Loving Perfect Team - But I Have a Dumb Question About Card Designs

whifflebird · 11-06-2019, 02:40 PM

Actually, this has probably been discussed by others but I didn't see anything so I figured I would ask.

How hard would it be to use actual card designs on the older cards, is it a licensing issue with Topps? Seems like there has to be some way to take advantage of the old card designs we know and love, and more importantly at least have a face on the historical cards to add some realism. Maybe there is a mod for that?

Sorry if this topic has been beat to death, I'm new so have mercy on me.

Westheim · 11-06-2019, 02:47 PM

OOTPD can licence the likenesses of the current MLB players through MLB / the MLBPA. There is no body that issues a licence to the likenesses of players that died 50 years ago.

Topps et al. have probably trademarked and copyrighted their designs so you'd ask for legal trouble and / or another huge licence bill to get that one too for no greater good.

mcdog512 · 11-06-2019, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whifflebird

Actually, this has probably been discussed by others but I didn't see anything so I figured I would ask.

How hard would it be to use actual card designs on the older cards, is it a licensing issue with Topps? Seems like there has to be some way to take advantage of the old card designs we know and love, and more importantly at least have a face on the historical cards to add some realism. Maybe there is a mod for that?

Sorry if this topic has been beat to death, I'm new so have mercy on me.

That would be fantastic and I thought about it too but it's gotta be licensing.

whifflebird · 11-06-2019, 03:15 PM

I wonder if Topps would see it as a marketing opportunity, rather than just trying to gouge for licensing fees from OOTP.

Because it would be really cool when I pull a 1984 Chet Lemon for it to actually look like the 1984 Topps Chet Lemon...game changer right there.

Sipimi · 11-06-2019, 03:27 PM

Isn't there a way to allow for players to develop their own "mod packs" to avoid licensing issues ?

neugey · 11-06-2019, 07:23 PM

I wouldn't hold your breath or trust Topps' judgement. You're talking about a company that still thinks they have a working business model, even after all this time.

Dogberry99 · 11-06-2019, 07:53 PM

There's also the possibility that an agreement with Topps, et al, may not be enough. The agreement between Topps and the players would have covered their cards but might not cover secondary usages, such as replicating those cards in the game.

Random analogy, but if this scenario were true, it would probably be similar to how DVD releases of Muppet Family Christmas are missing 3 songs that had to be cut entirely because the agreements with the writers/arrangers of those songs only covered the initial television broadcasts.

whifflebird · 11-08-2019, 12:30 PM

Someone pointed out to me that MLB Show has Dynasty cards (similar to PT I guess, haven't played so not sure) and they have Topps branding/licensing, so I'm not sure what the reason is now.

Kris Jardine · 11-08-2019, 12:32 PM

We do not have the license to use reproductions of cards or use players faces other than the live MLB players we have currently. Licensing for baseball cards is not something we are currently exploring.

For those people mentioning Topps, they are officially licensed to another baseball game.

whifflebird · 11-08-2019, 04:14 PM

Thank you for that clarification. This game is awesome regardless, so thanks for all of your hard work!

Lemandria · 11-09-2019, 09:25 AM

Quote:

For those people mentioning Topps, they are officially licensed to another baseball game.

After the collectibles collapse, they're probably happy to accept any licensing deal they're offered.

But I doubt there are many offers tendered, these days.

11-06-2019, 02:40 PM	#1
whifflebird Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: The D Posts: 37	Loving Perfect Team - But I Have a Dumb Question About Card Designs Actually, this has probably been discussed by others but I didn't see anything so I figured I would ask. How hard would it be to use actual card designs on the older cards, is it a licensing issue with Topps? Seems like there has to be some way to take advantage of the old card designs we know and love, and more importantly at least have a face on the historical cards to add some realism. Maybe there is a mod for that? Sorry if this topic has been beat to death, I'm new so have mercy on me.

11-06-2019, 02:47 PM	#2
Westheim Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 11,886	OOTPD can licence the likenesses of the current MLB players through MLB / the MLBPA. There is no body that issues a licence to the likenesses of players that died 50 years ago. Topps et al. have probably trademarked and copyrighted their designs so you'd ask for legal trouble and / or another huge licence bill to get that one too for no greater good. __________________ Portland Raccoons, 83 years of excell-.... of baseball: Furballs here! 1983 * 1989 * 1991 * 1992 * 1993 * 1995 * 1996 * 2010 * 2017 * 2018 * 2019 * 2026 * 2028 * 2035 * 2037 * 2044 * 2045 * 2046 * 2047 * 2048 * 2051 * 2054 * 2055 1 OSANAI : 2 POWELL : 7 NOMURA \| RAMOS : 8 REECE : 10 BROWN : 15 HALL : 27 FERNANDEZ : 28 CASAS : 31 CARMONA : 32 WEST : 39 TONER : 46 SAITO Resident Mets Cynic - The Mets from 1962 onwards, here.

11-06-2019, 07:23 PM	#6
neugey All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 805 Blog Entries: 39	I wouldn't hold your breath or trust Topps' judgement. You're talking about a company that still thinks they have a working business model, even after all this time. __________________ Online OOTP League Play: PBA - Cincinnati Reds MLM - Baltimore Orioles

11-06-2019, 07:53 PM	#7
Dogberry99 All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Wichita Falls, TX Posts: 1,328	There's also the possibility that an agreement with Topps, et al, may not be enough. The agreement between Topps and the players would have covered their cards but might not cover secondary usages, such as replicating those cards in the game. Random analogy, but if this scenario were true, it would probably be similar to how DVD releases of Muppet Family Christmas are missing 3 songs that had to be cut entirely because the agreements with the writers/arrangers of those songs only covered the initial television broadcasts. __________________ "And, Masters, do not forget to specify, when time and place shall serve, that I am an [censored]." (Much Ado About Nothing 5.1.255-256) Primary Team Collection Rewards (Cards & Packs) F2P Theme Team Movers F2P Theme and Adam Schlesinger Memorial Team

11-08-2019, 12:32 PM	#9
Kris Jardine OOTP Developments Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Miramichi, NB, Canada Posts: 1,021	We do not have the license to use reproductions of cards or use players faces other than the live MLB players we have currently. Licensing for baseball cards is not something we are currently exploring. For those people mentioning Topps, they are officially licensed to another baseball game. __________________ Out of the Park Baseball 22 is available NOW! Webstore - https://ootpdevelopments.onfastspring.com/games/ Steam - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1...k_Baseball_22/ Last edited by Kris Jardine; 11-08-2019 at 12:34 PM.

11-06-2019, 03:15 PM	#4
whifflebird Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: The D Posts: 37	I wonder if Topps would see it as a marketing opportunity, rather than just trying to gouge for licensing fees from OOTP. Because it would be really cool when I pull a 1984 Chet Lemon for it to actually look like the 1984 Topps Chet Lemon...game changer right there.

11-06-2019, 03:27 PM	#5
Sipimi Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 285	Isn't there a way to allow for players to develop their own "mod packs" to avoid licensing issues ?

11-08-2019, 12:30 PM	#8
whifflebird Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: The D Posts: 37	Someone pointed out to me that MLB Show has Dynasty cards (similar to PT I guess, haven't played so not sure) and they have Topps branding/licensing, so I'm not sure what the reason is now.

11-08-2019, 04:14 PM	#10
whifflebird Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: The D Posts: 37	Thank you for that clarification. This game is awesome regardless, so thanks for all of your hard work!