Whats the best way to give credit?

[Dungeonmind]

I was just wondering if the way I plan would be the best way to credit people for there works when I use my game Commercially.

I would include a notepad with all Credits to all people with the game install and also at the end of the game when the player beats the game I would show credits to all people.

Would this be acceptable, what is the best option in your oppinion?

 

[??????]

Some people also include a credits option on their main game title screen - thats not really a requirement though, more a personal preference.
Other than that (and the two methods you mentioned) I dont think there is much more you could do

 

[Shaz]

I think credits IN the game is sufficient - either from the main menu, or at the end of the game. I doubt many people would navigate to the game's folder and look at a text file containing the details.


Look at the way "professional" games do it - I don't think I've EVER seen one that put credits in a text file - they were always displayed by default at the end, and some had the option to view them from the menu.

 

[??????]

Yea, it seems to be mostly arcade games that show them at the main game title.

Also - dont forget... Bigger games (like GTA / COD) may even show some of the main dev team credit during the opening cutscene

 

[Dungeonmind]

Ya thats what I thought, but if you think about it, some people may not be alright with JUST the credits at the end of the game because what if you can't beat the game, then there really was no credit given kind of. I was just wondering what would be MOST acceptable where nobody could get mad. I do like the Credits in the title screen menu, that would be a nice touch, but I think that putting another option in the main menu covers to much of my title screen in my eyes, maybe if we add it to the Main Menu, that would be acceptable.

 

[??????]

Dont think I have ever seen a credit list within an in game menu - but there isnt a reason I can think of for why that shouldnt be done

 

[Dungeonmind]

I would prefer to have them at the end of the game just wondering if people could get upset about that, to me its more fun that way as they would have to beat your game to see the credits   meaning its another person who can see your fine works you created with there help

 

[Kes]

I agree that people are less likely to navigate their way to a separate text file - with two exceptions.  I think when it comes to music, people often want to know more details.  If as part of your end of game credits, you were to specifically flag up that more details can be found in the [whatever name] file, then I think people do look.  The same goes for resource packs; people often like to know what's in there.

What I have seen a couple of times, which I personally find tedious beyond words, is where the credits are listed at the beginning of the game.  Particularly if I'm playing a demo to find out if I want to buy it, I do not want to sit through some minutes (6 in one case, I timed it) before I find out what the game is like.

I don't think people get upset at all about the credits being at the end.  At least, I've never seen any complaints from people along the lines of "I couldn't finish the game, so I never found out who did the awesome [whatever]".  If someone is that keen to know, then they are the very people who would navigate to a separate file.  So to cover all bases, put both in.

 

[Lars Ulrika]

Personally I ALWAYS check the read me files.  

Actually I think it doesn't hurt to make a text file for curious people who won't necessarily beat the game but wonder who did what.  

 

[Napoleon]

Some licenses require a copy of the license along with the game's distribution. So often you end up with both a credits scene AND a folder with the licenses, you have no real choice then.

Example: MS-PL for game without closed source:

 If you distribute any portion of the software in source code form, you may do so only under this license by including a complete copy of this license with your distribution <snip>

Besides, some licenses are way too big to put in a credits section. Some require like 5-6 lines of text including url's in it (like the CC4 licenses that have no proper attribution instructions). You don't want that in your scrolling-credits-scene. Most people on the forums seem to just ignore it but technically you would have to at least add an extra text file to the project (referenced in the scrolling credits screen somewhere to make them 'clear') which contains the full credit-details including all required url's, license-copy's, all author's aliases, etc.

But I believe that 80% of the people violate the above and most don't even know it. And probably 90% of the copyright holders don't care anyway and don't even know about it themselves.

Even a SINGLE member+ graphic requires the following credits (March 2014, enigma sample) which is already 2 lines unless you have more than one member+ graphic from the same year:

© 2014 DEGICA Co., LTD;
Artist: VexedEnigma

The other problem here is that you usually want the format like in the movies (artist section, then list of names). You probably don't want "Artist: <name>" and you don't want

The other problem is that you may get something like:

© 2013 DEGICA Co., LTD;

© 2014 DEGICA Co., LTD;

© 2015 DEGICA Co., LTD;

But I'm not sure if you could combine them to just 2015. I think you can.

And the list goes on. So I personally prefer a text file to 'dump' all such credits to keep the ingame one clean. And all people with 'annoyingly large credits' go into the file. Problem solved.

 

[whitesphere]

The games I've played either show credits at the end of the game, or after some significant in-universe event.  The Harvest Moon games tend to show them after the main character gets married, for example.

 

[Ralpf]

Dont think I have ever seen a credit list within an in game menu - but there isnt a reason I can think of for why that shouldnt be done

That's actually pretty common in my experience, in the main menu in a lot of modern games you can go to a credit section and it will play the credits. It's especially common in games which you can/may never "beat", such as Civilization V which has them in an "other" section.

 

[Ultimacj]

For mine (but let me know if this incorrectly done)

the Credit for my project is in the instruction manual as well as when the player beats the game there is a credit roll.

 

[EnMod]

On the topic of credits on the title menu, how would one go about doing that?  I don't think I've come across a plugin that does it, is there not a script call I can add to rpg_scenes.js that would do it? Very new to RMMV advanced techniques and would appreciate the help. 

 

[JosephSeraph]

You could probably just use scrolling text.

 

[EnMod]

How would I pop up that text itself though? I feel like I would need to edit rpg_scenes.js to add the necessary function call to the others that live on the title screen, but I'm not sure if that's the best way.

 

[byronclaude]

My Opinion:  Go for the cinematic experience!  Place very important credits for heaviest contributions during the opening scene...  then role all credits during the ending sequence.     

 

[Prodigy 1216]

My opinion:

1) Do credits during intros If and only if your game contains massive project with serious story line.A media of credit is also effective.

2) Show appreciation during gameplay, like in TROVE online game, every equipment has tags of the authors.

3) Do parodies(I strongly recommend this if you are making comedic game). Who does not like laughing? I am really sure everyone likes em, so in addition of comedic gameplay, parodies help you credit people. 'Manzai' method is surely strong to credit people,  although it may results in annoying characters.

 

[FM77]

Dont think I have ever seen a credit list within an in game menu - but there isnt a reason I can think of for why that shouldnt be done

FF 13 for PC (I can't confirm 360, I gave away) has a "Credits" in the pause menu under inventory/status and stuff, it freaked me out. I thought about making a script to do that but I doubt anyone would use it and just think it was annoying.

 

[Eric_SD-RPG-Studio]

I think end game credits is ok. It's a common practice and accept by every forms of media, including movies, books, TV shows. It's been that way for so long. We should make a text file credits for the Demo, since the game has no ending yet.