Game Release EULA and T2D logo
by Dave "Jellybit" Freeman · in Torque Game Builder · 04/02/2005 (11:51 am) · 68 replies
In the EULA for Torque 2D, it says the following:
(b) Licensee agrees to display a full screen Torque 2D logo in the start up sequence of any game created and released with the Engine.
This logo, it exists at "SDK\example\T2D\client\images\background.png", correct? Is it ok if I make the background black or textured? Or does it have to remain exactly the same? Can it be animated into the screen? The reason I ask, is that a white background doesn't really fit into the artistic design of this game. But I also understand that giving the ok on this could lead to situations that BORDER on "displaying the logo".
I just want to know what kind of artistic design freedom I have with this initial screen. Or maybe I have to get your approval before release?
I'm so used to console development... They have tons of rules regarding the display of the startup logo, and what you can (or more precisely, "can't") do with it. I always thought those rules were strange, seeing as the logo disappears before game code is even loaded and running.
This is the temporary one I made, but I think it might be a good idea for you guys to offer white and black background versions of the intro logo. That's what Sega did, when they had third parties display their logo for their consoles.
(b) Licensee agrees to display a full screen Torque 2D logo in the start up sequence of any game created and released with the Engine.
This logo, it exists at "SDK\example\T2D\client\images\background.png", correct? Is it ok if I make the background black or textured? Or does it have to remain exactly the same? Can it be animated into the screen? The reason I ask, is that a white background doesn't really fit into the artistic design of this game. But I also understand that giving the ok on this could lead to situations that BORDER on "displaying the logo".
I just want to know what kind of artistic design freedom I have with this initial screen. Or maybe I have to get your approval before release?
I'm so used to console development... They have tons of rules regarding the display of the startup logo, and what you can (or more precisely, "can't") do with it. I always thought those rules were strange, seeing as the logo disappears before game code is even loaded and running.
This is the temporary one I made, but I think it might be a good idea for you guys to offer white and black background versions of the intro logo. That's what Sega did, when they had third parties display their logo for their consoles.
#2
04/02/2005 (6:29 pm)
I would think white and black as the bg color would be reasonable... maybe not specific colors, like red lol, but I think b&w are fine.
#3
edit: This is a bit off subject, but I happen to think the logo looks better with a black background.
04/02/2005 (6:42 pm)
Yeah, but the logo changes when the background does. The "Torque" text changes to white. It's no longer the "official logo" if the actual logo colors change. Also, since I had to redo the borders of the logo (it looks sloppy to me), it's not "official logo art". Anyway, no one can really answer this but the Garage Games guys.edit: This is a bit off subject, but I happen to think the logo looks better with a black background.
#4
04/02/2005 (7:33 pm)
Heh, I didn't see that in the EULA. I made the T2D logo a part of my main screen (even made it a hyperlink to the GG website for the T2D product).
#5
04/02/2005 (9:16 pm)
They should have multiple T2D logos (all the same type, of course), that we can choose from. Including smaller versions. That way, if our game is based off of a bunch of technologies that you would like to have logos for, you can do it in one screen without having to have dozens of different screens like modern PC games have before startup.
#6
04/02/2005 (9:30 pm)
But the EULA clearly says that "Licensee agrees to display a full screen Torque 2D logo". No matter what logos they include, it still has to be full screen in the release. There's a reason those PC games have dozens of full screen logos, and it's not because the other companies just neglected to include smaller graphics with their SDK. All of those technology rights holders have individual requirements of a full screen logo during the start up sequence of the game.
#7
www.garagegames.com/mg/forums/result.thread.php?qt=22894
04/02/2005 (9:46 pm)
I think this post covers this stuf. Plus there is a logo packwww.garagegames.com/mg/forums/result.thread.php?qt=22894
#8
04/02/2005 (10:16 pm)
That's a Garage Games logo pack. Not Torque 2D. Also, I can't find anything there that covers whether you can change the logo background yourself... which is what I was asking. They just talk about how great the new GG logo is, and how bad the old one was. Did I miss something? Thanks anyway, Charlie. 
#9
The standard white-background one will be changing in the SDK anyway.
Sorry for the delay.
- Melv.
04/03/2005 (1:44 am)
The T2D logo pack does exist. We'll be providing that soon.The standard white-background one will be changing in the SDK anyway.
