Obtain the Rights or Re-Write the Game??

[LandonSuffered]

SO...the last week or so I've had a full-blown brain storm blasting through my skull with a game concept I am super-excited about.  I am at the point where I'm jotting down a lot of solid notes for various chapters trying to capture my thoughts before the enthusiasm wanes.  However, here's the problem: I'm not really inventing a new game, I'm reinventing an old one.

The game is Gamma World, most recently published in its 6th edition by White Wolf's Sword & Sorcery Studios under the D20 system.  As of 2005 the rights to the game reverted back to WOTC and it now appears to be out-of-print.

SO the gist...I am writing a post-apocalyptic game that borrows heavily from the first three editions of the game, while re-defining how most task resolutions work.  In addition, I am taking a stab at the old "transition" concept first discussed in the Scattershot forum.

Why am I doing this to myself? Well...I have quite a few reasons that I don't need to list here for purposes of this post.  Suffice is to say, I have a great concept and I'm writing it up.  If I complete it, I will attempt to publish it.

Now the question is: should I make some sort of effort to obtain the rights to Gamma World from WOTC?  Or should I instead try to package it as my own post-apocalyptic game, re-naming all the proper names and game-specific creatures, etc.?  The game system I'm using bears almost no resemblance to the D20 version of the game, but some tables/game systems are identical (or nearly so) to the 1st and 2nd edition of the game.  I'd prefer to have the name recognition of "Gamma World" and would really prefer NOT to have to come up with alternative names to "centisteeds," "Knights of Genetic Purity," etc.  On the other hand, I don't have thousands of dollars to shell out to WOTC!

[I am posting this question here because it pertains to issues of Copyright and Intellectual Property]

[iago]

Have you taken a look at Darwin's World?  I believe that's an RPGNow favorite that basically hit the GammaWorld trope in its own way, by filing the serial numbers off.

I'm betting you'd find acquiring the Gamma World rights to be financially prohibitive, if not a legal nightmare as well...

[LandonSuffered]

Darwin's World is one, and Omega World (by Jonathan Tweet) is another that has "filed off the serial numbers."  However, both are D20 systems and were published prior to GW D20.

What makes this all the more troublesome is that it appears I'll have to review multiple sources in order to "file off the numbers."  For example:

Gamma World Cryptic Alliance:  Zoopremists
Omega World Cryptic Alliance:  Zoopremacists

What a pain in the ass!

[Ron Edwards]

Hiya,

It's not really as if you have to justify this to me or to anyone reading - but simply because I'm not seeing it at all, can you explain why your plans with this game design include publishing?

Best, Ron

[LandonSuffered]

Because I want to share my creation with others. Because I want to consider myself a game designer, not just a game hobbyist.  Because I'd like to put something out there in the world that I can be proud of and that speaks to my interest in role-playing games. 

Shit...I don't know, Ron.  I guess it comes down to ego more than anything.  I could just continue to collect and read PRGs, or I could get off my ass and contribute to the market.

Even before finding the Forge in 2005, I wanted to design games...I created two (un-published and not-that-great) board games the year prior to realizing this site existed, and took my first stabs at home-brewed RPGs way back in elementary school.  Since finding the Forge I've made three or four attempts at putting together an RPG, using the theory and discussion presented here. But nothing ever got past the half-formed (or half-assed) stage before losing interest/enthusiasm or discovering an already published game duplicating the same ideas.

"Game Designer" (with or without the "Award Winning" prefix attached) is not a title I'm searching for. But it would be pretty cool if I could turn my creativity into something concrete.

And I think this particular game would be fun for others. I like the post-apocalyptic genre.  I've owned Gamma World and Rifts and TMNT and Sorcerer & Sword and Car Wars, and I've played Twilight 2000 and After The Bomb. Most games are kind of a mess (D20, Rifts) and some games are either too intense for the role-players I know (Sorcerer & Sword) or fails to satisfy (octaNe). I want a low buy-in, accessible game that helps players transition to more intense role-playing.  I want something that can duplicate Mad Max, The Blood of Heroes, Thundarr, or Battle for the Planet of the Apes.

Since I don't see what I want on the market, and I see a way to get what I want, I need to design my own game.  But the publishing thing?  I guess that's mostly ego.

I will try play-testing it prior to publishing it...the only reason I asked about the licensing thing now is that I'd rather know at the outset that I need to start changing names and faces. My working title is "Gamma 7," but that's easily shifted to something else.

[Ron Edwards]

Well, here's a solution.

Write the game and present it for free on the internet, as a personal tribute to the source material. That would satisfy all the needs you stated, I think. You didn't mention anything about commerce.

Now, how legal is it? Check with a lawyer. It may be that the company which owns the property can shut you down, or it may be that they cannot, I don't know. It all depends on whether commerce is the central concern. If they can't, they might try anyway, or maybe if they can, they might decide not to. But find out from someone who is paid to understand these things and to advise clients about them.

That, then, would be the solution to the conundrum you feel trapped in, now that I understand that commerce isn't part of your vision. It may be that you aren't facing any dilemma at all.

Best, Ron

[LandonSuffered]

Sound, sound advice.  My friends have been trying to get me back into law school for the last ten years or so...too bad I never did.

While commerce isn't a major concern (I'm not trying to quit my day job just yet) I wouldn't mind getting some kind of return for my effort.  But you know what?  This really is putting the cart before the horse.  Hell, this whole thread may just be procrastination.

I wrote a chapter today and two things struck me: a) it feels damn good to write this stuff up, and b) this could easily morph into a much different game.  For right now, I'm going to worry about getting everything down first, then playtesting, and then publishing. 

Fortuitously, I ran into an old college gamer buddy of mine today; he's also a visual artist. I got his card and we're going to grab a drink later this week.  I don't know if he still games, but until I saw him on the street I was wondering where I'd get art for this opus.  One thing at a time I guess.

[to sum up: thanks for the feedback; I'm heading back to the lab now...]