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Multiple Worlds

by Jeffrey S. · 12/29/2007 (2:37 pm) · 5 comments

I am planning to make a MMORPG, but i want it to take place in space, have multiple planets that people can go to and walk on them, and multiple objects in space.

i would like to know if this is possible, and is there anyone who could tell me how to make multiple worlds?

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#1
12/29/2007 (2:49 pm)
It is all an illusion. What are thinking of when you say world? Each location could be a mission. A space location could be a mission without terrain or in a ship. Writing a game is about building convincing props, not about building realistic environments that obey time and space rules. Each planet could be made up of multiple missions. If you are going from one world to another just have a different set of mission files and some stuff about using a ship to go between them.
#2
12/29/2007 (3:18 pm)
But can you have multiple worlds where you fly around to them, land, play on that world, leave, fly to other ones, do same?
Like having lots of galaxies.
#3
12/29/2007 (3:29 pm)
You would have to have a load time in between each, as it loaded the new world, at least in torque. To make a game like Mario Galaxy would be quite difficult, and if I were going to do it I would probably start from scratch. Not to say that Torque could not do this, but to do it well you would have to (heavily) rework the terrain code to support the worlds. Or, alternatively you could have the worlds be map files, which would work fairly well. Gravity would be a relatively small tweak, but when it comes down to it Torque is not meant to do this. I can only imagine you would meet some resistance from the collision and physics code already in place.

And then on top of all that you have the MMORPG portion, even without that a game like this game (I don't know the details) would (ideally) be 3 or 4 solid years of effort for me to complete (probably more like 50 once you take into account Hofstadter's law). If you can get a team together go for it, but make sure the pay out will be worth the effort.

edit: small typo's and changes
#4
12/29/2007 (3:42 pm)
What is the first thing I said? It is ALL an illusion. You could have a single mission that has all the worlds in it. Have a simple vehicle to travel between the worlds. The worlds could be small objects no bigger than the player itself on a "regular" mission.

First thing I would do if I was a new person to the engine: Go get the book "Game Programmer's Guide to Torque" and create the game described in the book. This game can be produced with the stock engine and will give you an appreciation for what Torque can do easily. From there you can make some informed decisions as to how to build your game.

If you want to build an mmorpg I would suggest that you buy Arcane FX www.garagegames.com/products/102/ if you don't already own it. Then go get www.mmoworkshop.com/trac/mom which is free if you own both TGE and Arcane FX. This will give you the mmorpg tools to get the thing off the ground.

Based on the questions you are now asking I will assume the book will keep you busy for quite a while as you learn the engine. I would expect several months (if not a year) of study BEFORE you are ready to design your MMORPG. However having the tried and true tools from mmoworkshop will give you a head start.
#5
12/30/2007 (10:15 am)
learn to walk before you er.. fly to different worlds.. ;)