And I have written a rough draft design document that I would love to share with some intelligent, creative people for feedback and constructive criticism, i.e. you all, but I am somewhat concerned about protecting the intellectual property rights of the idea. I do believe it would be an entertaining thread for conversation - at least for a few days anyway. Is simply putting copyright 2002 and my real name on each page sufficient in your experience with such issues? Let me also say that I have no illusions about making money off of the idea or anything like that. I know no one simply buys ideas and I am too far along in my chosen career path to pursue a job in the gaming industry. I''m just a big fan with ideas and I would love to play this game! I would like to freely put the design in the hands of an interested group/company that could get the game made, but before starting down that road, I thought it would be fun to run the design idea by this astute group for review and comment. The reason I would like to, for now, retain some control over the commercial use of the idea is that I would like to have some control over who gets to legally run with it. Does any of that make sense or do I just need a trout slap? -Lochnar

i''m actually thinking the same thing. i won''t post any of my ideas on the internet.. cause u can''t copyright ideas... just how they''re implemented. bummer eh?

"The human mind is limited only by the bounds which we impose upon ourselves." -iNfuSeD

Yeah, ideas are a funny thing. You can''t exactly copyright an "idea" but you can copyright your implementation of that idea. For instance, a specific character, place, story, game engine etc.

Technically, (in the US anyway), as soon as you create something (like a character drawing, story etc.) it is copy written by you. Registering a physical copy of the content with the Library of Congress, copy right office:

http://www.loc.gov/copyright/

Only helps to support that the content is yours. And besides, you don''t have to worry unless your idea hasn''t been done before ever in history and if you think it is feasible enough for someone with a lack of creativity and morals to take and use.
On the other hand you might generate ideas to spawn in others and they may give feedback and also cause you to think a bit more.
to post, or not to post...

-Sage13

Liquid Moon Team

Project X2

Thanks for the input. I''ll post my draft outline under a separate thread with a copyright notice on it FWIW. I know I can''t bring the idea to fruition by myself and it won''t happen without getting it to a group who is intrigued enough by it to try to make it happen. I see this forum board as the most logical first step in that direction.

-Lochnar

I wouldn´t worry too much about anyone stealing your idea. Every game development studio has enough of their own ideas they´re just waiting to get a chance to do... ideas are a dime a dozen.

Especially if you´re not intending to develop it yourself I really see no harm in posting it here, name and copyright info will do.
If it´s really something special you´ll have to keep it to yourself.