Hand-Drawn Games Guides Kickstarter Canceled Following “Legal Trouble”

Simply because it was set to finish and withdraw cash, the Kickstarter marketing campaign for hardcover physical versions of Hand-Drawn Games Guides by Philip Summers and Dreamprism Press has been canceled. In case you missed the preliminary marketing campaign, it was basically elevating funds to publish guides that includes, because the title implies, hand-drawn artwork for video video games like The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Ninja Gaiden, and Contra. Nonetheless, on account of brewing “authorized hassle” with what’s implied to be no less than one of many holders of these IPs, the entire thing is scrapped. Previous to cancellation, the Kickstarter marketing campaign had raised $322,337 in pledges.

It’s value noting that Summers and the crew have seemingly taken all of this extremely nicely. The official messaging from the group admits that there is little recourse right here — they do not personal the rights to Zelda or something — even if the marketing campaign was extraordinarily clear that these had been at all times going to be unofficial and unauthorized. The intent, as the unique marketing campaign notes, had at all times been to fall below Truthful Use, however it will appear that no less than one in all Nintendo, Konami, or Koei Tecmo threw a wrench in issues.

Much more necessary to notice is that we haven’t but gotten all the main points so as. We determined to take down the marketing campaign to be on the protected aspect. We didn’t need to have cash change palms, THEN discover out we couldn’t print the guides or one thing drastic.

— Dreamprism Press (@dreamprismpress) September 5, 2021

Here is the replace in full from the Kickstarter campaign, proper earlier than it was formally canceled:

“Hello everybody! Welp, you simply obtained your cancelation discover. Yup, it is actual. It is executed. I made a brief publish on Twitter that I will share right here.

“It was at all times a danger.

“Tonight I pulled the plug on the Hand-Drawn Recreation Guides Kickstarter. Sure, for precisely the explanation you suppose it’s for. I had hoped that I might efficiently navigate any authorized hassle, however alas I wasn’t in a position to take action.

“Is that this factor executed for good? I don’t know that but. I’ll be discovering out within the coming days.

“What I do know is that this final month was superior. You all got here collectively in ways in which I didn’t suppose had been potential. It was a hell of a trip and it doesn’t matter what occurs I’ll at all times be thankful for it. I at all times knew this entire factor was a giant danger, however I checked out how different comparable books navigated these kinds of points and I attempted my finest to be taught from them.

“After all I’m disillusioned, however I fully perceive why this occurred. It’s okay. I’m not mad. I imply the timing is completely terrible and it will have helped if this occurred say three weeks in the past however right here we’re! Hah!

“I gained’t communicate any extra on the topic as I don’t need to muddy the waters, however hopefully there’s something I can share quickly.

“Thanks all a lot for the assist! You’re all the perfect.”

It’s value noting that digital variations of a few of these remain available from Summers online. You may try all of our previous coverage of video games in general right here.

What do you consider the Hand-Drawn Recreation Guides Kickstarter cancelling on the eve of its fruits? Are you shocked to be taught that the marketing campaign ran afoul of authorized issues? Tell us within the feedback, or be happy to succeed in out and hit me up instantly over on Twitter at @rollinbishop to speak about all issues gaming!