TorqueIM
by Eric Forhan · in Torque Game Engine · 05/02/2004 (7:37 am) · 10 replies
One of the problems we've faced with beta testing Trajectory Zone, and I've seen related posts for other Indie games (like Orbz), is that it's sometimes hard to get a game together. Let's face it: We don't have hundreds of thousands of players and hundreds in-game at any given moment, like the big titles do, and people who do want to play don't want to sit by themselves very long in an empty server waiting for others to show up. So, I'd like to propose a project, whether commercial or community: TorqueIM.
I'll lay out a list of ideas, and you may blast them away if they are unneeded, or too hard to implement...or add your own.
-friends list would be seperated by games.
-IM setup would auto-search for the executable of each game, or a file like "TorqueIM.cs", found in each game's main directory, which would list the name and whatever info TorqueIM needs (name, version, forum website, IRC #Channel, appended name, master server DNS, etc.).
-a "Join" button which starts up the game. Further integration may be required to make it bypass the main menu and automatically jump right into that server.
-a "Start" button to simply start the game.
-TorqueIM and each game would have a small amount of integration. This would mainly be something like a way to show who is in-game. Perhaps it would append "_inOrbz" after the name. Or, to limit integration it could only append the name if the game is started from inside the IM.
-Main GG IRC channel stock w/TorqueIM
-Program may work in a limited way with non-Torque games if the appropriate torqueIM.cs is found.
-Perhaps a way to manually add non-GG games (see above).
-a Master Sever list of each found game.
-Depending on level of integration, the game's chat would allow incoming/outgoing TorqueIM messages.
-crossplatform a must (goes without saying, but I said it anyway). Java?
-bug reporting tool (optional to user).
Just for fun I combined the simpletorque demo and the TGE_Lobby from Darkraven studios, and found myself with a (probably) cross-platform IRC client in a zip of 1.3MB. Unfortunately, as we all know, we can't have two Torque windows running at the same time, and I'm not sure there's any easy way to have seamless integration (where the "Join" button would shut down TorqueIM, start up Realm Wars, and log itself back into TorqueIM via an integrated messenger).
I had suggested something similar in the Trajectory Zone beta forums, but it would have been for a single game only (since it would be based on our executable).
So, whether as a commercial venture or community effort, I'd be happy to offer my help on the graphic side and wherever else I may be of assistance. It just seems like something that would really help out the community--developers and players alike.
-EricF
I'll lay out a list of ideas, and you may blast them away if they are unneeded, or too hard to implement...or add your own.
-friends list would be seperated by games.
-IM setup would auto-search for the executable of each game, or a file like "TorqueIM.cs", found in each game's main directory, which would list the name and whatever info TorqueIM needs (name, version, forum website, IRC #Channel, appended name, master server DNS, etc.).
-a "Join" button which starts up the game. Further integration may be required to make it bypass the main menu and automatically jump right into that server.
-a "Start" button to simply start the game.
-TorqueIM and each game would have a small amount of integration. This would mainly be something like a way to show who is in-game. Perhaps it would append "_inOrbz" after the name. Or, to limit integration it could only append the name if the game is started from inside the IM.
-Main GG IRC channel stock w/TorqueIM
-Program may work in a limited way with non-Torque games if the appropriate torqueIM.cs is found.
-Perhaps a way to manually add non-GG games (see above).
-a Master Sever list of each found game.
-Depending on level of integration, the game's chat would allow incoming/outgoing TorqueIM messages.
-crossplatform a must (goes without saying, but I said it anyway). Java?
-bug reporting tool (optional to user).
Just for fun I combined the simpletorque demo and the TGE_Lobby from Darkraven studios, and found myself with a (probably) cross-platform IRC client in a zip of 1.3MB. Unfortunately, as we all know, we can't have two Torque windows running at the same time, and I'm not sure there's any easy way to have seamless integration (where the "Join" button would shut down TorqueIM, start up Realm Wars, and log itself back into TorqueIM via an integrated messenger).
I had suggested something similar in the Trajectory Zone beta forums, but it would have been for a single game only (since it would be based on our executable).
So, whether as a commercial venture or community effort, I'd be happy to offer my help on the graphic side and wherever else I may be of assistance. It just seems like something that would really help out the community--developers and players alike.
-EricF
About the author
#2
05/02/2004 (8:46 am)
I think it's completely off-topic. 
#3
What exactly was the point of the activity? To message people when games start? Or allow them to mark themselves as 'interested' in playing, then message them when there is enough players?
