Why the names of (real world, not made-up) video games and other media are usually changed when used in fiction?

  • kjira@lemmy.today
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    15 hours ago

    Probably to completely sidestep copyright / permission concerns. But can you give an example?

  • SanguinePar@lemmy.world
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    14 hours ago

    In short, money.

    To use the real name would likely require licensing it. Not to mention that naming a game made by a company owned by one major media conglomerate, might be an issue when you’re a show made by a company owned by a different competing major media conglomerate.

  • Kelly@lemmy.world
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    13 hours ago

    For live action TV its probably easier to just use retail units but for animation it allows them to use only the aspects they are interested in while not getting bogged down in the realities of the console/controller design or the actual gameplay scenarios.

    Of course it also allows for the title to function as a joke too, and makes for a more timeless product than a current year pop culture reference.

    https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FictionalVideoGame/WesternAnimation