Binary Announcement and Release
by Brett Seyler · 12/01/2009 (2:18 pm) · 203 comments
Good afternoon Torque people! It's my pleasure to share some exciting news with all of you this Monday. As I alluded to in my previous blog, we've mulled over a lower-tier licensing option for Torque 3D long enough. It's time.
"Torque 3D" is now available for licensing. A full-featured, binary-only version of Torque 3D Professional, it can be licensed for just $250 / seat. With Torque 3D then, the following options are available:
Torque 3D Professional - $1000 / seat
Torque 3D - $250 / seat
Of course, we also have a full-featured, binary only demo which you can download and use for FREE as long as you want. But we have one more surprise for you...
For the month of December, you can license Torque 3D at a $150 discount. For the next 31 days, it's $100 / seat!
I hope you all feel like this is a good solution for an high-quality introduction to Torque for developers who aren't ready to pay for the full cost of a Professional license. We looked at a lot of options, and we feel like this is the most straightforward way for us to give developers what they are looking for. There are no strings, no royalties, no catches or gimmicks. If you have $100 (in December), you can start using Torque 3D to make games now. If you have another $750, you can upgrade to a Professional license and have full access to Torque 3D source code and first access to alpha and beta features. Again, the latter is just the beginning in the way of Pro perks, but source access to a the best terrain, networking and rendering technology this side of $1M is a pretty nice perk in and of itself.
Here's a quick peek at what people are doing right now (shameless eye candy plug):
Fantastic work in Torque 3D by Alan James
Pre-emptive Q&A
Q. Is there a feature delta between Torque 3D and Torque 3D Professional?A. With the exception of source code, not at all.
Q. Is the Torque 3D (binary) license for commercial use?
A. Absolutely. It's the same as the Professional license. Use it make as many games as you like. One simple fee. No royalties.
Q. What about upgrade paths?
A. Legacy Torque license holders (TGE / TGEA) cannot apply their investment to Torque 3D, but we will continue to allow that investment to applied to a Professional license. If an individual owns both a legacy license (e.g. "TGE" for $150), and they purchase Torque 3D, they may apply the greater of the two discounts to a Torque 3D Professional license.
Q. If I pay $100 for Torque 3D this month, do I get a $100 or a $250 discount on a Professional license?
A. $250.
I'm happy to answer any other questions in the comments and I'll update the Q&A with good ones as we go.
Torque 3D development blogs:
- Post #1 - Kickoff
- Post #2 - Apparatus and Warrior Camp
- Post #3 - Luma's racing kit
- Post #4 - Josh Engebretson and Web Publishing
- Post #5 - Pricing and Licensing
- Post #6 - Pricing and Licensing CONTINUED
- Post #7 - Wetness & Precipitation
- Post #8 - Screeen Space Ambient Occlusion (SSAO)
- Post #9 - Matt Langley and the Torque Launcher
- Post #10 - Chris Robertson and Collada
- Post #11 - Depth of Field
- Post #12 - Advanced Lighting
- Post #13 - Soft Particles
- Post #14 - World Editor
- Post #15 - Pricing and Licensing ANNOUNCED!
- Post #16 - GDC Live Edition
- Post #17 - River & Road Editors
- Post #18 - Beta is UP!
- Post #19 - Light Rays, Undercity, and the Material Editor
- Post #20 - Mass Market Hardware
- Post #21 - Beta: Part Deux
- Post #22 - Marching Towards Beta 3
- Post #23 - pureLIGHT
- Post #24 - Lighting, Terrain, and Cloth
- Post #25 - Beta 3!
- Post #26 - Documentation
- Post #27 - Beta 4!
- Post #28 - Shape Editor
- Post #29 - Beta 5!
- Post #30 - Collada Import GUI Dialog
- Post #31 - 1.0 Release!!!
- Post #32 - The only good bug...
- Post #33 - 1.1 Alpha!
- Post #34 - Binary Announcement and Release
- Post #35 - Coming Soon!
About the author
Since 2007, I've done my best to steer Torque's development and brand toward the best opportunities in games middleware.
#62
12/02/2009 (12:00 pm)
will Purelight be able to work with the binary one? 
#64
12/02/2009 (1:52 pm)
It will work just fine with the binary version. All we do is create assets, export them and create a mission and material file. Just a quick note about the new version that should help speed up level creation as well. You can now set collision to "Visible Mesh" in pureLIGHT when you first export a level. So you should be able to light a level and run around in it right away after you export it. 
