Get Skooled! TorqueSchool Announcement
by Dave Young · 07/18/2007 (10:05 am) · 52 comments
*Are you whittling your nights away struggling to master one of the many aspects of game development, art, or running a team?
*Do you wish to be like a community expert who can drop cool factoids and secret best practices on how to get something done?
*Have you spent hundreds of hours working on a single area only to be frustrated with the end results?
*Do you have specialized team members who disappear, leaving you in the lurch with no way to get something done?
Stop spinning your wheels!
Get 'Skooled!!
We are very pleased to introduce the forthcoming TorqueSchool www.torqueschool.com, a collaborative effort by GarageGames and Dream Games!
Our new online game development school is designed to meet the rapidly expanding education and training needs of the Torque and Game Development community. Focusing on Torque technologies, TorqueSchool offers a large number of hand crafted, high quality online courses designed to bring your level of expertise up to where you need it, and fast!
With the explosion in Indie technology and the introduction of new platforms to launch Torque tech on, like Mac, Linux, Windows, XBOX 360 (XNA), and the very fresh Wii, it's clear that Torque products are here for the long term. They are proving to be a development platform of choice for Indies and a quickly growing number of commercial enterprises around the globe.
Demand will only increase for highly skilled tradesmen who have a proven ability in using the technology and pipeline.
The courses will typically run from 4 to 6 weeks each. They are chock full of sample projects and assignments, factoids and tidbits, tricks of the trade, streamlined processes, best practices, structured learning, reinforcement tools, and are run by a dedicated instructor. Some will include video and/or audio and all include weekly IRC meetings, support forums and occasional celebrity guest speakers who are experts in their individual fields. These are people you never get to talk to, because they're just *that* busy! We will trap them in a chat room, arm you with brain picks, and let you assault them with praise, questions, and explore the mysteries of the very fabric of technology with them. We will also hold ocassional guest speaker sessions with industry experts for students and create an ongoing guest speaker program. Just hanging around TorqueSchool you're bound to pick up something useful.
We are also working towards building a comprehensive certification program in the near future! One of the first of its kind, these official certifications will prove to be an elite and coveted qualification useful in obtaining a contract or full time position with a company or dev team. Significant discounts on certification programs will be offered to students who take advantage of these early courses.
This September, we will be launching the first classes. Some courses are introduction level, some are advanced, and some are comprehensive. Here is a sampling of some of the courses in development:
GENERAL
Team Communication 101
Team Leadership 102
Game Development & Production Fundamentals
Intro to Game Programming in C#
TGB
Comprehensive Introduction to TGB
Learning Torque Script With TGB
Advanced TGB - The Next Level!
Rapid Prototyping: "So you want to make a game in 6 hours?"
TORQUEX
Intro to Torque Game Builder X (TGBX)
Advanced Torque Game Builder X (TGBX)
Intro to TorqueX
Advanced TorqueX
Advanced GUI Techniques
Intro to managed Artificial Intelligence
Advanced Managed AI
Working with Sound using XACT
Torque Game Engine (TGE)
TGE 101
Comprehensive Engine Structure I
Comprehensive Engine Structure II
Special FX Systems
Player Modeling
Torque Game Engine Advanced (TGEA)
Atlas In-Depth
Creating Atlas Terrains with L3DT
TGEA 101
Comprehensive Engine Structure I
Comprehensive Engine Structure II
TGE/TGEA Shared Tech
The Art of Mission Design
Comprehensive GUI Certification
Data Persistence and Database Programming
Custom Tool Creation (Built on Torque Tech)
Modelling/Art
Introduction to Torque Art with Milkshape3d
Constructor: A primer for pro DIF modeling
Advanced Constructor: Beyond the Beyond
Vehicle Modelling - Milkshape3d
Prop/Item Modelling - Milkshape3d
Advanced Torque Art: Weapons - Milkshape3d
Blender for Torque
Effects/ArcaneFX
(Some classes developed by Faust Logic, makers of ArcaneFX!)
