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@Riot Meddler, just wondering about a rumor.

FreshMeat707·4/2/2015, 6:31:00 PM·2 votes·723 views

I heard once in a comment section long, long ago (insert unnecessary Star Wars joke here) that you guys aren't able to use Champion Concepts due to some sort of copyright(?) or design problems. i want to really know if this is true, because if it's a 100% chance that Champ Cons won't be implemented, I just feel the need to ask why i should keep going. I already have like 4 concepts for wannabe champs in production, but i feel like "What's the point of making these if i know that i won't be able to see any of my creations that I poured my heart into and raised like my child and spent countless hours re-designing drafts and lore so they fit into the world of Valoran unless I have a job in Champion Design at Riot?" I understand that it's still fun to make them, but i want to pursue a career in video game design and i feel like something like this would give me a first sample of what it's like to see millions of people around the world enjoying something that I created with that exact thought in mind.

I understand that no Champ Con is perfect, but i am willing to take the punches and constructive criticism to make them balanced and modified to work with Champions in the game. So while i pour my heart out and wonder if it's actually smart to keep typing at this point, i ask you one question, Riot:

Are our designs for nothing more than the entertainment of the Boards?

13 Comments

Sir ArmaMalum4/2/2015, 6:58:54 PM3 votes

I can give you a clearer picture on this. Community Champion Concepts will never be committed to the game for several reasons

  1. Too much overlap/accountability. With so many people and concepts I'm sure you've noticed different tropes are visited often. A void support, sand mage (before Azir), Jinx's sister, etc etc. If any concept wasn't 100% original (which is almost impossible nowadays), there'll be several people knocking on Riot's door asking for accrediting.

  2. Expectation. As any Rioter in champion design will tell you, going from on-paper to in-game usually means changing at least a little about a champion. Sometimes a lot. Unless you've built the champion model, animations voice overs and everything you're champion will turn out differently. Similar to a book going to a movie. If a champion concept was 'chosen', it'd be a huge effort (usually not worth it) to keep it 100% the same.

  3. Precedent. If one champion concept is chosen, even one. There'd be an explosion of new (and not-so-new) concept ideas and literally immediate complaints on why X wasn't chosen or why it hasn't been looked at.

  4. Reputation/accreditment. Even if someone gives up every single right to the concept in an effort to throw the concept at Riot, there's still a reputation given to the 'creator'. And like all sudden reputation gains, there's a huge potential for abuse, impersonation and other such problems.

At the end of the day, Reds do read champion concepts. As do other people. Hell, I run a monthly contest for it. It's a great exercise for writing and game design and not to mention a good way to show your stuff should you apply to Riot eventually. But if you're aren't having fun making them, take a break. My advice at least.

S H A Y C 04/2/2015, 6:35:55 PM2 votes

Im not a riot employee...but most likely.

If you really want to get into video game design, how about actually designing a video game? Then you can see people enjoy your creations. it costs 99 dollars to become an apple devoloper, make an ipad or iphone game :)

PapaGreg214/3/2015, 2:09:07 PM1 votes

[deleted]

DwarvenGiant4/3/2015, 2:35:07 PM1 votes

Whether you're talking about art or gameplay, a lot of official Champion concepts are inspired by player concepts, for example, I remember that the Rioters that were in charge of Braum confirmed that he was inspired by Angus, a player's champ concept: http://static.fjcdn.com/large/pictures/f1/d8/f1d8a8_4335575.jpg

Same thing goes for skins (Astronautilus, Pool Party Ziggs and a lot more were inspired by community creations).

If Riot finds a concept they like (And I'm talking Art-wise mostly now), they will probably make some changes to it, maybe because said concept isn't the highest quality, or doesn't have the best possible design, or maybe just because they don't want to completely copy a concept, but that's just how it works. I'm not sure about the copyrights thing though, but if it's real, it's probably only applied to concept arts, and not kit concepts. :P

I suggest you to DO keep posting your concepts, cause you never know, you might see similar designs to yours in the future. :)

P.S- Just out of curiosity do you do concept art, kit concepts, or both? :)