Hoping to offer its tools to a new userbase, engine developer BigWorld is launching three new licenses geared for indie, student and small commercial MMO developers.

BigWorld Technology suite intends to offer a "complete technical architecture" for online game and virtual world developers, and includes BigWorld Server Software, Content Creation Pipeline, 3D Client Engine Package, and Live Management Tools & Instrumentation.

It now has three new license types on offer: BigWorld Indie, BigWorld Indie Source or BigWorld Academic. Independent development teams, registered schools and small commercial companies can apply individually for a license.

BigWorld Indie, the company explains, is intended for the "casual enthusiast", and it describes the license as the most affordable yet restrictive. BigWorld Indie Source is intended for prototype builds for pitch phases, and support packages are sold separately.

BigWorld Academic is solely for registered schools, and it's intended to allow students hands-on experience with MMO technology before they enter the world of professional development. In all cases, the company offers progression plans to help users upgrade to the next stage of availability, all the way up to the full-scale commercial version.

"Many developers have been placing solutions for Indies and making available prototype builds for emerging game companies for quite some time," explains CEO John DeMargheriti. "BigWorld has kept its focus on the fully commercial marketplace and to date, there are over 40 commercial licenses in development or launched on BigWorld Technology."

He adds: "We are now well positioned to expand our product offerings to include academic institutions and mod and indie developers, who are in our belief, stronger and more capable than ever to take advantage of virtual or graphical social worlds and MMOs."