Some questions(not all torque related)
by Julian Ridley · in Torque Game Engine · 06/16/2004 (8:57 pm) · 7 replies
Ok, I am now seriously considering getting torque after looking into it a bit(plus tribes 2 rocks). However, I have some questions.
I want to make an MMORPG(at least on a small scale), and was wondering:
1: I read that torque supports up to 128 people on a server, will I be able to pull this off without tons of optimization and super servers?(and maybe where I get hosting?)
2: My idea was to have lots of servers, and you can choose any of them to start, but your character can be accsessed on all servers. And you could invite friends to that particular server if they are on, etc etc. This isn't really torque related, but would that work out?
3: I know I will have to change the enige to work with an RPG. You can't really know how much I guess, cause I am not being specific, but just take a stab at how much I have to change. Also, how flexible is the script? Could I make a grouping system without touching the engine(I would think so, but not sure).
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you if you answer any questions, I really wanna get torque, but making an MMORPG is kinda my dream thing.
I want to make an MMORPG(at least on a small scale), and was wondering:
1: I read that torque supports up to 128 people on a server, will I be able to pull this off without tons of optimization and super servers?(and maybe where I get hosting?)
2: My idea was to have lots of servers, and you can choose any of them to start, but your character can be accsessed on all servers. And you could invite friends to that particular server if they are on, etc etc. This isn't really torque related, but would that work out?
3: I know I will have to change the enige to work with an RPG. You can't really know how much I guess, cause I am not being specific, but just take a stab at how much I have to change. Also, how flexible is the script? Could I make a grouping system without touching the engine(I would think so, but not sure).
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you if you answer any questions, I really wanna get torque, but making an MMORPG is kinda my dream thing.
About the author
#2
where I get hosting = do you know of a service that hosts servers for this kind of stuff?
Also, I don't plan on this being super duper high quality graphics or anything. I am not sure, but will less graphic quality = better server performance?
Another question I just thought of:
Can you make classes in the script? IE, I want a player entity or something, that has numerous stats, can I set that up in script? Or do I have to change the player entity in the engine?
Thanks again.
06/16/2004 (10:28 pm)
Thanks for the response, I guess for question 3, I am asking, how much can the script do, or what are its limits?where I get hosting = do you know of a service that hosts servers for this kind of stuff?
Also, I don't plan on this being super duper high quality graphics or anything. I am not sure, but will less graphic quality = better server performance?
Another question I just thought of:
Can you make classes in the script? IE, I want a player entity or something, that has numerous stats, can I set that up in script? Or do I have to change the player entity in the engine?
Thanks again.
#3
A) There is no service that'll host a MMORPG on their servers. There are game server services, but I'm not sure they'd be very happy if you have more than 50 players on average. Maybe you can work out a deal with them if you're going to be hovering around 100. For more than that, you'll have to get your own servers. You can still put them at a hosting service, and just pay for the bandwidth and physical space.
B) In a MMORPG, graphics should only have a very limited effect on the server. All the rendering is happening at the client. I'm not sure how much effect it has in stock Torque, someone else will have to fill you in there.
C) I'm pretty sure you'd have to make changes in the engine for that.
06/17/2004 (7:33 am)
We're starting to hit the limits of what I know about, so everything below is pre-faced with a "as far as I know".A) There is no service that'll host a MMORPG on their servers. There are game server services, but I'm not sure they'd be very happy if you have more than 50 players on average. Maybe you can work out a deal with them if you're going to be hovering around 100. For more than that, you'll have to get your own servers. You can still put them at a hosting service, and just pay for the bandwidth and physical space.
B) In a MMORPG, graphics should only have a very limited effect on the server. All the rendering is happening at the client. I'm not sure how much effect it has in stock Torque, someone else will have to fill you in there.
C) I'm pretty sure you'd have to make changes in the engine for that.
#4
Thanks again.
06/17/2004 (10:47 am)
Actually now that I think about it, tribes 2 had the stats for the different armors in the script, so I guess it be possible.Thanks again.
#5
1. For the standard Torque server that would require a good machine. If you change the way it works a bit, you could get it working on a lesser good machine.
2. Why wouldn't it? Zone based servers.
3. The scripts are VERY flexible. All of "our" game code is in the scripts.. even the login and database structure is totally in scripts.
06/17/2004 (11:06 am)
This has been adressed soooo manyyy times on these forums, especially the MMORPG questions in regards to Torque. Really, the best answer you could get would be to search the forums for these, they contain anything you'd want to know, really.1. For the standard Torque server that would require a good machine. If you change the way it works a bit, you could get it working on a lesser good machine.
2. Why wouldn't it? Zone based servers.
3. The scripts are VERY flexible. All of "our" game code is in the scripts.. even the login and database structure is totally in scripts.
#6
06/17/2004 (1:58 pm)
Is there a search on these forums? couldnt find one if there is.
#7
06/17/2004 (2:07 pm)
Yep... top right corner of the webpage. Click the option box, select Forums, then type your search in the box. 
Torque Owner Thomas Glennow
I'm not sure what you mean by "where I get hosting". You can co-locate your own servers I guess. Ultima Online started out that way. :) But all current MMORPG's I know of have their own pipes, so that they can control the network quality better.
These are just my guesses, but if you don't change the net code at all, you'll need that super server you mention if you want to run near 100 players. To go 75+ per server you will want to rework the network code.
2) I don't see why not if you are willing to design the server cluster and databases like that. You'll be writing this from scratch, so you can do anything you can imagine basically.
3) I really want to help you figure things out, but that's like asking "I want to build a house, how much would it cost?" I'd suggest you start researching the resources and code snippets available on this site. You can find them in the column on the right of the pages. There are also numerous MMORPG threads on the forums, I'd take a look there for more pieces of information.