So heres the deal. Proton charging had posted a link maybe a month back to an artist who was starting to get a tobins spirit guide made for cereal geek. But he went so far in depth with it that a few pages in a cereal geek issue just aren't enough for him or us. Now I don't have any connections, or even know who to email about this. But if anyone on this board knows who he can send this to, or any helpful info at all please let me or him know. If you're in doubt of it being worth it go to his deviant art page below and you will change your mind fast, he has put a lot of work into this and I am seriously in awe of what he has come up with. Lets see what we can do with this, cause it will be better than any GB book I've seen so far.

Check it out:

http://tristjones.deviantart.com/

we NEED to get this published, who wouldn't want a tobins spirit guide on their coffee table?

Have you actually talked to him about this before posting this topic?

Kingpin;130884
Have you actually talked to him about this before posting this topic?

Of course I have, why else would I be posting? He wants it published, just needs the hook up. He's been doing TMNT for a while now.

I only asked as I can believe there might be someone on the net who doesn't get how the publishing industry works, and would suggest trying to get it printed.

The first problem I can see straightaway, is the legal standpoint. Whilst slightly stylised, they're unmistakably the characters from The Real Ghostbusters, Extreme Ghostbusters and the movies… and the first problem I can imagine happening is a Cease and Decist being issued because Sony might believe Tristan would be benefitting financially from the book, using copyrighted material.

They once issued a C&D to a community member who had mocked up a cover for a book about the props he was never seriously considering publishing. As they're pretty anal about who can profit off of Ghostbusters, I'd be gravely concerned about publishing a Spirit Guide using this art, without having the explicit permission from Sony.

The corporation may have given the team a greenlight for publishing them in Cereal:Geek, but they'd probably have to start all over again in seeking permission to get the stuff printed in a book.


And the second issue, would be the cost of getting such a book printed. Would it be hardcover or soft? How many copies would Tristan think would be a ‘good figure’? How many would he have to get printed if there was a minimum limit? How much would they be priced at?


It's a wonderful idea, getting all his art compiled in book form, it'd be a great piece of merchandise… but it's going to be a tricky item to get printed, if that's the way to go.

Kingpin;130893
I only asked as I can believe there might be someone on the net who doesn't get how the publishing industry works, and would suggest trying to get it printed.

The first problem I can see straightaway, is the legal standpoint. Whilst slightly stylised, they're unmistakably the characters from The Real Ghostbusters, Extreme Ghostbusters and the movies… and the first problem I can imagine happening is a Cease and Decist being issued because Sony might believe Tristan would be benefitting financially from the book, using copyrighted material.

They once issued a C&D to a community member who had mocked up a cover for a book about the props he was never seriously considering publishing. As they're pretty anal about who can profit off of Ghostbusters, I'd be gravely concerned about publishing a Spirit Guide using this art, without having the explicit permission from Sony.

The corporation may have given the team a greenlight for publishing them in Cereal:Geek, but they'd probably have to start all over again in seeking permission to get the stuff printed in a book.


And the second issue, would be the cost of getting such a book printed. Would it be hardcover or soft? How many copies would Tristan think would be a ‘good figure’? How many would he have to get printed if there was a minimum limit? How much would they be priced at?


It's a wonderful idea, getting all his art compiled in book form, it'd be a great piece of merchandise… but it's going to be a tricky item to get printed, if that's the way to go.

Both he and I understand all the copyright dangers. I understand your concern, but as far as I know hes looking for someone to make this legit, not just get it done under the table. And I would imagine that since it was greenlighted for the cereal geek issue it might not be such a problem to get permission for his own book. As far as hard cover soft cover and number of issues I would venture to say that would be determined once we found someone serious enough to get it done. Depending on how small or large the publisher is if one is ever found I think will have a large say in the specifics of those aspects. Step one is finding an in with a publisher with the means of getting the book out. From there i think sony would be approached, and not before.

ScottyJ;130894
Both he and I understand all the copyright dangers. I understand your concern, but as far as I know hes looking for someone to make this legit, not just get it done under the table. And I would imagine that since it was greenlighted for the cereal geek issue it might not be such a problem to get permission for his own book. As far as hard cover soft cover and number of issues I would venture to say that would be determined once we found someone serious enough to get it done. Depending on how small or large the publisher is if one is ever found I think will have a large say in the specifics of those aspects. Step one is finding an in with a publisher with the means of getting the book out. From there i think sony would be approached, and not before.

I feel like you need Sony's permission before you go anywhere trying to get the publisher to sell the book, not get someone who's willing to sell the book, then tell them “Ok, well let us see if we can get the rights and we'll get back to you.” Pretty sure that's not how it works.

Doctor Venkman;130897
I feel like you need Sony's permission before you go anywhere trying to get the publisher to sell the book, not get someone who's willing to sell the book, then tell them “Ok, well let us see if we can get the rights and we'll get back to you.” Pretty sure that's not how it works.

I don't know for sure. But I think to get any kind of response out of sony you need to have a publisher lined up for the project and the publisher will have to be the ones to say hey we wanna make this book what do you want in order to let us do it. I don't think he could get anything but a resounding no from sony without some credible back up first.

Sot of off topic: I actually found my Tobin's Spirit Guide from the old board RPG the other day.

I thought it had been thrown away for years, so imagine my surprise in finding it!

On topic: I'd love to see a proper guide get published. Good luck with that.

I'd love to see a hardback book of Tobins Spirit Guide published. It must feel authentic though. It must read as though it was written by Tobin himself and it shouldn't feel or look like a new book either.

It should have an introduction to the author so we get to find out who Tobin actually was. It should have a preface too and intricate drawings that genuinly look as though they were done by Tobin. Each ghost should have a story of how Tobin encountered it, where it was seen, what his/her experience was like (Tobin may have been a woman), a look at the ectoplasmic sample Tobin collected etc etc

I don't know who Tobin was but I always thought of Tobin as this old Irish american who lived from the mid 19th to early 20th century and was an exorcist, traveller and writer. Maybe not a scientist but rather someone who as an exorcist had an encounter with a spirit and then developed a fascination in the paranormal and then decided to travel the world in search of spirits and write about them. Think Charles Darwin only spirits instead of animals.

Matthew;131056
Think Charles Darwin only spirits instead of animals.

Very descriptive when you just stop and think about it.