Couldn't help but chuckle when I read this, he must be kicking himself at all the money he missed out on:

And I don't think a gamer.

haha. sapkowski's relationship with CDP is pretty bad. losing on a lot of money is probably not going to help that.

I do understand his attitude a little. Especially now when his books are being sold overseas netting him nice nice money.

He didn't succeed in western markets without some "gamers" making silly story with his characters. As an author the whole thing is pretty offending I would assume.

It's quite common for authors to despise adaptations of their work, especially when the success of those adaptations overshadows the books. Ultimately CD PROJEKT's success is his success though, as it translates into book sales. I myself have started reading the series.

Common Scene @ Polish Avante Garde Art Gallery

(Nubile Young Co-ed) "So, like what do you do for a living?"

(Bespeckled Male with Upturned Nose) "I write a series of novels about a titular character known as *dramatic pause...* The Witcher."

(Now Excited Co-ed) "Oh, wow! You mean like based on those awesome video games?!?!?!"

(Male) *sigh*

Yep those books written by that totally unknown polish guy are a cheap ripoff of the beautifull and impressing Witcher games. And he doesn`t feel the slightest bit of schame for plagiarizing those games.
I say: "Hang him high!". :-D

Also, he chose instant payment over royalties, so he was double-screwed lol.
That's what you get by considering games an inferior art form >:D

(btw, I'd actually have preferred if anyone involved with the Witcher had been happy about its success)

Son, not everyone out there values money much. There are far more precious and much more important things, other than money. Things that philosophers, writers, educated people can identify and/or pursue. Usually, to go after those different things, it is required to shun upon other things in return (or as an aftereffect) first, such as money.

That, or some people can be sated and content at a certain (self-anointed) limit. What's the point of having more, where and when you manage perfectly with what you have?

I somehow have the feeling that Tolkien wouldnt have been too happy with Shadow of Mordor either ;)

EDIT: although the Witcher games are leagues above that one.

Yeah, I've started reading them for that very same reason. Even though I try to differentiate between Geralt from the books and the one from the games, more often than not the sparse descriptions of Sapkowski become more detailed using places and designs from the games. Most noticable - I think it always is - are the voices of the characters. I can't come up with more suitable voices for most of them, no matter how hard I try.

The games did a great job intoducing you to The Witcher and made it possible for the books to even get translated to German. Still I understand his frustration and I also understand that they are people like him, who just can't get into videogames. Know a few of those myself.

Also, I recommend reading the original article, where this news was derived from, because it leaves a better impression of what Sapkowski was going for, I believe:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-03-24-meeting-andrzej-sapkowski-the-writer-who-created-the-witcher