the special edition kickstarter adversary booklet! (Well, that is just one of the super cool rewards... Read on for more!)

What rewards are there for the donation levels?

Pledge $5 or more
Our Gratitude - you'll be listed on our website as one of our donors.

Pledge $15 or more
A Thank You Card - we'll send you a thank you card as well as a little random goody (such as an adversary, news article, or lore character). We'll also list you on our website as one of our donors.

Pledge $30 or more
Tephra: Core Rulebook - you'll receive one of the first copies of the Tephra Core Rulebook and be listed as a donor on our website.

Pledge $45 or more
Tephra and a Dicebag - you'll get one of the first copies of the Tephra Core Rulebook and a hand-made dicebag (by our staff) with a few of our D12s inside. Of course, you'll also be listed as one of our donors on our website!

Pledge $70 or more
Tephra, a Dicebag, and some Adversaries - you'll get the Tephra Core Rulebook, a hand-made dicebag with some of our D12s, and a packet filled with adversaries that we've made specifically for our kickstarter backers! Need I say that you'll be listed on our website?

Pledge $100 or more
Tephra, Tephra, Tephra, Dicebag, and some Adversaries - not only are you getting the Tephra Core Rulebook, you're getting THREE of them (your players need them too!). You'll also be getting a large hand-made dicebag, several D12s, our adversaries packet, and noted on our website.

Pledge $150 or more
Become an Adversary! - Look at the $100 Reward. Not only are you getting everything there, you'll also be able to describe yourself to one of our game developers, and we will MAKE YOU (or your alternate personality) into one of the adversaries to be included in the special edition kickstarter adversary booklet.

Pledge $250 or more
Narrator's Set - You'll be getting five Tephra Core Rulebooks (one for yourself and one for each of your players). We'll include the limited edition adversary packet, a large dicebag full of D12s, character sheets, pre-made characters, and some previews of our upcoming expansions. And who knows, we might even list you as a donor on our website!

Pledge $500 or more
See the Narrator's Set for the $250 pledge? Not only are we going to give you that, we're going to hand deliver it, show you how to play, and run a game for you and a group of your choice.
LIMITED TO TEXAS RESIDENTS ONLY

February TX Steampunk Events

FEBRUARY 2012

Feb 2 – Austin, TX – First Thursday / Steampunk Stroll on South Congress
Strut Your Stuff! Meet at Big Top Candy Shop sometime around 6:00 p.m. or so. Hosted by the Texas Steampunks Ning.com Group!
http://texassteampunks.ning.com/  

Feb 3 - Dallas, TX - Gadgets & Gobstoppers: The Twisted World of Wonka
An imaginative escape into Wonka's weird world of colorful candy & curious contraptions, of tantalizing treats & ambrosial burlesque beauties galore!
$20 to tour the factory and experience the wonders of Wonka. 18 and up. Doors @ 8, Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75214.
https://www.facebook.com/events/319162668116492/

Feb 3 & 4 - Austin, TX - Steam, Rose Colored Goggles and the Flight of the Victoriana
Gnap! Theater Projects is proud to present “Steam, Rose Colored Goggles, and the Flight of The Victoriana”, an improvised steampunk miniseries. Join the crew of The Victoriana on their highflying adventures as they engage the most revelatory and exquisite of 19th century alternative universe technology. Delight in their use of the refined art of improvisational acting and mummery as they explore those portions of the world still marked terra incognita. Discover the definition of this neologism “steampunk” in a world where the sky’s the limit! Weekly Event - Every Fri & Sat @ 8:00pm (CST)
Tickets available here: http://steam.eventbrite.com/
Facebook RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/216934361721632/

Feb 4 – San Antonio, TX - Tephra: Steampunk Tabletop RPG @ Dragon's Lair
Dragon's Lair: 7959 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78229; 6p – 10p
http://www.facebook.com/Tephra.Steampunk?ref=ts

Feb 3 - 5 - Round Rock, TX - Ushicon
Wingate by Wyndham Hotel & Conference Center, $35 at the door.
Anime convention for fans 18 & up.
http://ushicon.com/

Feb 6 - Austin, TX - Tephra: Steampunk Tabletop RPG @ Dragon's Lair
Dragon's Lair: 6111 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757; 7pm - Midnight
http://www.facebook.com/Tephra.Steampunk?ref=ts

Feb 8 - Austin, TX - "Other Wednesday" Meetup @ Epoch Coffee
Hosted by the Texas Steampunks Ning.com Group
From around 6:00 'til around 10:00 pm: Epoch Coffee on North Loop, Austin
http://texassteampunks.ning.com/

