Approaching big companies

[NigeC]

Has anyone here approaching a big company for permission to do a fan game, have you succeeded? if you did what did you do to get them to take you seriously?
I've asked a similar question on AGS and consensus was to just do it.. but theres that niggling doubt, it going to be flash, its going to be on the net, the way even a cr*p game gets noticed is alarming, if it was download only i wouldn't think twice.
the company in question is the BBC, the thing its a postal address to contact, if they say no they have my personal details if i carried on regardless
maybe I'm worrying about nothing, but its going to be a year of my life if not more to make, that could possible end up canned by a man in a suit

[ad7venture]

I would get permission.  Don't have any experience on asking though, but just ask.  Even if you don't get a reply, you can say you sent them a letter and have a copy.  If it was me personally, though, I wouldn't do it at all without permission.  There are about a million games you can write that you don't need permission on.   Expired books are one place you can go.  Most of the classics have expired copyrights.  You can change the characters, but even that involves some risk.  This wouldn't be a Dr. Who game, would it?

[NigeC]

there is a Dr Who game but its not me.. and Red Dwarf, neither developer asked first, the RD game has ripped sound and more or less follows the script
My game idea was The Young Ones, apart from the title and character names, it would have no images, plots, sound etc from the original.. the stumbling block is the BBC do sell the DVD's so its still making revenue

its all just a story at the moment so i can alter it to fit new characters and title, there is a plan B lol, TYO's story is slightly stronger and would be easier to get publicity

[Chris Tolworthy]

My game idea was The Young Ones, apart from the title and character names, it would have no images, plots, sound etc from the original.. the stumbling block is the BBC do sell the DVD's so its still making revenue 

its all just a story at the moment so i can alter it to fit new characters and title, there is a plan B lol, TYO's story is slightly stronger and would be easier to get publicity

TYO is a good choice. A really interesting choice. As I see it there is a middle ground, if the BBC say no (and I agree you should ask). This wouldn't work for any other characters, but consider:
1. TYO are anarchic.
2. TYO is cultic, so you can rely on more user knowledge - you can afford to be subtle (if the word "subtle" can be used in this context!)
3. TYO is based on a generic idea that's been used a thousand times before and since: students sharing a flat/apartment/house

Conclusion: You could make a game called "this is not the Young Ones" using lookalike characters and an irony heavy plot. You'd get the publicity, fans would get the joke, and you wouldn't have to use any of the BBC's Intellectual Property.

Another possibility is, could you get some kind of endorsement from one of the original cast? I'm no expert, but Ade Edmonson always comes across as very approachable on TV, and the others might be up for a quote? Obviously they don't own the rights, but it wouldn't harm your publicity. Just a thought.

But I agree that plan "A" should be to just ask the BBC. Maybe offer to make the game a download on their website, for the X-year anniversary or something. Or even make it an extra on the next DVD special edition?

[NigeC]

thanks m8..
Yes I've been mulling over ways way of getting passed a no response or getting artillery to to get the BBC's juices flowing
one plan was to try the "for charity" approach and release the game as a fund raiser for Comic Relief.. the game was always going to be freeware so its not as though there was ever going to be financial gain

the cast don't have official websites, but Ade Edmonson is the one I'd choose, if i could find a way to contact him, altho Rik Mayall, Ben Elton, and Lise Mayer wrote it