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
Manager, Programmer, Author, Professor, Small Business Owner, and Marketer.
#62
I tuned in early to watch for the announcement post, and spend the rest of the day thinking about it.
Right now we have 4 T3d studio license seats, but since I had not seen a lot of engine development recently I feared T3d might die while only the 2d survived since I saw the recent GG moves already.
The open source move can help make a larger, programmer rich, community to develop it further. For now, I just have to consider what to do with the two games I have build with T3d that I have not released yet.
09/10/2012 (2:04 pm)
Well I am very surprised by the announcement, it was not what I was expecting to hear.I tuned in early to watch for the announcement post, and spend the rest of the day thinking about it.
Right now we have 4 T3d studio license seats, but since I had not seen a lot of engine development recently I feared T3d might die while only the 2d survived since I saw the recent GG moves already.
The open source move can help make a larger, programmer rich, community to develop it further. For now, I just have to consider what to do with the two games I have build with T3d that I have not released yet.
#63
(Now I'm off to read Dave's blog to see if that question is answered.
EDIT: It kinda was.)
09/10/2012 (2:19 pm)
I applaud you all! Interesting move.... I can't wait to see what comes of it. One question: who's in charge of pull requests?(Now I'm off to read Dave's blog to see if that question is answered.
EDIT: It kinda was.)
#64
09/10/2012 (4:08 pm)
What about open sourcing TGE? Right now it is cross platform to Windows, Linux and OSX. It definitely is a good engine for lower end machines. It is similar enough codebase to add to the community as a whole as well. 
#65
09/10/2012 (4:10 pm)
I am happy that new people will be able to get the engine for free but I can't help but feel raped knowing that I dropped 170 bucks for this when the company did the reboot. 
#66
However, the latest TGE 1.4.x *should* have most of the same general improvements and bugfixes and would be unencumbered.
I suggest asking about this again once the dust settles from the actual release of Torque 3D OS =)
09/10/2012 (4:23 pm)
TGE 1.5.x has some proprietary code that would likely be impossible to make Open Source (primarily related to the Lighting Kit).However, the latest TGE 1.4.x *should* have most of the same general improvements and bugfixes and would be unencumbered.
I suggest asking about this again once the dust settles from the actual release of Torque 3D OS =)
#67
09/10/2012 (4:45 pm)
Interesting announcement! I love open source and I think this might be a good move if your business is headed more in the service-oriented direction. One question, does the open source version include the plugin to play your T3D games in a browser? If so, I can't wait to see someone in the community (or eventually me) add this to T2D! 
#68
Looking forward to your next 2D engine announcement.
09/10/2012 (4:50 pm)
Good move. This is exactly what GarageGames needed to do to stay competitive with the other 3D engines out there, i.e. offer something more than they do and match their price.Looking forward to your next 2D engine announcement.
#69
09/10/2012 (6:37 pm)
Haha! Nice! Glad I waited and never purchased T3D. However, you can see from my purchased products I am a supporter of GG. It all went sour for me with Instant Action. I outright HATED the way they treated their loyal community members and was elated when GG went back to its indie roots. I was a beta tester for T3D and had early access as well. I was a part of the GGTP for testing things before they were released or even beta, and tried out T3D, it wasn't my cup of tea and I was a little gun shy on the purchase due to my TGEA experience. I tinkered with T3D 1.2 and it seems pretty cool, but I never could justify any further purchases of the engine. Long story short, a once very big GG fan gone his bitter ways has now had his faith restored in full by this gracious and honorable decision. My hat goes off to you guys, you've managed to bring GG back to earth to plant its indie roots. +1 
#70
This might be the spur i need to come back here and checkout t3d. I just hope this means there will be more art/content packs as that is something that is still lacking alot in t3d , especially for people who are not modellers.
09/10/2012 (6:41 pm)
As someone who was a longtime tge/tgea user and a huge fan of garagegames i welcome this news. I have been away for a few years after a sort of mass exodus to unity (well it felt like that anyway). But i have always had a passing interest in the future of gg and its products.This might be the spur i need to come back here and checkout t3d. I just hope this means there will be more art/content packs as that is something that is still lacking alot in t3d , especially for people who are not modellers.
#74
Edit:
Also, do you think it will be possible to give a small reimbursement to those who paid for the engine, especially the ones who laid down $1,000 for it during the InstantAction days?
I'm not talking a full refund, but at least some free 3D models, sounds, etc. from the GarageGames store.
09/10/2012 (9:42 pm)
So are there any plans on open sourcing T2D and iT2D in the future?Edit:
Also, do you think it will be possible to give a small reimbursement to those who paid for the engine, especially the ones who laid down $1,000 for it during the InstantAction days?
I'm not talking a full refund, but at least some free 3D models, sounds, etc. from the GarageGames store.
#75
I second Franks Suggestion to open source TGE as well. It is really appealing to already be cross platform compatible.
