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.
#22
01/20/2011 (6:30 am)
Hello? Hello? Is this thing on? Posted, but didn't take...Good Morning
#23
01/20/2011 (6:32 am)
I'm really annoyed... I've got to change my splash screen yet again! lol.. great news on GG being back where it belongs and congrats on the title of CEO Eric.
#24
And it happened! This is so great. Feels so right.
Awesome work guys and the $99 tag is pure genius.
Think I need to replace the "R" key on my keyboard now....
01/20/2011 (6:33 am)
And it happened! This is so great. Feels so right.
Awesome work guys and the $99 tag is pure genius.
Think I need to replace the "R" key on my keyboard now....
#25
01/20/2011 (6:33 am)
Woot, nice to hear you guys are GG again :)
#26
01/20/2011 (6:34 am)
Phew...we got the changes to the site up just in time for the Gamasutra story.
#27
01/20/2011 (6:36 am)
Is the SSL cert up yet Eric?
#28
01/20/2011 (6:37 am)
Wow! Great news. This is so much better than I expected. Glad to see the return to the beginning. I hope great things are in store for the new direction and all the great folks over there. Huzzah!
#29
One of my concerns was to keep the Team together.. the people that made Torque a very desirable game engine. So when you say:
When I had seen Deborah post recently, I sorta got the inkling that the Team was back. Waiting for confirmation.
@The Community: Very good news indeed. I for one am grateful that I didn't waste my money on T3D during the upheaval with IA, along with a brand new $2.5k system I built, Lightwave 9,Training Material and countless hours of practice.
Looking forward to a great year with all of you, Welcome Back GG !!
01/20/2011 (6:39 am)
@Eric: Thank you for your diligent efforts to keep GG alive. Your blog finally confirms many of the community hopes and desires. The $99.00 tag is a sure sale to bring many new folks to the Indie community to use a Triple Grade A game engine, smart move!One of my concerns was to keep the Team together.. the people that made Torque a very desirable game engine. So when you say:
Quote: 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.Does this mean those that were dropped from the payroll when IA fell.. the Team members that helped make it all happen.. the ones layed off before Christmas?
When I had seen Deborah post recently, I sorta got the inkling that the Team was back. Waiting for confirmation.
@The Community: Very good news indeed. I for one am grateful that I didn't waste my money on T3D during the upheaval with IA, along with a brand new $2.5k system I built, Lightwave 9,Training Material and countless hours of practice.
Looking forward to a great year with all of you, Welcome Back GG !!
#31
01/20/2011 (6:44 am)
@David: You keep using that word and I don't think it means what you think it means.
#32
01/20/2011 (6:46 am)
Welcome back, expecting some great things!!
#33
Really happy to see GG again.
Do all TP team come back to GG, or some people left ?
With QA : Keep T3D Beta forum system. It was a really great thing, wich allowed us to see Next version achievement. (You know... LOGGED, CONFIRMED, SOLVED)
Again : REALLY HAPPY !
01/20/2011 (6:46 am)
That's a really Great news !Really happy to see GG again.
Do all TP team come back to GG, or some people left ?
With QA : Keep T3D Beta forum system. It was a really great thing, wich allowed us to see Next version achievement. (You know... LOGGED, CONFIRMED, SOLVED)
Again : REALLY HAPPY !
#34
I am excited to see the name go back, and to know both T2d and T3d are still being developed.
Very good news!
01/20/2011 (6:49 am)
Perhaps there will be a IGC in Vegas?I am excited to see the name go back, and to know both T2d and T3d are still being developed.
Very good news!
#35
01/20/2011 (6:51 am)
Awesome!!! :)
#36
01/20/2011 (6:52 am)
Great news ! Looking forward to the future!
#37
We have retained the vast majority of the Torque team. The other teams at IA have found or are finding homes right now. Some had to leave to take employment elsewhere because there are always bills to pay. I'm sure we'll see great things from them in the future as well. :)
It is great to be working with such an amazing team and even more amazing that we were able to keep the group together. Everyone can thank Eric and Derek for the strong push here. They worked many, many, many long hours to make everything fall into place.
01/20/2011 (6:53 am)
@ScottWe have retained the vast majority of the Torque team. The other teams at IA have found or are finding homes right now. Some had to leave to take employment elsewhere because there are always bills to pay. I'm sure we'll see great things from them in the future as well. :)
It is great to be working with such an amazing team and even more amazing that we were able to keep the group together. Everyone can thank Eric and Derek for the strong push here. They worked many, many, many long hours to make everything fall into place.
#38
01/20/2011 (6:56 am)
Hooray! T3D pro... here I come!
#39
The recommitment to your original core values is, in my opinion, absolutely the best direction to take.
Again, congrats to all the employees, and looking hugely forward to updates and news about Torque.
Dusty
01/20/2011 (7:01 am)
This is tremendous news for Windstorm Studios, and pretty much anyone else working with Torque technology. Grats to all you guys for finding a way to stay in business and to keep the fire burning.The recommitment to your original core values is, in my opinion, absolutely the best direction to take.
Again, congrats to all the employees, and looking hugely forward to updates and news about Torque.
Dusty
#40
01/20/2011 (7:02 am)
Dang I missed this logo. Love all you guys there and I hope you give the gaming world HELL! GO KICK ASS! 
Torque Owner Rex
BrokeAss Games
...and BTW, my Virus Protection did NOT like the 'impersonating' the old site...
Who is this Eric P. chap?
Thanks, brother....