Bad news... Bant has stopped theming

[ClubNinja]

Stardock & Stylexp suck cause they did not make the themes but profit from them.

[boomn]

He made really nice themes and all, but this seems like a pretty rash thing to do. Downright petty

[Redestium]

Stardock & Stylexp suck cause they did not make the themes but profit from them.

So? No one forced Bant to make themes in the first place.

[Flash]

This doesnt mean bant won't be around anymore on neowin does it? :ninja:

[Bant Veteran]

guys, i really didn't want to post in any goodbye threads, as this isn't goodbye. i'm just tired. tgtsoft and stardock are only a small piece of the reason i've called it quits. theming just isnt for me anymore. I don't want people to get my themes from my DA page anymore because i don't wan't to have any part of that creeping back into my life, i don't want to hear about your bugs, or your praise...i'm done with it all. i've taken a step to remove my name from the customization community, and believe i can only do that if i stop distributing my themes. That's not to say i don't encourage you all to pass whatever you like around to your friends, i themed for myself and for you all, and i did it with the intention of providing it free. You are more than welcome to pass my themes around.

this is no big deal, stop making it one ;) there are plenty of good themers still around, and plenty just waiting to find their pixel paintbrush.

call me what you want.

[mattmatik]

guys, i really didn't want to post in any goodbye threads, as this isn't goodbye. i'm just tired. tgtsoft and stardock are only a small piece of the reason i've called it quits. theming just isnt for me anymore. I don't want people to get my themes from my DA page anymore because i don't wan't to have any part of that creeping back into my life, i don't want to hear about your bugs, or your praise...i'm done with it all. i've taken a step to remove my name from the customization community, and believe i can only do that if i stop distributing my themes. That's not to say i don't encourage you all to pass whatever you like around to your friends, i themed for myself and for you all, and i did it with the intention of providing it free. You are more than welcome to pass my themes around.

this is no big deal, stop making it one ;) there are plenty of good themers still around, and plenty just waiting to find their pixel paintbrush.

call me what you want.

Ocean Apart...best wall ever.

Good luck dude.

[scoult01]

You made it a big deal when you removed your themes for download.

You want to leave the customising community fine, but atleast leave your work so that other people coming into theming can see what they can do with it...

[ForeverUnknown]

bant i agree with you about tgtsodt and stardock. i hate those companies.

thanks for all the great work. you're always be one of my favorite artists in the customization community (Y)

[aaron901]

although i couldn't possibly understand what you have gone through (you made it sounds creepy :D), but i respect your decision, thank you (and gigatexel of course) for Azure, it's the best theme ever. i'm still using it right now. :)

[Rushnak]

Yes Outline was great. If anyone wants Outline, ive uploaded it:

Removed sorry. See post below.

Uh, upload it again please :pinch:

As for bant: I never really was a fan of azure, reluna...etc. But the customization community will surely miss you.

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

We will miss you Bant!

[rbet]

so... anyone up to uploading Bant's themes somewhere? :unsure:

[Zetter]

Bant: you are (now "were" :cry: ) the best themer there was; ashen and reluna were both amazing. Please consider giving someone permisson to host your themes somewhere, you can't just let them dissapear. if you don't want to be associated with theming anymore just say they were by Mr X.

[Lanky]

Yep , Bant was good.

Infact, I'm using ashen now.

[Bearded Kirklander]

The man made his stance clear. He doesn't want to be involved in theming any more and since he made those themes and did not issue them in a way where he gave up ownership rights to them, other people have no right to distribute them. Its not like he put them out under GPL, right? He retained the rights to his creation and it is up to him to decide what their status is going to be. Isn't that how the law works? Besides, there are tons of other people who make themes and you can find great work out there in lots of places. Expand your horizons and download some new and different stuff from people who still want to be there. Might do them and you some good. :)

[349857345]

NO!!! BANTY BABY! COME BACK! ;)

[yebo yes]

cheers bant, godspeed on everything you're going to attempt in life

[Bearded Kirklander]

cheers bant, godspeed on everything you're going to attempt in life

Not to be a total dork but what does GODSPEED mean? I hear it but I don't understand it. Thanks.

[Wannes]

good luck i think.

[mko]

For those who are asking "Why TGTSoft/Stardock" don't let these people pull a rug over your eyes.

This was a case of freeware artists/themer vs. the money making corporation and unfortunately Bant had to bow out of this fight. For a skinning forum I'm ashamed a lot of you are so ignorant in not noticing how especially Stardock has ripped many skins from freeware skinners just to promote and sell their own products.

Almost every other program you can think of has a freeware alternative, but it seems Stardock and TGTSoft have had a stranglehold on the market, patenting a lot of their 'ideas' just in order to block any competition. The idea of nagware/shareware just disgusts me and I'm sure Bant is on the same parallel.

If you really love your themers and want them to stay, I say don't buy theming software, use uxtheme.dll and other freeware skinning programs and tell the corporations to go screw themself. I visit Neowin because its one of the few communities who have really seen how TGTSoft are a rip off with uxtheme.dll being free here, and its good to see a lot of users warning others to switch to this alternativ.In the end - the companies who do the least work are making the most money, while themers like Bant churn out themes by pure sweat and tears, and all for free.

While I don't agree with what theming groups such as Pixtudio have done over the past years and charged for their themes, I can understand why. It takes a lot of effort and listening the the community in order to perfect their themes. Now imagine if all themers began charging for themes? I'd say a lot of people wouldn't. So why do people pay for Windowblinds/etc when they don't even make half the themes?

Stardock especially go s**** yourselves because I will never pay for your software. And for all your stardock fanboy's out there say your peace here, I don't care. But if you really love your themers, then you will support their movement against these corporations.

[Bearded Kirklander]

For a skinning forum I'm ashamed a lot of you are so ignorant in not noticing how especially Stardock has ripped many skins from freeware skinners just to promote and sell their own products.

The rest of your post is just opinion, and that is fine because we can agree or disagree if we want. But this accusation of ripping skins is serious and I was hoping you could provide proof with links, articles, data, etc. so we can see what you are talking about. Would you please post links and stuff so we can read it?

[spyglass]

Seems how bant doesnt mind us giving his themes to fellow neowins,can someone post his theme "Ashen" I have his theme "reluna" but somehow forgot to burn ashen to cd....thanks

Good luck bant in whatever the future holds for you.

[42n81]

Not to be a total dork but what does GODSPEED mean? I hear it but I don't understand it. Thanks.

It means his bladder's empty

[+Woodbridge Subscriber²]

<snip>Stardock especially go s**** yourselves because I will never pay for your software. And for all your stardock fanboy's out there say your peace here, I don't care. But if you really love your themers, then you will support their movement against these corporations.

Wow, when did Stardock get elevated to Corporate status :rolleyes:

Bant - good luck with what ever you choose to turn your hand too next, I'm sure you'll have as much of an impact there as you did for the skinning community.

[Bearded Kirklander]

I found a definition that makes sense:

http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/Godspeed

God?speed`  Pronunciation: gǒd?spēd`

n. 1. Success; prosperous journeying; a contraction of the phrase, "God speed you."b>

Receive him not into house, neither bid him God speed.

- 2 John 10.

Noun 1. Godspeed - a successful journey; "they wished him Godspeed" 

success

That part sounds right. It's like you say "May God Speed You on your journey"

but now say "Godspeed to you" and it is generic. Google is cool:):)

Thanks,

BK