I would like to ask everyone/anyone!
If you have a new concept idea for an open world game, but have no experience in game building, designing or coding.
What is the best way to go about it?
What are the legal issues and is there a need for copyright applications?
I would recommend Firstly starting with a Game Template from the Marketplace that has most of the basic features you desire. Secondly, seek developers to join your project to build the unique features. Thirdly, reverse engineer the template and learn unrealengine in the process. Thatās what Iām doing with ExORION Survivor. From my experience it has been really tough to grab the attention of fellow developers with concepts that are too radical. Thus Iāve been developing my game concept solo.
Hi
Thank you for the reply, I appreciate the suggestions.
I was thinking about searching for the best way to pitch the idea and concept of the game as I feel out of my depth and comfort zone just opening the unreal engine platform.
The idea and concept of the game āwithout insulting Rockstarā would make GTAV look like Tetris on the gameboy.
I was hoping for maybe a suggestion or link of somewhere to go to pitch the idea.
Itās too big and complex for me to even consider trying to make, without giving anything away or putting the idea online.
I will say that it could change gaming development and strategies, as it would never repeat its outcome or ever end.
Ah, in that case, I recommend stating āseek suggestions or links of somewhere to go to pitch the ideaā in your first post. My recommendations are still applicable to pitching your idea. You pitch your idea with a working prototype. Nowadays ideas can be expressed interactively, especially with UnrealEngine.
You could most likely find the Corporate Website of these Studios you wish to pitch your idea. Keep in mind many Studios have their own Idea people and the people to make those ideas a reality. You most likely will not receive any compensation or credit,if youāre idea piggybacks their IP.
If your idea is that good, why not pursue it yourself?
Thatās what I thought would happen.
I have been burnt in the past by saying too much online with good ideas.
I think I will write the idea and concept down with a script style story board, then seek a patent beforehand.
Thanks for the reality check, I think I needed the kick.
This one is too good to let go of, I donāt think I could walk away from it and let someone else take control.
Epic is offering huge grants, but three things about your predicament, as it is a place I know wellā¦
2a. Ideas cannot be copy-written or patented, only the execution canā¦
2b. The copyright / patent office is more corrupt than Epsteinās Island.
but you already know all this, so Iāll share another gemā¦
Iām in the same boat and willing to lay it all on the line - go all in - as it wereā¦
Alfa Channel presents āThe Great Workā a serialized action adventure game where Valkyrie recruit famous warriors from throughout history to help stop a Coven and Vampire Cabal from opening our plane to Cthulhu, Yog Shoggoth and the Eldritch Horrors. Youāre a new Valkyrie on a Mission from God to stop the Destruction of the Galaxyā¦ and yes, it never ends. Like Dr. Who, only with Angels against Warp Demons; somewhere between here and Warhammer. We have a Hoverboard in an anti-gravity city, a dynamic Portal-Based Inventory System - and an Online Multiplayer lounge where players can hang out, swap war stories, show off trophies, gamble and most importantly Exit Through the Gift Shop. We have two novels - already up on youtube as audiobooks, a comic book - and will offer featured merchandise for each episode. A lot of stuff is centered hereā¦ www.AshleyFox.Ninja
Hereās a hoverboarding demoā¦ Angel City Sky Dancer - YouTube
Hereās the novelsā¦ Legacy of a Mad Scientist & The Legend of Ashley Fox - YouTube
Iām not saying any of this to show off or flex. Most of my work is amateur tier. My goal is to encourage you to take a risk by exposing my own plans. Of course, weāve got lots more lined up, but right now, itās one step at a time.
In the mean time, get to know every asset in the marketplace and start reaching out to people who have already created something along the lines of what you are looking for.
Everyone has ideas but few people the knowledge to do it. Iāve seen enough not to trust people, posting your idea or prototype somewhere gets it stolen. Do it yourself or set up proper contracts, donāt share too much online.
JCarrick and Roy Wierer
Thank you for the replies.
I appreciate the feedback.
I would like to say that what I am thinking of has never been done. The concept would change everything.
As far as becoming rich from it, thatās not my goal.
My goal would be to create something that people canāt stop playing, talk about it but refuse to discuss there own progress.
This is something thatās not only going to change gaming, but change the way gamers interact with each other online.
With the patent side of things, any idea can be copyrighted as long as your clear about what it is your protecting.
Ideas canāt be copyrighted at all. Even if your game turns out to be amazing, anyone can come along and basically clone the idea, and make their own copycat and directly compete with you.
Try and pay for an IRL meeting with a lawyer who can advise. As you may not like it, but the reality is your idea may not be that special or that original or that unique at all. Just reality. If so, donāt take it too hard. 
And if it is a killer, then celebrate as thatās like winning the lottery. 
Even when illegal, china does not care. Beyond app clones you have everything from car clones to gift shop clones.
As far as I have researched.
A copyright can be used to protect the storyboard of the concept, under the category ofā¦.
ā * original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic work, including illustration and photography
So if the concept and idea is published as a storyline in the presentation of a storyboard, then it can be protected.
But I do hear what youāre saying, when a country doesnāt have copyright laws in the country like China/Russia then protecting from copy-cat is a nightmare.
Protecting is always a nightmare. You can throw money at services to give you extra protection in case there is going to be a legal nightmare. There are even services which claim damages for you if they crawl your stolen work on the webs. But if anyone operates in middle of nowhere desert land on some server in some country, itās just not going to be taken down for devs like us. If someone decides to clone your gift shop there and ship in the millions then thatās that usuallyā¦ Itās also a sad fact that certain countries are known for this and that there are plenty of apps to connect for example the netherlands to china so people can buy clones here at questionable quality but 1%-10% the original price. Your question is not about a physical product but the same concept applies for ideas. People smell money from half the world away and will take it from you. Keep it close.
After you are done with the concept and have a product to sell, you face the same question for the application but different laws will apply too. There can be copycat applications and it can be pirated. Makes me ashamed to be human. It is very very difficult to make proper sales in the game development world and you will face the same danger with random people, marketplaces, even customers. Just be cautious and try to have fun, donāt spend all your money in the hopes one app will get it back for you.
Hmmmā¦ I donāt really have much to add here, other than Iām glad I took a look down the rabbit hole! Itās nice to know that there are others in the same boat, but whatās really interesting to me are the ways that different people tackle the subject.
Iāve been around long enough to understand that this world can be tough and unforgiving. Create and live like you mean it, but by all means make sure to protect your interests. Eventually you will have to share your ideas with the world if you ever want to be seen or taken seriouslyā¦ otherwise it will remain a hobby just for yourself and in the end may wind up being an opportunity missed.
Creating something and then making a presence, whether on YT or some other platform, that showcases your work is probably the best that a solo or indie can do in terms of protection and thatās exactly what it looks like youāre doing. Iām a fan and will be following suit as time allows. Keep it up!
Thank you XRayGunner - We live for this and hope to make such a big splash everyone gets wet!
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