Special Effects
Using ArcaneFX
Designing Effects with ArcaneFX
Customizing ArcaneFX for Programmers
Keep an eye on our website (www.torqueschool.com) for a complete schedule of course availability, with the first courses beginning mid September. Registration for courses is to be done through the purchasing of course credits and applied to individual courses, which will range from 4-6 credits each (usually 1 credit per course week). Students will be allowed to register for a course up to 60 days in advance. Seating is limited in each class to 20 people on a first-come/ first-serve basis to maximize per-student attention. These are online courses to be taken and experienced at your own pace, holding to a week by week structure. Group discounts are available for teams or groups of 3 or more people.
Now is the time to ramp up your product knowledge! Get 'Skooled!
About the author
#22
I think this is a great idea and I am looking forward to seeing more information on the classes.
I'll throw out one suggestion that would make the courses more interesting for me. It would be great if the advanced courses could really drill down on a single topic. Even if they are smaller seminars. For example, a detailed walk through of properly implementing "warping" for the player class with detailed explanations of evry line of code in the player class that handles warping and suggestions on how to do it from the ground up.
This is just a suggestion of what I personally would like. I would be sucker for classes like this that really got down in the weeds.
Great to see yet another resource for improving our skills!
Todd
07/21/2007 (10:04 am)
Dave, I think this is a great idea and I am looking forward to seeing more information on the classes.
I'll throw out one suggestion that would make the courses more interesting for me. It would be great if the advanced courses could really drill down on a single topic. Even if they are smaller seminars. For example, a detailed walk through of properly implementing "warping" for the player class with detailed explanations of evry line of code in the player class that handles warping and suggestions on how to do it from the ground up.
This is just a suggestion of what I personally would like. I would be sucker for classes like this that really got down in the weeds.
Great to see yet another resource for improving our skills!
Todd
#23
Well I started to do my own Constructor tutorials page for FREE and got lilttle to no response on it. This way people will know where to look and get the specific training they require. Its a great idea and I hope that people get behind it.
07/22/2007 (11:57 am)
Quote:Sorry Dave. Wish you the best of luck. I hope that this school doesnt end up taking some of the great resource people out of the GG community.
Well I started to do my own Constructor tutorials page for FREE and got lilttle to no response on it. This way people will know where to look and get the specific training they require. Its a great idea and I hope that people get behind it.
#24
07/22/2007 (12:47 pm)
In plain english, the site looks shady. I'd suggest adding a phone number to your contact information. Its good you added a fax, some people will not respect you if you don't have a fax. Also, too many courses, not enough information about what they are or what the'll do. I had a really great expereince going to the Garage Games bootcamps. A couple times, which is frankly, 5X more expensive then your classes. But your TorqueSchool scares me. And I get the same feeling at MyDreamRPG. You should try establishing yourselves a little more, building up some real company history, and offering less a bit less to start out with the same end goals. Its good you are upfront about what you hope to accomplish, but you also need to have more of what you are accomplishing finished and understandable for us that don't know about your plan. Offer a few good products, that you think people could actually use, and see what you can build from there. Be clear about what people are going to be getting out of the program, and offer opt outs, and refunds, and things of that nature. Get your own credit card system going, and don't use paypal. Whats with the TorqueCredit thing? We are going to want refunds. Thats part of schools, its a reality. There will be dropouts, and lots of them. I'm sorry, this just doesn't look very well researched at all. You need to offer more information about your instructors, their resumes, etc. As well as many other things which seem missing. If you want to teach you should have MAs or BAs. You mention Bret Seyer and Stephen Zepp on your page, but what did they do to make this a reality? Some quotes from them would at least give us an idea of what we have to go on. Another alarming fact is that you are based out of MA, which is a long way from Eugene, Oregon. It just seems fishy to me, and I get the same feeling from MyDreamRPG, that theres going to be a lot of dissapointed participants. Also, whats with this quote "Well, you're in good company now". Is this some kind of joke? I think alot of people in the community would be happy to take these classes, or teach these classes(including myself), but you need to clean up the whole process a bit more. On top of everything else, the TorqueSchool website looks week. If you are programmers, you should be able to come up with a website which is at least better then the website for the bar accross the street.. I'm sorry, I just think alot of people are not sold on this idea yet. You need to clean up.
