Non game related use

#1 In a similar vein, how restricted is the definition of 'game'. When used in a business or industrial application (as mentioned above), are there different licensing restrictions?

What about for simulation and architecture? I recall that a group out of Cambridge modified a Quake engine to do some architectual walkthroughs. There has also been some programs out of Unreal(ty) that do some similar things.

Will the V12 license allows non-game uses? Any difference if those non-game uses are for commercial, non-profit, or educational purposes?

#2 I would also like to investigate non-game uses, maybe other commercial uses, or freeware applications. GarageGames is for games, not the particular genre of application we would be making. I would want to publish it myself maybe, and I wouldn't want to deal out a full 50% if GarageGames wasn't going to help publish it.
So you see the pricing and publishing problems.

#3 Well, my express purpose for acquiring this is for a non-commercial, non-game application.

If it ends up making a good game, then, I can live with that, but, as far as I can tell, you can build whatever you want with it :)

#4 I think the question was "what about a commercial (possibly in-house?), non-game application?"

The problem for GG is that if its for in-house use, no-one is going to buy it and GG won't get any money, however the producers of the application might make lots of money out of it. How does GG feel about that?

#5 I would guess it would depend on HOW you were making money with it.

MILLIONS of dollars are made by showing spiffy power point slides and Excel charts.

While I haven't talked with my lawyer, and I am not one, I can't see how using the engine to create an application that helps you make money can be against the license, so long as you don't sell the application.

As a matter of fact, I can't see (business wise) how they could charge royalties on something like that, outside a negotiated contract. Doesn't seem like it is at all in the GG model to do business that way. Becomes an accountants game VERY quickly, and their model is pure simplicity.

When the time comes, I would be interested in WHAT you are building and how GG handled this (not the specifics of course).

#6 What if you wanted to make something like a commercial modeling program or something like that? I'd imagine that you'd have to give a good portion (20% sounds about right) to GarageGames, and you get to publish it, because GG in most cases couldn't publish it as well as its not in the same category, and lots of the game development specific code wouldn't even be used, and you are writing mostly new code, so it becomes a very different matter...

#7 We have had enough people ask about non-commercial and non-game use that we need to come up with an answer. It will take some time.

In-house use if OK. Say, for instance, you were recreating crime scenes using the engine, and getting paid for the service, that would be an OK use.

Any non-game product that is for sale will need to be negotiated with GarageGames. We are willing to work with people that wish to do this type of application.

Freeware is not OK. All games must be published on our site.

Jeff Tunnell GG

#8 Hello Jeff,

You say all non-game commercial products must be negotiated with GG. How would one initiate this process?

R/ Joe

#9 Send an email to business@garagegames.com.

Jeff

#10 Speaking of using games for non-games use, I have been writing a swiss army game.

As well as being fun to play with slick graphics, it also opens cans, saws wood, and has a handy dandy cork screw built right in.

#11 OMG THAT IS SO.......not funny

so i dont know why i chuckled

hey and Ent cool deal about "Die Form" for your game. the song Necrophilia would probably fit in their good.

#12 >Freeware is not OK. All games must be published on our site.

So does this go for other applications as well? I don't mind if I don't get an answer back, as your trying to find one you said. I will just contact you if I ever have an extreme need to know.

Another example might be a free editor or viewer application for your game, but that would be more game related, and I'm thinking more game unrelated completely.

#13 Now I am confused:

"You must deliver all games you believe are ready for publication to GarageGames only, and you may not distribute copies of the games to any third parties (that is, people or entities unrelated to your company). Technology demonstrations or non-commercial products distributed from your site are OK, but if you make a game, it must be distributed through GarageGames"

"Non-commercial" products I thought WERE things like freeware? I assume then, that this section of the license WILL be re-written in addition to anything non-game related that you write up?

What am I missing?

#14 Maybe we are getting confused by definitions. I think Freeware is a lot like Shareware, i.e. allow people to get the game for free, then keep dinging the user with messages until they pay you for the product. Whether you call it freeware or shareware, this is not an acceptable use of the technology.


Jeff Tunnell GG

#15 "Maybe we are getting confused by definitions. I think Freeware is a lot like Shareware, i.e. allow people to get the game for free, then keep dinging the user with messages until they pay you for the product. Whether you call it freeware or shareware, this is not an acceptable use of the technology."

Freeware *should* be allowing people to get the game for free and not being dinged until they pay for the product.
I want to make some freeware, especially in order to get experience and feedback from people, but I doubt anyone would waste 10 US cents to play my games.
Once I have enough experience to come up with something decent, then I will want to charge for my work, but not at first.
Does it mean I better look somewhere else to make my freeware games, and when ready switch to V12?

GVdP

#16 If you're planning to give the game away for free, why not just put it in the GarageGames free bin? You still get to use the V12 and learn about game making.

You raised a good issue though. How will people give feedback to the game developers? What about having small bulletin boards for each game that allow people to discuss the game. That way, prospective players could check out what the game is about before buying, and the developer could get some feedback on what people liked and disliked about their game.

#17 Nope, my definition of freeware is just that: free.

Grew up on shareware, I get the whole principle of thie thing, I just want to make sure my definitions are the same as yours :)

I'll build something, then make sure what I do with it is cool :)

My little slice of the world is really non-game, non-commercial, freeware. Mostly academic targets, totally not for profit. Want to be able to get it to people when they need it. Sorta like an in-house project ;)

I'll email after I build it, if everyone has to go to GG to get it, so be it ;)

Still confused, but less concerned.

#18 As per the EULA, as long as you are not charging, you do not have to use the GG site.

We will be making some small changes to the EULA to clear up these issues.

Oh, and we will have feedback mechanisms for the players. We have some really cool ideas for bug tracking and feedback. It will be a while though.

Jeff Tunnell GG

#19 I maintain my faith in GG :)