I want to adapt a video game I like, and I was curious if it was illegal to post it on this site. I want to be pretty careful, because I don't want to get in any trouble.  When I do finish it, what steps do you think I would need to go through to try and work a deal out with the makers of the game?


Thanks.

First - if you write a script based on a game and post it here - then there isn't a problem. As soon as you try to sell the script, then that's where the problems. Think of it this way, you can write anything for fun, but if you write something to sell, you must be the sole author and owner of all copyrights.

Now - as for approaching a game publisher, I'm sure there is contact information on a game company web page - you can ask, it doesn't hurt - but most likely:

a. The rights have already been purchased
b. The won't listen to a writer without representation
c. You can't afford the rights

Also - it's best to ask them before writing the script rather than approaching them with finished work (my opinion).

Stew

You can generally write about anything using any source as long as you aren't making money on it. There are tons and tons and tons of fan-fic related scripts on this site. These companies are not concerned with fan fiction, so write away, but realize it will probably just be an exercise for you.

In regards to producing a movie on such a game, would you have to use the name of the game and characters?  Producing a Silent Hill movie could be done without calling it Silent Hill.  The same would go with Doom or most other games.

What game, in particular, were you thinking?


Phil

I personally dont have anything aginst adaptions but if you post one here too many people bitch at you about not having an original idea..

I'm actually not sure which game yet, I was more or less just thinking about it.

I adapted a game once. I dropped the game's original plot, used some of the images, and made up my own storyline. Hm, I guess that's not much of an adaptation, is it? Well, it worked for me. I've actually never played the game either...

I do adaptations as a form of writing practice.  You already have a storyline, now you try and piece it together in 120 pages or less.  It's not bad to adapt anything, unless you are a grimy person and want to try and get paid for it.  Then you can eat it.  But I would love to write a real adaptation for a video game one day, but I heard the process of buying the rights from the video game owners, espeically Japanese, is quite an obstacle.

I think it took Christophe Gans five years to acquire the rights to Silent Hill.  That's crazy.  What it take for Da Vinci Code?  5 months?    

Quoted from shelbyoops I personally dont have anything aginst adaptions but if you post one here too many people bitch at you about not having an original idea..

Haha!

I've been treated nicely though, so far.  Hopefully it stays that way!

Hey, as long as you don't Uwe Boll it.

Do you have any idea of what game it is going to be that you're adapting?

Quoted from James Fields Do you have any idea of what game it is going to be that you're adapting?

Not to go off topic, but did you know that a McFlurry has chicken in it?

Back on topic. One of my goals is develop a franchise. I have direct contacts to producers and direct contacts to CEO/Owners of game companies. I am going to create a franchise and give them the opportunity to create a movie, video game and maybe a spin-off anime or series. I'll hand them the concept on a silver platter. Then my next step will be to conquor the world!!! Mmmwuhahaha.

But seriously, that's my idea.

The only problems with adaptations or the use of characters not your own is that people do not care to invest the time in fanfic, nothing against the writer but that's how it goes.

Possibly if it is written as a short or if you review exchange it but even then you may or may not find any takers.

McFlurry has chicken in it? Where'd you find that out? That's disturbing!

I've read a couple of video game adaptations on here (that I can name off the top of my head) and I don't mind reading anything. I look at the fanfic scripts as the effort of a writer working on their craft and so it is practice for when they decide to bak from the pre-written plots and write their own. To be honest, one of the adaptations I read (Quake) could be altered just a little bit here and there and be marketable as an original work, since it read like a typical sci-fi war movie more than it did a video game. Halo was a very direct adaptation and there's no way to tweak that one into originality, just as there's no way to tweak my own Nightmare 5.5 into originality. Sometimes these game adaptations requires some creative plot construction to the point that with the exception of the character and alien names, there's nothing left of the original game.

Quoted from George Willson McFlurry has chicken in it? Where'd you find that out? That's disturbing! I've read a couple of video game adaptations on here (that I can name off the top of my head) and I don't mind reading anything. I look at the fanfic scripts as the effort of a writer working on their craft and so it is practice for when they decide to bak from the pre-written plots and write their own. To be honest, one of the adaptations I read (Quake) could be altered just a little bit here and there and be marketable as an original work, since it read like a typical sci-fi war movie more than it did a video game. Halo was a very direct adaptation and there's no way to tweak that one into originality, just as there's no way to tweak my own Nightmare 5.5 into originality. Sometimes these game adaptations requires some creative plot construction to the point that with the exception of the character and alien names, there's nothing left of the original game.

A friend of my co-worker is allergic to chicken and had a reaction after eating a McFlurry. After a couple of hours with MacDonalds help line, they admitted that there is chicken in it (what exactly, they didn't say).

On topic: As for game adaptations, I'd have to agree with you George. I don't mind reading them, as I really enjoy gaming as I like watching movies, so the cross-genre appeals to me. I don't usually respond to the threads or give reviews as I just usually read them during work or something like that. Something fun to do.