DSQTweaker - Now available at GG!
by Rex · 08/21/2009 (6:52 am) · 20 comments
I'm pleased to announce the arrival of DSQTweaker! It's available in the Garage Games store for the $39.95 (indie)!
We at BAG decided to release one of our favorite in-house applications to the Torque community, a DSQ file editor. "DSQTweaker is a tool that allows you to view and edit Torque animation files. For the first time ever, developers can directly edit/modify the final Torque animation output, the .DSQ file. The original animation source files are not required. No longer must you learn a new pipeline, to simply edit (or tweak) animation files in your project."
It was my first project in the role of Producer and it was challenging. Having superior team support was essential and a big Thanks goes out to Jondo for walking me thru the steps to completion of our fifth commercial product at BrokeAssGames. Part of the reward was meeting our lead developer/programmer on the project, Dale Harper. Dale was one of the contacts I met asking for help with the Torque art pipeline. What started as answering a few questions, led into some beginning AI and damage/death control, then the idea of building a tool that would help us understand the DSQ format and how it was working. I brought the project into the BAG brand, with Dale acting as Lead and we started digging into the project.
We began work on this just before GDC 2009 San Francisco and had a portable version to demo by the time the convention rolled around. Jondo pitched the idea to GG and we've been off and running ever since...
I'd never acted as Producer before so it was all very new to me. I learned a lot, especially about communications and keeping them going by whatever means necessary. By the end of production, I was using WindowsLive! Messenger (myself with full audio/visual connection) for eye2eye discussions, Ventrillo for group audio voice meetings, phone (for when you're online and have walked away for a smoke break), Chatzilla, email, Overlord (for bug lists, tasks, milestones) and when all else failed; shouting out the window.
I also learned the value of some commonplace tools often taken for granted in this high-techno-world. A calendar (soothing monthly image helps) was quite essential of keeping track of the various milestone dates we were expecting.
Another old tried and true 'tool' was my mechanical pencil and reams of printouts and notes. Here's what my desk was looking like at any given moment during the last 3 months. It got extremely difficult as my wife and I bought our first home and were fixing up and moving at the same time. GDC`09 was also during this timeframe of DSQTweaker production, moving, and SIGGRAPH prep.
Eventually, SIGGRAPH`09 and EcstasyMotion took a few members away, but since their return we put our collective efforts back into getting our little monkey wrench released. It was an extremely rewarding experience and one I'll continue with; as we already have an upgraded version of DSQT to build and release!
It was an entire Team effort to get the product out. While Dale, Jondo and I were beating the program into shape, Ari was upgrading the SDK and organizing our encryption scheme with a new technology partner, IntelliProtector. Jondo also kept at the external communications with our most gracious distributor and began the Installer/packaging process, merging with the encryption service. We aim to protect our IP with the latest, greatest thing available for our 'indie' tastes, so we'll be keeping keen track of registration keys and what machine they're being used on. So watch out! I actually triggered a 'lock down' on our Q/A key, by exceeding the 'trial' period's max number of key registrations. Just doing my 'Rexy thing I do best'; keep clicking things till I break something!
I hope everyone finds that DSQTweaker can be a big help when you need fast iterations in the engine. I'll leave you with the first of 3 tutorial videos I shot as I was writing the DSQTweaker user manual.
Cheers!
Rex
AddingTriggers
We at BAG decided to release one of our favorite in-house applications to the Torque community, a DSQ file editor. "DSQTweaker is a tool that allows you to view and edit Torque animation files. For the first time ever, developers can directly edit/modify the final Torque animation output, the .DSQ file. The original animation source files are not required. No longer must you learn a new pipeline, to simply edit (or tweak) animation files in your project."
It was my first project in the role of Producer and it was challenging. Having superior team support was essential and a big Thanks goes out to Jondo for walking me thru the steps to completion of our fifth commercial product at BrokeAssGames. Part of the reward was meeting our lead developer/programmer on the project, Dale Harper. Dale was one of the contacts I met asking for help with the Torque art pipeline. What started as answering a few questions, led into some beginning AI and damage/death control, then the idea of building a tool that would help us understand the DSQ format and how it was working. I brought the project into the BAG brand, with Dale acting as Lead and we started digging into the project.
