D&D-based videogames

[Zappo]

The OGL allows you to make about anything using D&D classes, spells, monsters, whatever. But I seem to recall that this freedom didn't extend to the creation of D&D computer products. Is that correct? Can someone give me references?

 

[cybernetic]

(I am no lawyer and this is not legal advice)

The Open Game License itself doesn't say anything that would prevent you...but would need still need to make any OGC "human readable" which has been a ongoing debate on the EnWorld Software forums....you cannot use the d20 License in "interactive software" or games...

IMO...I wouldn't want to make a computer game under the OGL because you'd basically have to provide the source code showing the OGL material..which would allow anyone to take the source and make their own game and sell it..


Infrogrammes or whoever it is that distrubutes Bioware is the company that has the rights to D&D and d20 computer games..(which is partially why Master Tools got hosed and scaled down to E-Tools)

 

[Zappo]

Where does it say that OGC has to be human readable? I couldn't find it in the license.

 

[Hollywood]

Where does it say that OGC has to be human readable? I couldn't find it in the license.

It doesn't, but thats been the I guess stated intepretation of WotC concerning it. There is/was talk about the OGL'd alogrithms and data used to express the SRD needing to be modifable by the end-user without recompile the program, etc... not really sure the end-scoop on that. Probably best to ask WotC directly.

Although, I'd say if you are writing your own CRPG from scratch, its probably a better idea to use your own system that is better suited for use in a computer RPG; d20 isn't.

 

[Zappo]

I'm not writing my own CRPG, it was just a curiosity. I recall quite clearly that a D&D CRPG was forbidden, but I can't find the references.