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Hi Guys,

Find below a link to a new special free version of FPS Creator for public testing. Rather than a demo, we have trimmed down regular FPS Creator of a few features and reduced the media to create a version you can download for free but you cannot sell what you make. That aside, it is feature complete and does not expire so it will open up game making to many more people. Here is the link:

http://www.fpscreator.com/betafiles/FPSCreatorFree.zip

Post here if you experience problems with the download, installation or usage of the free version. Be warned this installer uses the same GUID as the original version and it will uninstall your current FPS Creator so I suggest the test be performed by users who have not yet purchased FPS Creator.

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amazing thanks lee,this really rocks,and fix that installer,im gonna edit the registry of the fps i have now to get it to work

EDIT: just tried it out,it simply rocks,i think the build game should be limited to only a few weapons and no shaders ect. and wheres the build game upgrade? i didnt found it,werid

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Downloading now....

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COOl
Downloading now....
thanks

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I tried it out on my Windows Vista high end pc and it worked fine. Only "problem" was the long build time on Portals when I tested the game and it was a very small and simple map.

I have some questions popping up:
1. Is it supposed to be upgradeable since you can check for updates?
2. If you choose to buy the full version in the TGC store will you also get access to the missing media known from the classic full version?
3. I couldn't find the Buy full version button anyway...
4. Is it legal to use this free version in an educational situation? I teach Game Maker courses and have often thought about giving the students a go at FPSC too. This free version could be the answer.

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looks good,you posted it on friday the 13th though so it is now doomed to hell

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Lol hahaha thats funny

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This is a good move from TGC FPSC, also this will make the FPSC store even more popular. (Smart business move)

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Hmm... What if a person were to unzip the contents of an upgrade and replace the free executable with the normal one?

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downloading now.... will report my Friday the 13th finds

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From what I've read the updates are compatible with the free version. You won't get any of the major features in an update unless a valid CD-Key is entered. So in theory the free version and the registered version share the same executables.

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@ Airslide:
I'm no longer on the computer that has the free version of FPSC, and am now on a mac, but I did find that replacing the files from the 1.10 update does not work. I've also tried putting some 1.09 files in, and those do not work either, so everything is good security-wise. I was also checking in the registry for any kind of weaknesses, and found something kind of amusing, a registry key that was named "donthackme" or something like that. I didn't mess with it, though.

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I'd like to play with the free version but I have the full version...
I would assume when you download the full paid version if you wish to purchase it that the missing media would then be there just like it does to the demo version...I guess this is the "demo" version now.
Since I am not going to play with this could someone list exactly what the limitations are for this as compared to the free version?
Maybe the full version has all of the bugs...

...Just kidding,Lee...

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Just for clarity the free version does not contain about 470MB of extra media you get on the CD version. We wanted to keep the download small. As we reduced the amount of media, we also reduced the price of upgrading the build game feature so it balanced out. If you really want that extra media you can of course buy the CD. We are also looking into adding the missing media to the store so you can browse through them individually and select just what you want. If anyone does find a way to hack the free version, email me and I will consider the security aspects.

The free version does not have BUILD GAME or NEW ARENA, so upgrading adds these features:

· Build stand alone games.
· License allowing you to sell unlimited FPSC games.
· Create multi-level games.
· Make multiplayer arenas games.

Unlike buying the CD version, the upgrade process is immediate and you don't even need to restart the software. Some answers:

1. The free version is a complete edition in every respect. You can use the auto updater to get new features and fixes, there are no restrictions or limits, and you can use it for as long as you like. We simply removed some features that you can optionally buy into if you want the facility to share your games or sell them.

2. You will not get the extra 470MB media missing from the free version, but this is reflected in the much lower price of upgrading the free version to include the build game feature.

3. The free version can be upgraded by entering the store and navigating to TGC \ Add-ons. There you will find the BUILD GAME UPGRADE item which you can preview and buy. The upgrade process is instant!

4. You can use the free version as you would any other software you might buy from us providing you observe the EULA. The only remarkable fact is that this product has a price of zero. If you want to use it in schools to teach game making, you are welcome to do so. We want the widest possible distribution so tell all your friends in neighboring schools and colleges about it

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This is really a clever advertising move that benefits "the people". Nice job TGC, I see you are updating your business strategies.

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You get the basics for free and add as you go.Yet another stroke of genius on your part.
Do you have an estimate of the cost of the upgrade?(Probably Rick's thing...).
The reason I am asking is my nephew is interested in FPSC but his parents aren't wanting to shell out any more cash than necessary for it just in case he doesn't apply himself to it.
Not that my brother's cheap...well,I guess he is.He unscrewed the bulb in his fridge to save electricity.I am not joking!
But in this case if I were in his shoes I would try to be thrifty in case his son doesn't apply himself and it's a waste of his money.
If people had the free version can they distribute the .fpm files for others to play,test,or troubleshoot?
It would be a great incentive for those with the free version to develop their skills and swap .fpm files.Since most of the free version .fpms will use the same basic media then everyone should be able to play them without the "missing media" issue that comes up with custom media.
This is a terrific idea by you folks at TGC.
BTW I bought the full version of FPSC because I wanted to make games but I also bought it for the python.
On an unrelated note...seeing as how the store can download media instantly to your pc is there some way that it can check to see if you own media before it lets you purchase something?
If you start putting stock media in the store people are going to buy stuff they already have.It's happened to me.Checking the FPSC files before a purchase can save a lot of grief.

