"Multiplayer Gaming and Engine Coding for the Torque Game Engine" and other announcements ...
03/24/2008 (2:01 pm) by Edward F. Maurina III
I've got a number of large and small announcements to make.
1. Multiplayer Gaming and Engine Coding for the Torque Game Engine - Done!
Yes, at long last, I have completed my second book, "Multiplayer Gaming and Engine Coding for the Torque Game Engine". On Thursday March 20th, I sent the last of my edits back to the publisher.
As of today, the expected release is May. However, you can already pre-order it at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
I have given more details about the book on my (new) blog.
2. Wheeled Vehicle Editor and other tools
Now that I am no longer writing (for the moment) I have started dusting off prior ideas and projects. Several of these projects are tools. One tool in particular is for editing the wheeled vehicle class and its datablocks. At this time, I am ready to show off the "Wheeled Vehicle Editor" (image below).
1. Editor Zooming, Panning, and Test Tracks
2. Generating new datablocks
3. Adjusting Tire Settings
4. Adjusting Spring Settings
5. Adding New Springs and Attaching Them To The Back Axle
6. Adjusting Chassis Settings (including values you can't usually edit after loading a DB)
7. Playing With Steering and Wheel Drive
8. Various Vehicle Tests
9. Impulse Testing
As with my prior book annoucement, I have discussed this tool in more detail on my blog.
3. Torque Notes and EGTGE - Taken Down.
Some folks may have noticed, but just to be official I want to announce that I've finally closed down the "Torque Notes" resource which I maintained on my (old) site. GG has had its GoogleBox for a long time now and the "Torque Notes" resource was no longer really necessary.
Additionally, I just recently took down the EGTGE documents. I know this will be a disappointment to many, but this document is pretty out of date and no longer represents my best work. I strongly suggest picking up a copy of my first book (and pre-ordering my second book).
4. Starting New Company - The Roaming Gamer, LLC.
Lastly, I have decided to open a new company and to start doing all of my future business under its 'umbrella'. The reasons for this are numerous, varied, and the subject of a future blog. Just let me say that this ties into a life-style change I plan to make this year. (Hall Of Worlds, LLC. will still exist but no new products will come out under that label.)
Thanks for reading! I'll be back soon.
1. Multiplayer Gaming and Engine Coding for the Torque Game Engine - Done!
Yes, at long last, I have completed my second book, "Multiplayer Gaming and Engine Coding for the Torque Game Engine". On Thursday March 20th, I sent the last of my edits back to the publisher.
As of today, the expected release is May. However, you can already pre-order it at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
I have given more details about the book on my (new) blog.
2. Wheeled Vehicle Editor and other tools
Now that I am no longer writing (for the moment) I have started dusting off prior ideas and projects. Several of these projects are tools. One tool in particular is for editing the wheeled vehicle class and its datablocks. At this time, I am ready to show off the "Wheeled Vehicle Editor" (image below).
1. Editor Zooming, Panning, and Test Tracks
2. Generating new datablocks
3. Adjusting Tire Settings
4. Adjusting Spring Settings
5. Adding New Springs and Attaching Them To The Back Axle
6. Adjusting Chassis Settings (including values you can't usually edit after loading a DB)
7. Playing With Steering and Wheel Drive
8. Various Vehicle Tests
9. Impulse Testing
As with my prior book annoucement, I have discussed this tool in more detail on my blog.
3. Torque Notes and EGTGE - Taken Down.
Some folks may have noticed, but just to be official I want to announce that I've finally closed down the "Torque Notes" resource which I maintained on my (old) site. GG has had its GoogleBox for a long time now and the "Torque Notes" resource was no longer really necessary.
Additionally, I just recently took down the EGTGE documents. I know this will be a disappointment to many, but this document is pretty out of date and no longer represents my best work. I strongly suggest picking up a copy of my first book (and pre-ordering my second book).
Quote:You might be intested to know that this document has had an average monthly download of over 450 downloads per-month, every month since I uploaded it in May of 2004. That comes up to over 21,600 downloads!
4. Starting New Company - The Roaming Gamer, LLC.
Lastly, I have decided to open a new company and to start doing all of my future business under its 'umbrella'. The reasons for this are numerous, varied, and the subject of a future blog. Just let me say that this ties into a life-style change I plan to make this year. (Hall Of Worlds, LLC. will still exist but no new products will come out under that label.)
Thanks for reading! I'll be back soon.
