The Public Domain - Game Announcement 

UPDATE: The Steam Page is now up! Check is out and wishlist the game! store.steampowered.com/app/2937410/The_Public_Domain_The_Game/

It warms my heart to see this whole public domain thing being actually used for something creative and interesting.

Public Domain being a kind of limbo for characters that lost their copyright is a super cool idea

This is one of the most "Mickey-ish" things I've seen come out of the Mouse's recent release from Disney.

the concept is great, though it's clear the game does need more polish

I love this idea, I like how you aren't just making Mickey "spooky"

I think it would be fun if the game has a bunch of public domain characters and settings and music. Like stuff from fairy tales, holidays, children’s songs. Stuff like that.

LET'S COOL, WE FINALLY GOT A HARD ASS SIDE SCROLLING PLATFORMER, don't rush the project, and try your best to push out your vision of this, the idea of everything being completely derived from free sources is honestly creative and smart af ngl

I think this is probably the most creative usage of Mickey since Steamboat Willie got added to the public domain that I've seen. Can't wait to see how you expand this, and it's looking good already. If you need a voice actor by any chance, just lemme know!

This is a great idea! A game made of entirely pre-made, public/royalty-free sources is such a unique idea with tons of potential. Plus, the dialogue implies a bit of a character study of Mickey Mouse and his legacy, which could be really interesting! Perhaps the journey of Mickey coming to terms with his new fate and being humbled?

This is the most normal thing to come out of the public domain release of steamboat willie, it’s like Epic Mickey but for Steamboat Willie

This is WAY better than a Mickey Mouse horror game.

now this a good use for public domain media, hope this project succeeds

This looks really creative and amazing! I'm excited to see what come of this. Hopefully my boy Oswald the Lucky Rabbit makes an appearance. Maybe he could part of a two-player co-op (similarly to Epic Mickey 2)? A lot of people tend to forget Oswald is in the public domain now too, along with the entirety of the original Disney-produced shorts from 1927-1928.

FOR THOSE COMMENTING ABOUT MICKEY'S GLOVES Firstly, thank you all so much for the interest and encouragement you've all shown for this project. I appreciate the concerns but rest assured I've done a lot of research about this. There do in fact exists examples of Mickey with gloves in the public domain. The title cards of all three original shorts feature him with gloves as well as the 1933 cartoon "The Mad Doctor" which uses a slightly later design with gloves and has already slipped into the public domain a while ago. The territory of a character existing only partially in the P.D is quite grey though not entirely uncharted. One of the few precedents that has been established is that P.D images of trademarked characters can be used commercially. As every single image of Mickey in this game comes from a P.D source it would much more difficult for Disney (or any other company whose IP I'm using) to claim infringement than if I were creating new original images of these characters. Again, thank you for the support you've all shown and know that I'm working very hard to make this the best game that I can possibly make.

The game looks rough around the edges, but by golly THIS is the kind of public domain content that SHOULD be getting made! Honestly hoping this sparks the flame for more out-there experimental public domain content then just "Mickey scary"

I love the concept bruv seeing all the forgotten public domain characters in one whole trash island sounds like a perfect representation of them today 😀

This game should be put into public domain as soon as it releases.

WHAT OMG THIS IS AMAZING I love the game design and the way Mickey jumps out of his original background This is so sick! Keep up the good work, I can’t wait until I can play this!

Super excited for this! Obviously could use more polish, but the scrapbook-esc aesthetic could look really good! Also really digging forgotten characters like Bimbo the Dog showing up. Hopefully Felix has a role somewhere!

great idea! just be aware, Mickey didn't have his gloves yet in the cartoons that went PD, people tend to go gloveless for the character juuuuust in case. :/ disney can be a fickle company. :3 either way, i'm hyped for this! edit: a couple commenters pointed out to me that there is indeed precident to allow for gloves on Mickey, as he's seen wearing them in the title card for steamboat willie, as well as wearing them in "the mad doctor." honest mistake :3 thanks for correcting me guys

I come back to this trailer every time I see a poorly executed “steamboat Willie but horror” idea (which I sadly often now), to remind myself what a genuinely cool and original idea looks like. Looks great hope to see more!

I really like the idea of Mickey not really understanding why he’s there and not thinking he’ll be there for long, but then slowly coming to terms with it throughout the game

Of anything that's come of famous IPs entering the public domain, this is seemingly by far the best work yet

I especially love the idea of The Mouse (not saying his name) encountering other Rubberhose characters. Seeing Bimbo made me so happy. Hopefully it tells a fun story about The Mouse embracing his new role and trying to find himself after being stripped of his identity. Could be very poetic.

