Plan for Josh Williams
by Josh Williams · 02/22/2005 (1:21 pm) · 111 comments
Okay, time to prime the pump here some more. :) Melv and I couldn't resist posting some screens of the T2D demos we've been working on. Check out the pics below!
These demos are just simple, simple little examples of what Torque 2D can do. "Demo in a day" is a good way to describe 'em. None of them are anywhere near being games, but they look great, thanks to some extremely talented artists: Craig Fortune, Nauris Krauze, and Matt Mitman. These guys are incredible. For your viewing pleasure, may I present screens from the Torque 2D demos!
Simple "grav gun" demo:
Every engine today is trying to show off their physics, with grav guns and pachinko machines, and blah blah. Grav guns are easy, as our little hero Flegg demonstrates in this demo. And check out those particle effects! Melv does amazing things w/ T2D's particle system, but I bet it won't be long after release before someone out there is even better with it than he is. The great looking art you see here was provided by Craig Fortune and Nauris Krauze, of De-railed. These guys amaze me.
Simple pool demo:
This is a little pool "game" (not quite a full game, but you can knock balls around). Art by Matt Mitman, thanks *tons* Matt! My real-life pool game has improved by about 10x since we started working on this thing. And, I have to be honest, T2D has probably been delayed a little, due to time lost playing this thing. ;)
Simple undersea scene:
Next, a little undersea screen-saver type demo. This screenshot doesn't really do it justice. Melv created some *fantastic* dynamic lighting effects for this thing. Melv's friend Craig Ball helped out with this demo, and the great art was produced by Craig Fortune and Nauris Krauze of the De-railed team, with a little help from Jeff Gran, a talented intern here in the office. Thanks guys!
Checkers!
The best-looking checkers game ever created? ;) If so, it's thanks to Nauris and Craig once again! These guys rock. Pat Wilson did most of the coding for this game, thanks Pat! This demo is still being worked on, it'll have some cool features that aren't displayed in this pic yet.
Side-scrolling shooter:
None of these demos have much gameplay at all, they're really just meant to show off a little bit of what Torque 2D can do. But Melv has been cranking away on this Mars attack shooter, and it's actually pretty fun to play. I guess earlier today Melv's whole office had a big high score competition for this one. You get power-ups like triple-shot, shields, and side-kick ships, and your goal is to destroy the swarms of enemies that fly your way. This demo has been totally re-coded since IGC, but it was originally written in < 9 hours by Pat, who it should be clear to everyone by now, rocks. Nate Feyma and Alex Swanson created this great art, thanks guys!
So there you have it. :) T2D is just around the corner! None of these demos took more than a dozen hours or so of coding, so T2D really lets you focus on game design and art. I can't wait to see what everyone does with this thing! Let's launch this puppy!!
And once again, many, many, many thanks and congratulations to Melv for all his hard work on T2D. Melv, it has been an utter pleasure working with you. With the help of the awesome community around here, I'm sure this thing is going to be worth all of the hard work we've put it on it. It's gonna feel great to see all the work put to use in helping people make cool new games!
For technical info on T2D, see my ridiculously long informal tech overview .plan: T2D core classes, and T2D core systems. Or.. just pick T2D up in a few days, and see for yourself!
These demos are just simple, simple little examples of what Torque 2D can do. "Demo in a day" is a good way to describe 'em. None of them are anywhere near being games, but they look great, thanks to some extremely talented artists: Craig Fortune, Nauris Krauze, and Matt Mitman. These guys are incredible. For your viewing pleasure, may I present screens from the Torque 2D demos!
Simple "grav gun" demo:
Every engine today is trying to show off their physics, with grav guns and pachinko machines, and blah blah. Grav guns are easy, as our little hero Flegg demonstrates in this demo. And check out those particle effects! Melv does amazing things w/ T2D's particle system, but I bet it won't be long after release before someone out there is even better with it than he is. The great looking art you see here was provided by Craig Fortune and Nauris Krauze, of De-railed. These guys amaze me.
