Question about creating city maps

[Thomas Turbating]

Hello guys!

I am about to create my game's city map design and I intend to use C1ties Skyl1nes for this.
The look of the game is quite good and I think it would deliver a city map with an interesting quality using this method.

Does anyone know if using a screenshot of the game mentioned would violate the copyright of the company that created the game?
Or is it ok to use screenshots and does that fall under the rules of fair use?

 

[Deleted member 609064]

Modify the image. Rotate it, change the color channels. Mirror it. Whatever. Just make it different enough to not obviously be from that intellectual property.

 

[Thomas Turbating]

Modify the image. Rotate it, change the color channels. Mirror it. Whatever. Just make it different enough to not obviously be from that intellectual property.

Even doing this, I believe it would be obvious that the screenshot originated from the game mentioned.
But, from your answer, do I conclude that there are copyright issues then?

 

[rayminator]

If you are worried about copyright then contact them and ask permission from them there is nothing wrong with that
making a map is the hardest thing to do regardless

 

[Deleted member 609064]

Even doing this, I believe it would be obvious that the screenshot originated from the game mentioned.
But, from your answer, do I conclude that there are copyright issues then?

I am not a lawyer, and I am certainly not an intellectual property rights lawyer.

Unless you're planning to do something big and commercial with the game, I don't think it is going to be an issue if you make an honest effort to make the maps look a little unique.

If you plan to make serious money with this project, then pay someone to make the maps, from the screenshots you take in that other game, and then they are YOURS and unique.

There are millions of ways to accomplish anything. Try to think outside of the box. Be creative!

 

[mickydoo]

I'd just use it for now, making sure everything you do with it can be simply changed by replacing the pic, any issues just swap it out. Use the time of non-copyright lawsuits to plan/learn to make something else in it's place.

 

[79flavors]

Simple answer: Don't get caught.

Think about this... Porn films and video clips are copyrighted, yet there are over 340 games currently listed here on F95 that use "real porn" images. The vast majority of those games will be using copyrighted images.
https://f95zone.to/latest/#/cat=games/tags=1707

So if they are getting away with it, you're probably* fine with a City Skylines screenshot (altered, tweaked and personalized).

To become subject to a copyright lawsuit, you have to be noticed - and honestly, you're not going to get noticed.

I've talked about it more here.

* I am not a lawyer.
* I am not qualified to offer legal advice.
* You should see this as the uninformed opinion of a random grunt on the internet.
* If this shit comes back to bite you... Seek REAL legal advice.

 

[anne O'nymous]

Use the time of non-copyright lawsuits to plan/learn to make something else in it's place.

And if this time come, what have few risks to happen, it would cost them more to sue you than they can expect to win from you. Therefore, they will surely start by asking you (angrily or nicely it will depend) to stop using this/these image(s). Just comply, and you'll be fine.

 

[AnimeKing314]

Took a quick look through their terms and their no mention of their content not being allowed in a porn game and they specifically allow use of their content (mainly for streaming purposes but not exclusively). The only real restriction I found is this:
"It is not permitted to make videos and images that just contain mere copies of Paradox Game Content without any of your creative input or commentary."

 

[GNVE]

Took a quick look through their terms and their no mention of their content not being allowed in a porn game and they specifically allow use of their content (mainly for streaming purposes but not exclusively). The only real restriction I found is this:
"It is not permitted to make videos and images that just contain mere copies of Paradox Game Content without any of your creative input or commentary."

Well making any city map requires creative input soooo... yeah...

 

[Thomas Turbating]

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who tried to help!

I researched more about it and ended up finding the Parad0x terms of use
Here the link for those interested: (erase the spaces between the words)

You must be registered to see the links

. paradox plaza. com/letsplay- static- info- ca.html

While, in general terms, there is nothing that seems very problematic, there is this line:

Can I sell content that I create and upload or livestream it on a sharing service if it includes your content?
No, you may not sell any videos, music or images that you have created using our content.

On the other hand, they say it is ok to use the content if there is creative input on my part, so I am still in doubt about it.

Anyway, I will research if there is another way to create a good city map that there is no possibility of having this type of problem.

If you know how to do it and you can give me some hints on this, I appreciate it! ^^

 

[AnimeKing314]

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who tried to help!

