got an idea.. how to make it real?

[cg_davinci]

Just a friendly tip/warning, since you mentioned a game w/a similar storyline (and probably already copywritten) is out there, you might want to familiarize yourself with the legalities (in whichever country you plan to market to) in advance, including studying what's out there so you can be assured the differences will be substantial enough for a new copywrite. You might also want to consult w/someone specializing in copywright law if you (like myself) are not already very familiar with it.

Good luck!

[Boone]

I would also like to back cg_davinci's suggestion with becoming familiar with the legal side of things. At first you feel low about how its really done, but you do get a confidence boost once you know where you stand, and that you know-whats-what.

If the advice from a professional is too costly, don't give up - get a book on it and read up. See what you information you can dig up on it.

Best of wishes on your tiny business venture! :thumbsup:

[Sashelas]

Start by storyboarding it out. A series of rough sketches would do. Next, get an idea of who your audience is and how they will play the game. Model the use of the game first along with the major intended features. Next create a list of the different types of data objects you will need and the relationships between the objects.

I'd probably start with those deliverables, then perhaps create a trailer from the storyboard.

Also, read a FAQ from one of the major games of the genre you are planning to use. Try to answer the same types of questions for your planned game as they answer.

[Pascaru]

thank you guys for your help ..

Sashelas i'll follow your advices.. see how it goes.

i didn't know about these copywrite stuff too! .. let's say a fighting game.. if there is no name or famous people in it, i don't need copywrite right? a basketball game with no famous ppl ... same right?

thanks guys

[glynnsmith]

I think they say "you can copyright Things, and Patent ideas"...

It might be the other way round, but what i'm saying is that you can copyright, patent and protect various elements of your game, regardless of whether it features already established characters from other sources...


You haven't said how far you are with developing your game, so i'll assume you're still at the starting blocks... :P

To pitch your game to a publisher, you need to make a Games Design Document. Before you get to this stage you need to think about loose ideas (usually called a treatment) like characters and story...and, of course, how the game will play, sound etc...

Take Max Payne...the loose ideas for this title COULD be something like "A New York cop is caught on the wrong side of the law and has to fight his way through petty street hoods and mafia gangs to clear his name. It will play in 3rd person, and will look gritty and real. It will also have a bullet time feature"...

Now, the Games Design Document is a tightened, polished, final explanation of how the game will play, look, feel, sound, work and will explain, in detail, pretty much every aspect of the game, including all the previously mentioned "loose" ideas. It can go into such detail as how the camera moves, or what kind of engine it will use and why. Characters will be given biographies, and weapons will be given statistics to make sure the combat system is ballanced...

Games publishers aren't interested in spending millions of £'s / $'s or whatever on a shady idea written on the back of a bus ticket. They want or need to know all of the in's and out's of the games they franchise, right down to the brass tacks, so they know what kind of risk they're taking up and if it will make money...

With the trailer idea, depending on how detailed you're thinking of making it, would probably take a lot longer than making a games design document. I'm not even sure how you'd do a trailer without in game footage to sell the idea...

Anyways...I hope some of this is to some help with you, and I truly wish you sh*tloads of luck for your game idea...

It would be cool to hear how you did with it...keep us posted !!! :D

G...

P.S. If it's any help...I can email you a oldish copy of a "guide" Design Document I have lying around on my hard drive. It's a decent starter for you.

[Pascaru]

hey default_human

Thanks a lot for your response, very helpfull.. at least i know i don't need to do a trailer.

Yes it's be great to have the guide design document you're talking about.

Each time someone talks about a "game idea", everybody thinks about RPG/3rd person games..
I am thinking about a sports game . so the plot? .. errr... make your way up to the cup ? there is more to it of course.
Would i still need biography of the players and all?

I'm sure this could be a great game, cus i talked to some games fans and sports players, and we all are waiting for a good one of this kind... so i figured, why not start on something.

it's good to know i don't need to do a trailer, cus i'm in a team of 1, and it would take forever, specially since i only rig/animate.

thanks
Pascal

[glynnsmith]

the .doc i emailed to you can be changed quite a bit to suit your game...

if it is a sports game, you'd probably want to explain the rules as the main part of the document and maybe provide artwork for what kind of playing field the game will used if it's a game you've made up...better still, illustrate everything you can with some artwork...a picture says a thousand words and all that stuff... :p

just remember though, games and genres can vary hugely so you might not be able to answer every criteria in the .doc...on the other hand, you might want to add some sections into it, if it's part of your game idea...

make sure you're very concise with it, and explain everything that will be in the game, whether the player is aware of it or not...

best of luck dude... ;)

G...

[Pascaru]

thanks G...
i'll check it out and get back to you via email.

[glynnsmith]

No problems dude...

like i said, i'll help where i can :D

G...

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