GarageGames to Release T3D as Open Source
by Eric Preisz · 09/10/2012 (9:05 am) · 159 comments
Torque 3D to be Released on Github under the MIT license!
Eleven years ago, The GarageGames founders did an incredibly innovative thing when they sold a full source game engine for $100. We are excited to continue in their footsteps by announcing that we will be releasing Torque 3D as the best open source game technology in the world. Once again, GarageGames will be changing game development.
Why are we doing this?
Nine months ago, we realigned the goals of GarageGames; making Torque 3D available via a permissive open source license is a strategic move towards fulfilling the company vision. Our first goal was to use iTorque to build a new product we call 3 Step Studio. We envisioned a game development tool that requires no programming at all and began to build it. This product is available today for free, but it’s very, very, early in development and we expect to iterate many times before it is a commercially viable product. Our second goal was to build a service division. I’m happy to say that we’ve already booked our first million dollars in service work and we expect the growth trend to continue as we make Torque 3D more accessible. You can visit our services site at services.garagegames.com. We are very well prepared and staffed to provide support, training, and custom development.
Our long term plans are to focus on innovative uses of game technology. Currently, all GarageGames employees have the option to work on any project on Fridays. We are working on some really great projects under the initiative and it’s our hope that we will be able to invest in several of these projects as they evolve. We’ve encouraged our developers to open source these projects. If you think you have what it takes to be an innovative developer using game technology, consider applying for one of our open positions.
Dave Wyand will be leading the T3D open source effort and he has posted a blog describing the details around how we will run the development process. But before you dive into the details with Dave, I’d like to leave you with answers to some expected questions:
Is this version different or a subset of T3D?
We've split off some modules as separate downloads and we've removed some art to bring down the payload size. Other than those changes, the versions are the same.
Is this just a way for you to dump Torque 3D?
No. We've been using T3D internally for service projects and we expect that to continue. In some cases, our service work will directly benefit the core code base.
I recently bought your engine, I feel ripped off.
We will be offering refunds for T3D purchases that happened on or after Sept 1st but before this announcement.
What about other GarageGames engines?
We are starting open source efforts with T3D and learning from this experience. For now, the other engines/products are not available via the MIT license.
About the author
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#22
When we first started, the original concept was to open source the engine, but we did the available source model to bootstrap the company. So glad to see GG finally take this step. Way to go Eric and team.
09/10/2012 (10:44 am)
Just wanted to add my $.02. AWESOME!When we first started, the original concept was to open source the engine, but we did the available source model to bootstrap the company. So glad to see GG finally take this step. Way to go Eric and team.
#23
09/10/2012 (10:45 am)
Difference between Torque3d you pay for and open source? 
#24
09/10/2012 (10:46 am)
This is an amazing milestone for GarageGames and Torque. While I'm not on the T3D dev team, I will follow the amazing work I know will be coming down the pipe. 
#26
09/10/2012 (10:47 am)
@David - cool - So in theory the MIT allows devs to create a whole new flavor of the game engine like Linux if you really desired - for example Torque 3D - Omega and charge for changes. Wouldn't this get a bit messy? 
#27
MIT is both "Free as Speech" and "Free as Beer". ;)
09/10/2012 (10:48 am)
@S2P: I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding of MIT is that you don't need to provide the non-modified source. Do whatever you like with it. MIT is both "Free as Speech" and "Free as Beer". ;)
#28
09/10/2012 (10:52 am)
@Sean - We are removing some art but there will be at least one example of each type of asset that you need to learn how to use the engine (vehicle, character, etc). We've also broken the release into several smaller pieces to help make downloading simpler. 
#29
OpenOffice had a lot of people rebranding it and reselling it in box copies in office stores around the world. But Sun still maintained all of IP and updates to the original. In terms of IP, Torque 3D is still owned by us (just like before), but there is no barrier of entry or use. So simulation companies can use it and brand it (just like developers can use it to create their own game or simulation IP under the GG license), but the core engine IP still "belongs" to us.
This just opens the door to more possibilities for the us and the development community.
09/10/2012 (10:52 am)
@S2POpenOffice had a lot of people rebranding it and reselling it in box copies in office stores around the world. But Sun still maintained all of IP and updates to the original. In terms of IP, Torque 3D is still owned by us (just like before), but there is no barrier of entry or use. So simulation companies can use it and brand it (just like developers can use it to create their own game or simulation IP under the GG license), but the core engine IP still "belongs" to us.
This just opens the door to more possibilities for the us and the development community.
#30
09/10/2012 (10:53 am)
@S2P - ok, got it.. just thinking from a game that we're close to getting out there. Whether it creates a whole lot of new work for us :) If we wanted to could we stick with the current licence for the product we have now or are we forced to commit to the MIT ? Unless we want the new changes that is.
#31
09/10/2012 (10:54 am)
So I got screwed, nice one.
#32
09/10/2012 (10:55 am)
Considering the license is more permissive, I'd personally go with the MIT license.
#33
09/10/2012 (10:56 am)
@Sean if you bought T3D after September 1st you can get a refund.
#34
edit: actually - I'll wait, rather than derail this too much. It would be good to find out what is being removed nearer the time.
