hi: i have 1 design doc and 3 concept docs. I am sending my cv and will send this dosc too but some people told me that i should protect myself. like they could copy everything and not hire me. is this too paranoid or just the real world out there? how can you protect an idea? (c) 1982 Sinclair Research Ltd, 0:1

You can''t, at least not if you''re going about it that way. You need to pay close attention to the companies you''re applying to, because they may even state explicitly that they will immediately destroy any unsolicited game ideas they receive. The potential for legal entanglements is just too great for them. If you want to get a game developer''s attention, my suggestion to you would be to send them a package with excerpts of game development related content that you''ve created (docs, artwork, etc.).

On a side note, keep in mind that developers almost never accept game concepts from external sources, preferring to turn to in-house teams for their game design concepts, or at least to experienced independent developers with whom they have a relationship.

If you have a good game design and want to get a developer''s attention, why not try to start your own project? Or even better, join one that''s already in progress.

Just some suggestions.

R.

well, if you are applying for a game design position you have to show them somehow that you can design. i have some basic games but the games i cant make alone are in paper.


http://www.amiganr1.com

Do they ask for any kind of specific material?

If you look at BioWare, they have a special form you have to send along with any samples releasing them of any legal obligations to you. This is a good example of how this type of problem should be dealt with, in my opinion.

If they expect to see complete design docs as portfolio pieces, then all you can do is clearly mark ''Copyright 2002'' with your name on every page (in the footer, for example) and hope for the best.

BTW, why do you post from two different but similar accounts?

R.

Just a note: don''t send anything unless they asked you to. That is, don''t send out game designs speculatively in the hope of landing a job. They will generally refuse to look at it, because in the event of them releasing a game that happens to be similar to your idea, they don''t want to risk any kind of legal issues. On the other hand, ideas themselves are not copyrightable, and they could steal them anyway providing they were careful not to rip off any of the actual phrases or designs you used. So either way, you are unlikely to benefit and could possibly lose out.

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Usually entry level design positions are level design positions, and what most of them want are maps you''ve created using some map editor. Like a Quake map or some Starcraft maps or something.

yes, i have quake maps and games where you can see some level design too but rare asks for game ideas for example.

i could send them an example and a link to my website where they can see the whole thing. then they dont have legal problems because they read it on the internet.. i guess.

i dont care about them stealing ideas. ideas are just the first step and implementing them is what is difficult.

about my multiple personalities....well,i forgot my password and re registered but while i was registering i remembered it so i...well.

(c) 1982 Sinclair Research Ltd, 0:1

If they actually ask for game ideas, I would assume they have some system set up to protect them from legal liability, or else they don''t care. So in that case just follow their directions. In general sending ideas unsolicited is a bad idea though.

so...
it is ok to have the design docs and concepts in a website
and
it is not ok to send them to companies.

right?

what about people visiting the website? can you sue them? lol.

http://www.amiganr1.com

The difference is that it''s easy to prove that you sent them something, and not easy at all to prove they read your website. So many of them have a clear and public policy not to read unsolicited submissions so that it covers them in this sort of case.

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