Comments on: Unity 3D Is Free, But Is That Enough? http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/ We Make Flash Games Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:01:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ryan http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4848 Ryan Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:36:25 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4848 Eggheads are the reason i enjoy flush toilets, lightbulbs, and LED belt buckles that flash my name. Don't knock them! (Just don't ask them to teach you anything, cuz yikes) Eggheads are the reason i enjoy flush toilets, lightbulbs, and LED belt buckles that flash my name. Don’t knock them! (Just don’t ask them to teach you anything, cuz yikes)

]]> By: Nils N. H. http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4845 Nils N. H. Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:51:03 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4845 "...perhaps some sneaky egghead will cook up a neat tech voodoo trick to make the Flash Player install the Unity Web Player?" Hehe, yeah let's have faith in the sneaky eggheads. ^^ “…perhaps some sneaky egghead will cook up a neat tech voodoo trick to make the Flash Player install the Unity Web Player?”

Hehe, yeah let’s have faith in the sneaky eggheads. ^^

]]> By: Joseph http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4513 Joseph Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:47:34 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4513 Brennon - In order to use native 3d files (.max / .ma) you actually need to have the program (3dsmax / maya) installed. Unity actually researches behind the scenes and uses the .FBX exporter .dll of that program to export the native file behind the scenes and then uses the .FBX in the library. JG - Well said. I think this is the best news I've heard in a long time concerning progression in the industry. I think the guys over at Unity just shot a load of lighter fluid into the grill that is the Indie Dev community. Brennon – In order to use native 3d files (.max / .ma) you actually need to have the program (3dsmax / maya) installed. Unity actually researches behind the scenes and uses the .FBX exporter .dll of that program to export the native file behind the scenes and then uses the .FBX in the library.

JG – Well said.

I think this is the best news I’ve heard in a long time concerning progression in the industry. I think the guys over at Unity just shot a load of lighter fluid into the grill that is the Indie Dev community.

]]> By: Stuart http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4511 Stuart Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:03:19 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4511 Brennon - FBX is a widely used format. Maya, Modo, Lightwave and Max can all export to it. Brennon – FBX is a widely used format. Maya, Modo, Lightwave and Max can all export to it.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4504 Ryan Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:55:57 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4504 Jean-Guy - <em>exactly</em>. i was just speaking with a Unity developer last week, who said somewhat glumly "well, we're running the Pro license, so it doesn't help us much." It was lost on him that now there would be far more devs out there who knew Unity, making for a much better hiring environment. Jean-Guy – exactly. i was just speaking with a Unity developer last week, who said somewhat glumly “well, we’re running the Pro license, so it doesn’t help us much.” It was lost on him that now there would be far more devs out there who knew Unity, making for a much better hiring environment.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4503 Ryan Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:53:48 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4503 Brennon - it's been a LONG while since i've done 3D work, but did you try .dxf of .xbf? Brennon – it’s been a LONG while since i’ve done 3D work, but did you try .dxf of .xbf?

]]> By: Brennon Williams http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4502 Brennon Williams Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:53:09 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4502 Wow, on my mac Unity can't download .max or .ma files! Is there a way around this (ie change file type)? Wow, on my mac Unity can’t download .max or .ma files! Is there a way around this (ie change file type)?

]]> By: Jean-Guy Niquet http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4501 Jean-Guy Niquet Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:47:17 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4501 Brennon, You have two options really for coding in Unity, Javascript or C#. If you are comfortable with it I would recommend using C# over Javascript. Ryan, good article, we have been having similar discussions with a client for whom we are building a slate of Unity powered games. They were concerned about penetration and size (that's what she said). In the end thankfully they simply decided to just take a chance. The engine allows us developers another option, we have been stuck for better or worse with Flash for years and more tools are always welcome. I think the free option allows more developers to get it to try it out. As more developers like Brennon Williams are able to get Unity for free or Flash for a grand they will make more Unity games. It will take some time, but eventually a cool game will be built using it or maybe Facebook integrates with it then people like my mom will download the plugin. Youtube showed us that one popular site can strongly increase penetration. I think Tom and the folks at Unity are really just increasing their odds by increasing the content. I'm very happy about it being free and although we will continue to pay for the pro version it also grows the pool of talent we can hire from. Brennon,

You have two options really for coding in Unity, Javascript or C#. If you are comfortable with it I would recommend using C# over Javascript.

Ryan, good article, we have been having similar discussions with a client for whom we are building a slate of Unity powered games. They were concerned about penetration and size (that’s what she said). In the end thankfully they simply decided to just take a chance. The engine allows us developers another option, we have been stuck for better or worse with Flash for years and more tools are always welcome.

I think the free option allows more developers to get it to try it out. As more developers like Brennon Williams are able to get Unity for free or Flash for a grand they will make more Unity games. It will take some time, but eventually a cool game will be built using it or maybe Facebook integrates with it then people like my mom will download the plugin. Youtube showed us that one popular site can strongly increase penetration. I think Tom and the folks at Unity are really just increasing their odds by increasing the content.

