Hello! I'm new to forums and someone told me that 'Time gentlemen, Please' was made with AGS, so I've been learning it by watching 44 youtube vidoes! :D I was wondering how they sold 'Time gentlemen, Please' I thought this was a free engine? ???
-Arma
Just because an engine itself is free doesn't mean the games made with it have to be (here's an almost complete list of commercial games made with AGS (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=30349.0)). Actually a lot of commercial games these days are using open source or free technology, not just AGS - the Ankh games used Ogre3D for its graphics, and A Vampyre Story uses the Panda3D engine.
The only restriction on using AGS commercially is that you can't use mp3 audio files (ogg is better anyway, so not really an issue) without paying a license fee to Frauenhofer who developed the mp3 codec.
Edit: Wrong forum to post this in btw since it's hardly a technical question. But I'm sure the friendly moderators will move it somewhere more appropriate.
I'm sorry I thought this was the best forum to post it in. So I could make a game with AGS and just sell it? All I have to do is give some credit to Chris Jones?
That and you also have to mail him a gift certificate for golden crispy onion rings. Mmmm. :=
I guess if you sell it you can't use any modules? Even if they are hidden deep in a german/dutch site and you have to fix half the code? ::)
You can use the engine FREELY as long as you credit certain things, Chris Jones can inform you on that.
Now, you can use modules and sell the game as long as you follow whatever license the module have. Most modules usually go with a credit me or die thing. And I can't recall a plugin or a module that requires money.
Well I can't read German to see the credits on this, could anybody take a look at it? :-[
http://www.maniac-mansion-mania.com/index.php?option=com_contentask=view&id=93&Itemid=76
Quote
Contains everything you need to use the Adventure Engine Adventure Game Studio Adventure to manufacture its own.
The SCUMM interface, background from episode 1, as well as auxiliary background (cellar, storage, attic, garage - inserted of Darth Conan) from various episodes, animations of the main characters as well as a number of sounds and music pieces is contained.
Included are the SCUMM interface, backgrounds of Episode 1, as well as additional background information (Keller, closet, attic, garage - built by Darth Conan) from different episodes, animations of the main characters and a number of sounds and musical pieces.
Autor: Lucasfan - nachbearbeitet: Darth Conan, Rocco Author: Lucasfan - reworked: Darth Conan, Rocco
I can't get any of these SCUMM GUIs to work, it's not showing up in the pick a template thing. ???
http://www.americangirlscouts.org/agsresources/Templates.html
Quote from: Armageddon on Sun 30/05/2010 03:36:47
I can't get any of these SCUMM GUIs to work, it's not showing up in the pick a template thing. ???
http://www.americangirlscouts.org/agsresources/Templates.html
It's not a template. They are game files.
I was trying to use the 'Standard SCUMM GUI'.
Then I may direct you elsewhere:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=38874.0
QuoteThe only restriction on using AGS commercially is that you can't use mp3 audio files (ogg is better anyway, so not really an issue) without paying a license fee to Frauenhofer who developed the mp3 codec.
When I looked into this a while ago it suggested you can sell up to 5000 copies before you need to pay for the mp3 license.
I also doubt the guys at Maniac-Mansion-Mania.com would be very pleased with someone using their pack commercially...
It wouldn't be very, well, benefitial if someone directed Lucasarts to them, let alone over something commercial.
Yeah I think so, do you think that guy would mind me using his 9-verb template to make a game with?
Doubtfully, for it was made by Lucasfan - who was more or less famous in the fan adventure scene, until he disappeared a few years ago. Also, many people reckon that it has something to do with Lucasarts stopping his Indy 1 project.
Quote from: Armageddon on Sun 30/05/2010 17:16:33
Yeah I think so, do you think that guy would mind me using his 9-verb template to make a game with?
NsMn, he refers to Abstauber. No, I don't think Abstauber disallows its use. :D
If you gave away the AGS *engine* free but just sold the game files, would that require an MP3 licecen, I wonder? ;)
I assume you'll get sued for the cheap try of avoiding the license fee :)
@Thread
As far as the 9-verb template, mentioned by Dualnames is concerned, of course you can make commercial games with it.
