Should I post my Idea?

#1 Does that "someone" really need your idea?

#2 If someone takes your idea then you have saved yourself the trouble developing it on your own :)

#3 Never mind.

#4 Tyler,

You will never out of that problem.
You could submit the design paper to an organisation which might help prove that you are the first one to think of the idea.

But it all costs money.

I also have an idea which I think is unique, but sofar I've been able to call in the help and feedback from my irl friends. People I actually know.

#5 Pretty much this is how it goes:

Ideas are not unique. Somebody will always think of your idea sooner or later

Anything that is possible will be done whether you do it or not


I've learned these from life experience. I've had tons of ideas and so have many other people that I have talked with at the time, before the idea was a whisper. Suddenly one or two years later. There it is. Too bad we didn't jump on it two years prior.

Example: I developed the basis of a Trillian-like application that would link together any and ALL forms of online chat: irc, msn, aol, icq, http, etc. back in early 1997, three years before Trillian was first released in 2000. Too bad I didn't write the program, I only designed an architecture on paper. To top it off it was released on my birthday!

#6 The Elder Scrolls games were the RPG's that I always dreamed of making.

Then they were made by Bethesda...and I really found them horribly boring.

Actually glad that I didn't make them when my dreams were rolling around my head...

#7 If you think that's a coolest idea, it is no need to show it to all XD.

If you want to make a market reserach , you can post it to those people who you want to sell and get some feedbacks from them.


Good idea is $ and shit too. XD

#8 I find it annoying when someone thinking they have a great idea, no one have ever thought of before, and then feel the need to wast my time telling me about it (not that it is what is taking place here- at least forums one is able to skip topics they wish not to wast time one..). Its second on my 'annoying' list next to people that wish me to bother filling out NDA's even when i never need be exposed to anything the NDA would cover. Both are situation where the first party truly needs to learn how to tell ripe fruit from the green fruit.

#9 Contrary to the 'saying', your own fruit always seem riper than the one on the other side of the fence.
Oh wait, that means it IS greener, but in a bad way....

...

Ok, now you made me confuse myself!

#10 Just make it and we'll play demos. Also, if your not intending to sell it, so what if it gets copied.

On the terms of what happens if they take it? Well, I don't know, they sit in a corner grinning at your demise once they grow up and learn to program it? lol.

#11 @Tyler I sense your passion for a game. Keep your idea private until you've made a Proof of Concept, meaning you've made a basic idea into an item and in this case your game.

Great ideas often come when you least expect and the best ideas are difficult to keep focus on unless your passionate enough to see it become a reality.

I know what it is like to have an Idea for a Game and wish you could tell everyone.. Let that be your driving force to get through all the hurdles you will inevitably encounter so that you can see your idea before you and have your Proof of Concept ready for public scrutiny.

Like Brian and David, I too had a great idea that i struggled to write in C, while chasing after a nephew to make concept art, and seeking help in the Server / Client parts from other programmers. Some 18 years or so ago. Frustration set in and I lost focus. Today that concept has become WoW and EverQuest.. though they implimented it far better then i could have. And i bought into it immediatly. Pay to Play EverQuest for 8 years and little more then 2 years in EQ2.

I never did finish that project to fruition, it never became a Proof of Concept.

I bought my Indie License little more then a week ago because I was struck again by a great game idea.
The difference is that now I have TGEA so much of the Server / Client headache is gone.

I have been spending my days reading forums to see what else i might want to add to my idea and if anything was discovered, then how I might want to implement it.
Sort of like seeking more Inspiration to an already good idea.
Then i will build the Proof of Concept and come to the forums to share with other Devs so that maybe we all can get inspired more so.. but together.

There are many Game Engines out there.. I have reviewed many of them and I landed here at GG and stayed here because I know a real Game Engine when I see one.
Lucky for you, you did the same thing.

Best wishes to you Tyler.

#12 If it is a truly unique idea that no one has thought of it is also likely that people won't think it will work and would not steal it. If it is not that unique it is very likely someone has already had the idea. The threat of someone stealing your idea is not nearly as problematic as developing your idea by yourself without feedback.

#13 Why not make a small demo, that way you've got a head start on any copiers.

Besides, your idea thread basically proves that you had it first!

#14 Just found this link to some Patent, Trademark, Copyright. Basically explains each benefit in non-lawyer sort of language so is easy to understand.

Perhaps this will help you Tyler to decide if you care to share and get help or make a demo first and then get help. Ultimately the choice is yours.

www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3546/hey_thats_my_game_intellectual_.php

As a side note. The developers here .. all of us here.. don't scope the forums to steal ideas. We come here to assist each other with whatever we can bring to the table.

All devs here are already working on some project and we share questions and answers here.
When or If you feel comfortable to post an idea, you may be surprised just how fast you get results in the form of answers from other devs who have already been there and willingly / freely offer guidance.

Remember these forums arn't your private Notepad, they are for your benefit and the benefit of others.

#15 Oke sorry but you can mail your idea to your own home than you wood have a date so you can show that you are the first developer to implement it that's the only way for you be able to shear but if thair are 10 difransis it wood not be you're idea anymore. but if you wood shear this idea peoples can help in development of it nolige is a gift if we show some respect

#16 That's a copyright myth that won't hold up in court. Postmarks have always been notoriously easy to fake.

#17 Enriching the community with idea-oriented discussion is more important than keeping a good idea a secret. Chances are, you will need to divulge some information about your idea if you ever need help with something -- which is inevitable. Although: if your idea has any of the following letters in it "M" "O" "R" "P" G", then chances are some 10 year old has already thought of it.

#18 ... Well technically I'm 13, but I see your point...

#19 An idea is an idea, nothing more. Two people can have the exact same idea, and both implement it in such a different way that the game is nothing alike. As you go through the process of making the idea into a reality, you will encounter problems, things that dont work or need to be changed, and as you hit each of these steps, your choices of how to deal with them will be different then someone who started out with the exact same idea as you. Your game will evolve and transform, because no idea ever perfectly becomes a game, and your evolution will be different then the guy who stole/thought up the same idea as you.

Or you can do this, dont fear posting the idea, just dont post ALL the details you want. Dont tell everyone you want the story to go like this, the main character to be exactly like this. Keep it simple, without delving too deep into the aspects of your game, and no one will be able to truly steal your idea.

#20 I think the original poster has a valid concern and will learn like Michael Bacon that others
will have the same ideas. If you don't act on it, it is worthless.
I've worked in film and TV, and believe me, if your idea get's out, it's getting made if it's good or not
That poor mans copyright by mail has to be sent certified mail to yourself and remain unopened.
Still shaky. You have to prove the infringer had access to your information "Details of the script"
Otherwise, a game cannot be effectively copyrighted until it's in code form.
Sad, sad situation.