Sorry for the delay.
- Melv.
#10
And what about the issue regarding textured backgrounds, or animating the logo into screen?
For instance, if one wanted to have his screens draw in with sparks on a metal background, would that be a problem for the T2D logo screen?
04/03/2005 (8:07 am)
Thanks Melv!And what about the issue regarding textured backgrounds, or animating the logo into screen?
For instance, if one wanted to have his screens draw in with sparks on a metal background, would that be a problem for the T2D logo screen?
#11
"(b) Licensee agrees to display a full screen Torque 2D logo in the start up sequence of any game created and released with the Engine."
I'd think the key word from a legal standpoint to be "a". If it said "the full screen Torque 2D logo" it'd be a different animal altogether, but saying "a full screen Torque 2D logo" loosens it up a lot, strictly speaking.
At any rate, I too am quite interested in this "design freedom" issue regarding the display... and shall await official word.
-Tim
04/03/2005 (11:00 am)
Not to pick nit.... but in "(b) Licensee agrees to display a full screen Torque 2D logo in the start up sequence of any game created and released with the Engine."
I'd think the key word from a legal standpoint to be "a". If it said "the full screen Torque 2D logo" it'd be a different animal altogether, but saying "a full screen Torque 2D logo" loosens it up a lot, strictly speaking.
At any rate, I too am quite interested in this "design freedom" issue regarding the display... and shall await official word.
-Tim
#12
If it's better than a static logo then that certainly wouldn't hurt as long as it was obvious that it's T2D.
- Melv.
04/03/2005 (11:04 am)
I agree that as long as the game is identified fullscreen with the T2D logo then there shouldn't be a problem although I'll get the official opinion from GG myself.If it's better than a static logo then that certainly wouldn't hurt as long as it was obvious that it's T2D.
Quote:draw in with sparks on a metal backgroundSounds very cool and even better than a static logo so I don't see why that would be a problem. :)
- Melv.
#13
Ahh, but what if there is no startup sequence?
04/03/2005 (1:04 pm)
Quote:"(b) Licensee agrees to display a full screen Torque 2D logo in the start up sequence of any game created and released with the Engine."
Ahh, but what if there is no startup sequence?
#14
04/03/2005 (1:11 pm)
Haha.. it'd have to not start at all to not have a startup sequence. If you go right into displaying your flying spaceship, that's the startup sequence. 
#15
04/03/2005 (2:22 pm)
I'm sure Jay wants to keep T2D logos as standardized as possible. This is similar to the way the way Dolby Sound is displayed in the front of a movie. It does not really change how your game looks. There is always the option of upgrading to the commercial version of the engine to remove the requirement of displaying the logo.
#16
04/03/2005 (7:39 pm)
Yes, I felt this was the case. That's why I gave the compromise of letting the user choose between white or black. Most big companies offer their logo in those two variants. It gives the user a little bit of choice, and still keeps everything easy and official.
#17
And yet, Pixar always gets to do the THX logo in their own way. Why not us?
04/03/2005 (8:01 pm)
Quote:This is similar to the way the way Dolby Sound is displayed in the front of a movie.
And yet, Pixar always gets to do the THX logo in their own way. Why not us?
#18
04/03/2005 (8:18 pm)
Ask that question when you're pulling in $millions :). When that kind of money and respect is being thrown around, you can do whatever the hell you please. Also, I think there's a level of trust that people are willing to put into Pixar. There's pretty much no chance of their work turning out to be crap for your logo. Give the goahead for the general public to fool with your logo however... and all kinds of crap can be thrown around without your control.
#19
04/03/2005 (8:21 pm)
Quote:Pixar always gets to do the THX logo in their own way. Why not us?Because Pixar has loads of clout and a multimillion-dollar franchise? In all seriousness, they likely went through an approval process with Dolby. Same with any case of modifying a well-known trademark. If anyone could just alter a brand identity, it would defeat the whole point of brand identity. Brand identity serves as an instant visual (or aural, as in the case of the Sony "bloop" sound for their PS2 commercials) cue for the consumer. Allow your clients to modify at will, and you lose that instant identification.
#20
04/03/2005 (8:24 pm)
Much more succinctly put than my message. Thank you.
Torque Owner Bryan Edds