#25
@Will O Reagan: Wow! This was an introductory post to announce the project and garner feedback, glad we piqued your interest. Let me address some of your questions and implied questions. All your feedback will be taken into respectful consideration.
The need for this endeavor is extremely well researched and many people have a lot of time into it. The implementation of it is still a work in progress, as is the website of course. The quality of the materials and people contributing is hands down on an unquestionably high level. The idea grew out of the mydreamrpg community clamoring and showing repeated need for more indepth education, as well as gaping holes in the dozens of teams who come to our doors looking for help.
The school is an online school, it's not based out of anywhere. Our company is based out of Georgia, and I happen to live in MA. It doesn't make me, or the things I get involved with, shady. GarageGames is our partner in this, they have been intricately involved in the decisions, and will continue to play a pivotal role in overseeing the quality of the materials and the advancement of technology for the Torque brands. I'm sure you will hear from them soon if it will increase your comfort level in some way.
To teach someone, you need to have knowledge they don't. We've been tutoring and teaching people in the shady mydreamrpg community for well over a year now. I've been helping others and teaching the majority of my life. One of our instructors is a NASA scientist. Didn't ask him if he had a MA or BA when he demonstrated the right topic knowledge. Whoops, silly me :)
A TorqueSchool Credit is a way for people to begin to buy credits which they can later apply to classes, we are offering it now because some asked for it so they can quickly reserve a seat when the signups begin. It's also a pricepoint. If it doesn't interest you, I think you know the deal... Regardless, you are not the first to frown or heap insult upon a new venture, and I'm certain you won't be the last, not a problem. Either way, you're still in good company - no joke ;)
07/22/2007 (2:34 pm)
@William The courses are certainly meant to get down to the ground with each topic and teach very specific skills@Will O Reagan: Wow! This was an introductory post to announce the project and garner feedback, glad we piqued your interest. Let me address some of your questions and implied questions. All your feedback will be taken into respectful consideration.
The need for this endeavor is extremely well researched and many people have a lot of time into it. The implementation of it is still a work in progress, as is the website of course. The quality of the materials and people contributing is hands down on an unquestionably high level. The idea grew out of the mydreamrpg community clamoring and showing repeated need for more indepth education, as well as gaping holes in the dozens of teams who come to our doors looking for help.
The school is an online school, it's not based out of anywhere. Our company is based out of Georgia, and I happen to live in MA. It doesn't make me, or the things I get involved with, shady. GarageGames is our partner in this, they have been intricately involved in the decisions, and will continue to play a pivotal role in overseeing the quality of the materials and the advancement of technology for the Torque brands. I'm sure you will hear from them soon if it will increase your comfort level in some way.
To teach someone, you need to have knowledge they don't. We've been tutoring and teaching people in the shady mydreamrpg community for well over a year now. I've been helping others and teaching the majority of my life. One of our instructors is a NASA scientist. Didn't ask him if he had a MA or BA when he demonstrated the right topic knowledge. Whoops, silly me :)
A TorqueSchool Credit is a way for people to begin to buy credits which they can later apply to classes, we are offering it now because some asked for it so they can quickly reserve a seat when the signups begin. It's also a pricepoint. If it doesn't interest you, I think you know the deal... Regardless, you are not the first to frown or heap insult upon a new venture, and I'm certain you won't be the last, not a problem. Either way, you're still in good company - no joke ;)
#26
BTW..
Intro to Torque Game Builder X (TGBX)
Advanced Torque Game Builder X (TGBX)
Should be..