We began work on this just before GDC 2009 San Francisco and had a portable version to demo by the time the convention rolled around. Jondo pitched the idea to GG and we've been off and running ever since...
I'd never acted as Producer before so it was all very new to me. I learned a lot, especially about communications and keeping them going by whatever means necessary. By the end of production, I was using WindowsLive! Messenger (myself with full audio/visual connection) for eye2eye discussions, Ventrillo for group audio voice meetings, phone (for when you're online and have walked away for a smoke break), Chatzilla, email, Overlord (for bug lists, tasks, milestones) and when all else failed; shouting out the window.
I also learned the value of some commonplace tools often taken for granted in this high-techno-world. A calendar (soothing monthly image helps) was quite essential of keeping track of the various milestone dates we were expecting.
Another old tried and true 'tool' was my mechanical pencil and reams of printouts and notes. Here's what my desk was looking like at any given moment during the last 3 months. It got extremely difficult as my wife and I bought our first home and were fixing up and moving at the same time. GDC`09 was also during this timeframe of DSQTweaker production, moving, and SIGGRAPH prep.
Eventually, SIGGRAPH`09 and EcstasyMotion took a few members away, but since their return we put our collective efforts back into getting our little monkey wrench released. It was an extremely rewarding experience and one I'll continue with; as we already have an upgraded version of DSQT to build and release!
It was an entire Team effort to get the product out. While Dale, Jondo and I were beating the program into shape, Ari was upgrading the SDK and organizing our encryption scheme with a new technology partner, IntelliProtector. Jondo also kept at the external communications with our most gracious distributor and began the Installer/packaging process, merging with the encryption service. We aim to protect our IP with the latest, greatest thing available for our 'indie' tastes, so we'll be keeping keen track of registration keys and what machine they're being used on. So watch out! I actually triggered a 'lock down' on our Q/A key, by exceeding the 'trial' period's max number of key registrations. Just doing my 'Rexy thing I do best'; keep clicking things till I break something!
I hope everyone finds that DSQTweaker can be a big help when you need fast iterations in the engine. I'll leave you with the first of 3 tutorial videos I shot as I was writing the DSQTweaker user manual.
Cheers!
Rex
AddingTriggers
About the author
Rex does all his 3D graphics through BrokeAssGames and is currently working on DSQTweaker, Ecstasy Motion, and other interesting projects yet to be revealed. Just ask him about anything DTS/DSQ related, he's happy to help.
#2
08/21/2009 (7:15 am)
looks very good and interesting... exist some demo? 
#3
08/21/2009 (7:30 am)
I was thinking the other way... can you import other animation formats to DSQ?
#4
@Javier: Consideration has been highly regarded internally, to produce a demo. I did 3 video tutorials, I'll link up the other two. They're part of the user manual and are hosted at youTube.
@Guimo: DSWTweaker is only for reading/editing DSQ files. Ecstasy Motion has far more advanced features...:)
08/21/2009 (7:40 am)
@Kory: DSQTweaker saves only as DSQ.... but our other animation editing tool, EcstasyMotion, will do just that!@Javier: Consideration has been highly regarded internally, to produce a demo. I did 3 video tutorials, I'll link up the other two. They're part of the user manual and are hosted at youTube.
@Guimo: DSWTweaker is only for reading/editing DSQ files. Ecstasy Motion has far more advanced features...:)
#6
08/21/2009 (9:25 am)
ooh, its like an animation version of shaper 
#7
08/21/2009 (6:04 pm)
So if you have Ecstasy Motion, you already have what DSQTweaker can do? 
#8
Yes it works with T3D, TGE and TGEA. Namely, it edits and reads the DSQs that work with each of the 3D Torque Engines.
@Leathel
Nope! The two apps serve different purposes and work very well together. True, both can edit a DSQ file. Both are able to toggle cyclic, change duration/fps, rename the internal name of a sequence, and so on. I have used DSQTweaker in-tandem with EcstasyMotion since the early development of both apps, and I don't want to give up either!
