2009, the best year for game developers ever
by Marc Dreamora Schaerer · in General Game Discussion · 11/05/2009 (6:01 pm) · 14 replies
To me as contract worker and indie developer, this year is and was about the best year ever.
The year started out with the iPhone proving to be a massive market and a fast and strong growing installbase.
Its by now one of the strongest distribution channels available to indie developers at all.
Later the year, Torque 3D entered the licensee beta phase, allowing interested developers to get in touch and learn about the differences and new power upfront the release, making it possible to use the technology in a productive way by its release already and that at affordable prices.
I'm looking forward to see the Torque 3D version of AFX 2.0 appearing, raising the bar for visual effects once again.
Last month, Unity Technology shocked many with their unexpected and to me bold move to make the former Unity Indie, now just Unity, free for private and commercial development. This definitely has raised the bar for other technologies what they have to compete with in the future.
After that news, I expected to see moves from other technology developers too, like the Torque 3D Artist edition becomming a $0 technology instead of a $500 technology as talked about, but I would never have expected what happened in the end at Epic Games with their move on the Unreal Development Kit and its drastic change in licensing that are making it a free technology during development and a royalty based license after your first $5000 income generated from it.
So I can just repeat what I said above: 2009 has been one of the best if not the best year for indies ever.
The year started out with the iPhone proving to be a massive market and a fast and strong growing installbase.
Its by now one of the strongest distribution channels available to indie developers at all.
Later the year, Torque 3D entered the licensee beta phase, allowing interested developers to get in touch and learn about the differences and new power upfront the release, making it possible to use the technology in a productive way by its release already and that at affordable prices.
I'm looking forward to see the Torque 3D version of AFX 2.0 appearing, raising the bar for visual effects once again.
Last month, Unity Technology shocked many with their unexpected and to me bold move to make the former Unity Indie, now just Unity, free for private and commercial development. This definitely has raised the bar for other technologies what they have to compete with in the future.
After that news, I expected to see moves from other technology developers too, like the Torque 3D Artist edition becomming a $0 technology instead of a $500 technology as talked about, but I would never have expected what happened in the end at Epic Games with their move on the Unreal Development Kit and its drastic change in licensing that are making it a free technology during development and a royalty based license after your first $5000 income generated from it.
So I can just repeat what I said above: 2009 has been one of the best if not the best year for indies ever.
About the author
#2
11/05/2009 (11:26 pm)
Incorrect. The front page is not for posting general industry related news items like this. The front page is for peoples development blogs. Sorry you feel otherwise.
#3
Would be sad to see a war starting over nothing. All thats needed is some clarification on the blog posting description to make clear that only personal / in house development is allowed, not "general dev related" then all is fine :)
11/06/2009 (8:40 am)
I didn't post this to start a war and I understand that this isn't something that one would see as a development thread which is why I recreated it here as I got the chance to "save" the original blog content.Would be sad to see a war starting over nothing. All thats needed is some clarification on the blog posting description to make clear that only personal / in house development is allowed, not "general dev related" then all is fine :)
#4
I have to agree, 2009 has been an exciting year for the indie world. The amount of affordable tech available now is simply staggering.
11/06/2009 (10:21 am)
The Post a Blog page now has a better description of a blog to reflect this. Now let's get this thread back on track shall we?I have to agree, 2009 has been an exciting year for the indie world. The amount of affordable tech available now is simply staggering.
#5
I dunno how likely it is that Valve also do something similar. If iD/Bethesda do something like UDK with the Doom 3 engine, Valve might follow. I doubt the CryEngine would get an indie SDK, but you never know. Both engines are very moddable already - just use HL2 multiplayer as a basis in Source, for example.
I'm just wishing for more tools to get some great indie deals, like the GG deal on Houdini ;)
11/06/2009 (12:02 pm)
It's getting crowded here in the "affordable engine" market (which is great!) :)I dunno how likely it is that Valve also do something similar. If iD/Bethesda do something like UDK with the Doom 3 engine, Valve might follow. I doubt the CryEngine would get an indie SDK, but you never know. Both engines are very moddable already - just use HL2 multiplayer as a basis in Source, for example.
