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Should I pursue an idea at all if it uses already owned intellectual property

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Mon, 03/03/2014 - 18:18
Castlemaster
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I had a game idea, and I think it could become an excellent themed game. As a pitch, it would be like, "Talisman set in Planescape". The map would just be Sigil (an interplanar nexus shaped like a doughnut). Each ward (section) would get a random encounter card, and you would have a quest card directing your next action.

My question might be predictable at this point: should I even work on it if I know that I'll have to pay Wizards of the Coast for permission to use the Planescape intellectual property? Since this is a thematic game, and I have never found anything like Planescape, it would seem bland without the exact setting.

Feedback?

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Mon, 03/03/2014 - 18:42
#1
questccg
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Sounds familiar...

Well just a week back somebody asked about Monopoly rights and was considering making an expansion for that game.

Although you want to create a whole NEW game, the intellectual rights issues seem to be similar.

So I'll echo what designers thought:

  1. If you do it Print-And-Play I doubt anyone will object
  2. If you use The Game Crafter and charge near cost, you will need to concern yourself and make sure artwork is original not copies.

I am very familiar with the Planescape concept (Blood Wars) because I collected that CCG's cards when the game was no longer popular... Basically I bought left overs and started collecting them that way.

I also bought Torment (Sample link to the game) which was a Video Game released in 1999.

I really liked the Planescape setting, it is rather unique.

But WOTC is owned by Hasbro and therefore you would need to use an agent to broker your game. And the other problem is the ONLY possible outcome for publication is via WOTC... One publisher to market/sell your game is not great...

Sometimes you need to shop around before you find the RIGHT publisher... You may not get this opportunity considering you would need to deal with an agent.

Also we all know that royalties for games are not very high in the tabletop business. Imagine how low they will be if you need to deal with an agent?! :(

I would say: "Inspire yourself based on the Planescape Universe - but stay away from exact copying." I'm sure you can create a new setting which will have Planescape elements. This way you can sell your game to any publisher!

Good luck with your game!

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Mon, 03/03/2014 - 18:56
#2
Castlemaster
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Thanks for the feedback! My

Thanks for the feedback!

My biggest question was mainly about the economic fallout of using established IP.

I loved Torment as well, and trying to use the setting without copying would be difficult since it is so unique.

Thanks for the help.

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Mon, 03/03/2014 - 19:02
#3
questccg
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Fiction???

Do you know if they produced any BOOKS in the Planescape universe?

I'm kind of old - but still I like Fantasy fiction and I would imagine that the book titles would tell pretty unique stories...

Just wondering...!

Update: I have seen AD&D books but I don't think they ever produced novels (Fiction) like Forgotten Realms did.

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Mon, 03/03/2014 - 19:59
#4
Castlemaster
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There was the novel based on

There was the novel based on Planescape: Torment which was considered horrible. There was another small book series called the Blood wars I think. I read it over a decade ago (as a teenager), and it followed two people and their mentor. It probably did not sell that well as I remember trying to find other novels to no avail.

Also, in case you don't know, this happened: https://torment.inxile-entertainment.com/

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Mon, 03/03/2014 - 21:48
#5
McTeddy
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Let me teach you a secret

Let me teach you a secret technique that MANY designers use.

Make your game using the IP, do all of the playtesting and rule changes. Follow all of the steps you'd usually put into making a game.

When you finish, re-theme it. There are more than a few board games out there that were originally created based on copyrighted material.

- - -
Honestly, you aren't going to get permission from WOTC. Large companies will rarely even talk with lesser known designers since they usually do in-house work on their IPs.

Even if they do talk to you and like your product... the prices they will charge you will probably be more than you'll ever make. Money-wise... It won't be worth it.

Finally, as a planescape fan... I'd advice against it simply because there isn't enough of a fan-base to justify losing a massive piece of your pie.

Use the IP simply to drive your own design. When you are ready... split it off into your own unique world.

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Mon, 03/03/2014 - 22:02
#6
ExplodingDesk
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Here's an idea. It seems like

Here's an idea. It seems like you've already got the bare bones of your game design. Design the game, and keep the theme to a minimum. Playtest and ask your playtesters what themes it evokes for them. Then use them to help come up with your own theme. Ditch the idea of using Planescape- there are plenty of other themes. You could even make up a totally new world like the guy who did the game Lagoon that just kickstarted.

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Wed, 03/05/2014 - 09:59
#7
Castlemaster
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Thanks for the suggestions

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've been working on a prototype, and it is like Talisman, but the board is much smaller (6 spaces), and you have an "event" at each space (drawn from a deck) that you can choose to try to complete (each with their own risk and reward).

It could fit into alot of themes, but one idea I like is each space has an alignment attached (like in Planescape) as well as characters you play. I would like these to have influences on the events and abilities.

I agree that trying to do Planescape would simply not work out. I just want to make sure I have a theme that I thoroughly enjoy at the end of the day.

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