Terms and agreement for commercial games?

[WildCard]

alright, what exactly are the rules for making a commercial game with RMVX?

I know all the resources used have to be your own work right? But what else? I'm planning on having my first 'commercial' project, with a web site, and downloadable through paypal, etc.

I don't wanna do anything Illegal, so if you could help me out...

 

[Kipe]

Created games are possible to distribute!
As before, there is a function in which you can save your created game and play it with the computers of other people. It's possible to burn it on to a disc and give it to your friends or distribute it over the internet for other gamers. It goes without saying that you can market your game as a shareware, too.

Source

You do not have to have custom resources. You may use the RTP.

But you should note, it's in your best interest to contact the owners of any scripts and/or resources that you're using, if any. Get it in writing that they are okay with it that you use their scripts or resources for commercial purposes.

Also, you must buy the licensed version of the software.

 

[Zeriab]

Buying a license to the software grants you the rights to use the RTP in commercial games.
Any resources you create yourself you naturally have the necessary rights for.

For any resource you find on websites such as this which can be categorized as copyrightable you must do a case-by-case analysis. You do typically do not have permission to use the resources unless explicitly stated by the copyright holder. You can always try to contact the copyright holders and see if you can get permission. They can perfectly fine require something in return which could be royalties, a flat-fee, credits or even a character with their name in your game. They also have the right to deny you the rights. There are people who make resources for non-commercial use only. Not being able to contact the copyright holders does not grant you copyright

On a final note if you want to be totally certain that you do nothing illegal then contact a lawyer. Do not treat any advice here as legally sound. :cute:

*hugs*
- Zeriab

 

[MarkDarkness]

Rule of thumb: ALWAYS assume you cannot use a resource you got from the web, because the resource could be ripped from a copyrighted videogame and distributed by a third party as if it was original work. Even if you legitimately didn't know about that, it means very little in legal terms. Your best bet really is tracking down the author - not the distributor.

Also, be wary of Creative Commons. It DOES NOT automatically make the resource usable.

 

[Sir]

basics is, don't *steal* someone elses shit and you'll be right ^^

 

[MarkDarkness]

Hm... no. Stealing is relative. That's not at all what he's supposed to do.

 

[Ellie]

Then of course there's people who claim work as their own. A few people sumbitted sprites they made to Vengeance to be used as their characters in the Beta - following the release of the Beta I had an e-mail asking for a sprite to be removed from the -real- creator. :/ It's a tricky business and to be honest best left alone - do it yourself and you don't need to worry about who made what.

 

[mawk]

and you'll also get a little added bonus of visual appeal. I'd say "the market is getting tired of seeing the RTP everywhere" but the market for commercial rm games will buy anything regardless of quality so really it's only a favour to us crazy philosophical types

 

[Ellie]

I dunno, I heard the non-aveyond games on Amanda's site are doing badly as everyone sees they are exactly like aveyond.

 

[Zeriab]

Some are, some are doing well

 

[Sgt. Cookie]

basics is, don't *steal* someone elses shit and you'll be right ^^

Its only stealing if you get caught.

 

[mawk]

that was a really stupid and unnecessary thing to say bro

consider that if you release a game it will be played by people from within the community, many of whom would be familiar with such resources. the threat of someone correctly identifying a stolen thing only goes up with time, and you are in deep legal shit once they do

 

[Ellie]

basics is, don't *steal* someone elses shit and you'll be right ^^

Its only stealing if you get caught.

Considering the low amount of commercial RM* games and yet the high amount of RM* people who share communities and know about said games, the chances of being caught are very likely.