GGE and Writing
by Edward F. Maurina III · 11/30/2006 (8:49 pm) · 14 comments
Hello all!
I kind of felt 'in the mood to chat at large' and decided to write a short blog.
What have I been up to and where am I at on my never ending task list?
Well, I spent some time over the last week trying to activate my account over at the GreatGamesExperiment. I must admit, I had a heck of a time doing this. In the end it turns out I've been losing e-mails.
I have suspected for some time now, that some of my e-mail had been blocked by Verizon (my ISP). Now, I am beginning to think that some was actually a lot. It looks like Verizon activated an aggressive SPAM filtering effort in April.
You need to whitelist e-mail you're not getting. Hmmm...?
The only question I have is, how do I know I'm not getting it if I'm not getting it?!
Ack! I feel like I'm living in a Dilbert World some days.
So, if you e-mailed me and I didn't reply, it isn't because I hate you.
All ranting aside, I did get my GGE account enabled:
, and I have started the effort to whitelist. If that doesn't work I will go with gmail or some other solution.
So, what else?
My Day Job - I'm still working. It ain't great, but it is definitely a paycheck.
GPGT 1 Support - I caught up on this and I hope that you folks who have asked questions feel that I've been listening.
GPGT 1 Post Mortem - Done, done, and done.
GPGT 2 - I took a week of vacation and cleaned up the code kit that comes with this. Then, I started to fix chapters and turn them into the editor (I'm supposed to be doing that now, and I promise I will get back to it). I've dropped all other side tasks and am going to work on this until it is finished.
Contracting - I recently agreed to do some occasional contracting for a firm in Canada and I did some contracting a while back for the the ill clan on their Tra5h Ta1k machinima work. The message here: I'm available for some contracting gigs. Drop me an e-mail This sounds contrary to my Vol 2 statement, but I mean that I'm trying to drum up any kind of business that will help me leave my day job behind.
TGB Projects - I still love TGB and I have an almost finished content pack/tool/whatever. However, it has to sit until volume 2 is done.
Web Maintenance - I started working on this (although it is on hold). I'm considering renting a box and getting a professional e-commerce site set up. I have products (in the pipe) and product ideas behind them, and I need a place to sell them. (No, not all of them are games and books).
So, to re-iterate. I am not stopping until I am done with Volume 2. It is my only task (besides the day job that I must attend). The editor and I are in contact and working out the final steps to get this edited and through layout. Oh, and did I mention? We will be making this an e-book and because the DRM survey pretty much told me what I knew already, it won't be DRM'd. You will still have to buy it though.
Note: I should probably shut up about the book until is is completely done, but my exuberance just got out of hand. I'm feeling good and the pages are a flowin'.
Note 2: If you haven't bought my book and you feel like helping me keep my ethusiasm up, here is a link. Check it out and pick up a copy today!
Ed out!
Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT
GPGT Support Page
Appendix E. Maze Runner Lessons (Steps Only) - Covers Mac and Windows
OSX Executable - Use for GPGT Lesson Kit and MazeRunner
I kind of felt 'in the mood to chat at large' and decided to write a short blog.
What have I been up to and where am I at on my never ending task list?
Well, I spent some time over the last week trying to activate my account over at the GreatGamesExperiment. I must admit, I had a heck of a time doing this. In the end it turns out I've been losing e-mails.
I have suspected for some time now, that some of my e-mail had been blocked by Verizon (my ISP). Now, I am beginning to think that some was actually a lot. It looks like Verizon activated an aggressive SPAM filtering effort in April.
You need to whitelist e-mail you're not getting. Hmmm...?
The only question I have is, how do I know I'm not getting it if I'm not getting it?!
Ack! I feel like I'm living in a Dilbert World some days.
So, if you e-mailed me and I didn't reply, it isn't because I hate you.
All ranting aside, I did get my GGE account enabled:
, and I have started the effort to whitelist. If that doesn't work I will go with gmail or some other solution.
So, what else?
My Day Job - I'm still working. It ain't great, but it is definitely a paycheck.
GPGT 1 Support - I caught up on this and I hope that you folks who have asked questions feel that I've been listening.
GPGT 1 Post Mortem - Done, done, and done.