Anyway, I would like to thank you guys for making such an awesome decision for the community. This was actually one of the big hurdles for having a community based game project. Unless everyone in the development community paid 170 bucks etc, then you can't attract new developers very easily.
Game on!
09/10/2012 (9:56 pm)
Awesome! I really can't think of something better to do with GG tech:) This is a bold move but I bet you won't regret it. I second Franks Suggestion to open source TGE as well. It is really appealing to already be cross platform compatible.
Anyway, I would like to thank you guys for making such an awesome decision for the community. This was actually one of the big hurdles for having a community based game project. Unless everyone in the development community paid 170 bucks etc, then you can't attract new developers very easily.
Game on!
#76
Why would you think it's sad? It's not the end of T3D, nor our development of it and we're not going anywhere. This allows for many more users to get their hands on the engine and use it to make some kick ass games, kits, etc. Plus with such a permissive license users can include the tools right along with their games again. A big plus to this, as Eric mentioned earlier, is that we can make code available to the eager masses that want raw unstable code that we would not have previously because we didn't feel it was up to snuff or was untested.
@Quentin
As Eric mentioned in the blog. For now we're only doing this with T3D.
09/10/2012 (10:05 pm)
@Johnny Why would you think it's sad? It's not the end of T3D, nor our development of it and we're not going anywhere. This allows for many more users to get their hands on the engine and use it to make some kick ass games, kits, etc. Plus with such a permissive license users can include the tools right along with their games again. A big plus to this, as Eric mentioned earlier, is that we can make code available to the eager masses that want raw unstable code that we would not have previously because we didn't feel it was up to snuff or was untested.
@Quentin
As Eric mentioned in the blog. For now we're only doing this with T3D.
#77
Well, it's certainly better than having to pay for each update from here on out, like I was expecting. Might even be a seriously good thing.
Anyway, I am really curious to see what happens.
I agree with Quentin, though. I put down $800 in the beta phase. I don't want a refund, but maybe just something that shows we havent been forgotten?
09/10/2012 (10:13 pm)
I was not expecting this at all when I went to check on the GG site.Well, it's certainly better than having to pay for each update from here on out, like I was expecting. Might even be a seriously good thing.
Anyway, I am really curious to see what happens.
I agree with Quentin, though. I put down $800 in the beta phase. I don't want a refund, but maybe just something that shows we havent been forgotten?
#78
A product that goes open source from the beginning is good (like box2d).
A product like t3d that was a premium product and goes open source is no good because it means GG realized that they couldn't compete with Unity and just said the hell with it and went open source. GG doesn't make money from it going open source... so why do it?
So what this means to me is since it's a free product they are not obligated to update it no more and also not obligated to give support.
Also the original source code was given to buyers so this is terrible news for current owners who paid money for the source already. I don't think any of the the people who paid for the product, paid $$ and said, "Oh i hope t3d goes open source!"
If this is so great like GG is saying then GG needs to open source all their products.
Anyway, I am excited that I can repackage it and sell it to make money ;)
09/10/2012 (10:52 pm)
Hi Scott!A product that goes open source from the beginning is good (like box2d).
A product like t3d that was a premium product and goes open source is no good because it means GG realized that they couldn't compete with Unity and just said the hell with it and went open source. GG doesn't make money from it going open source... so why do it?
So what this means to me is since it's a free product they are not obligated to update it no more and also not obligated to give support.
Also the original source code was given to buyers so this is terrible news for current owners who paid money for the source already. I don't think any of the the people who paid for the product, paid $$ and said, "Oh i hope t3d goes open source!"
If this is so great like GG is saying then GG needs to open source all their products.
Anyway, I am excited that I can repackage it and sell it to make money ;)
#79
But that's actually not the case. We are using the engine for the purposes of selling service, support, and additional products built on top of the engine.
As for other engines...it could happen...but for now, it's just T3D.
09/10/2012 (10:56 pm)
Quote:GG doesn't make money from it going open source... so why do it?
But that's actually not the case. We are using the engine for the purposes of selling service, support, and additional products built on top of the engine.
As for other engines...it could happen...but for now, it's just T3D.
#80
You don't think there is ANY money in Blender? Blender is GPL even. Take a look at the Blender shop. T3D is MIT so you have even more freedom.
This will be GG 5 years from now. Services, custom code expertise, benefit from community improving code base, books with source code examples from the engine, modules from 3rd parties, content packs, etc, etc, etc!
09/10/2012 (11:25 pm)
@Johnny,You don't think there is ANY money in Blender? Blender is GPL even. Take a look at the Blender shop. T3D is MIT so you have even more freedom.
This will be GG 5 years from now. Services, custom code expertise, benefit from community improving code base, books with source code examples from the engine, modules from 3rd parties, content packs, etc, etc, etc!
Torque 3D Owner Dayuppy
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