> Here is a direct quote from a email I got from Ryan Dancey.
>
> "If you input values, the software uses the rules to determine success or
> failure, and the software returns the result, it's a game by anyone's
> commonsense definition.
>
I agree with this, becuase Ryan said "THE rules", referring directly to the
d20 SRD. Any program that uses THOSE rules to determine inputs is a game by
commonsense definition, since they are after all GAMING rules!!!
However, please note that direct quotes in email, combined with $0.50, might
get you a cup of coffee in court. In the legal world, the best of
intentions are just intentions. The documents are what are binding.
Here is what the document says, and this time *I* quote:
""Interactive Game": means a piece of computer gaming software that is
designed to accept inputs from human players or their agents, and use rules
to resolve the success or failure of those inputs, and return some
indication of the results of those inputs to the users."
I believe this definition is adequate and accurate. It is not specific to
d20SRD, it does not mention or refer to "those" rules, it's ANY rules.
Further down it states:
"You may not use the d20 System License or the d20 System Logo in
conjunction with any product that meets the definition of an "Interactive
Game" as defined in this Guide.
So, transitively:
"You may not use the d20 System License or the d20 System Logo in
conjunction with any piece of computer gaming software that is designed to
accept inputs from human players or their agents, and use rules to resolve
the success or failure of those inputs, and return some indication of the
results of those inputs to the users."
"Commonsense" interpretation: I can write a WHOLE BUNCH software that can
use the d20 rules, use the trademark and the logo, as long as they are not
by definition "computer gaming software". The real question is, does one
consider a "mapper" or other utility a game? I certainly think not, but I'm
biased. :) The problem is said software is very much related to a game,
it's used to build content for a game, so could the term "computer gaming
software" apply to it? Maybe, I don't know. My lawyer also doesn't know
either.
So, it's very clear to me. You can't write a computer game and attatch the
d20 logo to it. I'm sure that is what WotC is trying to stop from
happening. It seems they are NOT trying to make it so you can't write ANY
software and attach the logo to it. Maybe Ryan can clear up what the
"intention" of this is, do they wan't people writing utilities and such for
d20 and be able to market them as "d20 compatible" and use the logo? If
they don't want this, the legal definitions should change. This would best
be done by defining "Interactive Game" as well as "Game Aid Software" (the
term used by SJ Games, already well established in the industry) and then
explicity prohibit the use of both in the second clause.
Ryan
(the *other* Ryan :)
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For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
