This is a question about book publishing. Im currently starting up a gamedev studio that will be working on a game that has a lot of history/background information. The idea is to have alot of short stories about all the famous characters and events hosted on the website. If I wanted to collect these stories and try releasing them as a book would I have more difficulty because they are freely available on the website? if I would have more troubles, might it b be a better idea to release it as a limited 'collectable' edition type thing?

If the short stories are written by your staff and belong to your studio, you have the legal right to publish them. You really think people will want to buy enough of them to offset printing costs, though? Or if it's going to be an e-book, that's not much different than what you've already got.

It's a compilation, easily copyrightable and publishable. Just make sure, as the original author, your thumbprint is indelible on the copy. Half the time, when doing historical research, like I do for other writing projects, putting them into the context that fits the statement you want the story to make, it's editorial intent, is usually sufficient work. You'll need to do that anyway to make the content compelling enough to attract and keep readers. Originality is always the best copyright. :P


A collectible edition has really got to have some targeted appeal and a pretty tight focus on that segmentation targeted. Rough examples might include, "The last of the Bronze Swords used by conquerors" or, "when iron obsolesced the Bronze age tyrants." Food for thought, look at the bookstore shelves out there and see what is selling.


Adventuredesign