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MAC OSX version worth getting ?

by Phil Nestoryak · in Torque Game Engine · 09/02/2004 (5:46 pm) · 6 replies

Is the MAC version worth getting? Are there MAC apps like "milkshape" and what ever else is being used to 3d edit? And why are the add-ons for Windows only? Other than the decompression of the files why can't you import it into any Torue Engine platform?

I know I can compile it on the MAC, but seems pretty limiting if no 3d object edit/create exists.

I asked this question last year, and then nothing was available (other than $200 + )

I'd really like to get this and get back into game design again...is going to be a long winter and would make a great project .....

Thanks....

-Phil
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Associate David Montgomery-Blake
David MontgomeryBlake
#1
09/02/2004 (7:49 pm)
You can use Blender and the DTS expoter to create animations on the Mac. Currently, there is no solution for creating interiors since the only Map editor available for the Mac is Radiant...and it has a $5000 licensing fee. The engine itself is cross-platform, but it depends on third party tools for content creation. Since Windows is a huge potential market because of the installed userbase, tools developers have been concentrating on it rather than platforms like the Mac and Linux.

Torque Owner Phil Nestoryak
#2
09/03/2004 (1:46 am)
So the add-on packs that say Windows would work then (as long as they can be decompressed)

I do have Virtual PC and Windows loaded. So it seems I could create what I need there and import it into the MAC version.

What would you suggest I use? I'd like to load it and verify it works in VPC (Im sure it will, but its always good to check first)

Thanks for the reply ...

Torque Owner Kyle Goodwin
#3
09/03/2004 (6:00 am)
QuArK would be the map editor of choice for interior work on TGE. I recently added a huge optimization for mac into the texture blender which will increase your mac fps by a lot (generally, at /least/ 25fps+). With the new virtual pc 7 programs have direct, unemulated access to the graphics card, so the 3d preview window in mapping programs ought to improve in speed by quite a lot. I'd use blender for free dts on mac or lightwave/maya if you can afford it. Blender is quite good, though, and fully free software.

Associate David Montgomery-Blake
David MontgomeryBlake
#4
09/03/2004 (7:04 am)
You can try QuArK, since I've *heard* that it works with Virtual PC 6. I've also heard the contrary, though, and considering some of the wierdness I've experienced with my extremely limited use of VPC. If it works, it's the editor that GG suggests for all interior creation. I believe Milkshape works with VPC, though.

Since I have a Tablet PC that I take with me everywhere, I often use that for any level creation. I also use it to test my levels to make sure that it's working correctly at least on one platform before seeing if it will work on another one. When I get back, I copy everything over and test the levels on the Mac.

Which add-on packs are you talking about? See, there are some resources that make use of Direct X (which, of course will not work on a Mac or Linux) to improve a number of different areas. The best thing to do is to look through the resource code and see if there are any endian issues (mostly in extending file formats, etc) or obvious OS specific requirements (DirectX, explicit paths). If not, then backup your source code and try out the resource. Often a number of resources are only tested on windows because of the general installed userbase, but will work equally as well on the Mac and Linux.

@Kyle Goodwin
Great work on the optimizations, too!

*edit: congrats to Kyle

Torque Owner Kyle Goodwin
#5
09/03/2004 (7:47 am)
Thanks! :)

Torque Owner Phil Nestoryak
#6
09/03/2004 (8:17 am)
The add-ons are just trees/crates and stuff (objects only)
They should work fine.

Thanks for all of your info, guess I'll be jumping in.