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Welcome Back GarageGames!

by Eric Preisz · 01/20/2011 (4:27 am) · 553 comments






You've been patiently waiting and the time has come. GarageGames is back! We've changed our name back to GarageGames and we are dropping the prices on all products to $99.00 to celebrate our new direction and return to our indie roots. It's been a storied ten years for the GarageGames name and we are looking forward to ushering in the next decade.

The return of GarageGames is much more than a $99 price point. It's a commitment to the community who grew with us over the years. It's a return to the values that brought people together to make great games without the burden of unbearable pricing or royalties. Our community is a diverse group of people who are willing and able to help each other grow as game developers and we can't wait to take that community to the next level. So before I dive into details, let's put some stakes in the ground:

We are committed to delivering you a full source solution without royalties at a price that indies can afford,

We are committed to a better out of the box experience: more intuitive tools focused on design, better tutorials and documentation, and web-site updates that support our most valuable feature…our community,

We are committed to bringing in more talent that can help us execute reliable processes, provide better quality, and set higher standards that exceed your expectation ( btw…we are hiring ).

You will find real evidence of our commitments scattered through this site that we updated late last night. The most obvious is the $99.00 price tag. We believe that this price makes the Torque product line available to everyone with a serious itch to make a game without opening the flood gates for free users who may not be as committed to the same goals as paid developers who rely on our support in the forums. You will notice that we are sun-setting TorqueX and providing refunds to those who pre-ordered iTorque 3D. We know that what we need more than anything is a more focused roadmap and these choices are a difficult, but necessary, step in that direction. You can find more product updates on this blog.

You may be wondering who the new owners are. First off, they are modest, so they asked that I not make them the focus of this blog. I'm guessing; however, that you do want to know that we are in good hands. Trust me...we are. Over the past couple of weeks I talked with dozens of interested parties but none of their values aligned as closely as they do with Graham Software Development. I can't thank them enough for suggesting and supporting the low price-point and the resurgence of the GarageGames brand. These guys are just like us; they are indie developers with the drive and desire to build something that changes the way people make games.

There's a lot for us to do. Setting and achieving a new, higher standard for game development tools won't happen overnight. On top of that challenge, we are switching over to new services ( web hosting, payment processing, etc. ) and moving into a new building (we are staying in Vegas, just moving to a bigger location ). We are also hiring and will be adding new people to the team ( did I mention that we are hiring? ). So you may see a few fresh company faces in the forums. Because of these moving pieces, you may notice the occasional web-site glitch or other disruption. So thanks, in advance, for your patience as we make these changes.

In closing, I can’t thank you enough for sticking with us during this time. The team stayed together through the transition and I can't help but think that your enthusiasm and kind words played a big role in making that happen. We look forward to meeting our new goals so that we can continue to deliver on the promise of bringing royalty free, full-source, game engines to everyone!

So let’s hear it in the comments. It's time to make some noise for GarageGames!

~Eric Preisz
CEO, GarageGames, LLC.

About the author

Manager, Programmer, Author, Professor, Small Business Owner, and Marketer.

#481
01/27/2011 (8:21 am)
Binary users can keep using their binary license they have. If they want to upgrade to source now, they upgrade for just $99 now instead of the $1000 it used to cost to upgrade to source. You just saved $900 on your source upgrade. Don't see how that is a bad thing?
#482
01/27/2011 (8:24 am)
Ok there is some questions answered and I thank you for that. Now what about,

Is there going to be more binaries released?

Because I see no where to purchase the binary anymore. Which tells me that we will not see anymore released binaries.
#483
01/27/2011 (8:37 am)
@LJC

It was laid out in the January prodcts update. Clarified many times, you just skimmed past it.

Unless plans change, there probably won't be any more binary-only versions.

IIRC, binary versions were a much-suggested feature as the price ROSE. People who couldn't afford the sourcecode/pro version wanted access to ... SOMETHING ... anything that let them upgrade.
#484
01/27/2011 (8:49 am)
Wow, well there's that. Thanks to both of you for your answers.
#485
01/27/2011 (9:27 am)
I don't really want the source code... I only bought TGE -> T3D for the fun of it... but have put quite some money into upgrading.

I own lots of 2d / 3d software, have upgraded many times.

Upgrading from T3D 2009 binary to T3D (2011 post IAC) is paying the full price... that is what is bugging me! That's no UPGRADE!

