As playMaker developers, we need to support Hutong games more. I have been using Playmaker for 18 months. I have published 3ios/4android games. Prior to playMaker, I was a professional web developer. I could easily code my games, but imho playMaker is an incredible asset that makes developing easier, faster and far less frustrating (no syntax errors, variable tracking, organization, visual debugging, etc, etc.) And all of this for $65... it is the most incredible deal in software development history. Some of you have been doing far more with playMaker for far longer... all for $65... this needs to change.
I would recommend:
1. Hutong games charge $65 for unlimited use of playMaker until you publisher your first app to iOS/android/steam.... then you need to pay a yearly license fee of $100.
2. Hutong games offers a Professional Support option for $XXX+/year that gets priority support, release info, help in promoting our games, etc., etc.
3. playMaker begins to educate new Unity developers more about the potential of visual programming. There are tons of companies joining the Unity band-wagon daily - check out indeed jobs for unity developers. Almost zero ads ask for playMaker experience. If new companies knew they could be using playMaker to speed development with all types of developers, playMaker would become more well known.
4. This will enable Hutong to better position themselves for future sale to Unity or another party if they choose not to continue. However, I would hope the additional revenue streams from the 1 & 2 above would incentivize them enough to stay.
Hutong games has created an incredible software development tool in playMaker. I absolutely love playMaker and one of my greatest fears is that I lose playMaker because development stops. I just hand coded a login system in C#/PHP... the pain is incredible compared to playMaker's beautiful actions.
As a community we need to make the development of playMaker more profitable to the developers. A yearly license fee paid by those of us who publish our games seems very fair and appropriate to ensure the continued development and existence of playMaker. Happy devs will continue to make great software.
I am ready to send my yearly license fee... I hope you join me.
Lee
Ityion, Inc.
Lastly, I use playMaker to teach game design to high school students, some of them special education students. Not only do I find it incredible, so do my students.. Hutong made something special in playMaker and those of us who know, know it.