Week of Awesome News!
by Michael Perry · 09/15/2008 (11:38 am) · 36 comments
Something Awesome This Way Comes!
First IRC Hour Recap
I consider the IRC Hour important for a few reasons. The first IRC Hour was pretty successful. We did not get a big turn out, so we dropped the official agenda and went free-style. Quite a lot was addressed, and the community members who contributed brought up some awesome points I will be taking to heart. More so now than ever, keep in mind that the documentation process includes your fellow community members. If you see something wicked cool being added, I won't always take credit.If you want to read the transcript from the last IRC Hour, you can grab it here: 9/11/2008 IRC Hour Log. From here on out, I will be posting summaries and transcripts in the IRC Discussion Thread.
This week, TGE and TGEA will be the engines we focus on. Since I was hired on as a full time employee, TGB, TX, and artists got a bit more of my attention than TGE and TGEA. This was mostly due to the long term schedule and major holes that needed patching. Now, for the first piece of great news:
The Originals
My first exposure to Torque Tech was TGE. After TGE, I immediately jumped into TGEA. These are the engines I have the most knowledge of. I'm starting a new cycle of document generation which will range from beginner material to topics suitable for veteran Torque developers. I've already started, but I want to get you (the community) involved early on. If you have any suggestions or requests you want to see in TGE and TGEA docs, make sure you show up for IRC Hour this Thursday.The Uber Teaser
More Great News!?! Something big is going down tomorrow at the GarageGames booth in Austin. If you are stuck at home, like me, fret not. Stepping slightly outside the original plan for this week's IRC Hour, I will be talking about the big surprise. If you are a Torque developer (*coughparticularlyTGEAcough*), you don't want to miss this week's IRC Hour. Let the speculation, squirming, and wild accusations begin!I'll be posting one more blog at the end of the month to recap all the documentation changes, IRC Hour rescheduling, and general news from my end. I look forward to seeing you in IRC this week. Thanks for reading, and for those of you at the conference: Have fun and I want swag! If you see Fallout stuff, remember ME!
IRC Hour Schedule Change:
9/18/08 Session Will Start At 5:00pm (PST), which is 8:00pm (EST)
#2
DOH!!! Just realized I won't be able to make it... will this world changing announcement be put on the website?
09/15/2008 (11:46 am)
Hmmm let the conspiracy theories begin... *must...schedule....time....to...be....in...IRC*DOH!!! Just realized I won't be able to make it... will this world changing announcement be put on the website?
#3
@Chip - That reminds me, if the 3:00pm PST (6:00pm EST) schedule is too rough for most people, say so now. If you want it pushed back an hour or two, let me know so I can mention it in the blog. I want max attendence.
09/15/2008 (11:48 am)
@Apparatus - SHHH if you already know! =)@Chip - That reminds me, if the 3:00pm PST (6:00pm EST) schedule is too rough for most people, say so now. If you want it pushed back an hour or two, let me know so I can mention it in the blog. I want max attendence.
#4
09/15/2008 (11:55 am)
Agreed. We want as many people as possible providing us with useful feedback. 
#5
09/15/2008 (11:58 am)
Two Point Oh? 
#6
09/15/2008 (12:11 pm)
IRC Chat log afterwards for those of us on the other side of the planet and likely to be asleep?
#7
09/15/2008 (12:17 pm)
Couple hours earlier or later would be better for me. 6 is usually right when I get home and do the dinner thing and all that ;)
#8
@Chip - Noted. Anyone else?
09/15/2008 (12:23 pm)
@Gareth - Definitely. As soon as IRC Hour is over, I will post a link to the log in the IRC Hour thread.@Chip - Noted. Anyone else?
#9
09/15/2008 (12:48 pm)
I am interested in attending (are these held every week?) but living on the west coast and working full time I would not be able to make it at 3PM PST. 5PM PST would be much better.
#10
I am thinking about pushing it to 5:00pm PST. I keep forgetting that not everyone can surf the Intarweb and hang out on the GG site all day like me =).
09/15/2008 (12:52 pm)
@Matt - The original schedule was every 2nd and 3rd Thursday, with the first one happening last week. I'm thinking about changing the format, but I need more feedback from those that attend. I'll be asking this kind of thing this Thursday.I am thinking about pushing it to 5:00pm PST. I keep forgetting that not everyone can surf the Intarweb and hang out on the GG site all day like me =).
#11
09/15/2008 (12:59 pm)
I'll see you there Mich.
#12
09/15/2008 (1:05 pm)
I'll be rushing off to rehearsal at 5:30pst for the next couple of weeks (and refinishing hardwood floors and painting for the remainder! Oy vey!). :x 
#13
09/15/2008 (1:14 pm)
5 PST? Bah I say! That makes it 8 here, that's usually when I eat dinner. Not to mention then I won't be able to watch "Who Wants to be America's Fattest Fatty while Surviving an Amazing Smart 5th Grader Race Idol Runway Model Pussycat Factor".
#14
@David - Noted and begrudged.
@Scott - Look, I feel your pain...but so long as I don't have to miss my new, favorite, original teen drama: "One-OC-Gossip-Tree-Creek", I'm fine with it. Besides, you and I both know we only watch WWE and Adult Swim.
09/15/2008 (1:44 pm)
@Mark - Fantastic!@David - Noted and begrudged.
@Scott - Look, I feel your pain...but so long as I don't have to miss my new, favorite, original teen drama: "One-OC-Gossip-Tree-Creek", I'm fine with it. Besides, you and I both know we only watch WWE and Adult Swim.
#15
Back to topic. I'm disappointed in the lack of wild speculation going on. I'll give it a kick start......"Torque, Now with helper monkeys to push the Make Game Button for you!"
Well, it was kind of on topic.
09/15/2008 (2:11 pm)
@ Mich - Pfft, you know I'm too cheap to spring for the good cable.Back to topic. I'm disappointed in the lack of wild speculation going on. I'll give it a kick start......"Torque, Now with helper monkeys to push the Make Game Button for you!"
Well, it was kind of on topic.
#17
09/15/2008 (3:16 pm)
I'll be there again. Hopefully it will fill up this time with TGE(A) users. 
#18
Speculation is what you want?
TGEA 2.0 with uber awesome new starter projects and cross platform. There. That's my spec. and I'm standing by it. :-D (<-- that's laughing for those Non Forum types. (ok, normal forums))
09/15/2008 (3:21 pm)
Michael, you are P U R E Evil. 5pm pst is great for me. (if I'm not stuck out of town) Speculation is what you want?
TGEA 2.0 with uber awesome new starter projects and cross platform. There. That's my spec. and I'm standing by it. :-D (<-- that's laughing for those Non Forum types. (ok, normal forums))
#19
1) TGE isn't getting nearly as much attention, which makes me sad because
2) I'd force myself to get TGEA, even if it's only to get the cool updates.
09/15/2008 (3:29 pm)
I would like TGEA 2.0 (if there is one) to be announced, but that means two things for me:1) TGE isn't getting nearly as much attention, which makes me sad because
2) I'd force myself to get TGEA, even if it's only to get the cool updates.
#20
09/15/2008 (5:20 pm)
Reverse-Osmosis Mission Editor 
Torque 3D Owner Apparatus