Is what you're proposing a bit like a cut down gamespy for torque games? Sorry if i'm not following. But I think this idea does have promise, you're probably right about not being able to use torque for this because of the multiple instance issues. Which is a shame.
05/02/2004 (2:24 pm)
Fairly off topic but slighty interesting, DirectX (DirectPlay) provides a 'lobby' interface that allows you to join games from IM (MSN / ICQ / Yahoo). It would be somewhat easy to add this for windows builds. However I don't think this answers the fundamental 'community' problem.What exactly was the point of the activity? To message people when games start? Or allow them to mark themselves as 'interested' in playing, then message them when there is enough players?
Is what you're proposing a bit like a cut down gamespy for torque games? Sorry if i'm not following. But I think this idea does have promise, you're probably right about not being able to use torque for this because of the multiple instance issues. Which is a shame.
#4
I've not fleshed out all details, so I'm sure there are holes the size of VWs. But, I think it'd be very worthy, especially in the case of smaller games and beta testing.
05/02/2004 (3:09 pm)
I'm thinking of something not too unlike most IM clients (Yahoo! Trillian, or even closer: XFire). Except for some minor things (like the master server, joining games, and appending "_inOrbz"), a regular IM would probably work just fine. However, I don't necessarily want [/i]only[/i] friends to play games with, and I am also very much a miser in giving out my IM addys. I simply want most in my Messenger to be people whom I choose.I've not fleshed out all details, so I'm sure there are holes the size of VWs. But, I think it'd be very worthy, especially in the case of smaller games and beta testing.
#5
-edit-
Eric beat me to the Xfire idea. But, I agree. Xfire maynot be the most well know Messenger, it ( along with Corealan Studios Trillian) has many features to set it above the MSN Messengers of the world.
05/02/2004 (3:15 pm)
I think Xfire would be a good chat client to base yours off of... Just a thought.-edit-
Eric beat me to the Xfire idea. But, I agree. Xfire maynot be the most well know Messenger, it ( along with Corealan Studios Trillian) has many features to set it above the MSN Messengers of the world.
#6
05/02/2004 (3:37 pm)
That Xfire looks good, is it worth contacting them to see if there's an easy way to add in indie games before we reinvent the wheel?
#7
With XFire, I think the best way to do it would be to have one person always logged in as "Realm Wars", and then utilize the "Friend of Friends" feature. This would list everyone online. Hmm. I may write them just to see what it would take.
Doing it that way would eliminate the concern I had over too large of a friend's list, but also allow one to have a particular friends list as well as a list of just everyone who is playing in general.
Good idea. Might make for some non-standard advertising as well.
05/02/2004 (3:53 pm)
It's a possibility, but it sounds like they generate their revenue through game listing. With XFire, I think the best way to do it would be to have one person always logged in as "Realm Wars", and then utilize the "Friend of Friends" feature. This would list everyone online. Hmm. I may write them just to see what it would take.
Doing it that way would eliminate the concern I had over too large of a friend's list, but also allow one to have a particular friends list as well as a list of just everyone who is playing in general.
Good idea. Might make for some non-standard advertising as well.
#8
hrm...
05/02/2004 (4:05 pm)
Good ideas, but are you talking about in-game? Xfire (as I understand it) is just if you're outside of an game....hrm...
#9
It seems it can do a lot of my original list. The only catch is that the game has to be listed with them. I'll write and find out more, but they do support Soldat, which IIRC is a 2d indie game.
It doesn't support a master server list, that I can tell at this point, anyway. But, it does say if somebody is in a game and what the server is, as well as allowing one to join up. Tribes2 is also listed in their games, btw. ;)
I'll write and let everyone know.
05/02/2004 (4:13 pm)
Gareth may be on to something with not reinventing the wheel and going with XFire. I've only had it a couple days, and not really looked at it until just now. It seems it can do a lot of my original list. The only catch is that the game has to be listed with them. I'll write and find out more, but they do support Soldat, which IIRC is a 2d indie game.
It doesn't support a master server list, that I can tell at this point, anyway. But, it does say if somebody is in a game and what the server is, as well as allowing one to join up. Tribes2 is also listed in their games, btw. ;)
I'll write and let everyone know.
Torque Owner Ori Cohen
Ori Cohen
how about waiting for beffy's ai code. and actually making a headless program. that doesnt load torque 3d enviroment, but actually uses the ai code to cruise around the world itself.
without rendering and hogging the cpu. only network information would be passed between the player(external bot) and main server.
whatcha think about that :)
ori.