Simple pool demo:
This is a little pool "game" (not quite a full game, but you can knock balls around). Art by Matt Mitman, thanks *tons* Matt! My real-life pool game has improved by about 10x since we started working on this thing. And, I have to be honest, T2D has probably been delayed a little, due to time lost playing this thing. ;)
Simple undersea scene:
Next, a little undersea screen-saver type demo. This screenshot doesn't really do it justice. Melv created some *fantastic* dynamic lighting effects for this thing. Melv's friend Craig Ball helped out with this demo, and the great art was produced by Craig Fortune and Nauris Krauze of the De-railed team, with a little help from Jeff Gran, a talented intern here in the office. Thanks guys!
Checkers!
The best-looking checkers game ever created? ;) If so, it's thanks to Nauris and Craig once again! These guys rock. Pat Wilson did most of the coding for this game, thanks Pat! This demo is still being worked on, it'll have some cool features that aren't displayed in this pic yet.
Side-scrolling shooter:
None of these demos have much gameplay at all, they're really just meant to show off a little bit of what Torque 2D can do. But Melv has been cranking away on this Mars attack shooter, and it's actually pretty fun to play. I guess earlier today Melv's whole office had a big high score competition for this one. You get power-ups like triple-shot, shields, and side-kick ships, and your goal is to destroy the swarms of enemies that fly your way. This demo has been totally re-coded since IGC, but it was originally written in < 9 hours by Pat, who it should be clear to everyone by now, rocks. Nate Feyma and Alex Swanson created this great art, thanks guys!
So there you have it. :) T2D is just around the corner! None of these demos took more than a dozen hours or so of coding, so T2D really lets you focus on game design and art. I can't wait to see what everyone does with this thing! Let's launch this puppy!!
And once again, many, many, many thanks and congratulations to Melv for all his hard work on T2D. Melv, it has been an utter pleasure working with you. With the help of the awesome community around here, I'm sure this thing is going to be worth all of the hard work we've put it on it. It's gonna feel great to see all the work put to use in helping people make cool new games!
For technical info on T2D, see my ridiculously long informal tech overview .plan: T2D core classes, and T2D core systems. Or.. just pick T2D up in a few days, and see for yourself!
About the author
#62
Total value for money. This release is just the beginning of an exciting year of developing some absolutely amazing stuff. We've got to be humble and get this EA out the door first, then we can discuss all the cool stuff on its way. :)
- Melv.
02/24/2005 (7:40 am)
Yeah, definately. And purchasing early for the price of a video-game or good meal ensures that you can sit back and enjoy the developments to come without worrying about any price rises.Total value for money. This release is just the beginning of an exciting year of developing some absolutely amazing stuff. We've got to be humble and get this EA out the door first, then we can discuss all the cool stuff on its way. :)
- Melv.
#63
EDIT: hey I'm at work, can't quite check ever 5
minutes... every 20 minutes
EDIT: 20 minutes later ~ I think one of the things I'm most excited about is looking through your code melv... since you said you overcommented if anything, I really look forward to reading through it and learning some game C++ coding.
EDIT: Another 20 minutes later ~ what other engine has a main creator that says this
My mind is just imaging a traditional RPG / Zelda game with the physics of T2D *grin* !
lol I feel like such a fanboy
02/24/2005 (7:53 am)
didn't even think about the truth that this is just an EA release... at $80 (if you have already purchased TGE) you get all the updates to come... I am extremeley excited about the idea of using this as an isometric engine... though still am very excited about making completely 2d games too.EDIT: hey I'm at work, can't quite check ever 5
minutes... every 20 minutes
EDIT: 20 minutes later ~ I think one of the things I'm most excited about is looking through your code melv... since you said you overcommented if anything, I really look forward to reading through it and learning some game C++ coding.
EDIT: Another 20 minutes later ~ what other engine has a main creator that says this
Quote:
If anyone wants to ask any technical questions regarding T2D then please email me (I'll copy Josh) and I'd be happy to answer your questions. Please just don't ask me marketing questions!!!
Quote:
As always, please don't hesitate sending me an email if you've got any non-marketting questions!
My mind is just imaging a traditional RPG / Zelda game with the physics of T2D *grin* !
lol I feel like such a fanboy
#64
02/24/2005 (8:15 am)
80 usd-100usd-395 usd ? Thats more than reasonable , not a high price! Im working now with another crossplatform 2d engine, which is a rather expensive...about 75 (!) times higher than the 80usd EA-TGE price, and havent got as cool features as T2D have. For example thats engine havent got a cool community and staff like any TXX products here... :) 
#65
Specifically, the stuff that has been talked about having a game-maker-like version of T2d, will that be free to owners of an early adopter license?
