Were planning to make a RTS Game but I was wondering if this is under the terms of FAIR USE (I'm not really into laws) because were inspired by SC3 military/farming/strategy game stuff. Althought the game is not entire an exact replica of the game (Names/Model/Tech/Races) does not vary in SC2 but the gameplay does. So I'll be blunt on this "Do we have to pay Royalties from them???!" "Do we have need Permission from them???!" I've seen games like Ninja Sage, Farmville etc. that has similar concepts but I was wondering on how they manage to process the legal stuff.
I guess It would depend on what you mean by 'inspired'. If what you mean is taking some of the core elements and giving it a new twist, then It would be safe to say you're not plagiarizing or nothing like that, therefore you have to pay nothing. If what you mean is taking not only the core elements but mostly everything else with it... then I would say you're bound to have legal issues. Then again, such a thing would only happen if this game of yours managed to garner a respectable audience. Otherwise, It would fly undetected by Blizzard's radar.
You only need to pay royalties or ask permission if you directly use their ideas and concepts. If you just want to make an rts game, then you won't have to. On the other hand, if you want to, say, have an rts game where protoss are fighting the zerg, then you definitely need to get blizzard's permission.
This is one of the worst places for you to ask this. Find a better place. Seriously. Or, hell, just ask Blizzard directly. Save yourself the worry.
I'd suggest that you rather get your team to make custom maps and games using the SC2 map maker. Therefore you don't have to worry about being legit with this because it will be counted as a custom map, which is not so bad.
1. Yes, I do add new elements to the game. I won't mention that here but it includes a mix of different games not only Blizzard. 2. RTS w/ similar minings scheme from Red Alert. I won't take everything from SC (even SC2). The Changeling in SC2 is similar to Red Alert's Spy. So I was wondering if they will play Red Alert for that. 1. If so, do you know how much? 2. No I won't copy the Terran/Protoss/Zerg
Think of it this way- you can copy SC2- right down to the unit stats, and they can't touch you. But if you use SC2 art or code assets, or anything that can be called "lore" - then you are indeed treading on Blizzard's feet. From what you've been describing, you should have no problem with Blizzard, (or EA, for RA2 ideas) in terms of legal issues.
For real. I'm just going to used the following concepts: 1. Creep 2. The whole mining thing 3. Carrier, Brood Lord (this was my idea before the release of SC2) 4. Firebat, Bunker, Medic, Burrow
