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Torque 3D 1.2 - Pricing Revealed

by Derek Bronson · 10/07/2011 (1:27 pm) · 308 comments

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Welcome back to another Torque 3D 1.2 Friday. Last week I discussed some of the additional documentation that is going on for Torque 3D 1.2, you can read about it here. This week I am revealing the pricing regarding the update to 1.2 as most of you have been pretty curious in your blog responses. We tried our best to deliver what we believe to be a “no brainer” price to upgrade to Torque 3D 1.2 and I truly feel that the prices we have come up with compared to the value being delivered lives up to that no “brainer statement”. So without further ado:

Torque 3D 1.2 Pricing
New Customer$179
Torque 3D Binary Owner$69
Torque 3D Pro Owner$49
Torque 3D Binary Studio Owner$40 per seat
Torque 3D Pro Studio Owner$20 per seat



As with our other products, starting on the 17th these prices reflect a Full Source Professional Studio License. If you want more information on the move to Studio Licenses I would recommend reading over Eric’s blog that he posted a couple of weeks ago.

Buy Torque 3D 1.1 Now Before 1.2 Ships
If you haven't already purchased Torque 3D then now is the best time to pick it up or to purchase extra seats for your studio. Purchasing a license now saves you $31 over waiting for 1.2 to arrive. The base price for Torque 3D changes on October 17th so clock is ticking.

If you were about to purchase an upgrade to Pro or to convert your license to Studio but were worried about 1.2 being around the corner, don’t be! There is no penalty for upgrading/converting now, in fact it is an easy way to split up the cost of the upgrade to 1.2 depending on what type of license you have.

Also, all people that purchase Torque 3D 1.1 after the price increase on October 17th, will receive Torque 3D 1.2 for free.

Next week I’ll be going over some of the art packs that we will be releasing alongside Torque 3D 1.2 so I’ll make up for my lack of images there :) For now though its back to seeing what QA has dug up so we can get this release out to the world as soon as possible. I try to do my best to add things to the Q&A if any such questions appear in the blog responses.

Quick Q&A
Q: Will the tutorial be free or is it part of 1.2?
A: The tutorial will be available for free on the website but will require Torque 3D 1.2 to get the most out of it

Q: Can we still purchase Torque 3D 1.1 seats or upgrade our existing accounts to Studio after 1.2?
A: Yes, Studio Seats and Studio Conversions will be available for 1.1 users after 1.2 launches. Studio Conversions will remain at $29 but new seats will be at the new price of $179 after October 17th.


Torque 3D 1.2 Development Blogs:

#41
10/07/2011 (6:25 pm)
Hey Eric,

Any idea when we can see a list of the new features/bug fixes in full?
I'm particularly curious what the specific-feature fixes that got implemented were.
#42
10/07/2011 (6:29 pm)
@GG Guys: This isn't super relevant to me right now I'm doing my current development on Windows. But since the Mac version of 1.1 is still preview, does that mean that there won't be a full 1.1 release for mac and you'll have to upgrade to 1.2 for a full point release? Just curious in terms of looking towards going multiplatform in the future.
#43
10/07/2011 (6:42 pm)
Updated: Grammer spelling anti-lysdexia, formatting

@erick firstly let me say
Quote:
We don't need to be enemies.

I 100% agree with you there, however you guys i my personal opinion really need to listen to the community on this as after all what is T3D with out its customer base/communiy ?

and secondly iv quoted and responded below to some of the statements you posted in the hope you get a better understanding from were i personally am coming from and were i think some of the other community members are coming from with the negativity surrounding this upgrade announcement.


Quote:
The benefits for the new user are more transparent, so let me highlight the benefits for our existing customers:

1) About $150,000 worth of artwork from AAA guys. No kidding.

Granted but that only applies if those that buy the new engine revision are going to use those pieces of art, otherwise they are paying for some thing they are never going to use.

Quote:
2) We found a lot of bugs that you wouldn't find if we were just doing sample apps rather than a vertical slice of a game. If you are building demos, then maybe we didn't help you. If you are building a game, we fixed important things. QA is good. Using your products like your customers will is a WAY better to find where your product needs improvement(sorry Scott...)

Is that not the job of QA testing a game engine in the first place ?

