Cover artists

This is the place to request ZXDB corrections (add missing data or fix incorrect information)

Moderators: druellan, pavero

Post Reply
richl
Dizzy
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:17 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by richl »

I get what you mean but shouldn't there be some consistency with how he's credited to games in the sense that his "proper" name is always first? Maybe I'm wrong but if I didn't know any better then when I skim through the list of games and artists it looks like Fantasy World Dizzy and Rock Star Ate My Hamster were done by two people with really similar names rather than them actually being the same person. To be honest, the Alistair name is really just a typo that's come up at some point. My nephew put Richerd on my Xmas card because his spelling is still at the phonetic stage but it doesn't mean it's an official variant of my name! ;)

Actually, to clarify what I mean by "official", Alastair and Alistair are both proper names but I don't think anyone who was called one or the other would accept the other spelling as being the correct spelling of their name. As for my name, some people choose to spell Richard with an e but I certainly don't! :)
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Einar Saukas »

Good point. Typos shouldn't be catalogued, only intentional nicknames.

I will fix it in the next ZXDB update!
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Cover artists

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

Back to the Future (Electric Dreams) - Drew Struzan

http://coolpopsart.com/post/16888539470 ... low-artist

The site talks about the film cover, but it's just the same as the game cover.
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Cover artists

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

Inside Outing (The Edge) - Stuart Hughes

Credited in its own instructions.
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Cover artists

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

Phil Gascoine made some CRL artworks, as it's confirmed in the corresponding instructions:

Glug Glug
Handicap Golf
3D Desert Patrol
Lunar Rescue
Pandemonia
Stargazer Secrets

The next game's artworks were probably made by him, as they look similar to Gascoine's style (can't confirm as no mention of cover author in the instructions):

Caveman
Crawler
Endurance
Formula One
Grand National
Rescue
Woods of Winter
Zaraks

✓ Reviewed
diver4d
Drutt
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Feb 04, 2018 6:45 am

Re: Cover artists

Post by diver4d »

Did some similar research couple years ago about authors of original art, which was used as reference for loading screens (and not only):
https://zxart.ee/eng/graphics/tags/alfonso-azpiri/
https://zxart.ee/eng/graphics/tags/louis-royo/

they are also authors of cover art basically.
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Einar Saukas »

Both Roger Tyssiman and Roger Tissyman were mentioned in this thread.

May I assume they are the same person, and the correct spelling is Roger Tissyman?
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Cover artists

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

Yes, both are the same: Roger Tissyman is the correct name.
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Einar Saukas »

Juan F. Ramirez wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2018 11:27 pmYes, both are the same: Roger Tissyman is the correct name.
Thank you! This will be fixed in the next ZXDB update.
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Cover artists

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

Ed Dovey - Rebelstar Raiders (Red Shift, 1984).

According to the credits in the game instructions.
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
Rorthron
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1644
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:35 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Rorthron »

The Rebel Planet cover is by Alan Craddock (the same as the FF gamebook).

You list the Software Projects Manic Miner cover as by Roger Tissyman. The second Bug-Byte release (with Miner Willy in green dungarees) also looks like his style. (I'm not sure about the first Bug-Byte cover.)
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Cover artists

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

Thanks for the info.
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Einar Saukas »

Every cover artist authorship reported in this thread has been added to ZXDB. Thanks a lot to everyone here that helped to bring information about them!

The cover authors currently stored at ZXDB are listed at this link (it's the same page you get when you visit https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/ and click on "HELP!"). Look for a section called COVER ARTISTS at this page, then click on it to expand it if needed.

If you know any other author of a cover art/inlay for a specific game that is currently missing from this list, or notice any incorrect information there, please post about it here.

Moreover there's now a similar thread, except about load screen authors instead of covers, that can be found here. If anyone's willing to please help on it too, it would be extremely helpful! Thank you!!!
User avatar
Rorthron
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1644
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:35 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Rorthron »

A few more cover artists for the rest of the Spectrum Fighting Fantasy games:

Seas of Blood - Rodney Matthews
Sword of the Samurai - Peter Andrew Jones
Temple of Terror - Christos Achilleos
The Citadel of Chaos - Emmanuel
The Forest of Doom - Iain McCaig
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain - Peter Andrew Jones

✓ Reviewed
User avatar
Rorthron
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1644
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:35 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Rorthron »

BTW the SC page for Rebel Planet lists Alan Craddock as an author. He is not the author, but the cover artist. Is this an error in ZXDB or SC?

Other titles have the same problem.
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Einar Saukas »

Rorthron wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:19 amBTW the SC page for Rebel Planet lists Alan Craddock as an author. He is not the author, but the cover artist. Is this an error in ZXDB or SC?
This is not an error. He's the author of the cover art for this game. This is what the "AUTHOR" section of this page says!
User avatar
Rorthron
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1644
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:35 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Rorthron »

Einar Saukas wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:14 am
Rorthron wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:19 amBTW the SC page for Rebel Planet lists Alan Craddock as an author. He is not the author, but the cover artist. Is this an error in ZXDB or SC?
This is not an error. He's the author of the cover art for this game. This is what the "AUTHOR" section of this page says!
I am going to stick to my guns on this one. That is not what "author" means in English. "Author" only applies to written creations, including code (except in some metaphorical uses). An artist is not an author. The current presentation is wrong.
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Einar Saukas »

Rorthron wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:18 am
Einar Saukas wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:14 am This is not an error. He's the author of the cover art for this game. This is what the "AUTHOR" section of this page says!
I am going to stick to my guns on this one. That is not what "author" means in English. "Author" only applies to written creations, including code (except in some metaphorical uses). An artist is not an author. The current presentation is wrong.
According to the same logic, an artist that created a load screen but nothing else, without participating during game development, is not an author either. Are you proposing we remove their names from lists of authors?