I really appreciate the characterization of Mickey. Seeing himself as so important because the actual law was changed for him and him alone. Thinking it must be a mistake because his wealthy parents kept him around for so long. The disrespect he has for other public domain characters because of how his life as an intellectual property has gone.

This is a solid idea! Maybe you could make some special characters bosses like Winnie the Pooh 😂

This is the best thing to happen to Mickey since his debut as the hit murderer who starred in "everything".

I'm lovin this idea. The world looking like those collages people make by snipping out pictures from magazines and putting them all together in one massive picture. Has a sort of old urban grit to it. Plus, I see Bimbo from Fleischer Studios is there too. Makes me wonder if Betty, Coco, or Popeye will show up.

I absolutely love this idea. Take as much time as you need as this concept is so creative to be left alone!!

Massive potential on this one. Here’s to hoping the platforming is satisfying, consistent, and can entertainingly expand upon itself, as those seem to be big hurdles to cross for many platformers.

Finally a game that utilises Steamboat Willie era Mickey the way he deserves to be, and its plot actually has to do with public domain no less. I also love the idea that the entire art style is made of public domain or royalty free assets, it really gives this game its own visual identity.

This idea is so cool, and I love your dedication to making literally every single asset something from the public domain. I wish you luck on making this game, it looks like it’ll be a fun time!

Finally a good mickey idea, and not a horror cash grab, hope the development goes well

Holy crap, I hadn’t anticipated anything like this when Mickey went into the public domain. Needless to say, I’m excited! It’s good to see the character used for something other than a horror movie. Also, mickey with a gun. Need I say more?

I want to hear some Kevin Macleod music. If there’s no sneaky snitch I’m devistated

I love that Mickey is in complete denial that this possibly could have happened

Holy crap this looks so good! I hope this project will succeed eventually, i hope Sherlock Holmes made some type of appearance. But I'm already hooked just by a few clips, it actually looks really appealing, I'm smiling so much lolol

Once this game has been in public domain as long as _Steamboat Willie,_ I feel certain it will be every bit as good as we could hope

more effort than rubberhose rampage

It's so nice to see people doing things other than cheap quick horror games with public domain media! This is a really cool concept :D

I think this could be a really interesting game… Especially if we see some old classic characters as allies, or even playable characters later on… I think a battle between “Steamboat” Mickey facing off against someone like Felix the Cat, could be an interesting climax to the game, given Felix’s power-set (assuming his “bag of tricks” is also in the public domain) Though, another good option would be someone like a Public Domain villain, like The Claw, The Black Tarantula… Or even the man himself… DAN BACKSLIDE

To be honest, I reccomend using some sprites from the later half of Gallopin' Gaucho (where he fully transformed into his Steamboat Willie form) to add more dynamic

i had no clue some aspects of the gameplay’s appearance wasn’t completely done till i went to the comments, it looks so good! the way he pushed the box at 1:25 gave me HUGE poptropica vibes (compliment, i love that game!) im so intrigued by this

Please, oh please for the love of god have Oswald in here, his original cartoons/versions are public domain, please! This game looks so good and cool and fun and I really hope my boi Oswald is here!

I absolutely adore the scrapbook style of this project!!

You should add Oswald The Lucky Rabbit too, he’s in public domain since last year

I really like the idea of this! Though its clear the game itself needs some fine tuning, though im willing to forgive it since 1. Its a trailer, so of course its still in development, and things could easily change 2. The collage artstyle lends itself to choppy/jagged animations/movements

This game looks so cool!!!! I really like the approach to mickeys thoughts about being public domain, rather than being happy he’s more in disbelief. I can tell that this game is going to go far

this looks so cool :o I like how Mickey looks really arrogant in this, which would make sense

Now THIS is what we ought to be seeing when something like Mickey enters public domain! It’s like the spiritual successor to Epic Mickey! Very much looking forward to it’s release!

Dang, a project that’s both CREATIVE and NOT a “baby’s first Mickey horror gore story”? COUNT ME IN! THIS LOOKS GREAT, KEEP IT UP!

i don't really care to go dig-up my previous comment, but a point i forgot to make : keep the cut-out aesthetic! seen some poeple criticize it, but it's actually really cool! might have to remember it, myself [but prob won't] for some of my own projects

Oh my gosh this is such an awesome concept. Take your time, don't set an impossible deadline, and stay positive. Cheers! ❤

I like the idea of this game a lot! I just have to give a little warning though, I do notice that in some frames of animation, Mickey is seen wearing white gloves. That part of Mickey’s character is not in the public domain yet, so if anyone from Disney notices that, you might still get hit with a copyright strike. Other than that, this looks great!

Finally some original content made from Mickey. He's a character full of potential, but until now people literally just reposted Disney stuff and slapped their name on it. Glad to see actual creative work being done around the character.

