tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26698620.post1569274470657553103..comments2014-03-12T04:26:59.037-05:00Comments on postGeek: Why I Hesitate to Get Into Licensed GamesFulminatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14332824290977548527noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26698620.post-22026538186431781142011-02-15T14:56:48.295-06:002011-02-15T14:56:48.295-06:00That's good to hear! I will probably pick up ...That's good to hear! I will probably pick up Leverage at some point despite my concerns, but would love to have a Cortex Plus rulebook available. <br /><br />One of the reasons I only mentioned Dresden Files briefly is because I figured you're in a fairly enviable position in regards to your relationship with Jim Butcher, plus the rules themselves are covered under the OGL, so if something was to happen to the license, the rules could still be extracted and made available, and almost certainly would be.<br /><br />Now that it's been mentioned, I suppose this is also a decent solution to the problem. If a game's rules are covered by the OGL, then there's a lot less concern over the license going away because anyone could extract the rules and make them available.<br /><br />FYI: I ended up reading some of the Dresden Files books because of the RPG rather than the other way around. I was completely unaware of the series until I first heard about the game being under development back in 2007, and decided to check it out so that I'd be aware of what the game was all about.Fulminatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14332824290977548527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26698620.post-28136962590630003762011-02-15T09:49:26.503-06:002011-02-15T09:49:26.503-06:00I'm pretty confident a lot of the value of the...I'm pretty confident a lot of the value of the Leverage RPG will manifest in a more generalized Cortex Plus product at some point. And with the Dresden Files RPG, much of what we do there will likely manifest in more perpetually available Fate products down the line. (It also helps that Evil Hat has a very positive relationship with Jim Butcher, which means we may be able to keep the DFRPG available for quite some time.)<br /><br />Even so, your points are well-taken, though I still I remain a fan of licenses for a variety of reasons I don't have the time to get into here. I'd also observe, however, that something being non-licensed doesn't necessarily provide a greater guarantee of it not suddenly vanishing at some point.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08362641974657304051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26698620.post-67963957433610946192011-02-05T10:16:57.878-06:002011-02-05T10:16:57.878-06:00I am with you on almost all your points, Fulmi.
...I am with you on almost all your points, Fulmi. <br /><br />I have seen a few games that have some very original settings and even systems. Eclipse Phase comes to mind as a pretty original IP.Griffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07365172490610500537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26698620.post-53649193867313186372011-02-04T11:19:28.671-06:002011-02-04T11:19:28.671-06:00I believe that article is what kicked off the curr...I believe that article is what kicked off the current round of "bashing." I've seen many of the points in it argued against, and have some problems with it myself.<br /><br />I don't think that RPGs have ever been that great a source for original IP, and have always had a strong licensed element. Call of Cthulhu being one of the oldest. <br /><br />Of the three original properties he mentions, Shadowrun, Deadlands and Legend of the Five Rings, I don't find any of them terribly original, although I still have a soft spot for Shadowrun. There's a reason none of them have seen any great adoption outside of RPGs.<br /><br />Outside of Glorantha and Tekumel I can't really think of an IP created for an RPG that really stands out as something special, and those were both technically started before their respective RPGs were created.<br /><br />For the most part original IP in RPGs has been either generic, an obvious mashup of "let's take X and add magic", or a "borrowed" IP with the serial numbers filed off.<br /><br />The problem I have with licensed games is the legal baggage that comes with the license. I don't think it's often worth it. I realize it's partly because I insulate myself from certain elements of pop culture, but lately I haven't even been aware of certain IP until they've been licensed as RPGs. Dresden Files and Leverage being two prime examples. Never heard of either of them until the RPGs were in development.Fulminatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14332824290977548527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26698620.post-44458586531922348562011-02-04T10:49:12.093-06:002011-02-04T10:49:12.093-06:00As a store owner, licensed games are met with extr...As a store owner, licensed games are met with extreme skepticism. It's a "throw away" product that we'll stock for a while until the initial interest wanes and then drop like a hot potato. There is a palpable sense that the timer is ticking when these games are on the shelf. <br /><br />Although Serenity was one of our best selling games ever, nobody actually played it and when supplements came out, its true nature shined through. It was a fan book in game format. <br /><br />Also check out Steve Long's article "The Licensing Trap," which talks about how licensed products are a creative dead-end for game publishers:<br /><br />https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/blog/2011/01/op-ed-the-licensing-trap/Gary Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11897166491600280320noreply@blogger.com