Difference between revisions of "HOWTO-Fangames"

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(Completed FAQ/HOWTO Notes on Fangame Creation Issues)
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The ScummVM development team is contacted fairly regularly by users asking about how to create games to run within ScummVM. This HOWTO is a response to this FAQ and covers writing a game for engines supported by ScummVM.<br>
The ScummVM development team is contacted fairly regularly by users asking about how to create games to run within ScummVM. This HOWTO is a response to this Frequently Asked Question and covers writing a game for engines supported by ScummVM.<br>


Initial Points:
Initial Points:
* Development of new games is not really within the aims of the ScummVM project i.e. "to provide reimplementations of the interpreters for existing 2D point and click adventure games", so the ScummVM developers are unlikely to be able to help directly with authoring of a new game.
* Development of new games is not really within the aims of the ScummVM project i.e. "to provide reimplementations of the interpreters for existing 2D point and click adventure games", so the ScummVM developers are unlikely to be able to help directly with authoring of a new game.
** Questions about authoring tools etc. are better directed to the relevant forum below or to the associated author communities.
** Questions about authoring tools etc. are better directed to the associated author communities in the relevant forums listed below.
** It should be noted that other non-ScummVM supported systems for Point and Click game development exist, and the authoring tools for these may be easier to use and more suited to your game. These are listed below, with AGS being probably the most popular and supported system with tools and a large developer community.


* However, if fans of point and click games are motivated to create new games, this is something which we don't want to discourage.
* However, if fans of point and click games are motivated to create new games for ScummVM, this is something which we don't want to discourage.
** Note "new" in the above. Writing a game based on existing characters, a sequel or prequel to a supported game without permission from the rights holder can cause legal issues and should be avoided.<br> See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_fiction#Legality Fan Fiction(Legality)] which has very similar issues.<br> The team may offer some advice if asked, but this should not be considered as binding legal opinion (IANAL).<br>
** Note "new" in the above. Writing a game based on existing characters or story, a sequel or prequel to a supported game without permission from the rights holder can cause legal issues and should be avoided.<br> See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_fiction#Legality Fan Fiction(Legality)] which has very similar issues.<br> The team may offer some advice if asked, but this should not be considered as binding legal opinion (We Are Not Lawyers).<br>
** Of special note, reusing any significant amount of artwork, animation, sound or music extracted (even with modifications) from a existing game (without permission from the rights holder) is especially likely to cause issues. This should be noted as it applies to most of the (fan)games which have been released as freeware, unless their README/LICENSE states otherwise (Public Domain, derivative works allowed etc.).
** Also, we highly discourage writing fangames for the SCUMM engine. As is indicated by the preceding fan-fiction link, LucasArts Legal have a history of pursuing any unauthorised use of their characters, stories etc. by fans.
** Especially, reusing any significant amount of artwork, animation, sound or music extracted (even with modifications) from a existing game (without permission from the rights holder) is especially likely to cause issues. This should be noted as it applies to most of the (fan)games which have been released as freeware, unless their README/LICENSE states otherwise (Public Domain, derivative works allowed etc.).


There are two ways to do this with ScummVM:<br>
There are two ways to do this with ScummVM:<br>
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== Game Creation Tips ==
== Game Creation Tips ==
Creating a game is closer to writing than programming, though both skills are required.<br>For a good game, the characters, story and dialogue should come first.<br>It is suggested to write the game in a text adventure system such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inform Inform (Z Machine, Glulx)] as a prototype,<br> '''before''' you commit to drawing artwork and creating game scripts for the graphical point and click version.<br>
Creating a game is closer to writing than programming, though both skills are required. For a good game, the characters, story and dialogue should come first. It is suggested to write the game in a text adventure system such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inform Inform (Z Machine, Glulx)] as a prototype, '''before''' you commit to drawing artwork and creating game scripts for the graphical point and click version. Since point and click interfaces are basically implicit "Verb-Noun" interface i.e. (Open) (Door), this
Since point and click interfaces are basically implicit "Verb-Noun" interface i.e. (Open) (Door), this
should map fairly easily.
should map fairly easily.
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