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The Vespid Neutron Blaster has the exact appearance of an energy rifle in the PS2 game Armored Core 2 by From Software.  The from software title predates the Vespid Release by almost 5 years, c 2000. In Armored Core the gun is called a ZWG-MG/ENE.

The similarity of these two graphics is obvious on inspection; down to the proportions, circular shape on both sides, the position of the amo, even in the original title it is listed as "very fast continuous fire energy gun".  While it's hard to see in the low rez graphic of the ZWG-MG/EXE, the circle in the Armored Core weapon is even divided in half similarly and there is a crystal lense in the barrel position. It is immediately obvious in the rotating 3d model the game presents. 

NEUTRON BLASTERS

ARMORED CORE ZWG-MG/ENE

?

What's your point? There was also a gun that looked exactly like that in Command and Conquer: Renegade which came out in 2001, but was in production years before. The Armored Core games are infamous for having short development times and ganking concept art currently out for other games. You're not going to have too many options as to how to make a gun that focuses energy and uses a crystal matrix to release it. Unless the gun from Armored Core is called 'Vespid Neutron Blaster', and is designed to be operated by flying insects...

It's coincidence.

Eh, sure. The Vespids themselves are ripoffs of Geonosians or a certain Rifts species. Problem is, until GW provides too many points of similarities, they won't get called on it. I guess that's why they decided to put croc faces on the vespids.

Er....oops. I meant, GW is original and highly creative! They have been on the forefront of every new design concept ever created...since the dawn of Man! You know the Egyptians and Mesoamericans? Yeah, they got their designs from the Tomb Kings and Lizardmen. And the rumor that alien influences caused the creation of the pyramids? Wrong, it was just influence from Necrons. I heard back then they used to play wargames to plan wars...sound familiar? GW again! Caesar was a hardcore Empire player, so I've heard. It's like GW has a time travel machine that goes back in time and creates the background and mythology of every civilization ever.

although its true they're very similar(i have AC Nexus and finished the second one ),there is much more to GW and the rest of games,books and whatnot else.
good observation though,i never noticed that

I played that game and never saw the similarities.. However it still looks different. the crystal is less prominent etc.

Here I was thinking someone had finally sued GW.. too bad that would of been funny

Here I was thinking someone had finally sued GW.. too bad that would of been funny

Really? As if GW needs another black eye and a possible reason for a price adjustment?

I for one would think it rather amusing that after all the times GW has sued small companies into oblivion for having the gall of doing another 28mm sci-fantasy game (Demonforge anyone?), that they get their just desserts by another (possibly larger) game company/production studio for GW's rampant appropriation of pop culture icons into it's game. That said, I don't think any such lawsuit would have any legs, it would just be amusing to see them get bitten by their own (legless) legal thuggery tactics.

If GW got sued and lost they would have to recall the Vespid figures and reissue them with a different gun.

Ths would be good because it would make the current figures into collector's items. But it would be bad because they would become tournament illegal. Players might be able to return them for a refund or replacement.

Could it be that the man who made the concept art was working for the computer gaming industry before? I just saw some concept art for a helicopter game but I think Roberto Cirillo did some more then that. Or maybe he let himself "inspire" by the work of a colleague.

No, it could not be, the guy who did the Armored core artwork is very famous, and not the same guy that did these sculpts, two different people alltogether.

The armored core mechanical design is done by Shoji Kawamori:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0442828/

and he deserves the credit, while he is certainly artistically diverse and capable I do not believe his media ever involved sculpting and certainly not for miniatures or GW.  Shoji Kawamori's work also includes:

Armored Core, (6titles)

Macross Zero

Macross Plus

Macross 7

Vision of Escaflowne (USA: DVD title)

Ghost in the Shell (International: English title) (USA)

Dangaioh

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory

Mobile Police Patlabor

Macross

Crusher Joe (USA)

Robotech: The Macross Saga (USA)

Super Dimension Fortress Macross (USA)

Kudos to  IMDB for this bio and info!

I do not know who produced the vespid sculpt(s).

Maybe the whole of GW's output could be considered a "doujinshi" of other authors' works, starting from Tolkien and Phil Ansell's "Laserburn."

Maybe the whole of GW's output could be considered a "doujinshi" of other authors' works, starting from Tolkien and Phil Ansell's "Laserburn."

You know what be funny? Having the fanfic author sue the originals for stealing their work. Or suing other fanfic authors. Wait, that's sad.

There's a difference between fanfics, and fan art (not sold) and reproducing and marketing some one elses idea, totally different, that said, I love fanart!