Free Company Recruitment Contest Questions

[LiadansWhisper]

Hi,

My Free Company is interested in participating in this contest, but we're a bit confused by the Materials Usage Restrictions and since I can't find any other place to ask this question, I'm posting it here.

For information: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...itment-Contest

The questions we have directly relate to the following:

- You may not split our videos (vocal, music, visual, etc.) and distribute components as separate assets;

- You may not combine or synchronize the Materials with third party content (e.g., a mash-up), but you may include the Materials alongside third party content (e.g., before or after in the same video) as long as you also have permission from the original copyright owner);

- You may only use music as it is incorporated in FFXIV;

- When showing gameplay, you may not replace the FFXIV music with third party music;

- You may not play FFXIV music alone (i.e., without accompanying gameplay footage), or with third party materials;

With this in mind, we would like to know the following:

1) Can we use a single piece of music from the game and use that as our music for the entire video? That is to say, if we record in locations in the Central Shroud, and have several different scenes (recorded separately), are we allowed to mute the sound in those scenes and then use the Central Shroud theme from beginning to end (with no gaps) as a single piece of music for the video?

2) Can we pick a piece of music from another part of the game and use it in our video, or are we restricted to the music from the area where we record the footage? i.e. Say we film in Mor Dhona, but want to use the Limsa Lominsa theme music for the video as a whole. Is this acceptable?

3) If we use music at all, must we only use the music that plays during the actual gameplay footage we record? i.e. if you go to Gridania, there is a theme that plays in the background as you run around. If we were to mute that sound and substitute another piece of music from the game for the whole footage, would that be acceptable? Or must we only use the music playing in the background at the time the footage was recorded?

We don't want to break the rules, but we are very confused as to what we can and cannot do for this contest. The Contest just said to refer to the Materials Usage License, but it's really quite confusing and limiting. A very strict interpretation would seem to indicate that our only real option of turning out a "polished" video would be to have the video be completely silent. :-\ And we would prefer not to do that.

I am hoping that a forum moderator can reply with a clarification, because no one else seems able to help in this.

[Darthenron]

Hope we get a reply on this quickly until we know for sure we can do voice-overs it seems like most of the videos will be pretty lame with what we can work with.

[Yshnal]

I was going to ask those same questions, too. It would be cool if a mod could clarify it >.<

[LiadansWhisper]

Would still like an answer to this question. :-\

[MageBlack]

I would love to know as well. The terms arent quite clear and just point form one thing to another. Its nice when the contest guidelines are all laid out clearly in one place and its easy to digest, maybe even a demo video we can use as a bit of an example or template.

[Kalsam]

Quite agreed, we need answers to this. There's already two videos posted in the NA forums, but going by the MUL, they're both automatically disqualified. (Both use third-party music.)
I'd personally love if we're allowed to use music from the Final Fantasy franchise, opening up soundtracks of previous games, licensed bands, and even the movie(s... do we really count Spirits Within?). As I have a LOT of ideas that could use music from the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children soundtrack alone. o.o

[Yshnal]

Yup, we really need some clarification.

Also, bumping this as it's something that deserves to be read and answered.

[coffeeking]

waiting for an answer as well lol

[Okipuit]

Greetings,

Thanks for the questions! Sorry that some of the wording caused some confusion, so let me clear it up.

1) Can we use a single piece of music from the game and use that as our music for the entire video? That is to say, if we record in locations in the Central Shroud, and have several different scenes (recorded separately), are we allowed to mute the sound in those scenes and then use the Central Shroud theme from beginning to end (with no gaps) as a single piece of music for the video?

Yes, you can.

2) Can we pick a piece of music from another part of the game and use it in our video, or are we restricted to the music from the area where we record the footage? i.e. Say we film in Mor Dhona, but want to use the Limsa Lominsa theme music for the video as a whole. Is this acceptable?

Yes, you can. You are not limited to using music that only appears in that area of the game.

3) If we use music at all, must we only use the music that plays during the actual gameplay footage we record? i.e. if you go to Gridania, there is a theme that plays in the background as you run around. If we were to mute that sound and substitute another piece of music from the game for the whole footage, would that be acceptable? Or must we only use the music playing in the background at the time the footage was recorded?

No, it does not need to be music only from that scene for you to use it.

Any of the music that is used in-game, or songs that appear on the Before Meteor soundtrack, or even the sound effects in the fan kit, is fine to use in your video over any FFXIV game footage.

[LiadansWhisper]

THANK YOU!!!!!

Any of the music that is used in-game, or songs that appear on the Before Meteor soundtrack, or even the sound effects in the fan kit, is fine to use in your video over any FFXIV game footage.

I'm assuming that the song "Answers" is not acceptable, however.