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Card Game Copyright Infringement?

alexonfyrealexonfyre
edited December 2010 in Back to the Future
So, I haven't played the card game, but I have played Time Agent, by Tom Lehmann, and the basic mechanics of the game sound VERY similar. Is this related, a mere coincidence, or a bit more nefarious on the part of the card game designer?

Time Agent:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/69391/tao-of-gaming-review

BTTF Card Game:
http://www.telltalegames.com/store/bttf-cardgame

Comments

  • OrigamiOrigami
    edited December 2010
    ^
    Plzzz don't sue them. :(


    On a more serious note, who says the company that brought out the BttF Card Game didn't buy the rights to use the same concept. Only sell it in a different jacket. It happens all the time with Monopoly.
  • OrigamiOrigami
    edited December 2010
    And reading the description of Tim Agent, I don't think it sounds that similair.
  • alexonfyrealexonfyre
    edited December 2010
    Origami wrote: »
    And reading the description of Tim Agent, I don't think it sounds that similair.

    Go through time changing events to fit your character's preferred history and then "uninvent" time travel. Sounds exactly the same to me. Time Agent was a lot more complex, sure, and I don't think there is a legal grounds for trouble, but it seems like the card game designer made a lazy rip off of a better game to me.

    I would have enjoyed seeing Time Agent updated and rethemed to BttF, with royalties to Tom Lehmann, who is a brilliant designer. I was kind of excited about hearing there was a card game, but this is disappointing.
  • kheprakhepra
    edited December 2010
    I'm pretty sure it's a re-done version of Chrononauts, which is also by Looney: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/815/chrononauts
    (which, btw, is also fantastic. Especially if you're a history buff)

    The two games seem to share similar objectives and themes, but that's about it. Time Agent looks fascinating, but much more complicated
  • AwesomepantsmanAwesomepantsman
    edited December 2010
    I can't give my opinion because I haven't played both games, but there's a video here where the creator of the game explains the card game in more detail.
  • hatless samhatless sam
    edited December 2010
    Card game mechanics are patented. BttF is based on Chronoauts mechanics, which has its own patented mechanics that are not really at all similar to Time Agents. In no way should Tom Lehmann be getting royalties, especially since in all likelihood, any patents he might have held on that game are probably expired seeing as how old Time Agents is.

    What you are calling mechanics is more of a general theme, not grounds for copyright.
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