Let me try to breakdown some of the features unique to DSQTweaker (feel free to chime in with other ones, co-developers!):
Hierarchical cross-checking and error reporting
These have been very useful to me over the last 4-5 months in my production pipeline... Instant feedback on my DTS's as to why they're not working with my animations (usually extraneous or missing nodes).
Additional internal data
Nothing I have seen parses and returns more data about a DTS or DSQ than DSQTweaker.
Edit Ground Transforms
As Rex shows in one of his tutorial videos, this is very easy to do in DSQT.
Edit Triggers
Another easy workflow in DSQT.
Supports Blend Animation Editing
DSQT lets you load a blend sequence on top of a reference frame (from another file, like root or run), which allows you to see the blend as it's used in game....then you can edit it and save it back out.
True, we have two animation tools out, both heavily support DSQs. If you want to do high end stuff, like retargetting BVH files onto your custom mesh, add physics effects, have multi-actor support, render scenes real-time: You need EcstasyMotion.
For quick/easy fixes to your DSQs, even some light tweaking to the animation sequence itself, and the other type of things I mentioned above: You need DSQTweaker.
Based on my experience with the new tool, I believe any Torque developer that uses animations in their project can benefit from owning DSQTweaker.
Jondo
08/21/2009 (7:32 pm)
@HansYes it works with T3D, TGE and TGEA. Namely, it edits and reads the DSQs that work with each of the 3D Torque Engines.
@Leathel
Nope! The two apps serve different purposes and work very well together. True, both can edit a DSQ file. Both are able to toggle cyclic, change duration/fps, rename the internal name of a sequence, and so on. I have used DSQTweaker in-tandem with EcstasyMotion since the early development of both apps, and I don't want to give up either!
Let me try to breakdown some of the features unique to DSQTweaker (feel free to chime in with other ones, co-developers!):
Hierarchical cross-checking and error reporting
These have been very useful to me over the last 4-5 months in my production pipeline... Instant feedback on my DTS's as to why they're not working with my animations (usually extraneous or missing nodes).
Additional internal data
Nothing I have seen parses and returns more data about a DTS or DSQ than DSQTweaker.
Edit Ground Transforms
As Rex shows in one of his tutorial videos, this is very easy to do in DSQT.
Edit Triggers
Another easy workflow in DSQT.
Supports Blend Animation Editing
DSQT lets you load a blend sequence on top of a reference frame (from another file, like root or run), which allows you to see the blend as it's used in game....then you can edit it and save it back out.
True, we have two animation tools out, both heavily support DSQs. If you want to do high end stuff, like retargetting BVH files onto your custom mesh, add physics effects, have multi-actor support, render scenes real-time: You need EcstasyMotion.
For quick/easy fixes to your DSQs, even some light tweaking to the animation sequence itself, and the other type of things I mentioned above: You need DSQTweaker.
Based on my experience with the new tool, I believe any Torque developer that uses animations in their project can benefit from owning DSQTweaker.
Jondo
#9
08/21/2009 (11:31 pm)
Will either allow to modify all sequences of a bone rotation? For example, the wings on my flying animation are not correct. The wing animations are way to forward. I want something I can rotate the bone to the proper location in first key then all keys after that will align correctly. Last time I tried with fragMotion, it would only move one key, then pop back to the original position all others after that. So would almost have to modify each key which get ugly if off a bit. Hope that makes sense.
#10
Makes sense. Sounds like you're talking about one of my favorite techniques in Ecstasy. Like when I want to change the angle of the arms, but keep the motion... You use the Global checkbox to switch to editing the whole sequence at once (or the marked region). You can then adjust the wing's rotations while the animation is playing and get the effect you're after.
Without checking the Global box, you are placing "keyframes" of data which will be interpolated to and from all other key frames (like the first and last).
08/22/2009 (1:29 am)
@LeathelMakes sense. Sounds like you're talking about one of my favorite techniques in Ecstasy. Like when I want to change the angle of the arms, but keep the motion... You use the Global checkbox to switch to editing the whole sequence at once (or the marked region). You can then adjust the wing's rotations while the animation is playing and get the effect you're after.
