Questions From Newbie

[Lilliana]

Hello,
I intend to make a VN and sell it, but there is these things that bother me. Please help me to answer them:
1. I have seen many free VN sources (characters, songs, backgrounds, etc) but I am not sure whether I can use it for commercial or not. Sometimes there is no explanation about that in those sources. Can you suggest where I can find sources to be used for commercial use? I will be more grateful if it is free
2. I used Alice dolls but for some reason, it didn't work in my netbook. I must use photoshop sometimes. Can you tell me why and how to deal with it? And is it allowable to change the colour of Alice dolls's hair and wardrobe using image editor? Can I sell my game which contain Alice dolls within it?
3. Can I use characters from Renpy tutorial and example project (the one which there is Sylphie inside). If yes, for what purpose? (commercial or free)?
4. Is this forum exclusively only for games made by Renpy?
Thank you for your attention. I hope for your answer very soon

[Auro-Cyanide]

Generally, if it isn't expressly stated the assets are for commercial use, than it's probably not safe to use them. Anything with a CC BY 3.0 License though is safe to use as is anything that has fallen within the public domain. You can check this part of the forum for Creative Common stuff, the licenses are explained at the top in the stickie.

As for you fourth question, no, all story based games are welcome here regardless of engine

[Lilliana]

Okay, thank you, it helps me a lot I am still waiting for the answer about my Alice dolls questions...

[FatUnicornGames]

Honestly if you are planning to sell your game having original assets is almost a must.

I'm not sure about the Alice Dolls, sorry.

[CheeryMoya]

Honestly if you are planning to sell your game having original assets is almost a must.

Hatoful Boyfriend uses quite a lot of free backgrounds and music, even some from Kevin MacLeod. Granted, the storyline's great so it's not hard to overlook them.

2. I used Alice dolls but for some reason, it didn't work in my netbook. I must use photoshop sometimes. Can you tell me why and how to deal with it? And is it allowable to change the colour of Alice dolls's hair and wardrobe using image editor? Can I sell my game which contain Alice dolls within it?

Everyone talks about this mysterious ALICE Doll and I have no idea what it is >_> Since the name ALICE is so common for projects it's a bit hard to find, but I pulled up... this thing? I doubt that's the Alice you're looking for so it'd be helpful if you could link to the one you're referring to.

1. I have seen many free VN sources (characters, songs, backgrounds, etc) but I am not sure whether I can use it for commercial or not. Sometimes there is no explanation about that in those sources. Can you suggest where I can find sources to be used for commercial use? I will be more grateful if it is free

3. Can I use characters from Renpy tutorial and example project (the one which there is Sylphie inside). If yes, for what purpose? (commercial or free)?

Yesssssssss there are so many places you can go for free stuff! I'm still organizing a lot, but try the OELVN wiki Pre-Made Assets pages! Sylvie and Celeste are under the CC BY 3.0 license so you may use them commercially if you are so inclined. You'll find them in the Sprites corner of the page I linked above.

Generally, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the Creative Common licenses. CC BY 3.0, CC BY-SA, and CC BY-ND are the licenses that allow free assets to be used commercially, so anything with those are safe for you. If there is no license or term stated, it's better to stay away from those resources.

[Lilliana]

How are about these ones? Are they free to be used commercially?



I heard this is free character generator. Is that true? Can it be used for commercial purpose? To whom I must give credits?

Also this :



I heard this background is free. I have seen this kind of manga style background in Hatoful Boyfriend. There are many other manga style backgrounds like this. I think I have seen ones like this uploaded in bassnovel's page and installed within novelty. So are they really free, even for commercial? To whom I must give credits?
Please kindly answer, my friends. Thank you

[CheeryMoya]

... It took me forever to find KHmix again. Google Translate didn't help me find the ToU so I can't help you there.

Also, try to avoid using bassnovel stuff. If they say it's only for bassnovel games then it's only for bassnovel games. Even if it's been used in other projects, that doesn't mean it suddenly becomes free for everyone to use. Like I said before:

If there is no license or term stated, it's better to stay away from those resources.

If you're going seriously going commercial, look elsewhere.

If you don't mind shelling out some cash you'll be safe using stuff from DLSite. Break some eggs to cook your omelettes, you know.

[AxemRed]

... It took me forever to find KHmix again. Google Translate didn't help me find the ToU so I can't help you there

The included readme says this:

【転載条件】
　出力された画像についてはご自由に使用して下さい。
　Webサイト等に貼り付けるくらいしか使い道はないと思いますが、
　加工してFLASHやアプリ・ゲーム等に使っていただいても問題ありません。
　また、使用の際リンクや著作元の表記を要求することもありません。
　同梱のdefaultパーツも改変して配布したりして構いません。
　（※同梱のパーツ素材以外を使用する場合はその作成者の利用条件に従ってください。）
　ソフトの再配布、改変等も特に制限はしません。

[nyaatrap]

It's like cc-pb (if such thing exists). He holds copyright but anyone can use it as if it's in the public domain.

[Lilliana]

... It took me forever to find KHmix again. Google Translate didn't help me find the ToU so I can't help you there.

Also, try to avoid using bassnovel stuff. If they say it's only for bassnovel games then it's only for bassnovel games. Even if it's been used in other projects, that doesn't mean it suddenly becomes free for everyone to use. Like I said before:

If there is no license or term stated, it's better to stay away from those resources.

If you're going seriously going commercial, look elsewhere.

If you don't mind shelling out some cash you'll be safe using stuff from DLSite. Break some eggs to cook your omelettes, you know.

I guess Khmix for the character generator?
Thank you so much for the suggestion

... It took me forever to find KHmix again. Google Translate didn't help me find the ToU so I can't help you there

The included readme says this:

【転載条件】
　出力された画像についてはご自由に使用して下さい。
　Webサイト等に貼り付けるくらいしか使い道はないと思いますが、
　加工してFLASHやアプリ・ゲーム等に使っていただいても問題ありません。
　また、使用の際リンクや著作元の表記を要求することもありません。
　同梱のdefaultパーツも改変して配布したりして構いません。
　（※同梱のパーツ素材以外を使用する場合はその作成者の利用条件に従ってください。）
　ソフトの再配布、改変等も特に制限はしません。

The translation said,

"Conditions reprint]
On images that have been output should be used freely.
I think that there is no useless only about paste, etc. Web site,
There is no problem even if you use the app games such as FLASH or machined.
It also does not require the original notation and copyright link for use.
I do not care to be modified or distribute any part of the bundled default.
(If you are using a non-material parts included ※ Please follow the terms and conditions of its creator.)
Redistribution of the software, is not particularly limited and modifications thereof."

Is that true, any Japanese speakers? I think it can be used freely, but I am not sure for commercial...

It's like cc-pb (if such thing exists). He holds copyright but anyone can use it as if it's in the public domain.

Thank you for your information

By the way, I found some images on Creative Commons that are said to be "free", but I don't know what kind of free? Free for commercial or only for free game? Here are some threads that I still have doubt about the "free" claims:

http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... =52&t=3749

http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... 52&t=15321

http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... 52&t=14605

Also, there are several member that stated that "do whatever you want with my images. No need permission" like this:

http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... 52&t=13353

http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... =52&t=3749

Are they really free even for commercials?
Please answer it. Thank you