Torque Game Builder Pre-Release Bounties!
by Justin DuJardin · 04/14/2006 (3:02 pm) · 24 comments
With the success we have had with Community Bounties and TSE; and the upcoming release of Torque Game Builder, we have decided to give our awesome community a chance to once again help us along the way, and perhaps make some cash while you're at it!
What's a "Bounty"?
The basic idea is this : We have a ton of art, scripts, and documentation that need to be updated/created to prepare for the final release of TGB. So we have compiled a list of assets that we would like to have in the release but don't have the resources to create them ourselves. So we divided them up into digestible chunks and are offering small cash compensation for each bounty that a community member completes and is selected.
What kind of Bounties are you offering?
The bounties we have include but are not limited to...
Art Sets Cars, planes, boats, simple environmental tile sets
Mini game Tutorial Sets Creating small simple games and tutorials that will guide a user along the development process
TDN Updates Updating existing TDN tutorials that are outdated and no longer function with the newest version of TGB.
These are just a few examples of the 20 currently listed bounties.
Should I participate?
Everyone from our wonderful community that owns a license of TGB (or just wants to create some art) is welcomed to find a bounty that suits them and start working on it.
How do I submit my work?
Bounties are simply Mantis bug tracker bugs that are sponsored for a listed price. When you have completed something you'd like to submit, all you have to do is zip up your submission and upload the file as an attachment to the bounty that you were working on. Once we have a submission that we deem to be complete, we will close off the bounty item and compensate the creator of the chosen submission.
So I can't claim a bounty to be mine and be the only contributor?
Bounties are dealt with on a first complete solution basis. This means that the first submission that is deemed complete will be accepted and the bounty will then be closed. In this way we can ensure that we get the best possible submission for you guys in the end!
Where do I get started?
You can get started by clicking the link provided below!
Click Here - Then in the upper right, change your project view to TGB Bounty.
If you don't have a Mantis account you may be required to create one!
Happy bounty hunting guys, this is a chance to have some fun, be creative, make some cash and help us and the rest of the ocmmunity out, all at the same time!
Cheers,
-Justin
Edit : For more information about working with bounties and general FAQ type stuff, see my next Blog - Torque Game Builder Bounties (Part2)
#2
If you don't like any of the items we have placed bounties on, than don't participate.
04/14/2006 (3:50 pm)
You make a good point, but what does that argument have to do with this topic? These are items that need to be done for the release of TGB. We want them done in time to have them tested, and this is a great way to break into doing GG code contracting. We work extensivly with community members who have contributed in the past.If you don't like any of the items we have placed bounties on, than don't participate.
#3
04/14/2006 (3:53 pm)
I'm really looking forward to seeing all the new starter game tutorials that will be posted on TDN for Torque Game Builder. 
#4
04/14/2006 (4:29 pm)
Oooh, that`s actually cool. I`ve thought of making this and that for a-bit-more-rapid t2d prototyping, but having Mantis tasks list gives kinda focus. Plus, it`ll be cool to see what other have come up with. We`ll be able to check out submissions, right?
#5
Bounty submissions will simply be attachments to the item that is listed in the Mantis tracker. You should be able to click the item and download the submission, yes!
Cheers,
-Justin
04/14/2006 (4:35 pm)
Nauris,Bounty submissions will simply be attachments to the item that is listed in the Mantis tracker. You should be able to click the item and download the submission, yes!
Cheers,
-Justin
#6
*additional* Can anyone throw money in the pot for the bounties thus increasing their likelyhood of getting done promptly? This actually would be a great way of having people vote with dollars on features they want implemented. (There are some tools/features I would gladly throw some money at to get implemented. =P)
-Unk
04/14/2006 (4:53 pm)
This is a great model for community collaboration with GG. I can't wait to see the results.*additional* Can anyone throw money in the pot for the bounties thus increasing their likelyhood of getting done promptly? This actually would be a great way of having people vote with dollars on features they want implemented. (There are some tools/features I would gladly throw some money at to get implemented. =P)
-Unk
#7
04/14/2006 (5:06 pm)
I'm on the Break Out tutorial ... 
#8
Good luck!
04/14/2006 (6:24 pm)
I hope this system works better than the one in TSE where many didn't even get an acknowledgement after submitting a full bounty.Good luck!
#9
Stefan - just checked all the TSE bounty activity in the bug tracker, and I see every submission on non-closed issues responded to. Of course, we don't always reply when people express interest, and we don't always reply if we've already accepted an existing submission. Can you point to any specific examples?
04/14/2006 (7:20 pm)
Re: cash contributions - the legal and financial logistics for that are a bit complex. If you want to make an open offer to the community, you're welcome to, and if it ends up being something we want to include in the official release, we'd be happy to work with you to make that happen.Stefan - just checked all the TSE bounty activity in the bug tracker, and I see every submission on non-closed issues responded to. Of course, we don't always reply when people express interest, and we don't always reply if we've already accepted an existing submission. Can you point to any specific examples?
