My Lords,
I believe you bark up the wrong tree on this, unfortunately. The RPG market is too small and too specialized to be a draw to the Sci Fi Channel, who at this point, only care about making a buck. The people that run it are TV people, not Gamers or even Science Fiction People Necessarily. Progress is hindered by those that help only themselves.
This sad phenomenon is compounded by the reluctance of unestablished artists unwilling to work for free initially, in order to get thier name out there. Some even border on paranoia when it comes to thier work, and hence they are unable to even talk about it without insisting on some farce of a confidentiality agreement, or some such nonsense. This to me seems an excuse not to do work, and hence, visual elements of the game go unrealised. I have yet to see a secret cabal out to steal Roleplaying Game Art.
I realize that people are afraid of getting "screwed", but fear is what makes a potentially Great thing crappy...
I was in The Compleat Strategist in New York City the other week, looking at Traveller stuff, and I was dismayed to see how poorly the new Traveller Handbook compared to other stuff in regards to art. I was especially dismayed at the reuse of some images from other books in the THB. This seemed like a ripoff to me a bit. The Expense of the THB made it seem likely that there would be a less random approach to the "Traveller Look" but this was not the case. I am not saying that the art is "Bad" in the THB, just that it is not integrated, and lacks an easily identifiable vision. I know that Rendering a Universe is a very difficult thing, but after 25 years, There should be a more concerted effort to iron out some details.
I volunteer, and have volunteered. Getting paid to do art would be nice, but I just dont care about it when it comes to Traveller. The Game has given me years of enjoyment, and feel as if I should give something in return. I have submitted a writing sample and some sample pictures to Quicklink and promptly recieved...
Nothing.
Perhaps it was an oversight on their part (likely)
or perhaps they see me as too much trouble (also likely) I am not a hidden Michaelangelo by any stretch, I was not expecting them to gush over my stuff and give me some dream job, but to hear something from them would have been, well, the right thing to do. Even a "You Suck" would have sufficed. They asked to see it, after all...
Be that as it may, Here is my site what holds what few works I have up for Traveller-based stuff... for Good or Ill. You are welcome any time, as are all, what?
Sidur Haski Design Consortium
I apologize if I seem overly bitter about this topic or negative, I merely speak my mind.
Sorry.