I'm just wishing for more tools to get some great indie deals, like the GG deal on Houdini ;)
#6
11/06/2009 (12:11 pm)
@Ronny Source engine is pretty much like this this already. The only exception I think you one have the one publishing option being Valve.
#7
the moment the id5 tech goes live, id tech 4 likely is going to appear the same way id tech 3 already did back when tech 4 was released.
@Scott: thank you
11/06/2009 (1:55 pm)
actually id is known to do it.the moment the id5 tech goes live, id tech 4 likely is going to appear the same way id tech 3 already did back when tech 4 was released.
@Scott: thank you
#8
On topic - yeah they are some big jumps from Unity and Unreal to open up their tech to more developers, it gives people a great way to sample the delights of game development without spending huge wedges of cash
11/07/2009 (6:36 am)
Sorry but if blogs are just for peoples development then why aren't the GDNet blogs locked too? They're just a collection of news from GameDev.net which is just news.On topic - yeah they are some big jumps from Unity and Unreal to open up their tech to more developers, it gives people a great way to sample the delights of game development without spending huge wedges of cash
#9
I'm still wishing for the next layers of tools to be given away in similar ways to these engines :)
Affordable 3DS Max/Maya, like they do for the product previously known as Flex Publisher for example. For those who don't know, you can get it for free if you're unemployed. I'd like them to expand deals to indies. Even Microsoft has their BizSpark, so cheap/affordable tools is a trend that's picking up now.
11/07/2009 (9:25 am)
Those are externally hosted. They want blogs published from here to be relevant to their technology.I'm still wishing for the next layers of tools to be given away in similar ways to these engines :)
Affordable 3DS Max/Maya, like they do for the product previously known as Flex Publisher for example. For those who don't know, you can get it for free if you're unemployed. I'd like them to expand deals to indies. Even Microsoft has their BizSpark, so cheap/affordable tools is a trend that's picking up now.
#10
11/07/2009 (2:08 pm)
@Andy - That is a very fair question to ask. Drew has been helping us years, but also providing extremely useful information to the community for a long time. I think it's also fair to say that Drew's posts are completely different from someone posting a quick paragraph similar to "Hey! Look at this! Unity is free!", especially when there are so many forum threads about the subject.
#11
11/07/2009 (9:29 pm)
seems to be a bit of a double standard.
#12
Either way, the decision was made. It was the right decision, and is fully supported by the rest of the team.
11/08/2009 (6:42 am)
@James - Again, big difference between what Drew writes and the blogs that were removed. If you read them, your logic will back this up. If not, the you can just take my word for it.Either way, the decision was made. It was the right decision, and is fully supported by the rest of the team.
#13
It can give the wrong impression to people by allowing some people to post news if others can't, no matter of the quality or how long they've been helping or doing so. I'm a great advocate for one rule for all and all judged on the same.
Personally I'd have just locked the blog pointing out there are several forum posts already on the topic.
11/08/2009 (7:14 am)
@Mich - I quite agree there's a difference between the two blogs and I'm sure one was meant as another gripe towards Torque not having a free offering but the new description Scott posted above on the create a blog page:Quote:If you wish to ask a question, submit a bug, or post industry news, use the forums instead
It can give the wrong impression to people by allowing some people to post news if others can't, no matter of the quality or how long they've been helping or doing so. I'm a great advocate for one rule for all and all judged on the same.
Personally I'd have just locked the blog pointing out there are several forum posts already on the topic.
#14
I would be willing to bet though, if it had not mentioned Unity or Unreal it would have been left alone period.
11/08/2009 (11:06 am)
@andy: Yes I agree.I would be willing to bet though, if it had not mentioned Unity or Unreal it would have been left alone period.
Torque Owner James Brad Barnette
3Dmotif LLC
I have seen some really dumb blogs that definately should ahve been forums post but this is definatley a blog. This should ahve been left alone.