Is TGE for me???

#1 Id advise 1 of 2 routes.

1) Use a simpler engine or integrate development package.

2) Play around with the torque demo for a while, modifying the scripts, models etc, and concurrently start learning more C++, as you learn more about torque and more about c++, and are relatively comfortable with each, then buy a TGE indie liscense.

#2 Thanks man (was a quick reply)

but is TGE a good engine to start with or is it a bit too hard (in your opinions)

Thanks dudes

#3 Mozel,
there is a learning curve of course, depending on what expectations you have it can be very very steep....up to vertical if you think you can do doom 4 or half life 3....
But as westy pointed out, get the demo and play around with this. You will see how many things you can do by just playing around....also you can even play around with the scripting with which you can "customize" a lot.
Of course you also need to create art for your game, which requires you learn a 3d modeling software (player, cars...."smalelr things") plus Quark or Hammer to create your interiors (buildings and stuff)...this again is another learning curve.

I recommend you really try out torque, give yourself time, don't have too high expectations, start with small things. You will see it is also rewarding and fun if your goals are realistic, you will learn a lot, GG has i think by far the best community around, there is a lot of documentation.....also a good book for beginners you can buy here. The more you advance, the more comfortable you will feel, and then when you start diggin into the c++ and change the engine you will see what a mighty tool you have....for only 100 ;-)!
other engines might be easier to learn, but don't forget the art part remains still to be learned....plus other tools with the same possiblities are more expensive. I think 3d gamestudio is a good thing for starters, but expensive if you choose a package which gives you the same possibilites like torque. I think if you need the sourcecode of their engine it gets really expensive.
maybe an alternative would also be darkbasic professional or blitzbasic....but li guess later when you have learned a bit you will be limited. Also DB pro and Blitzbasic are not a "game engine" out of the box....you get the tools to create one. With torque you have example games...working ones which are very very good learning resources too.
So to sum up: play around with the demo, learn to get familiar with a modeling software (3ds, maya, gamespace, blender, lightwave, milkshape...for these there are exporters available), learn Quark or Hammer (go for Quark if you want to sell your game someday...licencing issue), start with learning c++. Tmake little steps, this is the most important in my opinion, no matter which engine you learn. Then buy a licence...maybe also one for TSE so you can start playing with newest tech ;-).
Torque is really really good, the community priceless (lots and lots of help!), torque is abel to do almost anything....just never forget it is not a point and click game creation suite (is there such a thing anyway ;-)...and where is the fun then).
I was also intimidated, but now after a few months my c++ knowledge is better, i can model a bit, i am working on a game in my sparetime...it's fun and thats the best of it. ;-).

#4 Forgot something....i would maybe even consider to buy torque right away after a bit trying if you can afford it, because some forums and also the docs are only for torque owners...thats what i did and i am happy i did ;-)
hope i could help ;-)

#5 It depends how much time you can devote into it. I've tried several packages that I didn't feel right at home with. I did with Torque, but that was merely the mission editor and simple GUI scripts.

I did give up the engine a few times, but later got back to it and now I don't regret buying it, ever.

#6 WOAH DUDES

the response is phenominal
THANKS

@WESTY DUDE that is very true and im gonna try out the demo like ya said n play about with it. thanks man

@ANDY WOW that was somr response and i thank you for it. I can do hammer mapping and milkshape moddeling(but im bad at moddeling) I do think this has helpped alot and i think im up to the challenge of torque. thanks again dude

@STEPHAN Thanks man ya sound just like me and ya are enforcing what I wanted to hear dude thanks

Thanks everyone i think i know enough to make an educated decision.

Mozel

#7 Torque is right for anybody, ( i cant beleive those that try to steer you away from it)(no offence), ive done a few different mods with the quake engine/s before running accross torque. I have never picked up a book for c or c++ and never dealt with script, there wasnt even a demo for torque when i bought the licence.

Yes there is a lot to take in when you first get torque, just like any new game you buy and have to learn (sorta). Learning or knowing c++ may help you abit when you dive into torque, but it wont let you know how torque really works, Doing the "code snippits" will teach you how torque works much better.

and heres what i did with out books

Click Here for the dev release of my sp_starter kit

btw sp_starter kit is a good place to start to see if you could have fun with torque and its a lil more then the default demo

#8 Thanks man you guys have given me great insight into the torque engine

You guys have really helpped and im gonna get the indie licence as soon as