GarageGames has arrived
by Dave Myers · 02/20/2006 (9:57 pm) · 8 comments
I remember vividly the second mention I found of GarageGames online. The first mention, a Blue's News blurb, was largely forgettable and all I can recall from the announcement was that they had a website up or something. But the second time I saw the name, ah yes, now that I remember quite well. Just as I will remember vividly the latest comic by those insane Penny Arcade guys.
Like so many other wannabe game devs out there in the wild, I had tinkered for many years with various software libraries, including some of my own creation, in the hopes of learning how to make those most magical of creations - video games. Prior to becoming aware of GarageGames I was already of the mind that my fellow teammates and I needed to simply latch on to an existing 3D engine and make something, even if it was simply a mod of an existing game such as Unreal or Quake. So we started researching which game would be the easiest to work with and then I found that second blurb:
GarageGames was going to license out the Tribes 2 engine.
I read and reread the announcement, truly with disbelief, I kid you not. I went to GDC that year and sat face-to-face with the GarageGames founders and point-blank asked them the single most important question I had: Do we get source?
The rest is history, of course, because not only did we get source, but we got a full-fledged 3D engine, not just a software library. Gone were thoughts of using Unreal or Quake and making a mod. This was our solution and gawddamned if we weren't the happiest bunch of wannabe game makers you ever laid your eyes on.
Flash forward, what, five years or so now? GarageGames is inching closer and closer to a goal I remember Jay Moore mentioning many moons ago - being a name known to every household. At least, I think he said something close to that. And now here they are with a title on the Xbox360 and the subject on arguably the most popular game geeks comic around. Not too shabby, and I feel very fortunate to have experienced at least some portion of this with GG.
What will happen in the next five years with GG? Personally, I hope that they reach the next level in terms of distribution, on their own terms, and in their own channel. Even so, there's no doubt that GarageGames has arrived.
Gratz GG!
About the author
Considerable experience developing with Torque-based technologies and produced the first third-party game using any Torque technology (Orbz). Game designer, programmer, and producer, and credits include the innovative title Orbz and the colorful BuggOut.
#2
02/21/2006 (2:24 am)
I think the next level for GarageGames would be to make something like Steam.. then they would be able to promote Indie software like kings! or a special deal with Valve. 
#3
02/21/2006 (2:54 am)
I can imagine the transition from online distrobution, to the boxed channel to be a very hard jump. Reading over the figures of how much it actually costs, it could prove to be very risky. I am sure someone with far more experiance than me in retail will be able to verify the exact figure. But this would be cool if it was safe. As for Garage Games being know in every house hold, MBU on 360 has single handedly made many who previously not heard of Garage Games take notice of who they acutally are. Once again the Garage Games revolution is kicking ass and taking names. Long may it continue. 
#4
02/21/2006 (3:26 am)
Well written, Dave.
#5
Most of the clients out there are either focused on the hardcore pc audience (with downloadable versions of retail games), the casual game audience, or the classic game audience (astroids, mario, etc.). There is not a whole lot of cross pollination which would really help the indie movement take off.
The funny thing I have been thinking about is that we could build a game service using Torque... which could then be used to download Torque games among other things. =) The biggest problem is bandwidth... but maybe there is a bittorrent solution to be found.
Also, I believe the new tools being worked on to speed up development are going to effect torque/t2d developers profoundly.
-Unk
02/21/2006 (7:48 am)
Yah, I have been thinking that an online distribution client like steam, real arcade, or gametap with a focus on indie games would be great.Most of the clients out there are either focused on the hardcore pc audience (with downloadable versions of retail games), the casual game audience, or the classic game audience (astroids, mario, etc.). There is not a whole lot of cross pollination which would really help the indie movement take off.
The funny thing I have been thinking about is that we could build a game service using Torque... which could then be used to download Torque games among other things. =) The biggest problem is bandwidth... but maybe there is a bittorrent solution to be found.
Also, I believe the new tools being worked on to speed up development are going to effect torque/t2d developers profoundly.
-Unk
#6
I'm more excited about the values and the mission GG stands for... I've had major players in the game industry introduce me as Jay Moore from GarageGames - "they are the good guys". Even when at times we see people making easier money, it feels good to know we're, as Mark F. says, all about the games not about the money. Do I want everyone at GG to make boat loads of the stuff? Absolutely, but we can do that and if we don't make the games we have in us and get to empower indie devs to bring their games to reality then what's the big deal... lots of ways to make money in the world.
In a way I feel like we're working at Disney or Apple when they just started and we have no idea how cool this venture will be in 5 years or 50... GG is all about making cool tech, fun games and doing it on our own terms.
We've only begun to rock... 2006 is going to be another wild ride! (I think I say that every year and so far its been true).
02/21/2006 (11:18 pm)
Dave - I think I was throwing around the proverbial GG as a "household word" goal, which who knows it could happen. But its not that we're known, its what we're known for...I'm more excited about the values and the mission GG stands for... I've had major players in the game industry introduce me as Jay Moore from GarageGames - "they are the good guys". Even when at times we see people making easier money, it feels good to know we're, as Mark F. says, all about the games not about the money. Do I want everyone at GG to make boat loads of the stuff? Absolutely, but we can do that and if we don't make the games we have in us and get to empower indie devs to bring their games to reality then what's the big deal... lots of ways to make money in the world.
In a way I feel like we're working at Disney or Apple when they just started and we have no idea how cool this venture will be in 5 years or 50... GG is all about making cool tech, fun games and doing it on our own terms.
We've only begun to rock... 2006 is going to be another wild ride! (I think I say that every year and so far its been true).
Torque 3D Owner dsfsd