Gmax for Torque
by Thijs Sloesen · in Torque Game Engine · 01/12/2004 (2:24 am) · 3 replies
Gmax, an application by discreet, is a very tin (and free) 3D modelling software that looks a lot like 3D Studio Max. The idea behind it is that developers build a "game pack" for it. Consequently, gamers can create custom content for the game.
This would be ideal for Torque games since we could allow our users to create custom content (like interiors and models) using a well-supported application (whose developer has put reasonable time and effort into creating tutorials for this application).
In order to create such a game pack, one needs a premium membership to the Discreet sparks program. Membership for this program costs $1200 for one year, effectively rendering out a lot of indies from this program.
I was thinking (and this is just an idea) that maybe we could combine efforts create a general game pack for the Torque engine so that we have a good editor to ship with our products. If a couple of competent GG community members would find the time to work on such a general game pack, the whole community would benefit from this. Maybe the customized gmax editor could even be sold seperately to Torque owners.
One of the main problems is the subscription fee. Does anybody think we could somehow get this together by raising funds? Would anybody be interested in such a combined effort? Maybe we could lobby with discreet for a reasonable discount?
Anyways, this is just an idea. An idea to help get the Torque world even better. Let me know what you think.
Edit: The URL for gmax: www.discreet.com/products/gmax/
Regards,
Thijs
This would be ideal for Torque games since we could allow our users to create custom content (like interiors and models) using a well-supported application (whose developer has put reasonable time and effort into creating tutorials for this application).
In order to create such a game pack, one needs a premium membership to the Discreet sparks program. Membership for this program costs $1200 for one year, effectively rendering out a lot of indies from this program.
I was thinking (and this is just an idea) that maybe we could combine efforts create a general game pack for the Torque engine so that we have a good editor to ship with our products. If a couple of competent GG community members would find the time to work on such a general game pack, the whole community would benefit from this. Maybe the customized gmax editor could even be sold seperately to Torque owners.
One of the main problems is the subscription fee. Does anybody think we could somehow get this together by raising funds? Would anybody be interested in such a combined effort? Maybe we could lobby with discreet for a reasonable discount?
Anyways, this is just an idea. An idea to help get the Torque world even better. Let me know what you think.
Edit: The URL for gmax: www.discreet.com/products/gmax/
Regards,
Thijs
#2
However possibly some donation fund for this project could work. But the question is WHO would the money go to to develop this? I certainly wouldn't just want average community (no offence intended here) members doing it. I would want it to be official GG people for me to donate. But then if its official GG people why do a donation fund eh? They have the money from us lot buying the SDK.
Personally I like the idea of gmax for torque, mainly because at the moment milkshape functionality is, well, rubbish for anything other then statics.
Also, the exporter for blender is still in its infancy (but its really coming along amazingly well so i've heard! qudos to James for that I believe.)
01/12/2004 (4:05 am)
I believe theres people who work for discreet probably amongst the Garage Games community... so maybe try finding them, as they will be the people to speak to.However possibly some donation fund for this project could work. But the question is WHO would the money go to to develop this? I certainly wouldn't just want average community (no offence intended here) members doing it. I would want it to be official GG people for me to donate. But then if its official GG people why do a donation fund eh? They have the money from us lot buying the SDK.
Personally I like the idea of gmax for torque, mainly because at the moment milkshape functionality is, well, rubbish for anything other then statics.
Also, the exporter for blender is still in its infancy (but its really coming along amazingly well so i've heard! qudos to James for that I believe.)
#3
They do have the money from us buying Torque. However, they only have that money one time. There is an annual fee for the Gmax game pack.
Donations would be the best way to go, but really only serious Torque developers would go for this. People who licensed the engine and just sit on it, without doing anything (like me, most of the time), would be hard pressed to come up with a reason to donate. I, however, would donate for something like this if enough people got involved. Gmax is far more powerful than any of the other free or cheap modeling apps.
01/13/2004 (2:28 am)
"They have the money from us lot buying the SDK."They do have the money from us buying Torque. However, they only have that money one time. There is an annual fee for the Gmax game pack.
Donations would be the best way to go, but really only serious Torque developers would go for this. People who licensed the engine and just sit on it, without doing anything (like me, most of the time), would be hard pressed to come up with a reason to donate. I, however, would donate for something like this if enough people got involved. Gmax is far more powerful than any of the other free or cheap modeling apps.
Torque Owner Matthew Jones
Matt