About the author
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#2
03/24/2008 (3:32 pm)
That book looks great! I got a lot of use out of your first book, can't wait for this one! Good job! :) 
#3
03/24/2008 (4:44 pm)
Are you ever looking at creating a TGB only book?
#4
Oh yeh, Do you plan on making a book for TGEA.
03/24/2008 (5:38 pm)
Just two questions: Can you make it where we look inside the book on Amazon. This would be greatly appreciated. I've bought some books from amazon and they turned out to be garbage and a bunch of useless information.Oh yeh, Do you plan on making a book for TGEA.
#5
03/24/2008 (6:36 pm)
Great to hear the book is in final stages at the publisher, Edward! We had an unpublished version of it at GDC, and a lot of people were interested in it.
#6
03/24/2008 (8:18 pm)
Deb can you give any insight to any more books on the way from GG?
#7
03/24/2008 (10:11 pm)
Congrats! Although, I have to say I'm with Morrie, before I drop $70 on a book, I definitely want to know exactly what I'm getting... =) 
#8
03/25/2008 (2:52 pm)
I don't think I need to see the book, I'll be pre-ordering it. Game Programmer's Guide to Torque was the book that busted Torque wide open for me. Thanks for all the work you've done, Ed. GPGT remains next to my chair where I program, creased and well-used. 
#9
03/25/2008 (4:10 pm)
I'm putting in my 3 preorders now (one for each programmer in the office). 
#10
03/25/2008 (5:09 pm)
Sweet! ( being one of those programmers )
#11
03/25/2008 (11:35 pm)
Congrats on your new book Edward!
#12
@Morrie - That is a question for AKP (the publisher) and GG (the copyright owner). I'll ask them to set this up, because, like you, I think this is a very good idea.
@Deborah - Thanks. :)
Mark D. - Thanks for saying so. I hope you find this book even more useful.
Tom and James - Thanks guys. I appreciate your support and I hope the book meets your needs.
Mark B. - Thanks as always man.
- Ed M.
03/27/2008 (12:21 am)
@Donald - I don't have any plans for a TGB only book at this time. Maybe if people asked for one enough I'd consider it, but for right now, I'm going to focus on games, content packs, and tools.@Morrie - That is a question for AKP (the publisher) and GG (the copyright owner). I'll ask them to set this up, because, like you, I think this is a very good idea.
@Deborah - Thanks. :)
Mark D. - Thanks for saying so. I hope you find this book even more useful.
Tom and James - Thanks guys. I appreciate your support and I hope the book meets your needs.
Mark B. - Thanks as always man.
- Ed M.
#13
03/27/2008 (12:25 pm)
A book on this subject is long overdue for the Torque community so its exciting for something like it to finally become available. Best of luck Ed! 
#14
Absolutely looking forward to this one, and am glad to hear you've beefed up the testing and exercises.
Good luck with the new company, and can't wait to see what else you've got planned.
Devon Winter
03/31/2008 (11:08 pm)
Congrats on knocking this one out and getting it off to the publisher! When I first sat down with TGE 1.4 over a year ago, your book was an invaluable resource in getting me off the ground and getting going with the engine. Player classes, understanding the particle system, and the various nuances of the terrain editor -- I still make regular references to it on a daily basis. Absolutely looking forward to this one, and am glad to hear you've beefed up the testing and exercises.
Good luck with the new company, and can't wait to see what else you've got planned.
Devon Winter
#15
04/09/2008 (9:47 pm)
@Morrie: Here is the Table of contents and here is the Introduction. from AK Peters LTD
#16
I want to know when and where we can get the Wheeled Vehicle Editor? It looks totally awesome and will save so much time. We will finally be able to experiment with the settings. Thanks a lot for your work.
04/15/2008 (3:57 pm)
Can't wait for the book, for Atomix Group the timing is perfect as we are close to beta testing our first 3d project and your last book helped a lot. I have bought all of the Torque books for TGE and have found your's the best reference. Anyhow enough of that!!!!I want to know when and where we can get the Wheeled Vehicle Editor? It looks totally awesome and will save so much time. We will finally be able to experiment with the settings. Thanks a lot for your work.
#18
06/09/2008 (9:09 pm)
Your website seems to be down. Is that true or am I doing something wrong?
#19
10/17/2008 (4:20 pm)
well i ordered your new book and can't wait till it arrives. I am looking forward to it a whole lot best investment to avoiding frustration i will prob ever spend.
Torque Owner Chris "C2" Byars