Do garage games licenses only cover specific version numbers i.e. Photoshop 6 owners have to pay for Photoshop 7?
If this is the wrong place to ask this just let me know.
-CalicoRabbit
02/24/2005 (8:36 am)
Hi, I'm new to this whole garage games scene and was wondering if the early adopter program includes future upgrades/utilities.Specifically, the stuff that has been talked about having a game-maker-like version of T2d, will that be free to owners of an early adopter license?
Do garage games licenses only cover specific version numbers i.e. Photoshop 6 owners have to pay for Photoshop 7?
If this is the wrong place to ask this just let me know.
-CalicoRabbit
#66
- Melv.
02/24/2005 (10:04 am)
@Calico: Buy now and you won't have to purchase later. You'll be entitled to all the updates. No problems. :)- Melv.
#67
02/24/2005 (3:12 pm)
There will eventually be more than one T2D product, and they will not all be free. For instance, the Game Maker part may not be free. But, we don't really know yet. Just want to be clear that $100 does not make us indentured servants for ever and ever.
#68
Can we negotiate for it being indentured servants for a period of time less than infinity but longer then 2 weeks? I'll even let you have off every other tuesday during a full moon.
02/24/2005 (3:21 pm)
Damn Jeff... I thought my purchase of Tribes bought your eternal servitude.... I'll have to rethink my strategy for taking over the world......Can we negotiate for it being indentured servants for a period of time less than infinity but longer then 2 weeks? I'll even let you have off every other tuesday during a full moon.
#70
Wait, no I didn't.
Damn my crap luck.
02/24/2005 (7:41 pm)
You mean My Willy Beamish CD's didn't guarantee slavitude? DAMNIT! And to think I got TGE, TSE, RTS, and everything else here for free.Wait, no I didn't.
Damn my crap luck.
#71
"We're going to force the Garage Games employees into indentured servitude and force them to bombard the world with such low priced technology that the major companies decide to launch tactical nuclear strikes against eachother to eliminate the competition which will contaminate the human species to a state of infancy... after which we will be the prime species to take over the world!"
...
...
ok I really need to get some sleep lol
02/24/2005 (8:02 pm)
"What are we going to do tonight Brain""We're going to force the Garage Games employees into indentured servitude and force them to bombard the world with such low priced technology that the major companies decide to launch tactical nuclear strikes against eachother to eliminate the competition which will contaminate the human species to a state of infancy... after which we will be the prime species to take over the world!"
...
...
ok I really need to get some sleep lol
#72
Would there be a discount to T2D owners? Would a gamemaker be months, or years away?
As you can see I am trying to evaluate whether to be an "Early Adopter", considering I know very little about programming, some ActionScript and one class in Visual Basic, I really don't know how practical it would be for someone like me to be getting the EA license. How different from a mature T2D would a gamemaker version be? Would the gamemaker version have additional level editing/importing tools? Or would just lack access to source, or something like that?
Anyway, I hope that makes sense, just got back from a 4 hour figure sculpture class and I'm a bit wiped,
Thanks for the help,
-CalicoRabbit
02/24/2005 (8:13 pm)
That sounds pretty reasonable. Ballparkish, how much would a gamemaker type program cost? 50ish?Would there be a discount to T2D owners? Would a gamemaker be months, or years away?
As you can see I am trying to evaluate whether to be an "Early Adopter", considering I know very little about programming, some ActionScript and one class in Visual Basic, I really don't know how practical it would be for someone like me to be getting the EA license. How different from a mature T2D would a gamemaker version be? Would the gamemaker version have additional level editing/importing tools? Or would just lack access to source, or something like that?
Anyway, I hope that makes sense, just got back from a 4 hour figure sculpture class and I'm a bit wiped,
Thanks for the help,
-CalicoRabbit
#73
Guess I should leave the refresh button alone for the night and check for a T2D release in the morning.