Bug fixes come part and parcel with working on any kind of application game or game engine, now iv not see any major engine developer e.g UE3 charge for a bug fix to the engine

However New core features of the engine or upgraded/enhanced features

e.g
adding in phys x in to an engine if it did not have it already

could be charged for as thease are not bug fixes.


Quote:
3) You may think you know what the best practices are, but now you have a GG sanctioned tutorial that spells out in very clear language what we consider best practice. You will be surprised with what the tutorial will teach you.

Granted we might not be using or know the best practices for the engine but that is only because up until now we have not had very much in the way of proper detailed documentation (that should have come with the engine when purchased) showing us how, again this should not really be some thing that is charged for.

Basic S.O.P's/guides and tutorials for any app or engine should be provided with said app or engine, unless they fall under the category of advanced guies or tutorials.

As its been previously stated we are not paying for the tutorial as it will be available on the site for free (More on this blow)


Quote:
4) The new features. Anyway you slice it, these features helped us make the best looking vertical slice. They will help you too.

Update: Could you clarify the tearm vertical slice for me, just so im more clear on what your referign to when using that tearm.

So far from what i have seen being linked to in this thread the "New Features" are mostly art assets and a level,

However to properly coment on this statment i would need to see a full bug-fix/features list.

Going on what has been linked to so far as new features

The china town level:
Granted a lot of work has gone in to it, but honestly sit and ask your self the following question, Who out of the countless owners of T3D is going to actually use it in their product as a level.

The features that you have added in to the engine if they did not previously exist and are not fixes can be calssed as Upgrades and yes i agree can be charged for, and that what should have been focused on here not the assets them selves.

Now what would have been better would have been to add this to the Books sections and sold it as an advanced guide or tutorial on how to build a complex level, not included it in a new revision of the engine and charge for it.

Turrets, Proximity Mines and Teleporters:

Again excellent work there guys, but there not really core elements of the engine, all of these can be considers as additional assets that can be added to the engine, and in my opinion should be dealt with as such and charged for separately form the engine.

That being said this dose not apply to any new code that has been implamented in to the engine, as again this would be categories as an Newly added feature and could be charged for.

Disembodied Arms P1 & 2:

Again the same question as china town in regards to the model and animations?

However the changes you made to the engine in relation how the animations are handled again fall under the category of an upgraded core feature and thus could be charged for.
#44
10/07/2011 (6:44 pm)
cont...

Quote:
Lastly, we aren't going to force you to update. We can't please every individual and still put out quick releases. If we didn't attract you with 1.2, then no problem, we'll try next time.

Acctually in a way you are, those that have been waiting for bug fixes to the engine numerous bugs, those that want full useage of the new tutorial, have to now buy the new revision of the engine, just because for instance (but not limated to) the tutorial requires additional art assets.

All this being said, i probably will pay for the upgrade, not because of the new assets but because i want to give back to GG and say thank you for the hard work that has been put in to the engine thus far.

Just please please guys head what im saying here and do not go down the road of including assets/levels/tutorials e.t.c that could be sold separately, if this had been done from the beginneing it would have prevented all this negative feedback your getting right now as a result.

Update:

I guess what im trying to say by all of this is the following:

If you remove any thing that is not a core element of the engine out of the equasion (This includes any new assets that have been made for the tutorial as well) and evlauate what is left over do you have any thing that falls under the categories of New features or Updated or enhanced Features, if so then i can get with the $20 charge for the new revision.

If not then whats left are bug fixes and those in my oppinon should not be charged for.

I think the following simple solution could aid in further revisoin releaces, when adding in new content be it features or assets stop and think,

1. Will this be used by the community as a core element of the engine (by that i mean not a tutorial or guide).
2. Does this really contorbute to the core of the engine or could this be placed in another category e.g Tutorials, Art assets that is set aside from the engine.
3. when posting about a new releace focus on the core elements that have been fixed, update or added to the engine primerally and then go on to discuss additionall assets that you are providing.

Take this how you will, Most major game engine providers provide free upgrades and bug fixes to core elements of their engines, but charge for new core and addon features, and i think thats the model that GG should follow.