Intro to Torque Game Builder X (TXB)
Advanced Torque Game Builder X (TXB)
If you want to teach, you should at least use the proper acronyms., TorqueX Builder hasn't been refered to as TGBX for quite some time. You sound like a bunch of hacks, and that is always a sad occurance, when a student is taught by a hack. It is sad because hacks mainly produce shallow copies of themselves, because they lack the capacity to impart the skills necessary to put thier students ahead of the competition. A skilled teacher never would have made such a mistake as the one mentioned above, because he would be hip and involved in every aspect of his subject, before he made any statements or declarations on intent to teach it.
07/22/2007 (4:16 pm)
I think in both your ventures, you are making the same mistake. Underestimating the general intelligence of your community. BTW..
Intro to Torque Game Builder X (TGBX)
Advanced Torque Game Builder X (TGBX)
Should be..
Intro to Torque Game Builder X (TXB)
Advanced Torque Game Builder X (TXB)
If you want to teach, you should at least use the proper acronyms., TorqueX Builder hasn't been refered to as TGBX for quite some time. You sound like a bunch of hacks, and that is always a sad occurance, when a student is taught by a hack. It is sad because hacks mainly produce shallow copies of themselves, because they lack the capacity to impart the skills necessary to put thier students ahead of the competition. A skilled teacher never would have made such a mistake as the one mentioned above, because he would be hip and involved in every aspect of his subject, before he made any statements or declarations on intent to teach it.
#27
Excuse me. Have you just referred to myself and my friends/colleagues as hacks? I don't know what chip you are carrying on your shoulder, or why you feel the need to make assumptions about something you so clearly know little about, but you really need to take the time to do your own research.
By the way, I'm sure you are quite aware of the phrase "When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me both?" The course instructors are the ones who chose the titles and abbreviations of their classes, not DreamGames Inc or Dave Young.
To answer your accusations, the following people are involved in this venture: instructors with BAs, instructors with MAs, instructors with years of experience beyond YOUR's in both teaching and Torque Technology, Stephen Zepp, etc, etc.
What do you have to gain by smearing this project, which is intended to help the community first and foremost?
07/22/2007 (4:33 pm)
Will O*Reagan-Excuse me. Have you just referred to myself and my friends/colleagues as hacks? I don't know what chip you are carrying on your shoulder, or why you feel the need to make assumptions about something you so clearly know little about, but you really need to take the time to do your own research.
By the way, I'm sure you are quite aware of the phrase "When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me both?" The course instructors are the ones who chose the titles and abbreviations of their classes, not DreamGames Inc or Dave Young.
To answer your accusations, the following people are involved in this venture: instructors with BAs, instructors with MAs, instructors with years of experience beyond YOUR's in both teaching and Torque Technology, Stephen Zepp, etc, etc.
What do you have to gain by smearing this project, which is intended to help the community first and foremost?
#28
07/23/2007 (8:23 am)
Maybe Will'o you should check out the reference of the people you are are calling hacks, you might want to start with Dave Young. Enough said.
#29
07/23/2007 (8:31 am)
Don't feed the trolls :-)
#31
The pride that you took away when you created your nasty website.
07/23/2007 (12:12 pm)
Quote:
What do you have to gain by smearing this project, which is intended to help the community first and foremost?
The pride that you took away when you created your nasty website.
#32
07/23/2007 (12:17 pm)
Zombie Shortbus is a nasty site? True, it's a little basic, but it's gotten great reviews so far =) 
#33
But i will never understand how outright hatred and insults will help achieve anything in this world.
i hope GG will not allow such things to continue and more actively moderate these un-necessary spats.
@will in your first pots you made some reasonable comments, all be it in a tone that could have been better, but you certainly resort to irrational hatred for no real reason, this sort of thing lowers the value of a whole community. While i dont necessarily agree with your initial comments in entirety i do understand the logic behind some of them, i also believe dave addressed most of them.