#10
And tilesets? Are these for sidescrollers, isometric or for top-downs? A lot of tiles would be usable for any kind of perspectve, but what would be preferred?
EDIT: And what resolution should they be in?
04/14/2006 (8:23 pm)
With the sprites, could you specify what perspective they should be in? Or would it be best to use pre-rendered 3D sprites and just submit them from as many angles as possible?And tilesets? Are these for sidescrollers, isometric or for top-downs? A lot of tiles would be usable for any kind of perspectve, but what would be preferred?
EDIT: And what resolution should they be in?
#11
04/14/2006 (8:31 pm)
Interesting I might have to try jumping on a few of these.
#12
04/14/2006 (8:43 pm)
Brian - Best to post question on the bounty they relate to, not here. :) 
#14
Bounties (TGB & TSE) are great things, allowing people to make money and/or advance global GG projects. It's a good thing. I have almost two questions :
1) How to delete a bountie I create myself?
2) How to expand the list of bounties (TGB bounties, TSE Bounties, My project Bounties) ?
If you could give the possibility to people to create their own projects with precises bounties, It will allow beginners to gain assurance to solve more complex problems, and in the same way, it will allow bigger project to progress quickly.
04/15/2006 (10:11 am)
I want to excuse myself for my sentences of yesterday out of the subject and spirit of GG forums and plans. Really I'm sorry :( (30 hours of fight against my own TSE Bugs without sleeping gave me "trouble in head".. :( ). Hopefully moderators acted with care.Bounties (TGB & TSE) are great things, allowing people to make money and/or advance global GG projects. It's a good thing. I have almost two questions :
1) How to delete a bountie I create myself?
2) How to expand the list of bounties (TGB bounties, TSE Bounties, My project Bounties) ?
If you could give the possibility to people to create their own projects with precises bounties, It will allow beginners to gain assurance to solve more complex problems, and in the same way, it will allow bigger project to progress quickly.
#15
We do not currently allow community submitted bounties in the bugtracker. Acting as a clearing house for other people's bounties is complex from a legal and financial standpoint. You're welcome to arrange bounties with people on the forums if you want. (ie, make a post saying "I'll pay $X to the first solution that meets these requiremenets.)
04/15/2006 (10:57 am)
Hi Vincent,We do not currently allow community submitted bounties in the bugtracker. Acting as a clearing house for other people's bounties is complex from a legal and financial standpoint. You're welcome to arrange bounties with people on the forums if you want. (ie, make a post saying "I'll pay $X to the first solution that meets these requiremenets.)
#16
Out of subject :)))) What's new about Atlas?
04/15/2006 (11:13 am)
Hey, ben ! Nice to see you ! Quote:I have created a topic called "TEST", and I can't remove it ! :) So... if can, it would be nice to remove it.
We do not currently allow community submitted bounties in the bugtracker
Quote:Yeah, of course, I understand. :)
Acting as a clearing house for other people's bounties is complex from a legal and financial standpoint
Quote:I have met, in past, some of these forum topics. But.. I think such submission brings suspission and are like a bottle in the sea. Having a central point (forum) dedicated to project bounties can bring power to many various projects made by Torque users. But with this we return to legal and financial issues. The solution can reside in "Job like" page, but , with more TSE/TGB bounties feeling.. I really think there is something to do in this domain, even if it's difficult.
You're welcome to arrange bounties with people on the forums if you want. (ie, make a post saying "I'll pay $X to the first solution that meets these requiremenets.)
Out of subject :)))) What's new about Atlas?
#17
Been working on Atlas since GDC till now, non-stop. Should have an announcement soon and also some contracts related to it we'll be needing coders for. :)
04/15/2006 (11:17 am)
Deleted forum thread. A bounty clearing area would be interesting.Been working on Atlas since GDC till now, non-stop. Should have an announcement soon and also some contracts related to it we'll be needing coders for. :)
#19
I'd be happy to throw a few bucks behind that one. If there are "logistical" issues, we can work around them: I'd be happy to buy and forfeit a few extra T2D licenses if you guys would be an identical amount of money behind Mac-related fixes.
-JF
04/15/2006 (6:27 pm)
It's be nice if you added a bounty for "cleanup of Mac platform bugs and problems", given that you only have one Mac developer to work on every project... There are still a number of Mac-specific problems (video mode detection and switching come to mind).I'd be happy to throw a few bucks behind that one. If there are "logistical" issues, we can work around them: I'd be happy to buy and forfeit a few extra T2D licenses if you guys would be an identical amount of money behind Mac-related fixes.
-JF
#20
04/15/2006 (6:52 pm)
On our end it's not an issue of money, but of our mac developer's time. Any experienced Torque mac developers want to do some contract work? :) 
Torque Owner Vincent BILLET
Default Studio Name
Sorry for the trouble.