Starting an Indie Game Company
by Stewart Cameron Marks · in Jobs · 11/07/2011 (8:19 am) · 0 replies
Hey all, I know this is probably in the wrong forum by the way but it seemed the most relevent. I have recently just purchased Torque 2D. I have had an idea for a platform game for about a year now and after playing with Allegro I have realised I want to design the game not the engine. I do enjoy programming, but would rather script AI and stuff like that. Actually oping to mod the Torque engine for my needs.
Anyway onto my question, I am planning on spending the next 3-6 months creating my platform game. I have decided that I might as well try marketing it after it has been created. I know this is quite a bit of work, I just wanted to know what legal issues and the like there are:
1 GRAPHICS: I have purchased some model packs for FPSC and there model to sprite software. As far as I am aware this stuff is royalty free. So if I sell a game as long I mention them in the credits will I be breaking any laws? I will obviously send them an email informing them of this and I will include a link on my website when it is up.
2: WEBSITE: May seem a silly question but what do I need to include on a website. I know I need to include an overview and a development blog of my game but if I am starting an indie company, what else?
3: SELLING i): If I am aiming on making a profit, do I need to register as a company legally and have a business account or can I just sell on the net as I wish. This might seem an obvious question to some but I really dont know.
4: SELLING ii): I understand about game prtals like Popcap games where you can sell games and also like this site. However will I be limited to just one or can I try on as many of these sites as I want?
5: ADVERTISING: I know a lot of sites exist that review indie games and so do magazines. However do I need to pay them to review my game or do I just send them a copy and a link to my site?
I think that is everything covered. By the way I know I wont be able to do this overnight and I know this is quite a mission, however I am currently working overseas at the minute and I go home in a week or so. With two months off, this seems like the ideal time to get things into motion for setting up an indie company. I am not wanting to make millions it has just always been my dream to produce a computer game. And also I might be advertising in the following months for some artist work and music work, I will pay and you will get a mention on my site and in the game credits.
Anyway if you take your time to read my long post and try to help me out I will be thankful, anyway I just need to think of a name for my one man studio now.
Cheers
Stu
Anyway onto my question, I am planning on spending the next 3-6 months creating my platform game. I have decided that I might as well try marketing it after it has been created. I know this is quite a bit of work, I just wanted to know what legal issues and the like there are:
1 GRAPHICS: I have purchased some model packs for FPSC and there model to sprite software. As far as I am aware this stuff is royalty free. So if I sell a game as long I mention them in the credits will I be breaking any laws? I will obviously send them an email informing them of this and I will include a link on my website when it is up.
2: WEBSITE: May seem a silly question but what do I need to include on a website. I know I need to include an overview and a development blog of my game but if I am starting an indie company, what else?
3: SELLING i): If I am aiming on making a profit, do I need to register as a company legally and have a business account or can I just sell on the net as I wish. This might seem an obvious question to some but I really dont know.
4: SELLING ii): I understand about game prtals like Popcap games where you can sell games and also like this site. However will I be limited to just one or can I try on as many of these sites as I want?
5: ADVERTISING: I know a lot of sites exist that review indie games and so do magazines. However do I need to pay them to review my game or do I just send them a copy and a link to my site?
I think that is everything covered. By the way I know I wont be able to do this overnight and I know this is quite a mission, however I am currently working overseas at the minute and I go home in a week or so. With two months off, this seems like the ideal time to get things into motion for setting up an indie company. I am not wanting to make millions it has just always been my dream to produce a computer game. And also I might be advertising in the following months for some artist work and music work, I will pay and you will get a mention on my site and in the game credits.
Anyway if you take your time to read my long post and try to help me out I will be thankful, anyway I just need to think of a name for my one man studio now.
Cheers
Stu