Without checking the Global box, you are placing "keyframes" of data which will be interpolated to and from all other key frames (like the first and last).
#11
I recall spending a lot of time first getting DSQ's to export correctly in the Blender Exporter, so i can imagine all the headaches making a whole tool out of the format. :)
Not the sort of tool i'd want to use myself, but i can imagine it being quite useful - especially if you factor in a lack of source files. I hope it sells well.
08/22/2009 (2:13 pm)
Neat!I recall spending a lot of time first getting DSQ's to export correctly in the Blender Exporter, so i can imagine all the headaches making a whole tool out of the format. :)
Not the sort of tool i'd want to use myself, but i can imagine it being quite useful - especially if you factor in a lack of source files. I hope it sells well.
#12
Since you say both programs work very well together, will there be a bundle? say Ecstacy and DSQT for... hmm 120? or something?
08/22/2009 (8:45 pm)
Hmm, very interresting... Since you say both programs work very well together, will there be a bundle? say Ecstacy and DSQT for... hmm 120? or something?
#13
We weren't planning a bundle, but its not a bad idea. Something that might be easier to set up would be coupon type discount. I'll definitely bring it up to the guys.
Just an FYI on your pricing example: Ecstasy is no longer insanely low priced at $99 (that was a temporary price for very_early_adopters). Its now at the official EA price of $149.95 until it goes gold in Dec.
We'll see if the coupon idea picks up traction!
Jondo
08/23/2009 (5:10 am)
@SebastianWe weren't planning a bundle, but its not a bad idea. Something that might be easier to set up would be coupon type discount. I'll definitely bring it up to the guys.
Just an FYI on your pricing example: Ecstasy is no longer insanely low priced at $99 (that was a temporary price for very_early_adopters). Its now at the official EA price of $149.95 until it goes gold in Dec.
We'll see if the coupon idea picks up traction!
Jondo
#14
This will be on the discussion list at the next meeting!
08/23/2009 (6:44 pm)
Yes, some other method of bundling would need to be found; as Ecstasy Motion isn't on sale at the GG store at the moment....and I agree with Jondo's perspective on price points; as the Early Adopter introductory price has gone to it's postSIGGRAPH level.This will be on the discussion list at the next meeting!
#15
Because of the way it comes out of Lightwave the rig is not compatible with Animations Mega Pack vol. 1, Motion Pack (available?) and Ragdoll Pack (available???). Would the DSQTweaker allow me to redo the animations so I could ship the Skeleton pack with more compatible DSQ's???
08/24/2009 (5:53 am)
Sounds cool. So I created the Skeleton pack for Torque which is being redesigned for Torque3d ( it will see the light of day - yes! ).Because of the way it comes out of Lightwave the rig is not compatible with Animations Mega Pack vol. 1, Motion Pack (available?) and Ragdoll Pack (available???). Would the DSQTweaker allow me to redo the animations so I could ship the Skeleton pack with more compatible DSQ's???
#16
The Features tab of the
Products page list what it can do.
08/24/2009 (7:14 am)
Andy, DSQTweaker will detect dts/dsq conflicts and report them. We plan to add functionality to Tweaker that will allow renaming, adding and deleting nodes. If you need these right now Ecstasy will be your best bet.The Features tab of the
Products page list what it can do.
#17
YouTube demo here
08/24/2009 (7:30 am)
Ecstasy Motion in combination with Optitrack looks awesome - well done guys!!!YouTube demo here
#18
08/25/2009 (12:39 am)
@Rex: do you have a package deal for the animation mega pack vol1, Male advanced, female advanced, and DSQTweaker? IS there an animation mega pack vol2?
#19
1)At the present time there is no bundle, however; we are discussing available options[coupons] to allow indies out there as wide a selection as possible
2)We are planning an Animation MegaPack Vol2, release date is still on the board table.
08/25/2009 (4:06 am)
@Scott: Thanks for the interest!1)At the present time there is no bundle, however; we are discussing available options[coupons] to allow indies out there as wide a selection as possible
2)We are planning an Animation MegaPack Vol2, release date is still on the board table.
Torque 3D Owner Kory James
thanks