There's a license text inside the script header, which you can read if you're still uncertain.
Using the "technology" is fine, trying to sell a maniac mansion(mania) game on the other hand might bring you in trouble.
@NsMn
Lucasfan used Prosikrito's script as a base too, right? ;)
http://www.mp3licensing.com/royalty/games.html
This page which seems to encorporate the Fraunhofer codecs definitely states at the bottom you can sell up to 5000 without having to pay for a license.
I've been kind of considering making 6 games with the mp3 encoder and the last one not, then sell the last one and include the others 'free'. It may be avoidance but it's not illegal.
But yes you can always email CJ and request a version of the engine which is OGG only and doesn't include the mp3 codec.
Quote from: Armageddon on Sun 30/05/2010 03:59:49
I was trying to use the 'Standard SCUMM GUI'.
I wrote that template and I can tell you it's WAY outdated!
Quote from: abstauber on Mon 31/05/2010 08:30:47Using the "technology" is fine, trying to sell a maniac mansion(mania) game on the other hand might bring you in trouble.
I didn't want to use the manic mansion mania template to sell a game with that I just wanted the Scumm GUI from it. But yours looks WAY better so I'll take a look at the license.
EDIT: Okay I read it and from what I understand all I need to do is put this in the credits?
"9-verb MI-style template
Copyright (c) 2006-2010 The AGS-Community"
If you want to sell a game for money, you had better be sure it is damn good. In general, people have higher standards for things which make their wallets lighter. If I were you, I'd start out by making a few freeware games. This will both improve your game design skills and widen your fanbase. Worrying about copyright violation is very smart (*cough* icey *cough*), but if you intend on making money, you also need to focus on getting big enough for the copyright holders to even care.
Yeah I understand, I'm probably not gonna make a retail game for awhile, I was just wondering what legal stuff is involved to sell a game.
Just speaking from the audio end: There isn't a single reason why one would choose mp3 over OGG. Not a single one! OGG is better in every point, every case, everything.
QuoteOkay I read it and from what I understand all I need to do is put this in the credits?
Nope, not even that :)
It's enough to keep the credits inside the header file. So yes, no retail player will ever see it ;)
Quote from: GarageGothic on Sat 29/05/2010 23:09:58
Just because an engine itself is free doesn't mean the games made with it have to be (here's an almost complete list of commercial games made with AGS (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=30349.0))
I suppose a related question, then, is "how do you
successfully sell an AGS game". As DDQ says, "you had better be sure it is
damn good". I'm curious as to how many from that list of approx 15 games are actually doing well; the only ones I've heard of being successful at it are Yahtzee and Dave Gilbert.
Oh, and if you don't know how to make your own 9-verb MI-style GUI, you probably shouldn't be thinking about going commercial just yet ::)
Quote from: Radiant on Tue 01/06/2010 13:49:01
I'm curious as to how many from that list of approx 15 games are actually doing well; the only ones I've heard of being successful at it are Yahtzee and Dave Gilbert.
I doubt Yahtzee was really that successful at it - he was only selling Special Edition versions of his games, and from what Dave Gilbert said this only brings more people to download the freeware versions.
I think "Boryokudan Rue" has a good chance to sell well - with it being nominated at IGF and all.
Quote from: Radiant on Tue 01/06/2010 13:49:01
I suppose a related question, then, is "how do you successfully sell an AGS game".
With fervent hope.
Quote from: abstauber on Tue 01/06/2010 07:46:36
QuoteOkay I read it and from what I understand all I need to do is put this in the credits?
Nope, not even that :)
It's enough to keep the credits inside the header file. So yes, no retail player will ever see it ;)
Thanks for clearing that up. :)
Also the only game I've ever heard to sell well was 'Time Gentlemen, Please!' because the first one was supposedly great and they got STEAM to sell it.
AGS games making steam is highly unusual, just FYI.
The few developers who have managed to sell AGS games successfully have also, quite inconveniently for everyone else, made something that is very difficult and time consuming look very easy. You shouldn't let it stop you trying, though. :)