EA sued over Madden feature

Do you realize that years ago, people were able to send in game ideas to companies and they would actually look at it. It doesn't end there. They, if the game seemed decent, would actually take the time to play it. Really. Even when it was a board game that took them 18+ hours to finish (which really happened.) And then, if you dare to believe me, they would even write you a letter to tell you what they liked (or disliked about it, for instance, the fact that it took over 18 hours to finish).

Games used to get published in this manner. Companies liked, perhaps encouraged, amateur designers to send in games. But then, someone decided to sue and that was that. Companies have all these rules, if you send them an envelope with a game design document, you will get it sent back with an explanation that in order to protect themselves, and you of course, that they simply can't look at your ideas. You know... because of the past.

Now I'm not saying that these lawsuit against game companies were false. I'm sure that ideas were stolen. But damn... I really hate that I missed out on those times. That for any design ideas that I might have I have only two options: Climb the corporate ladder to become a lead game designer or make it myself.

I'm going with the latter.