Game release

WHAM · Mon 05/05/2008 10:43:11

Ho!

I'm about to relese my first AGS game (The Infection) in about a week and am planning to do a bit of a promo about it. Here's my plan:

I'll make ten or twenty copies, with DVD jewelcases, instruction manuals and all the goodies and special materials and cool covers, and sell them to those willing to buy. I'll call it the "Limited Special Edition"! This is mostly a joke as the game is faily low quality and short, but It'll make a nice memory for me and my friends (and those silly few who will buy it for 10 â,¬).

And now it struck me that there may be copyright problems. I read the AGS legal information page and realizd that some things (the space quest font etc) may present small problems.

Now I'd like to ask YOU (whoever you are): What do you think? Should I proceed with this idea or should I scrap it in fear of legal problems? Correcting these problems is out of question, as ither projects need my attention and I dont have time to start fixing everything.

Also: have I missed anything? Is there something else I need to know/do before I proceed with the idea?

Gilbert · Mon 05/05/2008 10:46:13

I'm never familiar with copyright kinds of stuff, but if you're "selling" only 10 or 20 copies I don't see the reason anyone will care to do anything to it, so IMO just go ahead and worry about nothing.

skuttleman · Mon 05/05/2008 11:23:49

This very topic is covered on this web page.

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/aclegal.htm

Nikolas · Mon 05/05/2008 11:24:44

First of all you need to rethink your "promo" idea.

Calling your future clients "silly", or your game "short and fairly low quality" doesn't really bring positive attention, does it? I'm sure not going to buy it exactly because I don't want to pay for something of low quality!

Plus, I assume that your game will be freeware, so why buy something?

On the other hand, I think I see your point, and I'm also thinking about something simmilar.

mp3 legal issues are non existant at such low ammounts! Unless you make $300,000 you won't have any problem. The mp3 issues are a myth for such small quantities!

Space Quest font, again won't pose any problem really. Yes, it is a font, yes, it might be copyrighted, blah blah, but it's ridiculous to even think about it.

The rest, are mainly for CJ to cover AGS, as the engine, more than to provide legal support to you. If you were thinking of selling your game for good, then I would urge you to reconsider some things, but now for 10-20 copies, no reason.

Good luck!

WHAM · Mon 05/05/2008 11:58:33

Quote from: Nikolas on Mon 05/05/2008 11:24:44
First of all you need to rethink your "promo" idea.

Calling your future clients "silly", or your game "short and fairly low quality" doesn't really bring positive attention, does it? I'm sure not going to buy it exactly because I don't want to pay for something of low quality!

Plus, I assume that your game will be freeware, so why buy something?

The "premium" version of my game is mostly just a joke and only one of them will be put onto Ebay with the idea that those who like the free game can buy themselves the pack for as high price as they want, and therefore support the creationf of the sequel, which will be an attempt at a much higher quality game. The "premium" version will also have some extra art from the making of the game and a sneak peek at what I'm hoping / planning to accomplish in the sequel!

Seeing that this idea is a small joke in itself, the point is to have people able to "buy" the game in support! ^^

Oliwerko · Mon 05/05/2008 12:23:57

Maybe it will be better to save the whole idea for the next (higher quality) game and not do it a joke. Make it free for download and sell it in neat cases with cool covers featuring the soundtrack, extra art, making-of and things like these.
If I were releasing a game and wanted to do something like you, I would do it this way. I am sure people are interested to see how you made those backgrounds or what, so they can see from the in-production images you can provide them! They can see the funny concepts of the story that are humorously stupid, or whatever you can provide.

GarageGothic · Mon 05/05/2008 13:55:15

I think Oliwerko's idea is excellent. You could also add the first game and its production artwork as bonus features on the sequel's game disc.

WHAM · Mon 05/05/2008 14:13:31

Quote from: Oliwerko on Mon 05/05/2008 12:23:57
Maybe it will be better to save the whole idea for the next (higher quality) game and not do it a joke. Make it free for download and sell it in neat cases with cool covers featuring the soundtrack, extra art, making-of and things like these.
If I were releasing a game and wanted to do something like you, I would do it this way. I am sure people are interested to see how you made those backgrounds or what, so they can see from the in-production images you can provide them! They can see the funny concepts of the story that are humorously stupid, or whatever you can provide.

I see exactly what you are saying, and agree... mostly!

I'm planning on doing precisely what you said there of the sequel, but as this is my first game, I'd like to have some physical proof of it. That's why I'm making the ten piece limited premium edition thingamabob! ^__^

In the sequel it will all be done quite a bit better, and in a more professional way, unlike my first game here.

Buckethead · Tue 06/05/2008 10:15:11

Why don't you do like Yahtzee?

Make a donation button so people can donate a small amount of money and get the limited edition.

Peder 🚀 · Tue 06/05/2008 15:57:19

Quote from: Buckethead on Tue 06/05/2008 10:15:11
Make a donation button so people can donate a small amount of money and get the limited edition.

I second that opinion!

FSi++ · Tue 06/05/2008 15:57:31

Quote from: Buckethead on Tue 06/05/2008 10:15:11
Why don't you do like Yahtzee?

Make a donation button so people can donate a small amount of money and get the limited edition.

I'd do but
a) for certain reasons I can't have a paypal account
b) i fear that would be troublesome for local tax officers

WHAM · Tue 06/05/2008 18:27:54

I'd love to try the donation button thing, but I have no credit card nor a paypal account (which requires a credit card, or a UK-registered Visa electron, which is hard to comy by as I'm Finnish!)

Oliwerko · Tue 06/05/2008 19:07:07

I think it does not matter if you use the donation system like Yahtzee or if you just sell the retail bonus ones. PayPal is maybe more convenient, but if people want to buy it, not having a PayPal won't stop them.

FSi++ · Tue 06/05/2008 19:58:28

Quote from: Oliwerko on Tue 06/05/2008 19:07:07
I think it does not matter if you use the donation system like Yahtzee or if you just sell the retail bonus ones. PayPal is maybe more convenient, but if people want to buy it, not having a PayPal won't stop them...

...from downloading a torrent.

WHAM · Tue 06/05/2008 20:53:45

Quote from: FSi on Tue 06/05/2008 19:58:28
...from downloading a torrent.

Why would someone download a torrent, when the game will also be distributed for free on my website? o.0