HGE License

Understanding the licensing terms for HGE and what they mean for your projects.

License Overview

HGE has been distributed under various licensing terms over its history. This page provides general guidance about HGE licensing, but you should always verify the specific terms that apply to the version you're using.

Important Note

The information on this page is provided for general guidance. Always refer to the license file included with your specific HGE distribution for authoritative terms.

Historical Context

HGE was originally created by Haaf (Alexander Parpura) and released to the game development community. Over time, the project has been maintained, forked, and distributed by various community members.

Different distributions may have different license terms, so it's important to check the LICENSE or README file that comes with your specific copy of HGE.

Common License Provisions

Many HGE distributions have included provisions such as:

Permitted Uses

  • Using HGE for personal and educational projects
  • Creating and distributing games built with HGE
  • Modifying HGE for your own projects

Common Requirements

  • Including license attribution in distributed software
  • Not misrepresenting the origin of HGE
  • Not using the HGE name to endorse derived products without permission

Typical Restrictions

  • Not selling the HGE engine itself as a standalone product
  • Maintaining copyright notices in source files

For Commercial Projects

If you're considering using HGE for a commercial project:

  1. Check your distribution's license file — This is the authoritative source
  2. Look for explicit commercial use clauses — Some licenses have specific provisions
  3. Seek legal advice if uncertain — License interpretation can have legal implications
  4. Consider contacting the maintainers — If your distribution has active maintainers

Open Source Forks

Some community forks of HGE have been released under well-known open source licenses. If you're using a fork, check its specific repository for license information.

Documentation License

The documentation on this site is provided to help developers work with HGE. It is maintained separately from the engine source code.

Attribution Example

If your distribution requires attribution, a typical notice might look like:

This software uses HGE (Haaf's Game Engine)

Place such notices in your game's credits, documentation, or about screen as appropriate for your license's requirements.

Questions About Licensing

If you have questions about licensing:

  • Check the license file in your HGE distribution first
  • Search the community forum for discussions about licensing
  • Consult with a legal professional for commercial projects

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I use HGE for a commercial game?

    This depends on your specific HGE distribution's license. Many distributions have allowed commercial use, but check your license file to be certain.

  • Do I need to release my game's source code?

    Most HGE distributions have not required this, but verify with your specific license. HGE is typically not distributed under copyleft licenses that would require source release.

  • Can I modify HGE for my project?

    Generally yes, though some distributions may have requirements about how modified versions are labeled or distributed.

  • Where can I find the official license?

    Look for LICENSE, LICENSE.txt, COPYING, or similar files in your HGE SDK directory. The license should also be mentioned in the main documentation.

  • What about the BASS audio library?

    HGE uses the BASS audio library, which has its own license terms (typically requiring a license for commercial use). You must comply with BASS licensing separately from HGE licensing.