What the legalities of the game business are, how to negotiate a good contract, and how to avoid weird Non-Disclosure Agreement deal points, are concerns of everyone who works in it. This lesson includes a lot of hard-nosed look-out-or-they'll-screw-you-with-the-fine-pint material that you probably won't learn anywhere else (except the hard way; but by then it's too late). Also, your Team's Technical Director receives their Peer Evaluation this week.
Important: This week you will be presenting a graded Practice Pitch Presentation in class! This will be the Biz Dev's (i.e., instructor's) chance to evaluate the project's progress in relation to the Project Work Schedule. The Biz Dev will assign the same point value grade (up to 9 points) to every Team Member based upon the project's progress. (Outstanding individual efforts will be awarded extra credit.) Be sure bring all your current project materials to class and follow the Pitch Presentation format for this live, in-class 'project progress show-and-tell.'
The link below is the homework assignment due at the beginning of the next class session.
Homework: Week 7
Be sure to study up for the third exam next week! It is worth 25 points and covers the material from weeks 5, 6 and 7, including the required reading sections for those weeks on this web site.
These links feature the supplemental material that you are responsible for knowing before the first exam (that takes place at the end of Week 9). Be sure to click on every link in this section!
Sample Mutual Confidentiality Agreement: this version of a mutual non-disclosure agreement gives generic language representing a safe, sane, non-oppressive standard. It's a good starting point.
Article: When Confidentiality Becomes Control and Part 2 by Jim Charne, Attorney at Law
What happens when a publisher bullies you through a non-disclosure agreement?
These supplemental links are worth pursuing only if you are seriously interested in working in the game business and want to know about it in the broadest possible sense. This material will not be directly included in the exams, but if you're serious about delving deeply into the subject of game production, here's some more lessons from others who have also "been there."
Sample Non-disclosure Agreements: see below
For examples of how others have done their NDAs, you can click here or here.
Other Sample Non-disclosure Agreements: see below
Generic examples of a Submission Agreement and a Third Party Confidentiality Agreement can be found if you click here and open this .zip file.
Article: Here's the Pitch by Brendan Sinclair
The rights and wrongs of how developers' ideas get turned into games, as dissected by David Jaffe, Ron Gilbert, Lorne Lanning, Will Wright, and more.
Article: Those Bastards Stole my Game! by Tom Jolly
At some point in time, every game designer who's been around for awhile has to deal with non-disclosure agreements, either because he or she is submitting a design or playtesting a design, to protect both parties involved. And, most people wonder, "What can I do if the company steals my design?"
Article: Non-Disclosures & Non-Competes: To Sign or Not To Sign by Marc Mencher
Game industry career specialist Marc Mencher advises job seekers to carefully consider and read before signing an NDA or non-compete agreement upon taking that new job.
Article: Three Arrested for Allegedly Stealing, Plotting to Sell Coca-Cola Recipes from Fox News
Yes, the greatest Trade Secret in the world was almost stolen in June of 2006. Read here how the FBI and Pepsi foiled the plot!
Article: The Real Value of a Great Game Idea by Alan Emrich
Stop adding zeroes to the value of your game idea; you only need one.
Article: How to Build a Better Cut Scene by Adam Schnitzer
Lead Artists take note! This might be a good point to consider the cut scenes you'll be presenting to the client. Here are some rules for their utility that will help your focus your story.
Bibliography: Week 7
