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ATMachine
11/12/2006, 08:26 am
In the early renders released a couple of months back, Bosco's magazine rack featured a copy of "Playbunny." But in the released game it's "Hotbunny." Was Telltale afraid of a lawsuit?

This might also explain why Sam's dialogue line describing the magazines cuts out before naming that one.
Emily
11/12/2006, 09:40 am
I'm not sure why it changed from one to the other. As for the dialogue, though, I think that's a bug -- I think he's supposed to say it, and he says "Playbunny". It's an inconsistency between the art and the voice line.

Never mind, Brendan set the record straight below. :D
mikdog
11/12/2006, 11:02 am
Ho ho ho.

WHat a mishap.

Maybe they can patch it in the next release?

Anyway, I want to see more Playboy stuff in the game.

It was so much fun.
Brendan
11/12/2006, 11:11 pm
Actually, yes, we changed the magazine for legal reasons. The line that was there had to be cut, and there was no time to re-record.
Mel
11/13/2006, 09:27 pm
I actually like Hotbunny better. :)
Sir Lemming
11/14/2006, 07:54 pm
Actually, yes, we changed the magazine for legal reasons. The line that was there had to be cut, and there was no time to re-record.

Oh, so THAT'S why Sam stops talking. Well, it still almost works.
Soup
12/04/2006, 07:00 am
I think it still works pretty well. Like Max is looking over the rack at the same time, and then interrupts Sam in his excitement upon discovering said magazine.
Udvarnoky
01/05/2007, 04:35 pm
You get to hear the whole line in episode 2 though!
Mel
01/05/2007, 04:36 pm
only in america

No bunny pr0n where you live? :p
Mishakun
01/05/2007, 05:24 pm
You know, you could use it as a running gag changing the name of the magazine every episode. :)
Alucard
01/06/2007, 04:19 am
legal reasons? Wouldn't parody be ok under fair use?
plus just using the word Play in a name wouldn't be enough grounds for anything anyway. What about playstation magazine? It uses the name play.
I think telltale backed down too easily on this issue.
Not that it made much of a difference in the game but it is the principle of the thing.
Flo
01/06/2007, 07:23 am
Well, Playboy already uses a bunny as a trademark, so I guess it's a case of better safe than sorry ;)
Mishakun
01/06/2007, 08:07 am
legal reasons? Wouldn't parody be ok under fair use?
plus just using the word Play in a name wouldn't be enough grounds for anything anyway. What about playstation magazine? It uses the name play.
I think telltale backed down too easily on this issue.
Not that it made much of a difference in the game but it is the principle of the thing.

Penny Arcade ran into similar problems with the use of Strawberry Shortcake (http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/002368.html) and they had to take the comic strip (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2003/04/14) down.

Parody is not entirely easy thing to do and in this case I guess the use of "play" and "bunny" together is a big no-no since it is a trademark for Playboy. Trademarks are a legal grey zone in most countries.

I just have to add that people who think suing is the coolest thing ever, even for small matters, don't know how much a legal battle costs and how much it can ruin people's lives. Lawyers are really expensive and they have the power to make you become their b****. ;P