I would like to try some shaders in A8, but my A7 key does not work with A8, so I get only the free version.

How can I upgrade my A7 key to A8 and is there an early upgrade discount?

You need a .dta key file!
contact the support!

I have purchased it before March so I guess I have to pay something.

SO, when I am buying now a Key of A7 that was purchased before March, can I use PhysX of A8 or do I have to use the A7 Engine?

if it was before march, that license is not valid for a8, you cannot use a8(except for free version of course) unless you upgrade that license.

Where can I upgrade my license?

Click on "shop" (in the footer of this forum) -> scroll all the way down, click on "Gamestudio upgrades".

Those upgrades are only to a higher GS edition or from A6. You can't update to A8 yet, because it's not officially released. I think the only way to get an A8 key now is to buy A7, but that would be somehow dumb if you already own A7...

Back in the days you got the same edition from the next engine release if you did an upgrade.
Example:
A5 standard upgrade to A5 commercial => You get A6 commercial
(at least when you ordered it in a certain time-window)

If you ordered A7 in the last time, you should already have an A8 key. It has the extension *.dta.

Otherwise, if you got A7 by March 2010 or later, you'll receive an A8 upgrade for free - please just send an email to sales (at) opgroup.de.

You can also order an A8 upgrade key by email at the same address. At least for the next 2 weeks there will be a special early adopter price. It's $299 for a Pro upgrade or $79 for a Commercial upgrade. If you got A7 by December 2009 or later, you'll get an additional $100 discount for Pro and $20 discount for Commercial. I'll also place this info on the announcement page.