Game Mechanics Kit Demo
by Yuri Dobronravin · 12/17/2008 (3:27 pm) · 21 comments
Game Mechanics Kit (or GMK) is an add-on for GarageGames' Torque 3D engines TGE and TGEA. GMK provides functionality and tools for programmers and game designers to script and edit the mechanics of game process in very easy and visual way. GMK implements principle of building blocks: create your game with ready made components.

Download Game Mechanics Kit Demo mini-game "Orcs Rule" with embedded editor to test Game Mechanics Kit functions by using this link.
GMK consists of two main parts: game object templates and in-game editor.

Core of GMK is the set of C++ and TorqueScript template classes (or simply templates) that enhance functionality of original Torque engine. Template objects inherit general design patterns that present in one form or another almost in every 3D game. These templates include but not limited by the following categories of objects:
* Simple AI bot, with easy configurable and controlled behavior.
* Interactive environment: destructible and explosive items, doors, switches, lockers etc.
* Various trigger objects.
* Visual effect objects.
* Inventory items.
* Auxiliary objects: counters, invisible walls etc.
By doing a little scripting you can also modify existing or add new template classes to use them in your game.

In-game editor of game mechanics components provides functionality to create game objects and change their parameters in very user friendly way. Editor adds some useful functions to original World Editor, but it's major advantage is implementation of "event-reaction" system for game objects. That is user can configure objects' parameters and interaction with other objects right within the editor.
See typical Example of GMK's usage on video:
And the text version of the same example here.
That's all for now. I'd be very glad to hear any comments or answer question on the subject!
Meet the Game Mechanics Kit!

Download Game Mechanics Kit Demo mini-game "Orcs Rule" with embedded editor to test Game Mechanics Kit functions by using this link.
GMK consists of two main parts: game object templates and in-game editor.
Game Object Templates

Core of GMK is the set of C++ and TorqueScript template classes (or simply templates) that enhance functionality of original Torque engine. Template objects inherit general design patterns that present in one form or another almost in every 3D game. These templates include but not limited by the following categories of objects:
* Simple AI bot, with easy configurable and controlled behavior.
* Interactive environment: destructible and explosive items, doors, switches, lockers etc.
* Various trigger objects.
* Visual effect objects.
* Inventory items.
* Auxiliary objects: counters, invisible walls etc.
By doing a little scripting you can also modify existing or add new template classes to use them in your game.
In-Game Editor

In-game editor of game mechanics components provides functionality to create game objects and change their parameters in very user friendly way. Editor adds some useful functions to original World Editor, but it's major advantage is implementation of "event-reaction" system for game objects. That is user can configure objects' parameters and interaction with other objects right within the editor.
Example
See typical Example of GMK's usage on video:
And the text version of the same example here.
That's all for now. I'd be very glad to hear any comments or answer question on the subject!
#2
12/17/2008 (4:03 pm)
Looks highly interesting. Downloading the demo now.
#3
12/17/2008 (4:09 pm)
these sounds like examples that should be in any game developers kit. Im buying this as soon as it arrives.
#4
12/17/2008 (4:37 pm)
Awesome stuff, gimme :) ive always wanted a the editor to be more simplified and easier access to some of tgeas hidden features, and this sounds like it will be perfect
#5
12/17/2008 (6:30 pm)
Holy moly batman!! I checked this out and you've got a very nice winner on your hands. It would be worth quite a bit especially if it came with its source code so people could customize and add new object types and templates easily, expand the script interface, etc.
#6
12/17/2008 (6:42 pm)
I think i want this one too....so many things to buy so little money...
#7
Listen!
Long term all of this belongs in TGEA, Torque 3d. You need to speak to the guys at GG and cut a deal like this
Synapse Gaming: Torque lighting This is dynamite! I've missed the visual scripting trigger's that unreal ed has built in fiercely.
You MUST finish this and make it part of Torque!!!
Fantastic work!!
12/17/2008 (8:19 pm)
@Yuri, I started game development using unreal ed to make game mods. I really see the point in this. You are building in some fantastic game interaction building blocks for both players and AI.Listen!
Long term all of this belongs in TGEA, Torque 3d. You need to speak to the guys at GG and cut a deal like this
Synapse Gaming: Torque lighting This is dynamite! I've missed the visual scripting trigger's that unreal ed has built in fiercely.
You MUST finish this and make it part of Torque!!!
Fantastic work!!
#8
thanks for the post great work
12/17/2008 (8:23 pm)
I agree this looks like some great features all it needs is a physics, i think that T3D will have but i'm not for sure, this needs to be in the update.thanks for the post great work
#9
12/18/2008 (12:12 am)
Looks fantastic, following this with interest.
#10
12/18/2008 (6:39 am)
awesome !!! really.
#11
12/18/2008 (6:54 am)
:bookmark:!
#12
12/18/2008 (7:40 am)
This is something I would buy as well. Make it a kit with code at it's current state and I will buy as well:)
#14
Looking forward to seeing a Buy Now link.
12/18/2008 (11:49 am)
I would purchase it too. Great job, its what we all need in TGEA.Looking forward to seeing a Buy Now link.
#15
12/18/2008 (5:03 pm)
Cool, but like I have said about SSAO, this is something that should be standard in TGEA and not an addon from the community.
#16
How do you do the bit where the camera follows the Orc in when it comes through the door? - how do you do the in-game cutscene?
12/19/2008 (9:28 am)
Great stuff - should have been in Torque all along :)How do you do the bit where the camera follows the Orc in when it comes through the door? - how do you do the in-game cutscene?
#17
We need to close a few tasks, fix some bugs and write down documentation.
We plan to ship Game Mechanics Kit as early as next month or maybe little later.
I also think that we will update the kit quite often after the release. We have plenty of ideas to implement in Torque. It's gonna be fun for us, I hope community will enjoy it too.
12/19/2008 (9:31 am)
Thanks everyone for checking this out. I really appreciate this.We need to close a few tasks, fix some bugs and write down documentation.
We plan to ship Game Mechanics Kit as early as next month or maybe little later.
I also think that we will update the kit quite often after the release. We have plenty of ideas to implement in Torque. It's gonna be fun for us, I hope community will enjoy it too.
#18
We do in-game cut scene just flying in free camera mode (ALT+C) and capturing the video. Then we used MovieMaker to mix with remaining footage :) Simple as this.
By the way in our plans for Game Mechanic Kits we have tasks for creating CutScenes objects. These objects intend to manage scenes constisting of flying camera and some animated shapes. It probably won't be in the first version of the kit, we'll do it little later.
12/20/2008 (1:03 pm)
@ Andy Hawkins We do in-game cut scene just flying in free camera mode (ALT+C) and capturing the video. Then we used MovieMaker to mix with remaining footage :) Simple as this.
By the way in our plans for Game Mechanic Kits we have tasks for creating CutScenes objects. These objects intend to manage scenes constisting of flying camera and some animated shapes. It probably won't be in the first version of the kit, we'll do it little later.
#19
12/21/2008 (6:36 am)
Is MovieMaker a Torque utility?
#20
No no, MovieMaker is Microsoft free tool for editing video.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx
12/21/2008 (12:41 pm)
@Andy HawkinsNo no, MovieMaker is Microsoft free tool for editing video.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx

Torque Owner StudioVF
P.S. If you need some testing, just type me some message to nightwish_06@studiovf.ru - I'll be glad to help you on your way.