My game supports both Keyboard and Joypad. Depending on which you choose, button prompt graphics will appear in certain context where you need to press that particular button (and in the controls screen).
However, on top of this, I have the option for the user to choose a button skin when playing on Joypad. Apart from the standard ABXY layout which I assume is fair game, two of these options include the "Shapes" layout of the PlayStation Controllers and the layout of the unevenly shaped buttons of the GameCube controller.
The graphics only ever feature the buttons, never the full controller. Do you think there are any legal issues in doing these skins? I thought it would be fun for the players to be able to personalize what the onscreen button prompts look like (even if you are not playing with THAT controller).
there's not gonna be any legal issues. Anyone who says otherwise is just paranoid. don't worry about it, just go ahead and make your game the way you want it.
If you're wanting to sell your game, I would suggest creating replications of the different buttons yourself instead of just cropping the buttons from an image. That way, you can stay on the safe side.
Why would anyone want to use gamecube-ish or playstation-ish graphic button layouts with a PC controller? Most PC controller buttons are labeled 1,2,3,4... etc. Telling a player to press the 'triangle' button or press the 'A' button on their controller via a graphic representation isn't going to help much - probably would just confuse things.
ChrisD> Employer: Say, wanna see a magic trick?
ChrisD> Employee: Uhh… sure, boss.
ChrisD> Employer: Your job! It just disappeared! Pack your things and leave! Pretty good trick, huh?
There are probably no legal issues with old controller schemes (think: snes and playstation and probably gamecube).
But you might just want to "invent" your own instead of copying those well-known controller setups with graphics and everything else. Try to give it your own touch, for example I use a button template in DTV Boxes and the right letters & symbols on top of that. So for instance I use the Z and X button instead of A and B (because Z and X are neighbours on the keyboard whereas A and B are not) and together with the ARROW keys, the setup might look like an old gameboy one but still is different from it. And that difference is the key to many legal issues.
So you can mimic the keyboard's keys on your virtual controller with, say, the gamecube button layout if you whish.
Advertisement
Post Reply
jenswa.neocities.org