I hope that the whole things works out for this venture, ive seen so many websites both free and commercial offering game design/creation/related tutoring die in the past through lack of interest, and truly hope that the community here doesnt let the same happen here
07/23/2007 (1:01 pm)
I can always understand people who are sceptical, i can also understand to a degree some people who are cynical.But i will never understand how outright hatred and insults will help achieve anything in this world.
i hope GG will not allow such things to continue and more actively moderate these un-necessary spats.
@will in your first pots you made some reasonable comments, all be it in a tone that could have been better, but you certainly resort to irrational hatred for no real reason, this sort of thing lowers the value of a whole community. While i dont necessarily agree with your initial comments in entirety i do understand the logic behind some of them, i also believe dave addressed most of them.
I hope that the whole things works out for this venture, ive seen so many websites both free and commercial offering game design/creation/related tutoring die in the past through lack of interest, and truly hope that the community here doesnt let the same happen here
#34
Its obvious the mmokit and titas sucked and was rip off so why does G>G> keep throwing these scumbags a bone. I say Dave Young needs to go to prison not sponge more money off this community!
Hey G.G. I would love to take some classes but I wouldn't pay dream games another penny for anything! They are documented liars and I believe they are extortionists so NO THANKS!
Not only was the mmokit a ripoff but when I put them to the hard questions they ignored me so I made myself hard to ignore. They deleted my posts and wrote lies about what they said and multiple members of their staff attacked me with insults, put downs and name calling and when I reciprocated they banned me.
I certainly don't want anything to do with Dave Young or anyone affiliated with Dream Games!
07/26/2007 (9:53 pm)
This is a sad day for all Torque owners. Dave Young is a crook it really sucks the Dream Games scumbags are pulling from this community for the sole purpose of personal profit. Everyone who purchased the mmokit or titas got ripped off. Not to mention Dave's Gold Member extortion raket. Now they want to fleece this community for more money and pull its true talent for instructors. How sad is that?Its obvious the mmokit and titas sucked and was rip off so why does G>G> keep throwing these scumbags a bone. I say Dave Young needs to go to prison not sponge more money off this community!
Hey G.G. I would love to take some classes but I wouldn't pay dream games another penny for anything! They are documented liars and I believe they are extortionists so NO THANKS!
Not only was the mmokit a ripoff but when I put them to the hard questions they ignored me so I made myself hard to ignore. They deleted my posts and wrote lies about what they said and multiple members of their staff attacked me with insults, put downs and name calling and when I reciprocated they banned me.
I certainly don't want anything to do with Dave Young or anyone affiliated with Dream Games!
#35
Currently (excepting our Boot Camps which are very effective, but a bit far and too infrequent for many Torque users to take advantage of) the only way to really learn Torque products is to use them, read the forums, post questions where necessary, get feedback, and repeat. This process has created some outstanding developers and we're proud of that, but no doubt the process could be improved with some standardization of the advice and instruction that's out there. We don't want the forums to stop acting as a resource for developers. It's my belief that the biggest change we'll see in having more GG'ers using formal instruction to begin with is that the quality of questions and feedback in the forums will be markedly improved. Will there still be room for beginners to ask questions without scorn? Of course! But those beginners are likely to move to proficiency in Torque at a faster pace with online courses as an additional resource.
To be clear, GarageGames will still run Boot Camps and we will work with Dave Young to guide his instructors in creating content that makes sense for online instruction. We may release instruction video modules in the future, and you may see new books available, but regardless, we think the Dream Games initiative here has real promise and we want to help it succeed. Good luck Dave and thanks to all the instructors who are helping drive TorqueSchool.