Moreover, if we assume that "an artist is not an author", then we should remove all names except programmers. Music composers and in-game graphic designers shouldn't be listed as authors either!
User avatar
Rorthron
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1644
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:35 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Rorthron »

Einar Saukas wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:59 amAccording to the same logic, an artist that created a load screen but nothing else, without participating during game development, is not an author either. Are you proposing we remove their names from lists of authors? Moreover, if we assume that "an artist is not an author", then we should remove all names except programmers. Music composers and in-game graphic designers shouldn't be listed as authors either!
No. Graphics designers and musicians contribute to the written code. Inlay designers do not. This is a matter of English: it is wrong to characterise an inlay artist as author of a game.

Either have a separate field/label/whatever for cover artist or omit them. The current arrangement is just wrong.

(Note: I edited this post, as I realised I had misread Einar's post.)
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Einar Saukas »

I'm not sure we share the same understanding about "written code".

For the sake of argument, if it was a printed book, do you think the artist that created the illustrations appearing inside the book can be included in the list of authors? What about the artist that illustrated the book cover?
AndyC
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1388
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 5:12 am

Re: Cover artists

Post by AndyC »

From an English language perspective, no they wouldn't count as authors. A better word would perhaps be contributors.
User avatar
Rorthron
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1644
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:35 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Rorthron »

Einar Saukas wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 12:53 pm I'm not sure we share the same understanding about "written code".
Perhaps not, but that's not relevant. We are discussing the meaning and usage of the English word "author".
Einar Saukas wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 12:53 pm For the sake of argument, if it was a printed book, do you think the artist that created the illustrations appearing inside the book can be included in the list of authors? What about the artist that illustrated the book cover?
These questions perfectly illustrate your misunderstanding. The answer to both your questions is "no". An illustrator cannot be an author. They are entirely separate. In English usage "author" (writer) and
"illustrator" (graphic artist) have different meanings. To be author of a book, one has to have written the text. If, for example, someone wrote and illustrated a book, they would be described as author and illustrator, not just author.

To use "author" in the way you are is not standard English usage. You will see from dictionary definitions that "author" relates to written output (except when used metaphorically). An artist cannot be an author.

If you want to take the examples of people contributing graphics or sound to code, then a case can be made that they are authors, because the ultimate output is written code. Otherwise these also need to be excluded from the list of authors.

Perhaps "autor" is used differently in Portuguese, but in standard English "author" is not used in the way you describe.
User avatar
Rorthron
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1644
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:35 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Rorthron »

AndyC wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 1:38 pm From an English language perspective, no they wouldn't count as authors. A better word would perhaps be contributors.
It would be better still, in my opinion, to separate authors and inlay artists. "Contributors" is very vague. An author would not normally be considered a contributor. An author is more than a contributor. A contributor's role is usually quite small.
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Einar Saukas »

Rorthron wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 2:07 pm
Einar Saukas wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 12:53 pmI'm not sure we share the same understanding about "written code".
Perhaps not, but that's not relevant. We are discussing the meaning and usage of the English word "author".
If your definition of author is based on "written code", then the meaning of "written code" is very relevant for this discussion.

Rorthron wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 2:07 pm
Einar Saukas wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 12:53 pmFor the sake of argument, if it was a printed book, do you think the artist that created the illustrations appearing inside the book can be included in the list of authors? What about the artist that illustrated the book cover?
These questions perfectly illustrate your misunderstanding. The answer to both your questions is "no". An illustrator cannot be an author. They are entirely separate. In English usage "author" (writer) and
"illustrator" (graphic artist) have different meanings. To be author of a book, one has to have written the text. If, for example, someone wrote and illustrated a book, they would be described as author and illustrator, not just author.

I can assure you, Einar, that to use "author" in the way you are is not standard English usage. You will see from dictionary definitions that "author" relates to written output (except when used metaphorically). An artist cannot be an author.
Again, your argument implies everybody should be excluded from the list of authors except programmers.

Rorthron wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 2:07 pmIf you want to take the examples of people contributing graphics or sound to code, then a case can be made that they are authors, because the ultimate output is written code. Otherwise these also need to be excluded from the list of authors.
A case can also be made that, if the book illustrator designed all drawings using a computer, then the ultimate output is also written code as part of the resulting PDF.

What's the difference?

Rorthron wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 2:07 pmPerhaps "autor" is used differently in Portuguese, but in standard English "author" is not used in the way you describe.
I don't think this discussion is related to idiom at all.
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Cover artists

Post by Einar Saukas »

Rorthron wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 2:08 pm
AndyC wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2018 1:38 pm From an English language perspective, no they wouldn't count as authors. A better word would perhaps be contributors.
It would be better still, in my opinion, to separate authors and inlay artists. "Contributors" is very vague. An author would not normally be considered a contributor. An author is more than a contributor. A contributor's role is usually quite small.
If you mean a load screen artist is an author but a cover artist is not, what if the load screen was based on the cover? What if the load screen was taken from a scanned cover, with minor changes? Where do you draw the line?
Post Reply