So, are we GD users screwed now or what?!?

[mlepage]

I will not pay royalties. Fortunately, I'm a single developer, so unless getting a friend to do art makes me a multi person company, I won't have to.

But I can promise VI that if my business decision is between paying royalties, making my own art, or making my own graphics library, I'll be doing the third option, and making it available to others like myself.

This is what I don't like about third party code. It's not the code that's the problem. I'm a programmer, I can create code at will. It's the dependencies on other entities. Being beholden to other parties.

If I could just pay $50 and never have to worry about problems again, that would be acceptable. But this whole situation (and VI's vague handling of it) makes me want to get out of it if I can.

[Johan]

[javiero]

[denthorq]

Javiero : What's ur plan for game development? Is it long term? If yes, then why not fire up your own graphics library? Try Pocket PC Game Programming book by Jonathan Harbour [/ads] His book is good enough to teach you how to start with your own game library and games. Goodluck.

Johan : I'm upset about the GD licensing issue I'm willing to pay, but right now it seems that your responsibility was transfered totally to Shahab or VI. And everyone is waiting for any single licensing comment from GD team esp from you. Goodluck.

[Pejo Software - Per]

I must agree that these license terms seems at least unprofessional.

Look at the following statement:
"Based on its annual revenue, the company pays annually a licensing fee of X% of that revenue in the first two years"

If you would sign an agreement including that statement you risk loosing big time!
If you for example have a revenue of $200000 from consultant work and decide to develop a game with GapiDraw that generates $2000 in sales and the X is lets say 5. Then you would have to pay 202000*0.05=$10100. This means you will loose $8100 developing that game!

I don't think this is the intention of the license but this is what it says.

And what is the X value?

[Centaur]

Johan, I think it is obvious for us now that you unfortunately can not comment on the licensing scheme.
However, considering all the questions about it and the bad feelings about it, how would you advise to proceed on this?

Should we all individually send an email to Shahab Ghavami in which we ask for clarification of the licensing terms? And if so, could you indicate the time frame to expect an answer from him?
Or could Shahab Ghavami, for once, post anwers to all our questions and concerns in this forum, today or tommorrow?

TIA for your response...
Wouter

[efortier]

[ppcStudios]

[efortier]

[egarayblas]

I just let a day pass and immediately missed a lot!

Anyway, I've read everyone's posts and suggestions, I agree with most but I'm sure Shahab will soon post on this forum to clear everything up. Let's be a little more patient.

I think I'll also vote for the "flat fee" suggestion for gd 2.05 (and future versions). This will be beneficial for most "commercial" game developers. And a gd 2.04a would be great too, just to fix the "Blt" bug.

[fzammetti]

[Johan]