-Brett
PS. Torque Game Builder X (TGBX) is now Torque X Builder (TXB)
07/26/2007 (10:44 pm)
Going to ignore some of the puzzling negativity and focus on the excitement we have at GarageGames about the opportunity this presents to everyone in the community and beyond. Currently (excepting our Boot Camps which are very effective, but a bit far and too infrequent for many Torque users to take advantage of) the only way to really learn Torque products is to use them, read the forums, post questions where necessary, get feedback, and repeat. This process has created some outstanding developers and we're proud of that, but no doubt the process could be improved with some standardization of the advice and instruction that's out there. We don't want the forums to stop acting as a resource for developers. It's my belief that the biggest change we'll see in having more GG'ers using formal instruction to begin with is that the quality of questions and feedback in the forums will be markedly improved. Will there still be room for beginners to ask questions without scorn? Of course! But those beginners are likely to move to proficiency in Torque at a faster pace with online courses as an additional resource.
To be clear, GarageGames will still run Boot Camps and we will work with Dave Young to guide his instructors in creating content that makes sense for online instruction. We may release instruction video modules in the future, and you may see new books available, but regardless, we think the Dream Games initiative here has real promise and we want to help it succeed. Good luck Dave and thanks to all the instructors who are helping drive TorqueSchool.
-Brett
PS. Torque Game Builder X (TGBX) is now Torque X Builder (TXB)
#36
TorqueSchool should be a great opportunity. It's been said over and over that Torque is a GREAT engine, with a very steep learning curve. A lot of people buy a license, get frustrated quickly, and drop it. Solid instruction should be a great way to help guide more of those people to become competent Torque developers.
And with GarageGames guiding all of the course content to be taught, it's not like the school is being run by "some random joe". Their support guarantees that the courses being taught will be quality stuff taught by quality instructors.
07/27/2007 (5:51 am)
Interesting. I, for one, think the MMOKit was worth every cent I spent on it. Particularly, I am enjoying the steady stream of updates all the buyers are still getting, for no extra cost. Are you sure you're thinking of the same company? ;) Your comments don't sound like anything I've ever seen or experienced there.TorqueSchool should be a great opportunity. It's been said over and over that Torque is a GREAT engine, with a very steep learning curve. A lot of people buy a license, get frustrated quickly, and drop it. Solid instruction should be a great way to help guide more of those people to become competent Torque developers.
And with GarageGames guiding all of the course content to be taught, it's not like the school is being run by "some random joe". Their support guarantees that the courses being taught will be quality stuff taught by quality instructors.
#37
Is there any ETA for the course descriptions, and when will sign up for the courses begin?
Thx.
07/27/2007 (6:03 am)
Is there any ETA for the course descriptions, and when will sign up for the courses begin?
Thx.
#38
07/27/2007 (6:10 am)
Rasmus, you can expect the first to show up within the next week or so, we're working hard to ensure the quality of the materials and get all the i's and t's dotted and crossed! 
#39
Your post is rude, insulting, slanderous, and offensive. This is not appropriate in any forum, especially not a public one.
You're entitled to your opinion, but please don't force it on the rest of us who may choose to disagree with your assessment of Dream Games, the MMOKit, and Dave Young's character. Thanks so much.
There seems to be a huge amount of interest in this project, and I believe it will be a tremendous boost both to Garage Games, and also to the community as a whole.
Thanks for dreaming this up Dave! I'm behind you 100%.
07/27/2007 (6:31 am)
@John Dungan:Your post is rude, insulting, slanderous, and offensive. This is not appropriate in any forum, especially not a public one.
You're entitled to your opinion, but please don't force it on the rest of us who may choose to disagree with your assessment of Dream Games, the MMOKit, and Dave Young's character. Thanks so much.
There seems to be a huge amount of interest in this project, and I believe it will be a tremendous boost both to Garage Games, and also to the community as a whole.
Thanks for dreaming this up Dave! I'm behind you 100%.
#40
As per TorqueSchool? Only the words of the famous Cartman will suffice:
"Schweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet"
07/27/2007 (8:05 am)
I'm just curious why GG would allow an offensive, demeaning and attacking post stay on the forum? It might be rocky ground to have to moderate a poster or post, but when it's completely and obviously abusive, then it should be a no-brainer....As per TorqueSchool? Only the words of the famous Cartman will suffice:
"Schweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet"
Torque 3D Owner Will O-Reagan
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