GPGT 2 - I took a week of vacation and cleaned up the code kit that comes with this. Then, I started to fix chapters and turn them into the editor (I'm supposed to be doing that now, and I promise I will get back to it). I've dropped all other side tasks and am going to work on this until it is finished.Contracting - I recently agreed to do some occasional contracting for a firm in Canada and I did some contracting a while back for the the ill clan on their Tra5h Ta1k machinima work. The message here: I'm available for some contracting gigs. Drop me an e-mail This sounds contrary to my Vol 2 statement, but I mean that I'm trying to drum up any kind of business that will help me leave my day job behind.
TGB Projects - I still love TGB and I have an almost finished content pack/tool/whatever. However, it has to sit until volume 2 is done.
Web Maintenance - I started working on this (although it is on hold). I'm considering renting a box and getting a professional e-commerce site set up. I have products (in the pipe) and product ideas behind them, and I need a place to sell them. (No, not all of them are games and books).
So, to re-iterate. I am not stopping until I am done with Volume 2. It is my only task (besides the day job that I must attend). The editor and I are in contact and working out the final steps to get this edited and through layout. Oh, and did I mention? We will be making this an e-book and because the DRM survey pretty much told me what I knew already, it won't be DRM'd. You will still have to buy it though.
Note: I should probably shut up about the book until is is completely done, but my exuberance just got out of hand. I'm feeling good and the pages are a flowin'.
Note 2: If you haven't bought my book and you feel like helping me keep my ethusiasm up, here is a link. Check it out and pick up a copy today!
Ed out!
Hall Of Worlds - For GamersEdM|GPGT
GPGT Support Page
Appendix E. Maze Runner Lessons (Steps Only) - Covers Mac and Windows
OSX Executable - Use for GPGT Lesson Kit and MazeRunner
About the author
#2
11/30/2006 (9:54 pm)
Your TGB content pack is sweet... ship that thing! ;) 
#3
11/30/2006 (10:28 pm)
Cool , looking forward.Oops, I sent you a few mails I guess those were blocked too :P
#4
12/01/2006 (12:12 am)
Cool, I liked your book. :)
#5
Will you start exploring outsides of stock TGE code or will you focuse on TGE 1.5 and integrated TLK?
Keep us updated, please!
STef
12/01/2006 (3:52 am)
Hey Edward, the first book is so cool (I am in the [edit]last[/edit] 100 pages), I wonder what you are going to put in the second one?Will you start exploring outsides of stock TGE code or will you focuse on TGE 1.5 and integrated TLK?
Keep us updated, please!
STef
#6
Shoot me a pm or e-mail and we can talk.
shayarnett at gmail dot com
Shay
12/01/2006 (5:43 am)
I have built quite a few shopping carts if you want some help on that side of things. I'm sure we can work something out. I still need to pickup the first book *hint hint*Shoot me a pm or e-mail and we can talk.
shayarnett at gmail dot com
Shay
#7
12/01/2006 (5:53 am)
Your book has been invaluable to me and I don't say that lightly! Thank you so much for all the work you put into these things, it takes the black out of the black art of Torquing! 
#8
12/01/2006 (6:13 am)
Cool. Can't wait for the second book. I'm still working my way thru the first one. :) 
#9
Not saying Verizon are one of those, nor that its actually rolled into service now, but I do remember reading about it.
Another worrying area is ISPs that are introducing traffic shaping to block legitimate P2P usage. For example, Nildram have stated they'll be capping P2P speeds with one of the reasons been they do not feel they should be "paying" for other companies bandwidth. This was refering to Skys new "Sky by broadband" movie download facility where sky subscribers can download films over broadband (which I'm assuming uses custom form of P2P for distribution). Considering it's the ISP's customers that are paying for the bandwidth, I find it disturbing that ISPs think they have a right to restrict how that is used.
There's been a lot of discussions over net neutrality recently. Hopefully common sense will prevail.
Rant over ;) Good luck with getting Volume 2 out the door :)
12/01/2006 (6:23 am)
There was a lot of fuss about Verizon blocking emails back in 2004-2005 which caused most email from Europe to be blocked. I remember reading something more recently about a number of ISP's also considering charging companies to be whitelisted, so for example if GG wanted to know their registration/order confirmation email wouldn't be blocked, they'd have to pay Verizon $$$ to be whitelisted. A total scam imo and a good way to put small comapnies out of business when you consider the number of ISP's that could charge a fee.Not saying Verizon are one of those, nor that its actually rolled into service now, but I do remember reading about it.