I researched more about it and ended up finding the Parad0x terms of use
Here the link for those interested: (erase the spaces between the words)

You must be registered to see the links

. paradox plaza. com/letsplay- static- info- ca.html

While, in general terms, there is nothing that seems very problematic, there is this line:


On the other hand, they say it is ok to use the content if there is creative input on my part, so I am still in doubt about it.

Anyway, I will research if there is another way to create a good city map that there is no possibility of having this type of problem.

If you know how to do it and you can give me some hints on this, I appreciate it! ^^

Based on that line, as long as you make the game itself free-to-play then you're fine. For other options it really depends on what kind of look you're going for. I ended up using

You must be registered to see the links

to make a town map but I'm guessing this isn't the look you're going for.

 

[Thomas Turbating]

Based on that line, as long as you make the game itself free-to-play then you're fine. For other options it really depends on what kind of look you're going for. I ended up using

You must be registered to see the links

to make a town map but I'm guessing this isn't the look you're going for.

It's a cool idea!
But my intention is to do something in panoramic view, like the city map in Milfy City.

 

[Deleted member 1121028]

panoramic view, like the city map in Milfy City.

That one? Doesn't seems problematic. Maybe I miss something.
Is C1ties Skyl1nes obligatory?
If not, someone wrote about tilesmap, kinda same principles applies.

 

[Thomas Turbating]

View attachment 1166371

That one? Doesn't seems problematic. Maybe I miss something.
Is C1ties Skyl1nes obligatory?
If not, someone wrote about tilesmap, kinda same principles applies.

Yes, the idea is to do something similar to that.
To be honest, I'm a newbie and I'm still learning.
Do you know how to do something similar?

No, Clties Skyl1nes is not mandatory, but it was an interesting way that I thought, at first, to make a city map.
The idea of tilemaps is very interesting, I hadn’t thought about it.

 

[Deleted member 1121028]

Yes, the idea is to do something similar to that.
To be honest, I'm a newbie and I'm still learning.
Do you know how to do something similar?

No, Clties Skyl1nes is not mandatory, but it was an interesting way that I thought, at first, to make a city map.
The idea of tilemaps is very interesting, I hadn’t thought about it.

You will need some to gather some assets or create few ones (as you see some skyscapper in the exemple are just bland rectangle), if you don't want to start from scratch.

It's few exemple as there is plenty of valid options:

You must be registered to see the links

You must be registered to see the links

You must be registered to see the links

You must be registered to see the links

There is also a lot of free city block/skycrapper/road kit etc. you can import from any 3D asset sites via OBJ/FBX.

Then there is two main paths imo (if you remove procedural, heightmap generation, and so on).

Do everything in Daz (or your favorite 3D software). You may not need 100% scale (so everything can fit on the grid). You can use scene optimizer to downgrade textures, and keep your VRAM in check (you really don't need those high detailed 4k textures); remember you can instances any nodes/meshes. You may don't want to render Dome and Ground, and fill it with Gimp/PS instead later.

Or you do it mainly via GIMP for exemple. Basically you render each assets separetely (a skyscrapper for ex) and you copy/paste them via new layers onto your map, a bit like the tilemap thread. You may use (or not) a Grid/Guide and 'snap' every elements to your map. You generally start from top and finish to bottom.

 

[Thomas Turbating]

You will need some to gather some assets or create few ones (as you see some skyscapper in the exemple are just bland rectangle), if you don't want to start from scratch.

It's few exemple as there is plenty of valid options:

You must be registered to see the links

You must be registered to see the links

You must be registered to see the links

You must be registered to see the links

There is also a lot of free city block/skycrapper/road kit etc. you can import from any 3D asset sites via OBJ/FBX.

Then there is two main paths imo (if you remove procedural, heightmap generation, and so on).

Do everything in Daz (or your favorite 3D software). You may not need 100% scale (so everything can fit on the grid). You can use scene optimizer to downgrade textures, and keep your VRAM in check (you really don't need those high detailed 4k textures); remember you can instances any nodes/meshes. You may don't want to render Dome and Ground, and fill it with Gimp/PS instead later.

Or you do it mainly via GIMP for exemple. Basically you render each assets separetely (a skyscrapper for ex) and you copy/paste them via new layers onto your map, a bit like the tilemap thread. You may use (or not) a Grid/Guide and 'snap' every elements to your map. You generally start from top and finish to bottom.

I was thinking so much about this modular city thing, that I didn't realize that just rendering with the aerial camera on DAZ is enough.
The ideas you gave are interesting and probably what I’m going to use, so thank you so much for all your help!