Low Cost Tribes 2 Engine Licences Available

GarageGames is targeting independent game developers with an offer that puts cutting-edge game engine technology within reach for a minimal up front cost. Independent game developers are being offered special licenses to use the Tribes 2 engine for $100 via an agreement with Sierra. The engine technology, officially called the V12 Engine, powers Sierra's first person shooter game, Tribes 2. The game engine works on Linux or Windows, and uses Open GL or DirectX 8. It provides users with a scripting engine, a GUI engine, a mission editor, a 3D engine, a mesh engine, a particle engine, a terrain engine, an interior/building engine, a water engine, networking, sound, debugging and exporting tools. The low up front cost allows developers without heavy financing to build games, but royalties on the engine and strong stipulations in its use are in place that developers will want to examine closely. For example, GarageGames will not publish or release any team based action games until 7/15/01 in order to prevent competition with Sierra’s Tribes 2. In addition, developers cannot use the technology in whole or in part to create products for competing game publishing companies, commercial websites, or any entities other than GarageGames.com. All games must be delivered GarageGames only prior to publication, with no distribution of copies of the games to any third parties. Any delivery of a game to GarageGames grants them exclusive distribution rights such as Web, EDS, and box rights to that game for five years. GarageGames will pay fifty percent (50%) of the net proceeds from the sales or licenses of the games published through the GarageGames.com website, or they may elect for box distribution with its publishing partners with varying rates.