Another worrying area is ISPs that are introducing traffic shaping to block legitimate P2P usage. For example, Nildram have stated they'll be capping P2P speeds with one of the reasons been they do not feel they should be "paying" for other companies bandwidth. This was refering to Skys new "Sky by broadband" movie download facility where sky subscribers can download films over broadband (which I'm assuming uses custom form of P2P for distribution). Considering it's the ISP's customers that are paying for the bandwidth, I find it disturbing that ISPs think they have a right to restrict how that is used.
There's been a lot of discussions over net neutrality recently. Hopefully common sense will prevail.
Rant over ;) Good luck with getting Volume 2 out the door :)
#10
12/01/2006 (6:31 am)
Glad to hear a second book is coming out. I put Torque aside for awhile out of frustration but I finally got the book and I really like your approach to teaching. Haven't finished it yet. But I am sure I will be making Vol. 2 a part of my collectioin. :) 
#11
12/01/2006 (6:47 am)
Would be looking forward to buying another copy, waiting to figure what is in volume 2 LOL
#12
12/01/2006 (4:57 pm)
I used to work in Tech Support for a company and Verizon had blacklisted the main email address we sent from. We filled out their form multiple times to whitelist us but it still didn't work. I ended up having to call them and be on hold for a long time only to have them ask me to fill out the form again. Then, suddenly, our emails started going through to Verizon customers. They need to get their act together.
#13
@Tom Spilman - You're too kind. Your TGB Adventure Kit has far more polish that my kit (at this time) and until I have it up to snuff, I'm in a holding pattern. You definitely set the standard with your kit.
@Saurabh - I just got an e-mail from you, as well as a wave of e-mails from GG (I knew most of these were getting blocked). You suggested that I talk about AI and get into the C++ side of the engine. I am doing both of these. I talk about AIPlayer, AIWheeled Vehicle, and AIConnection. As well I provide many examples of the first two. I also give a run down of how to use AIConnection, but do not provide a working example. However, later in the guide we talk about Multi-player networking and all of the globals, functions, and methods involved. With this knowledge and with the information on AIConnection I provide you will be able to create AI driven client connections too.
@Stephan - Here is some of what is currently covered:
- The AI Classes,
- Collision Detection and Response,
- Containers and Raycasting,
- ShapeBaseImageData Reloaded - Weapons
- Multi-player networking
- Engine Coding Part 1: The Basics
- Engine Coding Part 2: Implementing New Classes
- Debugging and Performance Profiling
- More...
@Shay - I really like the model GG uses here with the download links that expire, the ability to update content so users can get updates, etc. That said, I'm still in the investigational stages (and little of that since I'm dedicated to volume 2 right now).
@Pisal - I think I answered your question above. :)
Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT
12/01/2006 (8:17 pm)
@Everyone - Thanks for the replies folks. Here are some answers to specific questions and statements:@Tom Spilman - You're too kind. Your TGB Adventure Kit has far more polish that my kit (at this time) and until I have it up to snuff, I'm in a holding pattern. You definitely set the standard with your kit.
@Saurabh - I just got an e-mail from you, as well as a wave of e-mails from GG (I knew most of these were getting blocked). You suggested that I talk about AI and get into the C++ side of the engine. I am doing both of these. I talk about AIPlayer, AIWheeled Vehicle, and AIConnection. As well I provide many examples of the first two. I also give a run down of how to use AIConnection, but do not provide a working example. However, later in the guide we talk about Multi-player networking and all of the globals, functions, and methods involved. With this knowledge and with the information on AIConnection I provide you will be able to create AI driven client connections too.
@Stephan - Here is some of what is currently covered:
- The AI Classes,
- Collision Detection and Response,
- Containers and Raycasting,
- ShapeBaseImageData Reloaded - Weapons
- Multi-player networking
- Engine Coding Part 1: The Basics
- Engine Coding Part 2: Implementing New Classes
- Debugging and Performance Profiling
- More...
@Shay - I really like the model GG uses here with the download links that expire, the ability to update content so users can get updates, etc. That said, I'm still in the investigational stages (and little of that since I'm dedicated to volume 2 right now).
@Pisal - I think I answered your question above. :)
Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT
#14
Bravo.
01/24/2007 (7:24 am)
I am really looking forward to your second volume, and I must also thank you for not just providing a good reference book, but also for reigniting my enthusiasm to make games using torque again. GG and the community owe you a great deal in my eyes you have made the torque engine more accessible and this can only ever be a good thing for everyone.Bravo.
Torque Owner Tom Bentz