Tekken Director Asks Followers to Cease Sending Him Ideas for New Fighters

Katsuhiro Harada desires followers to grasp the potential authorized points this will trigger.

The rise of social media has given followers a lot better entry to the folks that develop video video games. On one hand, that may be an excellent factor, because it offers folks a better depth of data about how video games are made. Then again, it will probably result in quite a few complications. In a current put up on X/Twitter, Tekken sport director and chief producer Katsuhiro Harada mentioned the frustrations and points that may come up when followers ship ideas to him or Bandai Namco unprompted. When fleshed out concepts are shared with the group, the builders might need to keep away from something near a submitted idea, for worry of potential authorized points. 

“Mainly, the extra particular and detailed the thought is, the much less seemingly we’re to undertake it, and the additional away from it we’re from being influenced by it,” Harada writes. “Why? As a result of a sure share of individuals will file a lawsuit within the type of ‘you used my proposal with out permission’ or ‘you stole my proposal’ or ‘that was my proposal.'”

Harada went on to notice that whereas Bandai Namco has performed fan campaigns via magazines or different promotions, quite a lot of gaming firms have moved away from this apply. Whereas publishers require the signing of consent varieties, that hasn’t stopped some folks from submitting lawsuits after the very fact. Harada notes that “it isn’t a query of whether or not we will win the lawsuit or not, however the truth that these sorts of troubles come up is a burden for us.” 

In fact, this downside isn’t just restricted to the online game business. In 2020, My Hero Academia animation studio Bones, Inc. was equally compelled to ask followers to cease sending them story proposals for the anime collection, “to keep away from any unlucky disputes.” From story concepts to unique creations, it appears lots of people simply do not understand how problematic this may be. Hopefully Harada’s put up will get via to Tekken followers, and helps them to grasp precisely why this generally is a downside. In some excessive circumstances, it will probably even drive builders to maneuver away from an concept they have been actively pursuing, which might be the other of what these followers have been hoping for within the first place. 

Have you ever ever submitted an concept to a online game developer or writer? Do you perceive why this may be irritating for creators? Share your ideas with me immediately on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!