I've been recently researching, coding, and thinking and figured it would save a lot of time just using an existing 3D engine ( by the way I had considered this before ). The main reasons I was going to create my own engine ( X7 engine ) is so that I could liscence it to other companies and it would have necessary features for our game. The engine will have some modifications that would make it exclusive for our game. The engine that I had in mind was the Unreal Engine, which is very impressive ,but the liscence would cost a fortune. What are your thoughts on this? Should we continue and create our own engine or give in and us the Unreal Engine? Vote above and post why. Thanks.

Thanks man.

Hey there's no option to choose neither... from my point of view I would say use a pre-made and test proven engine rather than build your own. Also I would suggest choosing a cheaper option such as OGRE or torque and of course you can use other components from different engines to fill in the holes. If the engine doesn't have all the features you need, do a quick google search, I wouldn't be surprised if someone hasn't already implemented the things your looking for.

I only say this because, I choose the option of building my own engine, (It's only 2D but still very strong while still being really easy), and that was 5 years ago.... That whole time I found my self overly consumed with the engine and making tech demos rather than making games. Honestly I want to start delving back into the engine right now just reading this. As boring as people think engine building is, it's just so much fun being able to see/accompolish new things every other week instead of working on the same game for a year.

I'm strongly against writing your own 3D engine. I killed one project this way. We simply were not able to keep up with the new features in gfx cards. Not to mention the time to make the game. I will quote one publisher "you are to make a game not a game engine", I wish I listened to him back then
Unless you have a lot of coders and a lot of time and a lot of funds making your own engine is a route that most likely will lead to misery.

I could liscence it to other companies

Take a note you have not listed "other engines" in your pool. Just Unreal Engine. Why? Because these are not very famous and you did not heard about them or heard and not considered them. There are many 3D engines. If these other companies that sell engines could not make you to even consider their engine as an option for you how would you persuade others in your situation? Why your engine you plan to sell will be better than those engines you have not listed in your pool? How will you persuade a person like *you* to put the engine alongside Unreal in the pool?

Take a note that some publishers/companies provide basicly free professional 3D engine with full support and a contract to publish the game only if you use their engine