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From: lim@iris.ucdavis.edu (Lloyd Lim)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Some Copyrighted Games...
Message-ID: <8736@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>
Date: 8 Apr 91 22:57:45 GMT
References: <1341@caslon.cs.arizona.edu> <1991Apr6.134522.29504@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Sender: usenet@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu
Reply-To: lim@iris.ucdavis.edu (Lloyd Lim)
Organization: U.C. Davis - Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Lines: 62

In article <1991Apr6.134522.29504@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> 2fmlcalls@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes:
>In article <1341@caslon.cs.arizona.edu>, jtgorman@cs.arizona.edu (J. Taggart Gorman) writes:
>>   The question :
>> 
>>   Risk, Monoply, others I'm sure.  These are real board games, yet there are
>> Mac version floating around in various *ware versions, I should know, since I
>> have Risk (But who doesn't?). Why hasn't Parker Brothers and the other companies
>> that have "stolen" games done something about this?

They did do something about it (or some of them anyway).  Stratego is now a
real commercial game.  I think I remember the author of Risk saying here
that Parker Bros. or whoever wasn't interested in a computer version and
didn't want him doing anything with it anymore.  Please correct me if I'm
misrembering.  You still see PD/shareware versions of some old stuff around
because there isn't much you can do about it once it's out.

>>   The reason for asking :
>> 
>>   I'm going to write a Mac version of a real world game, and I'm wondering what
>> in the dickens I will do with it.  I know others will want it, and it will be
>> a quality game.

From an ethical standpoint (IMHO), it's better not to carbon copy a brand-name
game.  In practice, you can do anything you want to do.

>Personally I have never been contacted by anyone regarding Glypha.  I have no
>idea why not.  But let me make some suggestions.
>1) I drastically altered the graphics of the game making no attempt to copy the
>art of the orgiginal game.
>2) I chose the name Glypha and don't mention that other game anywhere in the
>game, docs, posts :), etc.
>3) I've been told that worst-case-scenario the company can only tell me to
>remove it from where I u/l-ed it (one place) and stop supporting it.
>4) There is no competing Mac version (i.e. the company in question has neither
>exercised their rights to the game nor licensed the rights to another company).

Yes, john did a reasonable compromise here.  It isn't an outright copy of
that other game.  If you really want to do this, this is a good way to go.
Boardwalk doesn't need to be named Boardwalk, etc...  You'll have an even
stronger position if you change the rules or game machanics somewhat.  People
always dream up ways to improve a game.

>Personally I would never have done Monopoly and called it Monopoly.  Nor would
>I have done a game similar to Tetris no matter what the name (since you would
>be directly competing with Tetris).  Maybe you can take some of these
>precautions and sleep a little easier.
>
>john calhoun

I agree.  I must also say, john, that you do a pretty good job with your
games.  I'm not really in love with any of them but they are always
interesting to look at to see what you're up to.  Just the fact that you've
done so many decent games is impressive - getting them out the door is
always the hardest part.  I am always amazed at how you manage to produce
these things without knowing about the HIG or Programmer's Guide to
MultiFinder though.  :-)  Seriously, I think you do a great job.

+++
Lloyd Lim     Internet: lim@iris.eecs.ucdavis.edu
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