I’m very happy about it being free and although we will continue to pay for the pro version it also grows the pool of talent we can hire from.

]]> By: Brennon Williams http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4497 Brennon Williams Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:38:10 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4497 I downloaded Unity yesterday, and so far I love it! However, what I'm not sure about is which language to code it in? I downloaded Unity yesterday, and so far I love it! However, what I’m not sure about is which language to code it in?

]]> By: Ryan http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4494 Ryan Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:15:55 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4494 Paolo - the Flash team has never made game developers a priority with their product development. i don't think they're "moving into gaming" - people have been creating games with Flash for close to fifteen years. But that's not what it's for. They've also been creating teevee shows with Flash. But that's not what it's for either (although Flash/Futuresplash began life as a handy animation tool). There's a lot more Adobe could do to make Flash a better product for making games, or for enabling high-end animation production, but that's never been their focus. It's almost as if games and teevee shows have been a happy accident - a welcomed by-product of the software. No - Macromedia and Adobe have long targeted the application development crowd with the Flash platform. It's been evident since version 5 that those are the only folks the Flash team really gives a damn about. Oh well. At their peril. That's the kind of thing that enables competitors like ToonBoom and Push Button Engine to come in and eat their lunch. Paolo – the Flash team has never made game developers a priority with their product development. i don’t think they’re “moving into gaming” – people have been creating games with Flash for close to fifteen years. But that’s not what it’s for. They’ve also been creating teevee shows with Flash. But that’s not what it’s for either (although Flash/Futuresplash began life as a handy animation tool).

There’s a lot more Adobe could do to make Flash a better product for making games, or for enabling high-end animation production, but that’s never been their focus. It’s almost as if games and teevee shows have been a happy accident – a welcomed by-product of the software. No – Macromedia and Adobe have long targeted the application development crowd with the Flash platform. It’s been evident since version 5 that those are the only folks the Flash team really gives a damn about. Oh well. At their peril. That’s the kind of thing that enables competitors like ToonBoom and Push Button Engine to come in and eat their lunch.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4493 Ryan Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:07:20 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4493 Stuart - agreed. It's a bit of an apples to oranges comparison ... or maybe an oranges to tangerines comparison at best. We make games using Flash, so i have a tendency to think of Flash as a game engine. It's natural to me to compare it with other web-enabled game engines. Shockwave player penetration hits about 50% in what Adobe calls "mature markets". i think it'd be great for the Unity Web Player to enjoy that kind of success. Stuart – agreed. It’s a bit of an apples to oranges comparison … or maybe an oranges to tangerines comparison at best. We make games using Flash, so i have a tendency to think of Flash as a game engine. It’s natural to me to compare it with other web-enabled game engines. Shockwave player penetration hits about 50% in what Adobe calls “mature markets”. i think it’d be great for the Unity Web Player to enjoy that kind of success.

]]> By: Paolo http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4492 Paolo Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:55:56 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4492 Although I am backing the Adobe horse because I prefer 2D games to 3D, I know that Adobe is feeling the squeeze in the video market from Silverlight. Netflix is built on the Silverlight engine rather than on Flash, so Adobe took a major hit there. I figured that Adobe is moving into the gaming market with Flash and is facing competition with Unity. So perhaps Adobe will expand with better 2D animation capabilities. I'm so sold on time-line based programming because it makes it so much easier to animate things. Although I am backing the Adobe horse because I prefer 2D games to 3D, I know that Adobe is feeling the squeeze in the video market from Silverlight. Netflix is built on the Silverlight engine rather than on Flash, so Adobe took a major hit there.

I figured that Adobe is moving into the gaming market with Flash and is facing competition with Unity. So perhaps Adobe will expand with better 2D animation capabilities.

I’m so sold on time-line based programming because it makes it so much easier to animate things.

]]> By: Stuart http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4491 Stuart Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:36:18 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4491 Ryan - I pretty much agree with what you've said here and I doubt we'll ever see a 99.7% penetration rate for any Unity plugin, but I think a better comparison might be Director/Shockwave to Unity. For the most part, Unity isn't a Flash replacement or substitute in my eyes and I'd be surprised if the people at Unity are looking to go that route; ask the Silverlight folks how things are going. Ryan – I pretty much agree with what you’ve said here and I doubt we’ll ever see a 99.7% penetration rate for any Unity plugin, but I think a better comparison might be Director/Shockwave to Unity. For the most part, Unity isn’t a Flash replacement or substitute in my eyes and I’d be surprised if the people at Unity are looking to go that route; ask the Silverlight folks how things are going.

]]> By: Bruno Cicanci http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/2009/10/30/unity-3d-is-free-but-is-that-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-4489 Bruno Cicanci Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:19:55 +0000 http://www.untoldentertainment.com/blog/?p=1976#comment-4489 That's a very good reading!! As a game developer student, I'm very excited with this, because it'll be my first contact with a good game engine, and for free!! =) That’s a very good reading!! As a game developer student, I’m very excited with this, because it’ll be my first contact with a good game engine, and for free!! =)

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