Torque Licensing Concerns
by Fenrir Wolf · in Torque Game Engine · 09/01/2003 (10:28 am) · 7 replies
Okay, I'm pretty new to Torque. I went and read Torque's licensing agreement and was impressed -- it's very lenient. It does not force you to publish your game through the GG website and does not restrict what you can do with the engine until your game's income is over $500k annually. (And that point, I doubt i would shed many tears paying GG $10k or more for a commercial license.)
And because of this fair licensing agreement, I plunked $100 down for Torque.
I've scanned the forums, and it seems that this is a recent change in the license. The prior license states that games created with the Torque engine were property of GG and must be distributed exclusively through GG's website.
However -- I noticed that in New_Demo_Branch the licensing agreement has changed. (I know NDB isn't official, but from what I understand it's supposed to reflect what Torque Release 1.2.0 will look like.) It sounds like the agreement has changed back to the old one, as it now stipulates that any content created through Torque must be distributed by GG, and that %50 of all profit goes directly to GG.
I'm confused. Will the license for Torque change in the newer version? Am I allowed to distribute a game I create with Torque through my own channels? Does creating a game with Torque give exclusive rights to my game content to GG?
And because of this fair licensing agreement, I plunked $100 down for Torque.
I've scanned the forums, and it seems that this is a recent change in the license. The prior license states that games created with the Torque engine were property of GG and must be distributed exclusively through GG's website.
However -- I noticed that in New_Demo_Branch the licensing agreement has changed. (I know NDB isn't official, but from what I understand it's supposed to reflect what Torque Release 1.2.0 will look like.) It sounds like the agreement has changed back to the old one, as it now stipulates that any content created through Torque must be distributed by GG, and that %50 of all profit goes directly to GG.
I'm confused. Will the license for Torque change in the newer version? Am I allowed to distribute a game I create with Torque through my own channels? Does creating a game with Torque give exclusive rights to my game content to GG?
#2
Torque is impressive for being just $100. I really would like to use it. I do have seed money and while I'm currently a development/artist/music/FX team of just one, I intend to add to the team with the intent of finishing games for publishing. Now, if GG wants first crack at distributing my games, then I'm all for it. GG's done a wonderful job releasing the game engine like it has for so cheap. However, I doubt I could make much money at doing indie game development under a really restrictive license like the one I saw in the demo. Maybe just enough to supplement my day job income, instead of replace it. Which is my goal -- I've been doing freeware games for long enough. I wanna make a living at doing what I love. :)
Anyway, that's my concern.
09/01/2003 (11:11 am)
When you press F1 in the TorqueDemo.exe. So this might be an old license file?Torque is impressive for being just $100. I really would like to use it. I do have seed money and while I'm currently a development/artist/music/FX team of just one, I intend to add to the team with the intent of finishing games for publishing. Now, if GG wants first crack at distributing my games, then I'm all for it. GG's done a wonderful job releasing the game engine like it has for so cheap. However, I doubt I could make much money at doing indie game development under a really restrictive license like the one I saw in the demo. Maybe just enough to supplement my day job income, instead of replace it. Which is my goal -- I've been doing freeware games for long enough. I wanna make a living at doing what I love. :)
Anyway, that's my concern.
#3
If you're really anally legal about it, changing license agreements have to be clearly indicated to 'owners' to actually be enforced in any useful way. So i'd only be concerned about completing your game :)
09/01/2003 (1:15 pm)
David, I wouldn't worry about it at all. It's much more likely to be a mistake than anything particulary sinister. I think we've proved enough times GG is on our side.If you're really anally legal about it, changing license agreements have to be clearly indicated to 'owners' to actually be enforced in any useful way. So i'd only be concerned about completing your game :)
#4
It is when:
This is regardless of how much revenue is generated thru sales of your torque product.
09/01/2003 (2:45 pm)
FYI:Quote:...until your game's income is over $500k annually.is wrong.
It is when:
Quote:...your company revenues or those of your publisher are above $500,000...
This is regardless of how much revenue is generated thru sales of your torque product.
#5
Hypothetically speaking...
09/01/2003 (4:06 pm)
What if you don't have a company, but your personal wealth exceeds that limit?Hypothetically speaking...
#6
-Jeff Tunnell GG
09/01/2003 (5:19 pm)
The current license agreement is now nearly a year old. The one in the demo branch is a mistake. The demo branch is not official software in any way.-Jeff Tunnell GG
#7
09/03/2003 (9:56 am)
Thanks, Jeff Tunnell, that allays all of my fears. Now, back to making games. :) 
Associate Kyle Carter
Where do you see these licensing terms in NDB?