New Torque License & Machinima
by Axel Cushing · in General Discussion · 03/23/2004 (10:50 am) · 13 replies
Just a quickie here. One of the subjects that hasn't gotten a lot of discussion here on the forums is the use of the Torque engine in the field of machinima(animated films made with game engines). In the (unlikely) event that a machinima title made with Torque grossed the amount of money which a game would need to qualify for the purchase of a Torque Commercial License, would it be required to (like I'm thinking it would be) or not?
About the author
Axel Cushing currently writes for the game site The Armchair Empire, when he's not working on game designs, novels, or screenplays.
#2
03/23/2004 (11:04 am)
I agree with Robert. I don't think the license just apply for normal games. 
#3
I doubt GG would actually enforce that though. Surely if you made $250,000 off a title you'd be glad to pay the extra $395 for the commercial license?! I wish people would stop faffing around about licenses and just get on with their games :)
03/23/2004 (11:54 am)
Hmmm you know it's possible 'Machinima' doesn't fall under the 'game' use of the indie license anyway and you'd need to use a commercial license.I doubt GG would actually enforce that though. Surely if you made $250,000 off a title you'd be glad to pay the extra $395 for the commercial license?! I wish people would stop faffing around about licenses and just get on with their games :)
#4
But then, as has been said, that'd be $395 (maybe x a few seats) out of $250,000+, so no biggie. :) Plus, that'd cover you for any future projects, even if the people in your seats change.
Again, I'm just an intern, so don't consider this absolutely official.
03/23/2004 (12:09 pm)
Worthwhile question. Yeah, I'm 99% sure you'd have to upgrade to the commercial license.But then, as has been said, that'd be $395 (maybe x a few seats) out of $250,000+, so no biggie. :) Plus, that'd cover you for any future projects, even if the people in your seats change.
Again, I'm just an intern, so don't consider this absolutely official.
#6
Or isn't that GG only cares about revenues from Games made with torque? if that is the case Are there any other types of application that would fall under the indie license reguardless of revenue generated?
03/27/2004 (11:59 am)
You sure??? that does not make sence if said company that publishes " and it would hav eto be published to make that kind of money" said companies revenues exeed the $250K that sounds like verbatim like the condition of the commercial license.Or isn't that GG only cares about revenues from Games made with torque? if that is the case Are there any other types of application that would fall under the indie license reguardless of revenue generated?
#7
Remember James the new license doesn't have anything to do with the 'publishers' revenues. Just the 'products' revenues.
I'd probably label Machinima making $250,000+ as an 'academic issue' in todays market anyway. :)
03/27/2004 (12:37 pm)
I believe Jeff was answering my question, Josh covered the 'commercial' license bit.Remember James the new license doesn't have anything to do with the 'publishers' revenues. Just the 'products' revenues.
I'd probably label Machinima making $250,000+ as an 'academic issue' in todays market anyway. :)
#8
03/28/2004 (9:13 am)
Gareth, a man can dream. :)
#9
03/28/2004 (11:00 am)
Dang right. ;)
#10
I was looking at creating some simple machinima using the Torque engine while I'm developing my game. I would want to release them as short movies/episodes in movie filetypes such as Xvid, Quicktime etc. In other words, purely releasing ONLY avi type files. I would most likely make the episodes free and possibly charge for higher quality or perhaps DVD releases.
Firstly, is this acceptable based on your statement that Machinima falls under the Indie licence? If so, I have listed a few concerns that I have:
The EULA states:
So is it acceptable that at the start of the each episode, after the Machinima title logo is displayed, the GarageGames logo appears?
Additionally:
Would it be acceptable to include either at the bottom of the GG logo, the text "This machinima powered by the Torque Game Engine - http://www.garagegames.com" or in the rolling credits at the end of each episode?
I obviously just want to make sure that GarageGames get's the credit it deserves and ensure that I'm following the licence accurately.
Thanks in advance.
11/19/2004 (8:31 pm)
I've got a few questions for Jeff Tunnell (or any other GarageGames founder for that matter):I was looking at creating some simple machinima using the Torque engine while I'm developing my game. I would want to release them as short movies/episodes in movie filetypes such as Xvid, Quicktime etc. In other words, purely releasing ONLY avi type files. I would most likely make the episodes free and possibly charge for higher quality or perhaps DVD releases.
Firstly, is this acceptable based on your statement that Machinima falls under the Indie licence? If so, I have listed a few concerns that I have:
The EULA states:
Quote:4 (b) Licensee agrees to display a full screen Torque Game Engine logo in the start up sequence of any game created and released with the Engine.
So is it acceptable that at the start of the each episode, after the Machinima title logo is displayed, the GarageGames logo appears?
Additionally:
Quote:4 (c) Licensee agrees to include in the "About" box or in the credits screen: (i) a link to www.garagegames.com, and (ii) the wording "This game powered by the Torque Game Engine."
Would it be acceptable to include either at the bottom of the GG logo, the text "This machinima powered by the Torque Game Engine - http://www.garagegames.com" or in the rolling credits at the end of each episode?
I obviously just want to make sure that GarageGames get's the credit it deserves and ensure that I'm following the licence accurately.
Thanks in advance.
#11
11/19/2004 (8:37 pm)
@Todd: Your proposals would be perfectly acceptable.
#12
Seriously though, thanks very much GG for the flexability you are allowing me (and others) with the use of Torque.
11/23/2004 (3:01 am)
Jeff, I have decided that GarageGames are the single greatest entity ... EVER ;)Seriously though, thanks very much GG for the flexability you are allowing me (and others) with the use of Torque.
#13
Currently I have a 126 pge script packed with too much action to complete quickly.
04/02/2005 (11:04 pm)
I am in the process of making a machina project with the torque code / engine. I expect that when I pass the same $ figure (Lord that I should be so lucky) i will gladly pay any royalties due to grage games. My current timeline is at least a year, because I have 2 much other life commintments. Aaarghhhh !!!!Currently I have a 126 pge script packed with too much action to complete quickly.
Torque 3D Owner Robert Blanchet Jr.
I don't think there should be a seperate rule or category just for Machinima in this case because, like I said, I see machinima as any other genre.
Of course, this is all my opinion.