238: Max-Level Crafters

[Chimaera]

Max-Level Crafters

Plenty of MMOG players have dedicated a weekend to leveling up their tailoring or leatherworking skill. But how many of them are inspired to make their virtual wares a reality? Nova Barlow interviews a number of geek crafters about the hobby - and business - of crafting.

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[Gunner 51]

Interesting, but question the crafters may want to ask themselves is "Do I want to make this marketable and make money from it?"

I think there's definitely money in it, look at the Cosplayers of Japan as an example of this.

 

[GonzoGamer]

I've looked at some of the pics put up in deviantart but I've never actually bought game inspired arts/crafts.

I am glad that charges aren't often pressed for copyright infringement but maybe they suppose it's free advertising. If they were smart they would steal back the really good ideas (like Mario wrist-warmers) and manufacture it themselves.

I would really like a Katamari Roomba.
Is somebody working on that?

 

[Hertzey]

Interesting, but question the crafters may want to ask themselves is "Do I want to make this marketable and make money from it?"

I think there's definitely money in it, look at the Cosplayers of Japan as an example of this.

That is really the point of Etsy, making money off of your craft. There are entire sections devoted to cosplay, steam punk, and lolita. Jewelery, costumes, accessories, and even make up. The article only points out a small portion of the geekery on Etsy. One of my favorites is the d20 pendents and key chains.

I really need to get my crafting back on (grrr move).

 

[MasterSplinter]

When I started reading this article I tought that it was probably going to mention props or replicas from games. =/
If anyone is interested you should pay a visit to http://volpinprops.blogspot.com/
Some teaser images:

Spoiler

 

[RebekahWSD]

I've seen Jayne's hat from Serenity before, it was for sale at my local gaming shop, and my mother has given me the directions on how to knit it for when I'm not lazy.

Oh! There's also the doctor who scarf, those are a favourite to knit, even if they take awhile.

I haven't knitted any video game characters yet though...

 

[Cosplay Horatio]

My friend Angela Pilleggi makes sculptures. Some of them are from video games and tv shows. She like most talented artists make a living off these awesome drawings, figurines, and so on and so forth. I always enjoy walking through the artist alley at conventions because theirs so much talent. Of course we can find many more video game collectibles and art from local shops.

Much kudos to these max crafters indeed!

 

[Hulyen]

I love making video game craft projects! This past Christmas I made my co-workers NES controller ornaments that were true to scale. Was a pain, but super fun. I've also made myself moogle and mithra ears for costumes, random geeky jewelry (hey, what else am I going to do with a mobo from a dead pc?)and I couldn't even tell you what else offhand, heh.

Go make something, it's fun!

 

[Gunner 51]

Interesting, but question the crafters may want to ask themselves is "Do I want to make this marketable and make money from it?"

I think there's definitely money in it, look at the Cosplayers of Japan as an example of this.

That is really the point of Etsy, making money off of your craft. There are entire sections devoted to cosplay, steam punk, and lolita. Jewelery, costumes, accessories, and even make up. The article only points out a small portion of the geekery on Etsy. One of my favorites is the d20 pendents and key chains.

I really need to get my crafting back on (grrr move).

I didn't notice the d20 pendants. I'll have to go back and have a look.

 

[Chimaera]

I would really like a Katamari Roomba.
Is somebody working on that?

Hah! Someone should.

I love making video game craft projects! This past Christmas I made my co-workers NES controller ornaments that were true to scale. Was a pain, but super fun. I've also made myself moogle and mithra ears for costumes, random geeky jewelry (hey, what else am I going to do with a mobo from a dead pc?)and I couldn't even tell you what else offhand, heh.

Go make something, it's fun!

I have some random geeky jewelry too that a friend made for me. I have a bracelet that has an original n-gage game in it actually.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kythryne/139926866/in/set-1512642/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kythryne/139926879/in/set-1512642/

I'd love to see pics of your stuff!

I really need to get my crafting back on (grrr move).

Yeah it's time consuming, but you know you want to.

I have a set of 7 Pac-Man themed socks. They all feature a different character per sock pair. So much fun to mix and match.

Odd # socks, kinda jealous! Were they made or bought? Either way, cool.

 

[SonicKoala]

Hah, and people say gaming is just a mindless hobby with no redeeming qualities - just look at all the artistic creativity that video games have inspired. I also like the way Nintendo encourages things like this - it's things like these which prove that gaming (and the culture surrounding it) are far more sophisticated than the majority of people realize.

 

[Hulyen]

I have some random geeky jewelry too that a friend made for me. I have a bracelet that has an original n-gage game in it actually.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kythryne/139926866/in/set-1512642/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kythryne/139926879/in/set-1512642/

I'd love to see pics of your stuff!

Here's what I had pics of laying about within easy reach, heh.

http://www.dimestoreninja.com/crafts/digitallove.jpg
http://www.dimestoreninja.com/crafts/rememberme.jpg
http://www.dimestoreninja.com/crafts/nes.jpg
http://www.dimestoreninja.com/crafts/mit1.jpg

Bleh, I have a good four or five of those pendants made I keep forgetting to figure out how Esty works to try to sell. And yes, that's me in the last pic. Mithra power!

 

[lem_is_cool]

You usually can't go wrong with video game oriented crafting because while not everyone is a geek gamer, they're bound to know someone how is.
Took my girlfriend ages of umming and ahhing to decide wether she wanted to follow her heart and make video game stuff or doe her own designs because she was afraid of legal action against her. It's nice to know that 'usually' the worst is you take it down and that's it.
So thats why she makes stuff like this over at Etsy.

Spoiler

[http://img710.imageshack.us/i/chomp.jpg/]www.liyolabs.etsy.com [http://www.liyolabs.etsy.com]

She makes other stuff like Patrick Starfish ones too but she's heard to many horror stories of Nickelodeon being more full on with legal activity.
I guess TV/Film industry is a bit more protective.

 

[rddj623]

What a cool article. Checking the links now!

 

[Paladin Anderson]

Wooo an article about me! lol I'm one of those people on Etsy whose items generally fall under video games.

Spoiler

Generally, we don't have any problems with anyone though recently we had some Futurama stickers that Fox told us to take down. Fox went through all of Etsy and demanded the take down of everything Futurama related which is BS because many of those items fell well under the protection of fan art. But what can you do? No one in their right mind would fight Fox over a few Etsy items, and even if they did Fox would just use their money to draw out the legal proceedings until you ran out of money and defaulted. LOVE how money decides our rights.

We had some Mass Effect buttons EA told us to take down last week. Though our Dragon Age items weren't touched. They'll probably be back when Dragon Age 3 comes around.

If we put them back up, Etsy can cancel our account and we'd risk getting sued. But the copyright laws are fairly ambiguous so companies will give you several warnings before coming after you with guys in suits. Some are more aggressive than others (Disney and Fox are notorious) It's the people who ignore said warnings and continue on that are asking for trouble.