I really love this game engine, i love working with it, and how easy it is to modify and add new things to it, and really want to see every one here, staff and community alike succed in every way they can, i just dont feel like GG is doing that at the moment with its currently thinking with this reelace announcment and pricing plan.
#45
10/07/2011 (7:14 pm)
@Eric hey, surveys can be relative. The fact is, community here is awesome because of those who DO post very often.
#46
10/07/2011 (7:39 pm)
@Novack - I think everyone plays a role. I wasn't a very prolific poster, but I helped GG fund a lot of development by landing larger commercial licenses that helped to fund a lot of development. Anyways, I appreciate the avid posters as well as the lurkers. I agree that survey's are just a tool for making decisions, not a roadmap generator.

@Lee - I will need to respond later...my wife is nagging me for answering comments on a Friday night while the Mother-In-Law is visiting :)
#47
10/07/2011 (7:51 pm)
@Eric not a prob, looking forward to your replies :)

p.s also updated my replie above, reworked some of it so that its cnveys better what im trying to say and added in some additional comments and a few suggestions.
#48
10/07/2011 (8:27 pm)
OK, I read all the posts. I heard all the arguments why many of you think you should get something for nothing. Frankly I'm unimpressed. I'm not rich, in fact, at the moment I'm dirt poor, but I am paying for my upgrade and I think it is damned cheap at the price. When I had more money I paid for the engine at full price. It was a bargain then and it is still a bargain - warts and all. If you think you can get ANYBODY's game engine and it will be bug free you are wrong. If you think that if you buy an engine and all bug fixes are free forever, you are wrong. If you think you can get a better price for the features AND GET THE SOURCE CODE let me know. I'd like to buy that engine too. I might sound like a fanboy, but I use Unity, CryEngine, and UDK too. And I still come back to Torque - because it is a good engine, an engine backed by people who are working hard for a community that up until now has seemed most appreciative. So to the people who worked really hard to make this point release - you deserve the money you are asking for.
My two cents.
#49
10/07/2011 (8:39 pm)
@David

Im in agreement with you on the value we are getting for money in regards to what comes with the engine.

And to further clarify what my reply was about, im not saying that we should be getting every thing for free, just bug fixes, i have no problem with paying for Updated Enhanced or new feature being added.

what i don't agree with however is including assets that can be sold separately from the engine in to a release and using that as the reason to charge for said release.

As i sated in my reply above, most companies that release or even license their engine to be worked on or with, provide free bug-fixes to said engines and usually only charge for major reworks of the engine or major core element upgrades or enhancements.


P.S Curse my dyslexia
#50
10/07/2011 (9:04 pm)
Eric, i dont think anyone here who is posting (well most everyone) is looking at this as a Us vs. You with animosity. If that was the case we wouldnt waste our time here and just move on. It is not like there are not alot of options available. We take the time and post our praise and criticisims because we do care, however do understand as a consumer in recent years we have been jerked around quite a bit.

In addition Lee has a very good point, While Art assets are great for sole programers with no interest in content creation there are many who really have no use for it. with that being said the new first person/third person features look fantastic and is really the only value outside bug fixes i see for ME. I do fear however what the cost of a major feature upgrade will look like, as this one looks like a fairly minor update. Than again no one has really posted the change log.
#51
10/07/2011 (9:20 pm)
After going over this thread a few times, pissing Mich off in IRC and thinking of what I really want to say, I finally sit down to write this.

Eric, Mich and the rest of GG. You guys have come a long way in a short time. And I support you guys in asking for a fee for the new artwork, the new features. Hell, If you would have announced that the tutorial artwork and features would be an add on for X amount Great!. Here is where I have a beef.

There are bug fixes in 1.2 that really should have been part of 1.1Final. Namely Threed-2600. Now that issue was fixed by David, and the fix is posted in the forums. So a person could apply that fix himself. But here is where my issue comes in. Mich, in a previous post stated the fixes in 1.2 were mainly due to those found with the new features or allow the new features to work. Great! but lets say I dont need the new features, or dont think I need all the new artwork. and dont get 1.2 and continue on with 1.1.

Now 6 months down the line, I bring someone on my team and tell them to purchase 1.1, and after you install it, make sure you go and get the fixes for this, and that, and the other thing. It gets to be burdensome.

