*** January Challenge - Map for a Game ***

[timallen]

These are murky waters.

I really have no idea what the copyright owners of RISK can or can't do. But I am pretty sure that-

1. you can't copyright a word that has been in the English language for 100s of years just because you want to (Microsoft tried this with the word "Windows" and lost).

and

2. you cant copyright game mechanics. That is, how the game components (the cards, the dice, the movement of the pieces) interact.

So the copyright for RISK would most probably cover the text of the rules and the graphical presentation of the map. If the work is too "dirivative" then you (me?) could be in trouble. But if I re-write the rules, changing and adding into them, and if my map is different enough (how much is enough), then I am OK.

But really, this is never going beyond me printing it out and trying it, so the chances of it ever coming to anyones attention is miniscule.

[eelaeg]

2. you cant copyright game mechanics. That is, how the game components (the cards, the dice, the movement of the pieces) interact.

That is something that is patented, not copyrighted. Eg tapping cards as in Magic The Gathering, is patented ( Patent US5662332 - Trading card game method of play - Google Patents ).

if my map is different enough

Yeah - I've never even played Risk, but I instantly recognized it as "the Risk map" by that ridiculous "Ukraine" that has a fair share of Lapland in it! Makes me cringe so hard every time I see it.

[Jalyha]

Hi there

So... "Monopoly" can copyright their game, but not the use of the word "Monopoly"? I didn't know Microsoft tried that. That's fun info. :p

Actually, it makes more sense that way. There's tons of books with REALLY similar titles, by different authors, (and often, very similar storylines/characters) so it makes sense that other forms of media would be the same way.



And I didn't mean to single out your entry, lol, it was simply the only entry (and what got me started thinking) and I didn't know how else to explain what I was wondering. I'm sorry if that upset you in anyway, and thanks for helping with your explanation.

Now if I could convince someone to do my rise of nations idea... (Since I would have no idea how to begin, lol)

Anyway, thanks again, everyone!

~Jalyha

[Carbus]

Hi there

So... "Monopoly" can copyright their game, but not the use of the word "Monopoly"? I didn't know Microsoft tried that. That's fun info. :p

Actually, it makes more sense that way. There's tons of books with REALLY similar titles, by different authors, (and often, very similar storylines/characters) so it makes sense that other forms of media would be the same way.



And I didn't mean to single out your entry, lol, it was simply the only entry (and what got me started thinking) and I didn't know how else to explain what I was wondering. I'm sorry if that upset you in anyway, and thanks for helping with your explanation.

Now if I could convince someone to do my rise of nations idea... (Since I would have no idea how to begin, lol)

Anyway, thanks again, everyone!

~Jalyha

Why don`t you start by looking The Settlers of Catan? Might give you a headstart.
Think about it, Rise of Nations is a game about domination right? By Culture, Military or Diplomacy. So start by that, you objective is to destroy other nations.
You choose between lets say 10 nations, each one with bonus (China high population / EUA big military / Japan Robotics, etc that`s up to you).
By combat you don`t have to reinvent the wheel, start with something simple like Risk, you use dices, if your dices are bigger, you win the battle, fight, war etc.

Just let your imagination do the rest, you have many elements from videogames that can be used in boargames, and vice-versa. Hope I could help in some way.
See this site for some references:
BoardGameGeek | Forum | BoardGameGeek

Board Game Design:
From Zero to Pitch: A Walkthrough for Game Designers ? Game Development ? Tuts+ Tutorials

[Salama]

Man but time flies by. I'd really like to participate in this, and I have already started with my board, but I'm not sure if I have time to finish it... Wouldn't want my first challenge to fail =).