Feb 9 - San Antonio, TX - Steampunk Night @ Alamo Drafthouse Park North: Sky Captain & The World of Tomorrow
Film starts at 7:30, but please arrive 45-60 minutes before for the pre-show and socializing! The San Antonio Neo-Victorian Association is ever so proud to present Steampunk Night at the Alamo Drafthouse Park North! Join us, Steampunk or not, for this magical evening of wonder and bedazzlement which we host every second Thursday of the every month with a new Steampunk visual experience!
RSVP Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/100270636768159/

Feb 11 & 12 - Irving, TX - Sci-Fi Expo
Quite a few Firefly cast members will be there along with steampunk vendors! Stop by and say hello!
http://www.scifiexpo.com/DCC/sfx.html

Feb 11 – San Antonio, TX - Tephra: Steampunk Tabletop RPG @ Dragon's Lair
Dragon's Lair: 7959 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78229; 6p – 10p
http://www.facebook.com/Tephra.Steampunk?ref=ts

Feb 13 - Austin, TX - Tephra: Steampunk Tabletop RPG @ Dragon's Lair
Dragon's Lair: 6111 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757; 7pm - Midnight
http://www.facebook.com/Tephra.Steampunk?ref=ts

Feb 17-19 - Kingsville, TX - GATOCon
Texas A&M University Kingsville
GATOCon is the first anime and game convention hosted by Texas A&M University-Kingsville and its organizations, Gamerz Elite and Otaku Anime Club.
http://gatocon.com/

Feb 18 - Austin, TX - Austin Steam Train: Murder at the Masked Ball
It's Depression Era Austin but the fabulously wealthy Phillip Edward Greystone still hosts the social event of the Winter Season. But is evil lurking behind the mask of one of his guests? Does someone want to do in Phillip? Evening includes box dinner and a whodunit mystery with the Capital City Mystery Players. Guests ages 17 and older only please!
http://www.austinsteamtrain.org/rides.php#maskedball

Feb 18 – San Antonio, TX - Tephra: Steampunk Tabletop RPG @ Dragon's Lair
Dragon's Lair: 7959 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78229; 6p – 10p
http://www.facebook.com/Tephra.Steampunk?ref=ts

Feb 18 - Denton, TX - Mini A-Kon
Denton Public Library North Branch
Come join us for another Mini A-Kon event as we partner with the Denton Public Library North Branch for an exciting day of anime, manga, and cosplay!
http://a-kon.com/bm/latest-news/mini-a-kon-february-18-2012.shtml

Feb 20 - Austin, TX - Tephra: Steampunk Tabletop RPG @ Dragon's Lair
Dragon's Lair: 6111 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757; 7pm - Midnight
http://www.facebook.com/Tephra.Steampunk?ref=ts

Feb 21 - Austin, TX - Beer, Brass & BS, Hosted by The Mysterium
Hosted by The Mysterium, Austin's only Steampunk Shop, at Opal Divine's at Penn Field: 7:00pm-til 10:30ish. What will the topic be this time around? Find details at The Mysterium on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Mysterium/102513063154435

Feb 22 - Austin, TX - "Other Wednesday" Meetup @ Epoch Coffee
Hosted by the Texas Steampunks Ning.com Group
From around 6:00 'til around 10:00 pm: Epoch Coffee on North Loop, Austin
http://texassteampunks.ning.com/

Feb 25 - Houston, TX - Twisted Gears
Twisted Gears is a one day mini convention for both Steampunkers and anyone new or is interested in the world of Steampunk. There will be many workshops and panels such as "A Gentleman's Duel," where one can learn the official rules of said duels during the era, and "Cane Martial Arts" such as the one shown in the Sherlock Holmes movie.
Where: University of Houston's (Main Campus) University Center
Address: 4800 Calhoun Road Houston, TX 77004-2693
When: February 25, 2012, 1 PM to 1 AM (You are welcome to come earlier)
http://twistedgears.weebly.com/index.html  

Feb 25 – San Antonio, TX - Tephra: Steampunk Tabletop RPG @ Dragon's Lair
Dragon's Lair: 7959 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78229; 6p – 10p
http://www.facebook.com/Tephra.Steampunk?ref=ts

Feb 27 - Austin, TX - Tephra: Steampunk Tabletop RPG @ Dragon's Lair
Dragon's Lair: 6111 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757; 7pm - Midnight
http://www.facebook.com/Tephra.Steampunk?ref=ts