#65
12/02/2009 (1:59 pm)
Awesome, $100 is a steal for a seat with all the new rendering tech, powerful realtime world editors, Shape Editor, polished up GUI editor, and ability to script the stock engine... or work in conjunction with a Pro licensee to really rock out :)
#66
THIS IS AWESOME!!!
I think it's a way better idea to just make a no-source version for the cheaper price. Now the $250 version is worth purchasing and it is awesome.
Thanks very much guys! and the $100 price for the holiday season is even better. Now if only the pro version was $750 :)
Thanks once again for this awesome change. I reeeeally want T3D now....
12/02/2009 (2:23 pm)
....Gay....all of you GG people are just gay...THIS IS AWESOME!!!
I think it's a way better idea to just make a no-source version for the cheaper price. Now the $250 version is worth purchasing and it is awesome.
Thanks very much guys! and the $100 price for the holiday season is even better. Now if only the pro version was $750 :)
Thanks once again for this awesome change. I reeeeally want T3D now....
#67
12/02/2009 (2:36 pm)
If you purchase the binary version, then you will get $250 towards the Professional license. Which will make the professional version $750. 
#68
12/02/2009 (2:48 pm)
Actually, it would make it $850, because you already spent $100 on the binary version :p 
#69
12/02/2009 (2:49 pm)
Even though Unity has gone free for indies, and other engines are available this is still a great offer worth considering :) I wasn't planning to license T3D but for $100 I just may do it.
#70
12/02/2009 (3:25 pm)
I'm just thinking: why would I spend $100 on the binary version, then turn around and spend another $750 on the pro version. If I upgrade to the pro version its only $705 since I already own TGE, TGEA, Why would I want to spend more? it just doesn't make sense to me. 
#71
I think the only reason you would want to spend the $100 is if you had a title (maybe something built in the binary demo version) that was ready to go.
You can't legally distribute a game from the demo only version...so you'd have to pay a licensing fee. The $100 option would be perfect for you in that case.
But if your game needed any kind of modification to the engine's source code, then it would not make sense to purchase the binary at all...because you'd still need to purchase the $705 upgrade (and wouldn't get any additional discount).
--RB
12/02/2009 (3:42 pm)
@MorrieI think the only reason you would want to spend the $100 is if you had a title (maybe something built in the binary demo version) that was ready to go.
You can't legally distribute a game from the demo only version...so you'd have to pay a licensing fee. The $100 option would be perfect for you in that case.
But if your game needed any kind of modification to the engine's source code, then it would not make sense to purchase the binary at all...because you'd still need to purchase the $705 upgrade (and wouldn't get any additional discount).
--RB
#72
Why would I pay $100 now, then $750 to upgrade, considering my legacy engines already reduce the price??
There are some developers that do not have the $1,000, or even the $750 available right now. Seeing that as an issue for some, we are offering the binary solution so they can use the full feature set of Torque 3D minus the source. This is a great opportunity for people to use Torque 3D without taking a hit to the wallet. Sure, there is a demo, but Torque 3D and Torque 3D Pro will probably always be ahead by way of a minor point versions or Alpha/Beta version. Most importantly, it is possible to make a fun, full-fledged game with a binary version. The $100 allows low budget hobbyists and Indies to publish a game. The demo does not. When someone has saved up the $750, then they can upgrade to Torque 3D Professional.
That leads to a followup question which also can be addressed:
Why should I upgrade to Torque 3D Pro?
1. Source access. This will allow you to integrate 3rd party tech not available in the stock engine: AFX, Havok, Scaleform, etc.
2. Access to Alphas and Betas. Torque 3D Pro owners get early access to new versions of the engine and preview docs. I have not checked out the binary download yet, but I believe it is 1.0.1. Professional owners currently have access to 1.1 Alpha, which includes the Forest Editor, Sketch Tool, and more.
3. We are working on exposing our bug tracker system for our engines, viewable by the public. The plan is to allow this for Professional users only.
Does that answer your questions?
12/02/2009 (3:50 pm)
@Morrie - That's a very valid question and I'm surprised no one has asked it yet. Luckily I have had an answer ready =)Why would I pay $100 now, then $750 to upgrade, considering my legacy engines already reduce the price??
There are some developers that do not have the $1,000, or even the $750 available right now. Seeing that as an issue for some, we are offering the binary solution so they can use the full feature set of Torque 3D minus the source. This is a great opportunity for people to use Torque 3D without taking a hit to the wallet. Sure, there is a demo, but Torque 3D and Torque 3D Pro will probably always be ahead by way of a minor point versions or Alpha/Beta version. Most importantly, it is possible to make a fun, full-fledged game with a binary version. The $100 allows low budget hobbyists and Indies to publish a game. The demo does not. When someone has saved up the $750, then they can upgrade to Torque 3D Professional.
