Ripping off game ideas. Where is the line?

BackUpAndDownBackUpAndDown Member Posts: 685
edited November -1 in Working with GS (Mac)
I've almost finished my first app and after looking at it's near finished form I realized some aspects are almost identical to a few other games i've played. So that got me thinking, where is the line for copyright infringement? If I went to a site like Neopets and chose to remake one of there games into an app using my own artwork would that cause some trouble or is it frowned upon?

I would be interested in hearing how you feel about the whole matter.

Comments

  • CodeCodeCodeCode Member Posts: 200
    No, actually 99,99% of all games today are based on other games. Singstar -> Guitar Hero -> Rock Band
    God of War -> Dantes Inferno etc etc etc
  • beefy_clyrobeefy_clyro Member Posts: 5,394
    Content, IP, this is all copyrighted.

    Ideas ... No no. You cant copyright an idea :-)
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  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    Ideas cannot be copyrighted (they could be patented i guess).

    Only intellectual property that is in a permanent form. That means you cannot take the art or sounds or the words that are written within the game, but the game play and objectives and other ideas are fair game.

    As long as you make your own art and sounds and have original cut screens, title screens, etc. you should be fine.
  • butterbeanbutterbean Member Posts: 4,315
    Nope! Most games today are clones of others, or draw inspiration from other titles. Noone expects you to come out with the next "Ico" or "Shadow of the Colossus" type game, but as long as you're not a "Duck Hunt" cloner, or cloner of other games, you're good :)
  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934
    I have wondered this myself. I think as long as you change the art and sound and probably the story that goes with the game if there is one. its fine.
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  • RattleheadRattlehead Member Posts: 485
    Ask Rod Hammond...

    He can probably give you some pointers based off his Cannon Pro and TennisSmash applications. I think he has a pretty good idea as to where the line is.

    http://www.appspy.com/rod-hammond-seller

    As for my opinion, I think that it is pretty rare when a title hits the streets that is wholy original and doesn't borrow one concept or another. It's pretty inevitable. Take any platformer... even though it's considered a genre, it would have originated as an idea which would borrowed heavily enough to eventually be considered somewhat of a baseline.

    Plus, I don't think Neopets has much to grip about considering they seem like nothing more than a (very) heavily modified tamagouchi.

    Good luck on your next game.
  • AsymptoteellAsymptoteell Member Posts: 1,362
    Just don't pull an Avatar. Pocahontas and Dances with the wolves didn't need to take after Leprechaun 4 and go in space.

    Asymptoteell

    By the way, if you don't know the Leprechaun movies like "leprechaun in the hood" look it up. Worst horror movies ever.
  • QbAnYtOQbAnYtO Member Posts: 523
    Anything in da hood is horrible lol
    Maury: "you are not the father!" (ghetto guy dances)
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