RE: [GD-General] Prices of well-known 3D engines

[<phi...@pl...>]

> Remember that a worker costs a lot more than their gross salary so that
is a very low estimate.

Actually I was sort of thinking about people like CroTeam on that one (and
in a fairly flippant manner too, no offence intended), but I'm sure it's
applicable to unsigned bedroom teams as well. You've got to have a fairly
experienced team to make good use of a third-party engine. Plus the fixed
costs involved tend to mean you recquire / expect a certain level of
success / sales from your first title.

To be fair, if I had 6 months to knock out a 3rd or 1st person, action-game
license with a newly formed team of professionals, I'd use a 3rd party
engine in a shot. Doubly so if I was working on contract, or otherwise,
expected to move on after completion (like if I found myself working for
someone with a reputation for laying off teams straight after gold-master).

However, given the same team, and two years to create a new studio with a
long term dedication to original titles, I'd have to weigh my options more
carefully. For example: Personally speaking, I might license a good physics
engine, as I find that stuff about as fun as pulling my own teeth, but if
one of the team had physics experience, and was still enthusiastic about
it, and I thought they could carry it, I'd probably keep it in house.

Cheers,
Phil