All this rubbish about new owners not having received my money is nonsense. The new company owes the old customer base some loyalty, just like we owe the new GG some loyalty. When most software companies take over they offer the old / loyal customers an upgrade path to the new product at a discount. We haven't been offered anything. As a GG customer since 2004 I don't feel like my loyalty and faith in the past is being rewarded. It's like some other people have stated, we are being treated the same as NEW 2011 users.

Again, I really don't care anymore. But if this is how GG is going to treat old customers I won't be upgrading... O I am mean buying a NEW LICENSE!

I atleast expected an upgrade path, say $50 for binary users, both T2D and T3D... but what's the problem with free updating everbody? I really don't get it and it feels like a slap in the face.

I am really glad I didn't buy the commercial edition, ha. I was really thinking of buying it in the past, ha. But that was when that meant getting to remove the GG logo etc... that all changed after the takeovers, the EULAs kept changing.

The old GG was the OLD GarageGames... the NEW GG isn't the OLD GG, let's be honest about this.

Ha... lot's of you will feel like I am bitching... I really don't care. I feel let down and more people will feel exactly the same. It's not like buying a physical item, it's electronic data... there is no extra costs for GG to give everybody who's been loyal a free TREAT. The commercial users could get something else, say LOGO FREE license etc.

Most licenses sold will be for hobbiests, most people won't even touch the source code... but it's about the principle.

Won't it be more work for GG to differentiate between old Binary users and everybody else? Will Binary users still get updates? Or will we be stuck with beta 1.3? Etc, let's put everybody under the same umbrella... ha. If not, let the binary users upgrade, but not at the FULL PRICE! That's not upgrading!

End rant...
#486
01/27/2011 (9:34 am)
Was there any postings anywhere eluding to when this discount may end? Trying to see if I can glean $99 from one of my next checks.

-Keith
#487
01/27/2011 (9:38 am)
@Keith - We do not have an exact date in mind. We have stated we will give everyone very advanced notice.
#488
01/27/2011 (9:45 am)
@Andrew

Ummm. Andrew? Wait for there to BE a T3D 2011. Wouldn't that then be an upgrade? Until then you have T3D 2009 in binary form, right? So if you don't need the source, then... why do you need to buy a new license?
#489
01/27/2011 (9:48 am)
@ Andrew Chappell: Seriously?! It's $99, dude. Not $500. Not $1,000. "No extra cost ... to give everybody ... a free treat"? Sheesh, do you want them to succeed or do you want them to go bankrupt??

Quote: "I only bought TGE -> T3D for the fun of it..." UDK is fun; go play with that.


#490
01/27/2011 (9:56 am)
@Kevin: You don't seem to understand how the software industry works I guess. Upgrade paths etc. Yes, I've moved to UDK, ha. But really don't you see the point I am making? If not, please don't respond. It's not about the money. I've spent quite some money on GG products. Now it's about the principle. There should be an upgrade path better than paying full price. No other software company I know does this. Can you tell me of one? Torque has always been a bit of fun for me. If it weren't for people like me, there wouldn't be a GG. Most sales will be to people who would like to make a game but never do...

About them going bankrupt. Once I saw all the Las Vegas office photos with Torque logo on the floor I was thinking, WTF? Made me think of the internet boom of the late 90's and eary 00's... ha. Writing was on the wall. GG has lost it's magic, I am really sorry to say.

UDK is a better option for people like me. GG should really change their gameplan because who's going to pay $99 for something they can get for nothing at UDK! UDK is also a proven technology with better connection to the major 3d apps.

I know I am putting the boot in, but GG should concentrate on commercial users who are actually going to make a game. So options like LOGO FREE options is the way forward. UDK is exactly the same as T3D, except for the royalties, but 25% isn't that bad.

So GG my advice is let users remnove the GG logo from their finished products, or it's finished, atleast for T3D.

I wouldn't be surprised if iT2d is the future of GG, it's actually the only product I am interested now, and the only product I haven't got... but will be getting... ha.

Treat your customers well... otherwise you'll lose them. I nearly always upgrade my software ( adobe, newtek, autodesk ) but never pay the full price for an upgrade... I won't be upgrading if this doesn't change. Offer binary users a fair upgrade path... I really can't believe people don't see the problem. GG why?

@GG: I read somewhere the $99 price was a test run to see how well the price sells. Try offering binary users a $50, I bet it does well and you'll be treating the old userbase with more respect than trying to make us pay the same price as new users. Try it, you'll see. Ha.


