Topic: Lost on Cow Island

[Stupot]

I think it looks beautiful. Though the BttF influences are very on the nose for a commercial release.

Also I agree with The Last to Know. You're going to have to make the speech font more readable. Try spacing the letters more and making the black outlines thinner (and/or just increase the font size a touch).

[bx83]

Those images are 2/3rds of actual size.

When you say on the nose, do you mean the car image, or what’s said?

[Olleh19]

Looks great, if it means anything i didn't think of what previous posters said at all. In fact i was thinking more of  the title Deponia. I think you should keep the style as is! It's not Guybrush, inspired for sure. But i didn't think of Guybrush when i saw your character until i read the other posts!. Keep it up!

[bx83]

What about the bttf reference?

[morganw]

What about the bttf reference?

I think the issue is not, what from BTTF you are referencing, but that you will sell this commercially with a perception (from description and artwork) that you are borrowing/modifying someone else's intellectual property as a base.

[bx83]

I realise the cars a Delorian - I’ll change it.
I’m aware Julius’s face is like Guybrush - changing it.
Is there any other factors you see as commercially damaging?

[morganw]

I realise the cars a Delorian - I’ll change it.
I’m aware Julius’s face is like Guybrush - changing it.
Is there any other factors you see as commercially damaging?

It depends what you mean by commerically damaging. If anything I think you'll be more successful with all of these elements left in, but that is the problem; if the the rights holder can demonstrate that this game made you lots of money and statistically show that it performed better than other products which have no relation to their property, they might be asking for all of the money which it made.

Lost on Cow Island is a slap-stick, foul-mouthed

^^ and they might consider their property to have been damaged, especially if it appeared for purchase in the same stores when their own products are available.

Please don't take this as criticism, I think people are pointing out these issues because they can see the amount of time and effort that has gone into this. But you've already started promoting the game using artwork and a description which might be enough to cause you problems, so I would probably suggest getting some clarification from a legal proffesional to check over the rest of the game content.

Perosonally, I can't speak for what is in the rest of your game, but I would say you are still making direct references that wouldn't be considered accidental:

Spoiler: ShowHide

[Snarky]

Yeah, I'd say the Marty McFly outfit is the big thing, aside from the DeLorean, that makes it come across as a BTTF "ripoff" (though that's too harsh a word). That's so blatant that it ensures that other details, which by themselves are generic enough that they wouldn't necessarily cause anyone to think about the movie (like the crazy-haired scientist) are inevitably seen through that lens.

In other words, if you change the outfit in addition to what you've already mentioned, 90% of the problem goes away. You could have it as an easter egg or something if you want, but I think advertising a commercial game with the main character wearing that outfit is going to get you endless questions about how it relates to Back to the Future.

[bx83]

https://i.imgur.com/K0jelWd_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium
Looking at these two, probably go with white jacket.

[The Last To Know]

Or maybe the right one with a dark brown or black color for the jacket?

[bx83]

Nah, he’s not cool he’s a sensitive thin virgin. Plus it stuffs up a puzzle if his jackets other than red/white.

[Laura Hunt]

I still like the red one a lot, for what it's worth!

[bx83]

What’s the favourite?
https://i.imgur.com/ZP5qAO1_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

[The Last To Know]

For me it's no. 10 

[Laura Hunt]

For me it's no. 10 

Yup, same here.

[bx83]

The purple one?

[Laura Hunt]

The purple one?

No, the dark red one: second row, fourth from the left (or third from the right).

[Durq]

What’s the favourite?
https://i.imgur.com/ZP5qAO1_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

I like the blue one in the top row. Blue is my favorite color, so I'm biased.

[Cassiebsg]

Uhm, I would probably avoid the red/brown colors just to distance a bit more from BTTF.
I like the Yellow (always like yellow with blue  , and he doesn't need to be a fashion nerd anyway  ), the 2 blues (though more inclined to the cyan, no he's not one colour), and the dark green... (I also like white+blue, but think a white jacket is unlikely - it gets way too dirt - unless he's trying to camouflage in snow areas  )

Also, maybe you should also change the name of the doctor, as Dr.Braun is too close to Brown...

[bx83]

To me the colours are
first line: white, red, brown, green, dark blue, purple
second: cyan, pink, vibrant red, brown (not dark red, reminds me too much of leather), bright green, dark green

I like the blue one in the top row. Blue is my favorite color, so I'm biased.

Me too Gotta balance our the jeans though.

Uhm, I would probably avoid the red/brown colors just to distance a bit more from BTTF.

That's the prob though - red is the best colour of all colours!

I like the Yellow (always like yellow with blue  , and he doesn't need to be a fashion nerd anyway  )

The third on the first row?

the 2 blues (though more inclined to the cyan, no he's not one colour), and the dark green...

Well now you'd said that bttf future==red, I am leaning towards the green.

(I also like white+blue, but think a white jacket is unlikely - it gets way too dirt - unless he's trying to camouflage in snow areas  )

I was inspired by my own white jacket; which gets dirty like every 48 hours. Hmm :/

Also, maybe you should also change the name of the doctor, as Dr.Braun is too close to Brown...

True, but I thought it was clever. 99% of Americans say braun, like the shaver brand ('br-OR-n')

Goddamn I can't decide. Who would have known my cheeky little references were actually incredibly obvious, striking references that might get the lawyers in a blood lust? Oh well.
Did I mention Braun sounds like this?
https://redrom.ltd/img/sounds/

Back to the drawing board... Atleast the *game* is almost finished, even if I have to get more voice.