legal issues regarding mmorpg's

[Afrobean]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

Really? You see it a lot in TV shows where they make fun of a character that belongs to a corporation and they change the name and characteristics slightly...but I'll take your word for it.

Parody is protected free speech.

I don't mean to sound advertiser-y, but if you're interested in Super Smash Bros as a MMO, I believe Nexon's new Sugar Rush game is similar to that.

If you want to go ahead with this, just don't use any images, characters, art, or sound/music that's copyrighted. Make up your own graphics, make your own characters, make your own music. If you don't do that, Nintendo will have every right to sue, but truth be told, they'd probably just serve you with a cease and desist, assuming you're not making a profit off of it, that is.

[OrganisM]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

so what exactly are you contributing to the project if you aren't going to program

are you just going to pester everyone and insist that they do what you tell them to

If you take such a project seriously, there are going to have to be game designers (programmer and game designer are NOT mutually inclusive) and people who direct the project.

That said, I don't see this working if he has no such knowledge or abilities of his own and expects people to come and program thousands of hours worth of C code for him.

[Commandersa1]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

If you take such a project seriously, there are going to have to be game designers (programmer and game designer are NOT mutually inclusive) and people who direct the project.

That said, I don't see this working if he has no such knowledge or abilities of his own and expects people to come and program thousands of hours worth of C code for him.

The person who "directs" the project should have a fair amount of knowledge in programming as well as the program you use. There are tons of kids who want to make a game, but do not care about taking the time to learn how to do it properly, I.e. the person who made this thread. He did not even come up with his own idea. I guess he does not need graphic design people because Nintendo already made the characters for him. He needs someone who can code in C++ and is willing to split the credit 50/50 even though the coder is doing all of the work. gubble_bum should go and buy C++ books and code himself before starting this project. Start with a Tic-Tac-Toe game or something as simple. MMORPG? xD

[OrganisM]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

The person who "directs" the project should have a fair amount of knowledge in programming as well as the program you use. There are tons of kids who want to make a game, but do not care about taking the time to learn how to do it properly, I.e. the person who made this thread. He did not even come up with his own idea. I guess he does not need graphic design people because Nintendo already made the characters for him. He needs someone who can code in C++ and is willing to split the credit 50/50 even though the coder is doing all of the work. gubble_bum should go and buy C++ books and code himself before starting this project. Start with a Tic-Tac-Toe game or something as simple. MMORPG? xD

Re-read what I posted. I just said that without knowledge of coding, he can't expect to get something done.

In a larger game development company, one can be a game designer without the knowledge of a programmer, but that's next to impossible in a smaller group.

And yeah, I was just thinking the implications of making an MMO with a group of 5 people. ROFFAL. Just a simple text-based game would take many hours for a beginner.

[fido123]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

Don't start with turing, from the code I've seen it could lead to bad coding practices.

WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN TEACHING ME

Python a good one? Been learning that and Learning BASIC then C++ starting in September.

[200273707gc]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

go to mcleodgaming.com ... he already made one

[Tokzic]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

If you take such a project seriously, there are going to have to be game designers (programmer and game designer are NOT mutually inclusive) and people who direct the project.

Yeah - if the programmers are being paid. Otherwise there's absolutely no incentive for them to follow his direction.

He's already stated he's not making money off of this, so I find the premise of him paying other people to do his grunt work a little unrealistic.

then again the idea of taking a smash brothers mmorpg seriously is kind of dumb in the first place

[OrganisM]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

I was saying that's what it would take for a project to be realistically doable. And since, yes, indeed, you do have to pay your programmers, it's not realistic at all.

[Cursebred]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

I guess as long as it is free.

However, if your game becomes big, then you will have to take it up with Nintendo. Or else you won't just be jailed, like the case with WoW Private Servers, you will be SUED.

[Kamunt]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

Wait, I thought courts declared private servers OK after the DAoC thing?

Anywho. I've heard Java is a great place to start. C++ is a whore since there's no "Object"-esque cosmic superclass like there is with Java. I started with Java through AP Computer Science and got a 4, I don't really know what that's worth. Python's pretty solid, though, from what I've seen.

[Cursebred]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

Actually, no. Here's breakdown if Blizzard gets into the case of private servers:

Playing on Server: Must stop playing server
Having a Server: Shutdown Database, or Tell Admin of Server to Shutdown
Having a Large Server: Shutdown Database, Jailed
Having a Server and Charge Members: Shutdown Database, Jailed, Sued

[Kamunt]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

Wow, that sounds like something Sony would do. That's bull. The last one, though, I can see that. Also, what constitutes "large", anywho?

[Cursebred]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

Wow, that sounds like something Sony would do. That's bull. The last one, though, I can see that. Also, what constitutes "large", anywho?

Having over 2000 members. However, there might be so many admins working the game, along with their information being private that the best Blizz can do is give them an IPban. If they can track the IP to the users actual address, then they can arrest.

But that is it, if you have over 2000 members, you are a large server.

[gubble_bum]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

...I was thinking about creating a mmorpg with a ssb theme...

...I just wanted to know the legalities...

IMHO people need to actually read the original post of the topic. I appreciate some of you guys showing concern and giving me advice such as, "It's going to take a lot of effort and time" But there's no sense in practically flaming me for an ***IDEA*** that I have/had.

Also, I did not mention if I was working with a pogram or something to give me a good base to work on or if i was making it from the ground up. I also did not say that I had no skills in anything to do with making a MMORPG.

I'll finish off be just saying this:
I don't want this to become a huge argument about whether or not i possess the skills to achieve this goal. Instead, read the original post, understand what is being said, and post a response. I'm sure if some of you had a goal that you were determined to achieve, you wouldn't appreciate being told by complete strangers that you are not capable in the least bit of accomplishing what you want.

So please! It's called constructive criticism! There is no need for your answers to be so harsh.

[Kekeb]

Re: legal issues regarding mmorpg's

Actually, no. Here's breakdown if Blizzard gets into the case of private servers:

Playing on Server: Must stop playing server
Having a Server: Shutdown Database, or Tell Admin of Server to Shutdown
Having a Large Server: Shutdown Database, Jailed
Having a Server and Charge Members: Shutdown Database, Jailed, Sued

Actually, no. Private servers are legal as long as the servers don't sell any of Blizzards intellectual property. This could be paying for items/membership for example. The servers themselves don't contain "stolen code", nothing illegal goes on there. What Blizzard doesn't like is the fact that people can download the client illegally or use the client they offer on their site (for demo uses) and use it for private servers. Blizzard loses money and potential customers when this goes on.

EDIT: I also think that the players themselves break the EULA by connecting to a private server.
EDIT: I should reiterate, that server emulation itself is legal. I'm not sure about the act playing on one is, but I imagine Blizzard won't make a case over a simple private server without having something to gain.