legal issues regarding mmorpg's

[200273707gc]

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

[Tokzic]

Originally Posted by OrganisM

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by Kamunt

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]

Originally Posted by gubble_bum

...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]

Originally Posted by Cursebred

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.

[Cursebred]

Originally Posted by gubble_bum

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.

I feel the same way.

Trust me, I believe you can actually make it. But the legality being in question, don't let it grow too large.
Or keep it underground.

[gubble_bum]

I feel the same way.

Trust me, I believe you can actually make it. But the legality being in question, don't let it grow too large.
Or keep it underground.

Thanks.. but i think i'm going to ditch the whole ssb rpg idea and just make a regular rpg with the sprites that i already got.. i'll find a way to make it more interesting

[Soul Slayer]

You know how to use Ascent, right?

[OrganisM]

Originally Posted by gubble_bum

Thanks.. but i think i'm going to ditch the whole ssb rpg idea and just make a regular rpg with the sprites that i already got.. i'll find a way to make it more interesting

But I thought you just had a faint thought and no plans to follow through on a game of any kind? None of us are flaming you, but at the same time you can't expect people to take you seriously and then get upset at them for taking you seriously.

[devonin]

To the actual legal question of using the ssb content:

To use it without permission is illegal and they would have every right to sue you if they found out you were doing it. However, if you're in the United States, the fact that it was a free game, generating no money, and arguably creating more interest in video gaming in general, you'd have a very good chance to be found not guilty under fair use laws.

But bear in mind that it is only a defense to legitimate charges, not an immunity from the lawsuit: ONLY PERMISSION FROM THE HOLDERS OF THE COPYRIGHT MAKES IT LEGAL TO USE COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS. "Fair use" or "Parody" are -defenses- not immunity.

[OrganisM]

^^^

thread over.