End advice.
#491
01/27/2011 (10:18 am)
@Andrew
The new price is a discounted upgrade path for binary owners. Previously upgrading to T3D Pro would have cost $800 more than it does now.
#492
01/27/2011 (10:21 am)
@Scott: I agree it's cheaper... but it isn't an upgrade price ($99). It's the full price ($99), the same price NEW users would pay. I really don't care about the money, only the principle. A $50 upgrade seems fair for binary users. Keep us loyal.

OR

GG could offer a binary version for $50 for new users. Then there would be two products and binary users wouldn't have the right to bitch... but now we have binary users who will always feel like they are less important than the customers who get the source code plus earlier betas etc etc.

I'd really like to see a fairer priced upgrade path. Most users will want to support the new GG, but paying the same upgrade price as for a full license isn't fair... don't you think?
#493
01/27/2011 (10:35 am)
@Andrew
I understand the sentiment and we are looking into ways to help transition the few unhappy licensees.

I have seen similar licensing occurrences in the educational market when companies merge or are purchased. This is not anything new to me. But I can understand it being new to others who have not breathed licensing for as long as I have and seen about every scenario imaginable when companies transition their licensing. Everyone who has not had to live the licensing nightmare should count themselves lucky.

The current price-drop is better than any past upgrade option since TGE 1.5 ($50 upgrade from 1.4.2). There may have been a similarly price TorqueX upgrade that I am forgetting, however. And that is the point that a number of people are making. But I can also see where you are coming from with it being the same as what new customers are getting. Because of the massive price drop, I have seen very few people unhappy about the up-front cost, especially if they were looking at upgrading for $900. But everyone wants to have something for less if they have been loyal customers in the past. By putting our pricing at $99 the teams that have been with us for a long time have a great opportunity to save a lot of money in comparison to what they would have had to spend a month ago. But we have also seen those who are unhappy about the price drop and are listening to them as well.

I understand that you are looking at the principle of the upgrade and we looked at this strongly before releasing the pricing. We are also evaluating it now, which has been reiterated by Erik several times, as we move forward. There is never a way to make everyone happy. We know that from past experience. Epic knows that from past experience when they released the GoW codebase to their licensees after a rather large legal debacle. Unity knows that from the ire caused when they moved from an indie license to free version. This is not unprecedented and like all of the others, we are looking at how best to work with our community and make this as positive a transition as possible.

Enjoy your work with UDK. I've always enjoyed working with it.
#494
01/27/2011 (10:48 am)
@David: Thanks for your reply. I haven't really used UDK that much... just like I haven't really used T3D that much... ha. I am glad you understand my point about the upgrade. I'll shut up now.
#495
01/27/2011 (10:50 am)
:-)
#496
01/27/2011 (10:51 am)
@ Andrew: Exactly what Scott just said... $99 is no-where near full price -- it's a LIMITED TIME DISCOUNT -- and is certainly a (very) reasonable upgrade price for those wanting the source. (But you don't want the source, remember? So why are you even going on about this?)

And very few software companies give out their upgrades for free; certainly not the likes of Adobe or Autodesk. What precedent says that GG should give out upgrades for free?

#497
01/27/2011 (10:55 am)
@Kevin: There is a company called PIXOLOGIC... ha. Do a search for free upgrades for ZBrush... have been enjoying free upgrades for years from them. But I agree most companies don't offer free upgrades, although it does happen... most times after a merger or takeover. I never expected a free upgrade from GG to be honest... but the same price for current customers and new customers isn't a upgrade. But David has said he sees my point, and that's all I am interested in.
#498
01/27/2011 (11:01 am)
yay gg! sorry I'm a little late.
#499
01/27/2011 (11:13 am)
@David


"The licensing nightmare."

My brain hurts vicariously just imagining the world of possibilities.

Ow.
#500
01/27/2011 (11:30 am)
@Kevin, @Andrew

Andrew's right. There are a crazy number of companies out there that give free upgrades. Whether they stay in business depends on their business model and how costly it is for them to create new versions.

In general, I think free upgrades as a business model depends on maintaining a sustained, expanding user base and/or for-charge add-ons. Works best, I'd guess, when you're a small fish in a gigantic pond.

Only jumping in between because I find it interesting to contrast with actual GAME software where major or minor patches are all free and upgrades are generally never free. Because we generally call "upgrades" sequels.

At the end of the pool where they take most of the market share, whatever the software business, they charge as much as they think they can without raising it so high they have customers looking elsewhere. Predictable, simple to understand, not at all chaotic. "Upgrade paths" there follow that same pattern. It's down here at the "indie vendor" level where folks try stuff out that breaks usual expectations established in the "major" end.