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Perhaps you could add a stock section to the store, only accessible to people using the free version.

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While that is a solution (and a good one at that) for this problem it doesn't help with the others.
But let's say I decide to look in my own files to check (and do).
Since everything TGC downloads to your pc goes to the "purchased" section and not where it would go if you bought the model pack the model is from it makes it hard to know for sure.
If members feel that such a check of their files is intrusive then TGC can make it an option.
I am not cheap or anything but I don't want to have to pay for something more than once and neither does anyone else.
If someone has the free version you are going to have to pay more in the long run (microtransactions are murder) so that would be a bite in the wallet for them as well.
Starting with the free version does give you the option to upgrade when and where and even what you want and that is good.
The best point-and-click 3D game making engine is now free for everybody.

...it's about time,TGC.My hat's off to you for this.
Not to mention the pirates have to be cussing while they drink their rum.Since you're giving it away you cut them out of the picture.
Anyone you can do everybody a favor like this AND stick it to the pirates at the same time is my hero,Lee.

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Wow, this is just what FPS Creator needs! The publicity should go up massivley, great move can't wait to see what this builds up to.

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LOL for the demo there was a registary thing saying
"Don'thackdemodateV1"

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Sounds great and Is a brilliant buisness move, but why not limit the user to the amount of polygons he can have in the scene? and also the amount of floors he can have? makes it more limited.

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LT Tatters: Have you tried out the new Free version yet? By removing most of the stock media and Build Game it really does feel limited. Removing anything else and it would just be sadistic.

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What's wrong with sadism.....

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@Scurvy I have, and yet it still feels the same, just that you have to pay some money for the build game upgrade, I think it should be more limited.
also I think lee should implement a new feature made especially for lights, thus meaning you can change them without buying build game feature.

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The restrictions on the free version are more than enough.
TGC doesn't want to strip it to the point people don't want it.

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LT Tatters: I guess it just comes down the choice if you really want to cripple the experience for new users? I don't think more people would buy if they had further limitations. You need to be able to see what a program can do for you.

You could actually go the other way and let people use Build Game in the free version just with watermarks added to the games. This is something that works in the Game Maker community. I'm only telling this because heavily crippling a program is not always the best way to make people buy your stuff.

Lights are rendered fine in test games btw. If you want higher quality lights just edit them in the editor and set Preferences to Full Lightmapping. No problemo.

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There is a build game thing that you can buy in the TGC store. So fpsc free is about £20 if you want to build your games, and it doesnt have all the stock media. It's better off to just buy the full version.

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Aaagreen: The 2000 points for the upgrade costs 20$ / 12.5 € / 10 £

The full CD version costs: $49.99 / €31.99 / £25.99

I would say that is an extremely fair price for the upgrade if you don't care about the stock media.

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The only thing is that most people who will get the free version won't likely be indie developers looking for their next big title with loads of their own media

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£10 or $20 for 2000 points.
But with the money saved you could buy say MP3 which has loads of media

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This is great for those who just wnat to test out thier games etc

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its coolio... exept it takes forever to build portals and saving and optomizing universe. also the light part....

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This may be a stupid question, but. Since this is a stripped down version of FPSC, mods would work on it, right? Another thing, this is a stripped down version of what version? V1.07? V1.09?

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It's V1.10 but it is also auto-patchable, so new stuff also goes into the free version.

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Sweet! Let see what this thing can do~

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This sounds like a great way to get more exposure to FPSC.

Question for TGC:
If I release one of my games on DVD, then may I included this installer on the disc for my customers who have never heard of FPSC?

That way, the customer could play with FPSC right away without any additional downloads required.
Kinda like the way Microsoft lets people distribute DirectX on the disc to avoid downloads.
That would give the gamer a free bonus and would save you guys some bandwidth as well.

I had noticed that upgrade in the store before I saw this thread and was thinking.. what the heck is this?
Now it makes perfect sense, and tell Rick this is another great idea.

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I found a bug, when placing 2 "purchased" weapons (Jons berrettas and Errant´s "stick") it snaps for some reason to a "block" (those segmentsquares) wich I dont even have my mouse on, then I just had to click the entity to pick it up and move freely but anyways. Its really annoying

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Press b.

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Lee: when is the demo officially on the FPS Creator homepage? I have a lot of people I want to show it too but I am still holding on for an official release.

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The official release of the free version should be quite soon, perhaps as soon as next week. You can of course show off the public test version of the free version as it is unlikely to be changed given the positive response from testing thus far. Further updates to the free version cab be done through the auto updater.