09/10/2012 (10:59 am)
@David - yeah I agree.. after I posted I thought about it a bit more.. logically... even if it means adding a few files here and there. Although I'd like to see what is being removed from the current T3D package under MIT... as the other thread mentions FMOD/Physics headers etc - anything else?edit: actually - I'll wait, rather than derail this too much. It would be good to find out what is being removed nearer the time.
#35
09/10/2012 (11:04 am)
Looking forward to growth in the community and for T3D itself due to this move :)
#36
@In general,
Nine day period... thank you very much. :/ Doesn't cover the time I had discussing options regarding using just the demo version torque3d for light external work (not even touching source code) as a contractor then being 'reminded' about the EULA and it being stated that I "better" get or else. While I was being 'reminded' they knew well what was coming down the line. Also seen someone say focusing on the silver lining. Been doing that like many for years from the time I started with torque. Things haven't changed still got screwed.
09/10/2012 (11:04 am)
@Lukas, I bought it on the 14 August. @In general,
Nine day period... thank you very much. :/ Doesn't cover the time I had discussing options regarding using just the demo version torque3d for light external work (not even touching source code) as a contractor then being 'reminded' about the EULA and it being stated that I "better" get or else. While I was being 'reminded' they knew well what was coming down the line. Also seen someone say focusing on the silver lining. Been doing that like many for years from the time I started with torque. Things haven't changed still got screwed.
#37
Hey, thanks for stopping by with the well wishes! It's always great to see one of the founders dropping in.
- Dave
09/10/2012 (11:09 am)
@Mark:Hey, thanks for stopping by with the well wishes! It's always great to see one of the founders dropping in.
- Dave
#38
While i'm personally not particularly happy with this announcement, what i paid for a now free engine is not even on the list of things I dont like, ive always been a relatively careful buyer of all things, at the $1000 price point the engine was good value for it, when it came down in price it became even better value hence my buying further licences and studio licences. If i didnt think the product was worth the cash, the product would still be on the shelf, simple as that.
I hope that my past investment in GG measn that they will continue to improve the product, be that via direct engine improvements or by purchasable add on packs to extend the engine, or more graphics packs for more genres.
I realise i'm being slightly negative, i have my own reason for disliking open source software, even under ridiculously permissive licenses like MIT. But as others have said this will open up the community, and one thing is for certain, over the past year or so the community does seem to have shrunk, resources and blogs have been slowing and even the forums have been less frequented. This news will certainly open that up again.
I'm really looking forward to seeing more new faces around here, this is definitely an odd way to do business, but i really do hope that this helps GG become the dominant name for indie and hobby developers again
09/10/2012 (11:30 am)
@Sean I Bought my first copy of T3D when it was at its peak price of $1000 I got some discounts on that, but it was still pricey, I bought another copy after that once the new studio deal came through, and relatively recently purchased a 3rd studio copy, I most definitely dont feel screwed.While i'm personally not particularly happy with this announcement, what i paid for a now free engine is not even on the list of things I dont like, ive always been a relatively careful buyer of all things, at the $1000 price point the engine was good value for it, when it came down in price it became even better value hence my buying further licences and studio licences. If i didnt think the product was worth the cash, the product would still be on the shelf, simple as that.
I hope that my past investment in GG measn that they will continue to improve the product, be that via direct engine improvements or by purchasable add on packs to extend the engine, or more graphics packs for more genres.
I realise i'm being slightly negative, i have my own reason for disliking open source software, even under ridiculously permissive licenses like MIT. But as others have said this will open up the community, and one thing is for certain, over the past year or so the community does seem to have shrunk, resources and blogs have been slowing and even the forums have been less frequented. This news will certainly open that up again.
I'm really looking forward to seeing more new faces around here, this is definitely an odd way to do business, but i really do hope that this helps GG become the dominant name for indie and hobby developers again
#39
09/10/2012 (11:51 am)
We are definitely planning on expanding the engine and keeping it moving forward. We're just opening up the project transparency so that the community can see and have a vote in the direction of the engine.
#40
@Mark, nice to see you still keep an interest in Torque :-) (Hmmm, is the AI-code from Tribes 2 'free' without sie**a around anymore? The script's is available but the "// V12: removed path..." code in TGE 1.0 (v12 based) would be nice to 'see', from an historical reason ( yeee, i know i've been around far too long but the fun has not stopped yet so...!) Maybe include it as an 'open sourced'-ai-solution for Torque (just a wish, understand that for legal reasons it's not possible) ???
Best regards
Kaj
09/10/2012 (12:10 pm)
Okey, that's an interesting move! Good luck! I'll stay around:-)@Mark, nice to see you still keep an interest in Torque :-) (Hmmm, is the AI-code from Tribes 2 'free' without sie**a around anymore? The script's is available but the "// V12: removed path..." code in TGE 1.0 (v12 based) would be nice to 'see', from an historical reason ( yeee, i know i've been around far too long but the fun has not stopped yet so...!) Maybe include it as an 'open sourced'-ai-solution for Torque (just a wish, understand that for legal reasons it's not possible) ???
Best regards
Kaj
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