That leads to a followup question which also can be addressed:
Why should I upgrade to Torque 3D Pro?
1. Source access. This will allow you to integrate 3rd party tech not available in the stock engine: AFX, Havok, Scaleform, etc.
2. Access to Alphas and Betas. Torque 3D Pro owners get early access to new versions of the engine and preview docs. I have not checked out the binary download yet, but I believe it is 1.0.1. Professional owners currently have access to 1.1 Alpha, which includes the Forest Editor, Sketch Tool, and more.
3. We are working on exposing our bug tracker system for our engines, viewable by the public. The plan is to allow this for Professional users only.
Does that answer your questions?
#73
Good breakdown, I'm not so sure you answered Morrie's question/concern though, but merely danced around it.
His point was, why would someone who already owns one of the engines fork over $100 for the binary now, or $250 later when it's just going to raise the cost of professional version.
Owning only TGE myself right now buying the binary doesn't effect me either way, but works out evenly. However in Morrie's case T3D professional at the moment only costs him $705, but purchasing the binary at the current price costs him $100, and then ups the price of pro to $750. Thus making his end cost for professional $850, which is $145 more than he would be paying if he just went and bought professional outright.
This is common business practice though, if it indeed works this way.
So in a way I guess you did answer Morrie's question, in his situation there is no point in buying the binary version if he ever wants to upgrade to pro and spend the least amount of money possible.
This current pricing scheme is best for us that at only own TGE or own no engines t all. But only at the $100 december deal, after that I'd be paying 150 more than if I bought pro outright.
12/02/2009 (4:32 pm)
@MichaelGood breakdown, I'm not so sure you answered Morrie's question/concern though, but merely danced around it.
His point was, why would someone who already owns one of the engines fork over $100 for the binary now, or $250 later when it's just going to raise the cost of professional version.
Owning only TGE myself right now buying the binary doesn't effect me either way, but works out evenly. However in Morrie's case T3D professional at the moment only costs him $705, but purchasing the binary at the current price costs him $100, and then ups the price of pro to $750. Thus making his end cost for professional $850, which is $145 more than he would be paying if he just went and bought professional outright.
This is common business practice though, if it indeed works this way.
So in a way I guess you did answer Morrie's question, in his situation there is no point in buying the binary version if he ever wants to upgrade to pro and spend the least amount of money possible.
This current pricing scheme is best for us that at only own TGE or own no engines t all. But only at the $100 december deal, after that I'd be paying 150 more than if I bought pro outright.
#74
$850 is still $150 less than buying T3D Pro. You can look at it as a credit fee - although it's usually much more when you pay a $1000 product over a year. If I bought on credit, it would end up being $1360 (12 months) or more. Upgrading for $805 doesn't seem so bad for Morrie then :)
12/02/2009 (4:36 pm)
@Rich: Michael gave reasons to skip the intermediate step and buy Pro, at least ;)$850 is still $150 less than buying T3D Pro. You can look at it as a credit fee - although it's usually much more when you pay a $1000 product over a year. If I bought on credit, it would end up being $1360 (12 months) or more. Upgrading for $805 doesn't seem so bad for Morrie then :)
#75
User: "Why would I pay $100 now, then $750 to upgrade, considering my legacy engines already reduce the price?"
Me: "Do you have the $705 right now to pay for Pro?"
User: "No, I'm saving up."
Me: "Well, in the mean time you can just pay $100 for the binary and work with all the editors, scripts, with no object limit and maybe even publish a game without any royalties or catches?"
User: "But in the end, if I pay for binary and upgrade to Pro, I do spend more money?"
Me: "A very minuscule amount, but this is a way to fund a team without breaking your budget and work on a game project without missing features."
And straight to the point, no. Even if you pay for the binary, you still get your current engine licenses discounted from the cost of the Pro version. If you own TGEA, that gets taken out of a Pro upgrade.
12/02/2009 (4:42 pm)
@Rich - I definitely answered his question, but I will break it down to the simplest terms:User: "Why would I pay $100 now, then $750 to upgrade, considering my legacy engines already reduce the price?"
Me: "Do you have the $705 right now to pay for Pro?"
User: "No, I'm saving up."
Me: "Well, in the mean time you can just pay $100 for the binary and work with all the editors, scripts, with no object limit and maybe even publish a game without any royalties or catches?"
User: "But in the end, if I pay for binary and upgrade to Pro, I do spend more money?"