Terry
02/24/2005 (8:19 pm)
@Melv: Am I reading in your post above that purchasing the commercial license would offer a better upgrade path (less costly for updates/upgrades) than the standard license? Or possibly a different level of support? I thought it was just the difference between a $250K cap and an unlimited license. Or am I just too tired to realize your answer was simply a clever retort to the previous post ;).......Hmmmm........Guess I should leave the refresh button alone for the night and check for a T2D release in the morning.
Terry
#74
Robotron 2864 isn't going to wait forever you know! Or supreme EDF (earth defence force)....or Ninja Block Fighter....or my remake of Fairlight, with physics....well you get the idea.......
02/25/2005 (2:21 am)
Ok so I'm 6 hours ahead of the US......where is the release Josh......Melv........wake up! awwww come on :o\Robotron 2864 isn't going to wait forever you know! Or supreme EDF (earth defence force)....or Ninja Block Fighter....or my remake of Fairlight, with physics....well you get the idea.......
#75
Maybe I'll even port it over to cell phones so you can do it in your spare time between refreshing every 20 minutes on your work machine to refreshing every 20 minutes on your home machine.
I think the game will be very refreshing.
*/ Ducks /*
02/25/2005 (3:40 am)
I'm going to create a 2d forum waiting game where the goal is to wait on a forum and refresh the button every 20 minutes or so. Maybe I'll even port it over to cell phones so you can do it in your spare time between refreshing every 20 minutes on your work machine to refreshing every 20 minutes on your home machine.
I think the game will be very refreshing.
*/ Ducks /*
#76
02/25/2005 (3:45 am)
We don't sleep. We don't need it. We got beyond sleep. We .... zzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
#77
If so, I'll get the party poppers, celebratory banners and champagne!
Oh, and my credit card too! :-)
- Dave
02/25/2005 (4:07 am)
So is today "T2D Launch Day"? If so, I'll get the party poppers, celebratory banners and champagne!
Oh, and my credit card too! :-)
- Dave
#78
Marriage rocks
02/25/2005 (4:49 am)
I hope today is the day too. My wifes mother is coming from Latvia tomorrow for a month and now is a good time to guilt her into letting me spend some of my own money.Marriage rocks
#79
I've now into my 3rd day of 3 hours of sleep a night... hmmm... come to think of it the last sleep was Wednesday.
These are the days we'll all look back on and say... remember when... Melv's baby was just born and all he could do was birth a new engine (has to be some creative gene gone awry). Josh hadn't slept for so long he forgot we were taking screen shots of "Desert Defender" and insisted he had to play all the way through to get to the boss (rather than just open the console and give it a command).
My moto for T2D launch campaign was "The game industries most heavily guarded secret, only thing more fun than playing games is making them." Now our tag line is down to "Make it Fast... Make it Fun!"
Can't wait to see what you guys come up with... We're planning on rolling out new game demos as frequently as we get new ones... so if you early adopters are up for fame - I have a bet with Jeff we can get out a good game demo each week (he always thinks marketing guys are dream'n) - So you guys want to prove that you can create enough fun for a new game each week? (I'd like to be the one getting the bottle of wine for once).
02/25/2005 (5:46 am)
I'm calling this the worst kept secret stealth launch of a product in the history of GG... I've now into my 3rd day of 3 hours of sleep a night... hmmm... come to think of it the last sleep was Wednesday.
These are the days we'll all look back on and say... remember when... Melv's baby was just born and all he could do was birth a new engine (has to be some creative gene gone awry). Josh hadn't slept for so long he forgot we were taking screen shots of "Desert Defender" and insisted he had to play all the way through to get to the boss (rather than just open the console and give it a command).
My moto for T2D launch campaign was "The game industries most heavily guarded secret, only thing more fun than playing games is making them." Now our tag line is down to "Make it Fast... Make it Fun!"
Can't wait to see what you guys come up with... We're planning on rolling out new game demos as frequently as we get new ones... so if you early adopters are up for fame - I have a bet with Jeff we can get out a good game demo each week (he always thinks marketing guys are dream'n) - So you guys want to prove that you can create enough fun for a new game each week? (I'd like to be the one getting the bottle of wine for once).
#80
- Dave
02/25/2005 (5:57 am)
@Jay - So is that a 'stealthy' yes answer to it being "launch day" today? ;-)- Dave
Torque 3D Owner Matthew Langley
Torque