realbasic-games
[Top] [All Lists]

RE: Project idea: computer versions of Steve Jackson games

To: lfredricks at proactive-intl dot com, REALbasic Games <realbasic-games at lists dot realsoftware dot com>
Subject: RE: Project idea: computer versions of Steve Jackson games
From: "Joseph J. Strout" <joe at strout dot net>
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 20:34:34 -0700
Cc:
Delivered-to: realbasic-games at lists dot realsoftware dot com
References: <20060214014733 dot 757817F064 at spatula dot dreamhost dot com>
At 5:47 PM -0800 2/13/06, Lynn Fredricks wrote:

Before investing a lot of work into creating a rules engine, I recommend you
do some research and prepare a proposal. Many of these game companies view
their rules as strategic IP (just like a movie studio or comic book company
does) -- or may be more interested in licensing you content rather than
actual rules.

The rules certainly are strategic IP. But my reading of their FAQ (which granted, is very interpretive) is that if you come along as an independent developer with a proposal, they're going to pat you on the head and show you the door, just like any big company would. But if you come along with a working demo that looks great, they may give you a serious shot.

They also point out that it's perfectly legal for you to make a derived work for your own private use, as long as you don't distribute it (even for free). So you can legally work up the prototype, as long as you show it only to them. But of course if they say no, then you have to scrap it or turn it into something with no relationship to their games.

Best,
- Joe

--

Joseph J. Strout
joe at strout dot net
_______________________________________________
Unsubscribe or switch delivery mode:
<http://www.realsoftware.com/support/listmanager/>

Search the archives of this list here:
<http://support.realsoftware.com/listarchives/lists.html>


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>