I like the Paper Mario esc vibes

this looks so cool! i love the art style, can’t wait to play it!

I absolutely love the bottom of the description Whenever this game comes out im definitely finna play it

I just realized that if a big studio did the same thing but in 3D, it would be like the successor to Epic Mickey.

Honestly, the concept of a game being made entirely from public domain is really interesting…can’t wait to see the finished result!

Please keep us updated, I’d play the hell out of this (specially if it had Oswald on it)

Finally a use of mickey mouse that isnt just "We PUT aDuLT cONtENt" It has a nice vibe. Reminds me of epic mickey, but feels more classical

WHAT THE-?!?!?!?!?!? Welp, the context is amazing!!! LOVED IT!!! I loved how you put a serious and shitty situation into something fun and cool

Loving this take using the character, however there is 2 problems you may have. 1. The white gloves on him. While the poster has him in the gloves it may be best to remove them in the jump animation. 2. The logo using mickeys head may be an issue since Disney has the rights to it as a commercial trademark. Other than those 2 issues I am very excited for this project

this game actually looks like a really cool concept! And if given time you could really make a well polished game, hope you can polish things out and watch out for the trade mark lol

Can't wait for the Winnie-The-Pooh DLC

You know I’m glad Fleshier’s character bimbo is getting more attention thanks to this game, I love those old fleshier cartoons and bimbo has always been my favorite. Glad he’s getting more attraction. Keep up the great work, friend.

Don't forget that in 2012 congress said works in the public domain could be taken out of the public domain and put back into copyright, moral of the story is to cherish what you want too because it might be taken away

Finally someone doing something creative with things being in the public domain

I would love to play this! I also want to maybe suggest some Winnie the Pooh stuff since he’s public domain as well. Just an idea though

I love the mixed media concept, can’t wait to see how it evolves visually and gameplay wise.

This feels right for Mickey. Love that Bimbo is in it too.

I love the idea! Keep working on it! I’m tired and I never though horror kids movies would work, this is the use I want to see from a character entering public domain it looks really cool

hold on? This looks so good bro

I like it, its crazy how many frames of animation sprites you made from the actual cartoons, would be cool if you ended up filling in the gaps with custom animated frames and make them look like the cartoon!

“I’m here by mistake” “I have to be.” Mickey, being in the public domain isn’t anyone’s fault

There you go, not a horror game. Everyone happy now?

A PD Mickey game where he has to team up with other PD characters? I'm down 👀

This is REALLY cool, I love how it looks. Good luck on continued development, it's impressive enough getting this far into working on an image based game like this where everything has to have specific collision to match its outline, finding the images for the platforming assets must have been a pain. I'm looking forward to playing this once it releases!

Love this!! Absolutely cannot wait for this game to drop.

That's a great "fuck you" to the copyright industry. But, as people said before, don't just work around the concept, focus on polishing the gameplay too, because what makes games last more is their gameplay.

It would be epic if the soundtrack also consisted of public domain songs remixed and edited into something that fits the game. It would be so cool to see one of Beethoven's symphonies adapted into a boss theme or something

Maybe some alternate characters that you can play as can be other characters that have entered public domain? If I remember correctly, Pooh is in public domain, so I’m sure that he would a wonderful little guy to play as! That would make me happy :D

0:53 Yo its Bilbo the dog

Seems like a pretty cool idea, I like this!

Even icons like Mick--- I mean Willie, aren't immune from the public domain. The idea honestly sounds like a fun little romp and stomp if only to make the most out of the "I don't belong here" gag

I love how the title and font for the text is sourced from random images, reminds me of those expand dong memes that were posted everywhere.

This looks amazing!

Wait'll till your game will be on The Game Awards 2024. Or not.

When people think of public domain, Most people think of horror movies, This guy thinks about actual creative ideas for a game.

This is the most interesting Project I've seen come out of the Steamboat Willie public domain content. I will watch you very closely.

Is that Bimbo the Dog?

i hope oswald the lucky rabbit makes an appearance he could be an ally to mickey, or be villain pretending to be a good guy (kind of like flowey) photoshop ozzy real?

This is actually really cool! And it’s going to get even better! Definitely going to get this game when it’s out. Honestly, the thumbnail was so high quality, that I originally thought that this was a 10 page long essay documentary about public domain. 😂

I like how Mickey is convinced that there is no possible way he could end up where he is.

Bro Disney still copyrighted this video💀

Nosfuratu boss fight hear me out

Finally using the public domain for something other than horror movies. I dunno if your already planning on doing this but you should put a bunch of other public domain characters in like Winnie the Pooh or Sherlock Holmes, maybe as playable characters or npcs

Ahhh, B-games, i'll never not love you