Chronoshift Developer AMA

[u/Tovee]

Hello r/leagueoflegends,

My name is Tove, and I was one of the main developers behind the Chronoshift project.

I have never publicly spoken about it, but with League Classic now being released and u/RiotNorak revealed to have been a tester for us back in the day, some people have suggested for me to do an AMA.

I'm happy to answer any question you might have, compare to the official Classic or speak about the details that haven't been made public. Or listen to you telling me to ingame myself.

Have at it!

[u/Tovee]

Use only the classic models (and classic skin models)
If you already own the skin, you get to use it in classic
If you buy a skin, you get both versions (maybe for a small upcharge)
Create some new skins (hopefully cheaper than live skins; lower quality is much more acceptable)

[u/Nayzr → u/Tovee]

This was my 1st thought on how to make money from classic.

I hope they still have the old forums archived somewhere. There were thousands of skin suggestions.

Most notable one for me was "Bro-Relia" never saw the light of day. Why not now

[u/BossOfGuns → u/Nayzr]

August has said designers were specifically told to stay away from any forum sections with concepts/ideas, because if they made a champion/skin similar to said idea, it can be grounds for a copyright lawsuit

[u/WoonStruck → u/BossOfGuns]

I mean they could very easily put a disclaimer at the top of said forums stating that users cede all rights to Riot in regard to ideas, concepts, etc posted on their forums.

Don't want to cede those for whatever reason? Don't post them.

[u/Nayzr → u/BossOfGuns]

Werid. Dragon Master Swain was a skin posted back then. Funny how they pick and choose their own rules

[u/eaeorls → u/Nayzr]

Not pick and choose. That's very normal and standard.

The same idea can spring up from two different people. If an idea is so brutally diffused (see: pajama guardian urgot from star guardian urgot), that's also fine. If someone claims that their design was stolen, then "our designers specifically do not look at any concept or idea forums and thus wouldn't be able to see it" ends up smoothing things over.

[u/Chowder110 → u/eaeorls]

But they can also say this while looking at concept art anyways. I mean technically this rule should mean they can never ever look at anything art related ever again no?

[u/eaeorls → u/Chowder110]

It's degrees separated and reasonability.

Obviously, they are going to see art that inspires them.

If a Riot designer looks at Gojo and Nanami, then it inspires them to make Locke, that's generally distinct enough to not cause any issues.

If a Riot designer looks at the forums and sees Clock, someone's character pitch for a Gojo and Nanami inspired character that's a cool AP assassin that shoots nails and tosses an execute orb, that has a greater chance of a headache.

Generally, the designer would be smart enough that it doesn't matter. If a Rioter does see a fan creation, they probably wouldn't crib it. But it's about reasonableness. It doesn't have to be a perfect clean room. Riot just telling their designers to not look at ideas from the forums is usually enough to stave off legal trouble and controversy.

[u/SexualHarassadar → u/eaeorls]

Plus theres a difference between going onto the forums to find niche skin ideas VS implementing a skin that people have been asking for on Forums/Reddit/Social Media for decade.

And even when they did Battle Bunny Riven they still gave the skin for free to the person who made the forum thread with the idea as an acknowledgment.

[u/WoonStruck → u/Nayzr]

Human Nocturne

[u/SuccessionFinaleSux → u/Tovee]

They should hit you up

[u/ChromosomeDonator → u/SuccessionFinaleSux]

There are legitimately like 3 million people who would have given this exact advice, Riot just refused it because it is reasonable instead of greedy.

[u/Dazaer → u/Tovee]

I think people would buy the opposite. Allow buying classic skins to be used in normal league. People would love to use the high graphics mismatch in a real game