Me: "A very minuscule amount, but this is a way to fund a team without breaking your budget and work on a game project without missing features."
And straight to the point, no. Even if you pay for the binary, you still get your current engine licenses discounted from the cost of the Pro version. If you own TGEA, that gets taken out of a Pro upgrade.
Quote:
Q. What about upgrade paths?
A. Legacy Torque license holders (TGE / TGEA) cannot apply their investment to Torque 3D, but we will continue to allow that investment to applied to a Professional license. If an individual owns both a legacy license (e.g. "TGE" for $150), and they purchase Torque 3D, they may apply the greater of the two discounts to a Torque 3D Professional license.
#76
I have got the demo and have changed the mision file so it works with torque 3d however the mission file loads all interiours and shapes in foldes that tge has but torque 3d does not? Do I have to edit each one just to make it work. It would take a day but I would be willing to do it if it means torque 3d. Athough there always is another way so if there is another way please tell me.
12/02/2009 (4:51 pm)
@ScottI have got the demo and have changed the mision file so it works with torque 3d however the mission file loads all interiours and shapes in foldes that tge has but torque 3d does not? Do I have to edit each one just to make it work. It would take a day but I would be willing to do it if it means torque 3d. Athough there always is another way so if there is another way please tell me.
#77
Let's take this to a thread in the T3D public forums as this is getting off topic for the blog.
12/02/2009 (4:57 pm)
@AlexanderLet's take this to a thread in the T3D public forums as this is getting off topic for the blog.
#78
would it make more sense to subtract $100 than to ADD a $100, since you already paid $100 and you probably wouldn't use the binary once you went pro anyways.
It seem like it a way to make up the difference to me.
12/02/2009 (4:58 pm)
Here's my theory: if I by the binary its $100 THEN TO UPGRADE its $705/$750.would it make more sense to subtract $100 than to ADD a $100, since you already paid $100 and you probably wouldn't use the binary once you went pro anyways.
It seem like it a way to make up the difference to me.
#79
Haha thanks, you definitely answered the question in both your posts when I think of it in a more broad sense. I'll definitely be buying during this december, so I hope my comments weren't misconstrued only as me being an ass.
I was just reiterating what I thought Morrie's concern was, as it seemed he was viewing the binary as a stepping stone for all paths into T3D professional ownership. Which for a legacy owner, it's not so much a stepping stone as it is a cheap way to familiarize yourself with the new features/toolsets in an unrestricted way. As well as work on some games that don't require source changes.
I think that's the point I was trying to work towards in my above post, I just never got around to making it. You guys have certainly added a lot of functionality to the engine, and I think you're doing a great job by introducing this new pricing scheme.
So in the holiday spirit, I appologize if my above post came off as snyde, I surely didn't mean it that way.
12/02/2009 (5:02 pm)
@MichaelHaha thanks, you definitely answered the question in both your posts when I think of it in a more broad sense. I'll definitely be buying during this december, so I hope my comments weren't misconstrued only as me being an ass.
I was just reiterating what I thought Morrie's concern was, as it seemed he was viewing the binary as a stepping stone for all paths into T3D professional ownership. Which for a legacy owner, it's not so much a stepping stone as it is a cheap way to familiarize yourself with the new features/toolsets in an unrestricted way. As well as work on some games that don't require source changes.
I think that's the point I was trying to work towards in my above post, I just never got around to making it. You guys have certainly added a lot of functionality to the engine, and I think you're doing a great job by introducing this new pricing scheme.
So in the holiday spirit, I appologize if my above post came off as snyde, I surely didn't mean it that way.
#80
12/02/2009 (5:04 pm)
Quote:so I hope my comments weren't misconstrued only as me being an ass.Nope...happens to me all the time, so I don't judge ;)
Quote:it's not so much a stepping stone as it is a cheap way to familiarize yourself with the new features/toolsets in an unrestricted way. As well as work on some games that don't require source changes.Excellent summary!
Quote:So in the holiday spirit, I appologizeNo need to apologize, especially for the sake of holiday spirit. Apologies are for after holidays, especially New Year's =)
Associate Scott Burns
GG Alumni
That's just the way I chose to go about doing my port. My reasons for doing that were that world used in the demo was never meant to be final art, the design of the world itself had been changed and I wanted to take advantage of Torque 3D's new editors while building the world. It's just easier for me to start over at that point. The original demo took me a month to complete including the source code changes.
Torque 3D still uses the same formats for missions and terrains. You should be able to just copy them over, but there will likely be script changes that will have to be made. My advice is to grab the demo and try it.