In my opinion, I wouldn't have gotten in a tizzy if the announcement would have been that GG has finalized 1.2 with all its new features, tutorial and artwork and will be available for $50.00, if you are not interested in the new artwork or features, and tutorial, you can use the latest version 1.1.1 which has all the critical bug fixes.

You know what I would have done? I would have looked at that blog and went COOL! pullled out my credit card and ordered 1.2 with out another thought.

But instead I see that announcement and what I think is "well F*()" here we go back to the same BS as TGE 1.3 , 1.4, 1.5. Gonna have to pay just to get critical bug fixes."
#52
10/07/2011 (9:58 pm)
I DO feel it will be worth the $49 for me to upgrade. Even if I don't have a use for the new content, it will be worth it to see the new features in action -- with their associated new assets.

The new tutorial which goes through making a complete game sounds very promising and will likely be good to draw in new customers.

However - personally, seems like it would have made more sense to release the new code free ... w/o the new assets or levels.

And those who are curious or actually desire any of the new features could pay the extra $$ for the necessary asset package.

Then, you could still have a single code base going forward.

As is, it seems like it will be a mess trying to support version 1.1 and 1.2 variants of the engine ... what about the next release 1.3 ? will it then force people to purchase 1.2 & 1.3 for it to work ?

anyhow, just my 2 cents.
#53
10/07/2011 (10:24 pm)
What about those ( like myself ) who purchased T3D when it was beta for $495? do we still have to pay for 1.2?
#54
10/07/2011 (11:28 pm)
So, after having not made any game with the engine yet, I still will buy the update. The first question is: When and how?

Some more questions:
What is the next step?
Will 1.3 be a paid update? (Am assuming not, AFAIK its only major upgrades that are supposed to be paid. But its better not to assume... )
How many months/years of support will be provided for 1.2?
What is the product roadmap? Am sure you guys would have thought of this... What's gonna come in v1.3 up to v2.0?

@Eric, wrt $150,000 artwork included in the engine, can I reuse that in a game that I want to make?


#55
10/07/2011 (11:36 pm)
Will there be a stable Mac release of 1.1 before the jump to 1.2? I'm just waiting until I can finally make the leap up from TGE 1.5.2 with confidence - even T3D 1.0 was pretty poor on OSX :/
#56
10/08/2011 (12:20 am)
It could be soooo easy.

- T3D V1.1 - new features - paid update
- T3D V1.1.1 to V1.1.9 - bug fixes - free

- T3D V1.2 - new features - paid update
- T3D V1.2.1 to V1.2.9 - bug fixes - free

- T3D V1.3 - new features - paid update
- T3D V1.3.1 to V1.3.9 - bug fixes - free

...
...


- documentation - free
- a complete tutorial - paid
- additional art/content - paid


Sometimes GG makes things more complicated than they have to be.
#57
10/08/2011 (12:32 am)
Oh---my god!!! I buy T3d is USD1000...SO ..... we need buy again?
#58
10/08/2011 (12:38 am)
Honestly, (Sorry, I'm mostly a lurker) I do have to agree with what many of the prior posters have stated about the "Old" adoptors that jumped on the Garage Games bandwagon prior to the near-death of GG. I agree that it is a slap to the face, having paid $1000+ for the Pro Indie Studio License to T3D 1.0 only to have it dropped to 10% of that nearly 3-5 months later. Then to charge a pisley $20 for an upgrade that brings many of the same features other engines have had for years, and documentation that was sworn to be to us by T3D 1.1. I'm not complaining, and I will likely be getting the upgrade, but I am a bit disappointed and it does leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. I believe, for many of us that spent the money before the "Great Garage Games Game-Over Threat," it is less about the cost of upgrades, and more about the prinicple.

But hey, you guys already have my money. :D But honestly, since I am more of an artist than a programmer, and after the aftertaste of the recent GG experience has passed, I'll most likely be hopping over to Unity for my future engine needs.
#59
10/08/2011 (12:44 am)
Great works GG ;)

Tutorials + New Content + New Features and always more effort, it's great!

But i hope the custom development(tools and add'on) on T3D 1.1 final is fully compatible without major change with the T3D 1.2 release.
Is the case?

#60
10/08/2011 (1:05 am)
I saw this and thought wow!
Chinatown was supposed to be FREE!
www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/19497/3#comment-154193