3D Terrain Editor lite http://www.freewebs.com/proffessor_gad/products.htm I need to know your opinion guys... I've been learning how to program in GML/direct X for about 3 years already and I need to know if my effort will finally be payed out. Thank you beforehand. (:

I can't tell if it will sell or not but I would personally probably never buy it. Although the price is fairly low the feature set is very basic and not worth paying for in my opinion.

The Proffessor wrot:
>Will this sell?
>I need to know if my effort will finally be payed out.

Sory to telll yo, proffessor, butt nobboddy can preddict whatt willl selll.
As four mii, my crysstall balll is in the repaire shoppe.

Sorry, but I would also probably not buy it. If I need a terrain solution I'm sure I could create one myself (and I would enjoy learning about how to do it).

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Original post by Proffessor_gad ... I've been learning how to program in GML/direct X for about 3 years already and I need to know if my effort will finally be payed out.

Why would you expect people to pay you for the time spent learning? More importantly why don't you see that the knowledge gained IS the payment for the effort made?

Given that it is fairly simple your best bet would be to distribute it as freeware and start enhancing it (listen to user feedback) into a product that people want.

First the off-topic stuff. Your thread title "Will this sell?" reminds me of "Will this float?" or "Will this blend", or perhaps the best one, "Will this shred?"


Okay, back on topic, you can't just post your fancy (or not quite fancy) tool on the Intarweb and expect money to start rolling in. You need to have a product that people want and are willing to spend money for.

Your terrain editor is neither what most people want nor what they are willing to spend money for. The people who WOULD want stuff like that are generally able to make something that exactly suits their needs or buy a comprehensive package that includes terrain editing as a minor piece of the artwork generation, texturing, and lighting process.

I'm not saying it doesn't have value, and you have learned a lot which is its primary value. If you intend to sell it, you need to make sure it has people who would want to buy, that the people want to buy it (or can be induced to wanting it through ads) and can afford it.

Look, you've got a good little program there. But I guess as the others said most people who need that kind of simple terrain generation will do it themselves.

But hey, don't give up, keep going with your learning and make a bigger and better program. Even if it doesn't make you a million bucks you never know where it'll lead to.....

Ok, thanks.


I already had pretty much guessed that it wasn't worth being purchased, but experimenting never hurts ☺ .

The whole idea of selling programs nowadays is a bad idea, since larger companies always seem to dominate.

On the bright side, if this program was in a large bundle of applications that could be used for game development, and if it was priced comfortably -- then it would definately sell.

But at the moment being I guess that I will continue programing for fun.

The only reason that I want to sell my applications is so that my parents would stop pejorating me into a category of lazy computer geeks that don't bring money into the house.

Once again, thank you. If you have any ideas that I could use for my program, please post them here.

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Original post by Proffessor_gad The whole idea of selling programs nowadays is a bad idea, since larger companies always seem to dominate.

That's not usually the case. Granted, EA will *always* buy Max or Maya, but a lot of independent artist/developers are more likely to buy Milkshape 3D.

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Original post by Proffessor_gad On the bright side, if this program was in a large bundle of applications that could be used for game development, and if it was priced comfortably -- then it would definately sell.

It depends on the functionality. If I have to fight an application to use it, I wouldn't use it even if it's free. For example, I chose to pay for Mappy rather than use Tile Studio. (Ironically, the free version includes enough functionality to do most things)

Quote:

Original post by Proffessor_gad The only reason that I want to sell my applications is so that my parents would stop pejorating me into a category of lazy computer geeks that don't bring money into the house.

Dedicate yourself to producing the best tool you can for Terrain editing. This should be something people will buy, and will prove to your parents that you can tackle a project.

I know I would be willing to pay for a good terrain editor that could create terrains similar to Warcraft 3D. It would need to make editing tilemap terrains easy, and allow placing objects and characters.

The professor wrote:
>The only reason that I want to sell my applications is so that my parents would stop pejorating me into a category of lazy computer geeks that don't bring money into the house.

So move out on your own. Get a job. Preferably one in the game biz.

>If you have any ideas that I could use for my program, please post them here.

Get a job. Preferably one in the game biz. After a few years of proving your skills in the industry (not only to other game professionals but also to your parents) and paying your own bills for a while, you should have this whole thing figured out pretty good.

I know, crazy idea.