Online F2P Game is commercial ?

[??????]

Hello RPG Makers,

This is something I have been pondering for a while so I decided I would finally get some of your guy's opinions on...

Basically, *IF* there was an rpg maker made game, free to download, free to play. This game has simple online features, such as; auction house ( sell the equipment you create to other players, buy their equip /items /whatever) online high scores, online mail sending system, trade (with players) , things like that. It would NOT allow for online battles.

If given a prompt, you/others would donate to such a project with nothing being given in return. All donations would be used to improve features within the game / add new features to the game / make new games with new features (again, free to download/play).

Alternatively, Do you think that you/others would be more likely to donate to the game project if you where 'rewarded' in some way for your contribution, for example, lets say there is an in-game trading card game that all the locals go nuts for, ALL cards are obtainable from playing the game; however, if you donated i dunno, say $2, you got a rare 'card pack' as a reward. The pack is guaranteed to obtain 2 rare cards 3 uncommon cards ( or whatever ). Also, if you wanted to donate more the rewards would also become greater, maybe things like legendary equipment which would be difficult to obtain in-game or valuable materials or whatever..

Basically, do you think it would be likely that the aforementioned game would generate enough donations to cover the cost of maintaining the server and provide the people who contribute (to the game creation) a small donation as incentive to continue providing to such a project?

Finally, If such a game did exist, would you class it as a commercial game?

Also, just to clarify, the donation rewards would always be something that is obtainable within the game; therefore, you would not be able to simply 'donate to win'...

 

[Andar]

That question has been asked before, and it depends on personal opinion.


For example, Victor clearly states in his TOS that he considers a game commercial (and requires purchasing a licence for his scripts) if there is any way to get money for the game - even if the game itself will be free.


Other people however do not consider a donation button a commercial game.


The model "F2P but pay for better game options" should be considered commercial in my own opinion, especially if online/multiplayer - but that's my opinion, and others might see this different.


And the only people whose opinion on this you really need is from those artists, musicians or scripters where some of your resources come from - because those are the people who can stop your game by revoking their licences/work if they don't agree.

 

[??????]

Yea I am of the same opinion, I feel that it would be classed as a commercial project as it would be generating an income (of sorts). The fact that the generated income would be primarily used for server costs doesn't really stop me from thinking it would be classed as commercial.

Also, I guess you are right about its the resource artists decision as they could all agree that its not commercial or all decide it is.. and in turn, take legal action against the game distributor...

 

[Nosleinad]

  I would also classify this game in the commercial category, as there are risks that someone who contributed might demand explanations is any kind of revenue is made, EVEN if there are no benefits to the player (just a donate buttom).

  So in this case, everything must be well managed to avoid some legal troubles.

 

[??????]

Yea, I think for such a project, it would be best to ensure everyone is "reading from the same book" as it where ^_^

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

IMHO, I would consider that commercial since it has built-in support for something that might make money (donations). Most that I've seen consider donations as still commercial. And if that Auction House can actually use real-life money by default, then it will just make me see it more as a commercial project.


Anyway, better ask the makers of each resource in case that's what ur after

 

[Necromus]

Funny, I just read an article about that, ad atleast in the EU, this won't be based on opinion anymore.

They strive to forbid anyone from using the term free to play, for any game that includes buyable content.

 

[??????]

Yea I kind of get that. The thing that really annoys me is when I pay a high value for a game that then has additional purchasable content..

I'm the kind of person that wants to have everything in their game; therefore, for games like COD::Ghosts, I find it a requirement to buy all the crappy new camo's and character skins. Even though I dislike most of them...

Also though, I dont mind paying for additional content when the game is also reasonably priced / free. I spent over 3000 GBP playing an F2P mmorpg called PWi, spent uncountable amounts on various other games like clash of clans etcc.. Currently sitting at about 90GBP for the current Ghosts content I have ( and i dont have it all )

Kind of went slightly off point there :/

 

[Tsukihime]

And the only people whose opinion on this you really need is from those artists, musicians or scripters where some of your resources come from - because those are the people who can stop your game by revoking their licences/work if they don't agree.

A silly little "terms of use" on the script or website is enough to do that?


I just add it there to scare people, but I didn't know it had that kind of power lol

 

[Necromus]

Its just a "silly little bit of text" but yea, it can turn into violation of intellectual rights pretty fast, if you push for it.

 

[Andar]

A silly little "terms of use" on the script or website is enough to do that?


I just add it there to scare people, but I didn't know it had that kind of power lol

That text gives you the legal right to call someone violating it to court.
This also means that you have to pay a lawyer to get to court, but those payments will have to be repaid by the other party after the court decides that there was a violation.


The only reason why this is mostly done by companies is that you don't know before wether the people breaching the TOS have the money to pay back your expenses for the lawyers - it doesn't help most people to know that they are owed the money if there is no way to get that money back, and the lawyers usually expect you to pay them before going to courts, so claiming your rights can be problematic.


But that doesn't change the fact that by placing the Terms-Of-Service/Use you are getting those legal rights...

 

[??????]

There is also some pretty clever no-win-no-fee type law cases and if you can prove you are the rightful owner and that someone has violated these terms you can take them for everything they have, which as mentioned, may not be very much :/

Its enough to deter some folk, but other know that even if sued, they wont lose very much ^_^

Edit

~There are also ways that people can get around your terms (unfortunately). For example, most good script writers would find it easy enough to re-write a piece of work if they have read over it a few times. Just the same as a good graphical artists would find it easy to recreate you work completely from scratch :/

Of course, with images its slightly different as the underlying graphic must be similar, where with scripts, the code can be 100% different and perform similar functions :/

 

[Andar]

~There are also ways that people can get around your terms (unfortunately). For example, most good script writers would find it easy enough to re-write a piece of work if they have read over it a few times.


Of course, with images its slightly different as the underlying graphic must be similar, where with scripts, the code can be 100% different and perform similar functions :/

If they are good enough scripters to rewrite it in a different code, then they are good enough scripters not to need your code to do that.
That said, it's usually easier and faster to write your own code instead of rewriting the code from someone else (because you have to understand it if you want to rewrite instead of just copying it).


So especially in the case of scripts, the terms of use can't easily be circumvented...

 

[??????]

Well, of course, if you had sufficient scripting experience, it would be quicker to write your own code. No arguing there

I was just stating that it could 'easily' be done. Think of the scripts that you have written after seeing someone elses script, even if your script doesnt do the same thing, it can inspire you to a certain extent...