Printed Manual

[Xavven]

11 hours ago, Kerbart said:

Not everyone likes to learn through video.

I do like to learn through video, but TBH I can read plain text faster than a person on a video can talk, even when I speed up the video to 1.5x or even 2x speed (thanks YouTube for that feature!). Most of the time I'd rather read a guide than watch a video guide, but then again there are some things that are best shown than described. I guess it depends on the subject matter.

[Pecan]

20 hours ago, Sandworm said:

Note the careful avoidance of Squad's IP....

Nope;

"Kerbal", "Kerbal Space Program" and "KSP" are trademarks.  Like the picture itself, whether they count as 'fair use' is moot, although it's about as minimal as it can get.  Can't actually see Squad taking O'Reilley to court about it but then, I can't really see O'Reilley publishing something they weren't confident was legal.

[Sandworm]

6 hours ago, Pecan said:

Nope;

"Kerbal", "Kerbal Space Program" and "KSP" are trademarks.  Like the picture itself, whether they count as 'fair use' is moot, although it's about as minimal as it can get.  Can't actually see Squad taking O'Reilley to court about it but then, I can't really see O'Reilley publishing something they weren't confident was legal.

I wasn't talking about fair use of the picture.  That's not a fair use issue.  The cover art is copyrightable but seems to have been taken from in-game footage.  That makes the copyright owner the artist, not Squad.  (Insert big debate re the level of input needed by an author for something to be considered original, but imho that burden is met here.)  The cover image is not fair use.  It's original and therefore not Squad's IP.

By my searching, Squad has not registered "Kerbal" (at least not in the US/Canada) when not used within "Kerbal Space Program".  While "kerbal" and "KSP" are certainly trademarks owned by Squad, they have not been registered.  That seriously limits Squads legal option's against a book published in the US.   And when they did register "Kerbal Space Program" in the US, Squad did not include its use on books. They did include "software" and educational programs and that's probably why there is no electronic version of this book planned.  Check the USPTO database.

Squad couldn't register KSP as they have "Kerbal Space Program".  "KSP" has already been registered for use on clothing by one Karun Shashi Prakash.  'KSP' is available for use in software, but that's probably why there are no KSP hats.

This book seems to be carefully not using the "Kerbal Space Program" mark in any infringing manner.  Where they do use the mark they do so as fair use/fair dealing.  (yes, fair use does apply to trademarks too.)  Specifically, in the book's description they use the mark nominatively, as I am using it here.  And they are using a very different typeface.

All of these things point to this book's authors being very very careful not to infringe Squad's IP.  An authorized manual wouldn't bother.  If I am correct about the above points, Squad theoretically couldn't do anything to stop this manual.  Realistically, any note or threat from an established game developer would torpedo a small project.

[legoclone09]

1 hour ago, Sandworm said:

"kerbal" and "KSP" are certainly trademarks owned by Squad, they have not been registered

*insert evil laughter as I head to US trademark offices*

[MaxwellsDemon]

I'm actually ordering it out of curiosity.   I'll report on how it is once I get it.  My expectations aren't high, I'll admit.

(Why?  Because I'm an old fuddy-duddy who likes physical books.   )

 

Update:  It was delayed in publishing, so I canceled it.  Then, not long ago, I picked it up at Half Price Books.   I do have to say:  it's really not bad,  Sure, almost everything in it you can get from KSPedia, YouTube and other assorted sources, but as a one-stop one-volume book on the topic, it really does a decent job.

Its primary weakness is simply that it's a snapshot of KSP frozen in time at a particular version.

Edited May 19, 2017 by MaxwellsDemon
Update

[pandaman]

I must admit, I prefer a 'physical' book to a virtual one too. There is something that feels good about having a real book to thumb and browse through. 

However;  my concerns with this one are much more practical.  Depending on the details it gives it will be likely be out of date fairly soon, even if it's updated to 1.2 before it's released.  If I saw it in a shop and was able to have a flick through before deciding I would be more likely to buy, but as it is it is a complete unknown as to what it actually contains.  When/if it gets released and I'm able to read some reviews then I may consider it.