Can we mention other games when promoting ours?

[kirkmet]

We are about to start promoting our game, and it's a mix between a classic metroidvania and Metal Slug (because of all the action, explosions and excitement), so we were wondering if it's legal to mention Metal Slug in the game caption with the logo? We would like to make it kinda like this: "Golden Hour - when a metroidvania meets Metal Slug" or something like that. Metroidvania has become a whole genre so it's surely ok to mention, but Metal Slug is a brand name and that's why it's complicated.

[skycardboard]

I think there are good reasons to tread carefully here. It's legal to mention other games, sure. But I'd suggest not tying them too closely to your own branding (like putting them below your logo).

It kind of makes you look amateurish. Professional games don't have titles of other games from other companies printed on the packaging.

Putting other titles in, say, your Google Play Store description can look like SEO spam. I presume you don't want that image. Check the rules first too for your chosen platform (e.g. https://developer.apple.com/appstore...uidelines.html - "Apps may not use protected third party material such as trademarks, copyrights, patents or violate 3rd party terms of use. Authorization to use such material must be provided upon request").

[Ryan]

I've seen many games where the website mentions
"Describes as minecraft meets blah blah"

It's mandatory to include a "Minecraft is a trademark of such and such company" so that a consumer does not confuse your two products.

I'm not sure where the law sits on this, I'm not a lawyer but I'm sure it's much worse to mislead people to download your game thinking it's another than to just make the comparison.

I recently saw a theatre show that was advertised as "It's like Lion King on steroids." quoting a review. So it turns if it's been written in an article, its also ok.

I'd like to hear the legal perspective on it though.

[kirkmet]

Now that I hear it from another person, it really does seem amateurish. I guess we'll just go without it. Thanks for replies!