I haven't been around here for a long time- but I'm thinking about starting another Dizzy game.
To be precise, I want to make one with plot and some puzzles inspired by old Infocom text adventure games- mainly 'Spellbreaker'. I know I've already ripped off Knightmare for my first game- but I want to know, is this ok? I'm not saying I want to replicate this other game, but I want to include parts quite like it.
Does anyone know if this is legally alright? Thanks.
Are you sure about that Pogie? I get the point about financial issues but I think copyright infringement law in electronic games is more to do with replication of coding and unique characters rather than 'ideas', as the first developer to use a wet fish to get past a guard cannnot claim copyright of that 'idea'. People on this site making Yolkfolk games using DizzyAge have been given permission to use the yolkfolk characters providing there is no monetary gain and the 'loading' screen does give credit to Codemasters and the Oliver Twins for the original characters.
Jamie's games are based on the 'ideas' of the original games, they are not exact copies and don't use the same coding so there shouldn't be any legal problems.
Thanks for the responses. I realise more that my question will sound silly, when in Knightmare Dizzy I already used a copyrighted logo and characters! However, to explain: I did not worry so much about that as I had already seen not-for-profit Knightmare games made by fans on a different site.
The reason I was more curious about this is that some of the old Infocom text adventures are still available to buy (albiet on the Good Old Games website for a pretty low price). I now realise I should be fine, because I do not intend to use anyone else's characters (apart from Dizzy, but obviously that is different!) and most importantly, the games will always be not for profit.
Edit: I just saw Pogie's second post above- okay, by taking puzzle ideas in any way I am technically on dangerous ground. However I am now thinking the influence would be diluted enough that in practice, no-one will care in a non-profit fan game.
Regarding the DizzyAGE website itself, my understanding was that the Oliver twins have essentially given it their blessing (subject to certain rules like Dizzy games not featuring copius swearing and sex! :smile: )
I thought I was right about infringement. It is the code and graphics that are copyright, not the idea.
High Court of Appeal ruling 22nd March 2007 by Lord Justice Jacob:
'Merely making a program that will emulate another but which in no way involves copying the program code or any of the program's graphics is legitimate.'
But generally Pogie, your main point about monetary gain is often the major factor. The curtesy of thanking people for their original creation in non profit making games is usually good enough. I used the orginal graphics and music when making 'Back to Magicland' but credited Leigh Christian for the graphics and David Whittaker and Alistair Brimble for the music in the 'read me' file.
Just look at how many commercial versions there are of games that are all copied basically the same idea, going back to Space Invaders, Pac Man, through to Doom and Angry Birds today. They may use the same idea as the original game, but as long as they do not lift actual code / graphics / sound, then there doesnt seem to be a problem.