Sony, God Of War Creator Accused Of Stealing Ideas
Sony Computer Entertainment of America and God of War creator David Jaffe have been sued for allegedly stealing the material for various parts of the game. Jonathan Bissoon-Dath and Jennifer Barrette-Herzog filed a suit back in February claiming that the “plot, character relationships, themes, settings, mood, pace and dialogue” were taken from various works of fiction all based around Greek mythology, including map designs for a game called The Adventures of Owen: Owen’s Olympic Adventure.
Their case is strengthened by the 2005 release of God of War given that Jaffe once said that the title was three years in development. The material that was supposedly stolen from was submitted to Sony Pictures in 2002, along with agents who worked closely with SCEA. Hear some of their specific claims after the break.
- Plaintiff’s works tell the original story of how a champion saves Athens from destruction by the invading Spartan army that has been sent by Ares… [GoW]… is the story of how a champion chosen by Zeus and Athens saves Athen from destruction by an invading army sent by Ares…
- In plaintiff’s original work and God of War, the Champion’s family is hacked to death in a one-room building in a small peaceful village. In both stories the Champion feels partially responsible even though he is not really to blame…
- In exchange for Kratos’ pledge, Ares gives him… the Blades of Chaos… two massive, glowing, sword-like blades fastened to chains fused to Kratos’s wrists… These Blade of Chaos are taken directly from a scene in Bissoon-Dath’s work… “As Zeus strides forward… his hands MORPH into two massive swords that glow like light sabers…”
- …Owen must cross the Bottomless Valley over a long, sagging suspension bridge, shown on Barrette-Herzog’s map… in God of War Kratos must cross the Bottomless Chasm on a long, sagging suspension bridge…
While the first bullet point does seem to be oddly similar the rest doesn’t hold up well. A swaying suspension bridge over a bottomless void isn’t exactly a new idea. Nor is the theme of a hero’s family being slain in his absence and that hero feeling a sense of responsibility or guilt. The dual sword comparison seems extremely laughable as there isn’t much to go on other than that they are two swords and are somehow attached to the character’s arms.
Add in the sheer fact that Greek mythology is technically public domain due to its age, it’s going to be a difficult time for the plaintiffs to prove that Sony stole their ideas. Sony and Jaffe have of course refuted all the plaintiff’s claims.