Tags
block wargame, fi, Game Design, The Great War, The Schlieffen Plan, vassal mod, War Game, World War I, WWI, WWI Technology
Feedback long ago taught me that using “The Schlieffen Plan” as my game title simply wasn’t going to work. I’ve had a running list of new names for about a year now. It took some time but I narrowed the list to 10 and finally to one. I give you the new title with some mock-up cover art…
This is a famous painting by Richard Jack. I believe the work to be in the public domain for the USA and Canada. I’m not sure if I’d be able to use it on a game box
This is an awesome photo by Frank Hurley. I believe use of this is okay as long as I let you know it is courtesy of the State Library of New South Wales.
I have a lawyer friend of mine looking into what it would take should I ever want to use either as art on a box cover or rule book. If you happen by here and that is your area of expertise, I’d love to hear from you.
Looks great, and it’d do fine. However, I just want to point out that having ‘Dispair’ as the primary title subject highlights a slightly unattractive state of mind for potential buyers compared to something more exciting or action like. Also, I advise a painting for the cover, as photos from the time don’t really highlight the (admittedly subjective) “style” of the war which many find interesting/attractive; I’d prefer to see lines of colourful French 1914-pattern infantry clash with excitingly spiky Pickelhaube-equipped Germans, combined with a collage of tank assaults and aircraft dogfights. Mix in one or two explosions, maybe a naval dreadnought or two, and you’ve got what many would regard as a better cover than a more realistic but less exciting photo. My two cents, there. Like I said, it looks great at any rate.
Nice cover art – been watching your blog for some time I work in scholarly publishing in Australia, so have some experience in copyright and with the NSW State Library. Most of the details are here on using images http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/using/copies/publishing_items.html
Photographs are in copyright for 70 years after the author’s death, but there seem to be exceptions for works made before 1955. So far as the photograph goes, do you mean Frank Hurley? If so, he died in the 1960s. In any case I would seek formal permission the SLNSW. Good luck Richard
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2014 18:27:24 +0000 To: richard.hecker.orange2@outlook.com
Yes, the photograph is Hurley – at least according to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Hurley
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2014 18:27:24 +0000 To: richard.hecker.orange2@outlook.com
Thanks for the catch. I’ve fixed it in the post.
Richard
Thanks for following the blog! What would constitute a formal permission request? Would an email suffice?
I have worked in archive for film and television in Aust for more than 15 years. Richard’s advice is correct. The State Library would probably require you to independently clear the work with whoever has inherited Hurley’s estate (death + 70 for a published work). The National Film and Sound Archive is likely to have contact details of the correct person to contact.
Your cover design complements what is shaping up to be a very handsome game. I’ll follow its continued development with interest.