Couple of questions
by Matt Benfall · in Torque Game Builder · 03/27/2005 (7:36 am) · 5 replies
Just wondering about a few of the capabilities of Torque2D while I'm doing this design doc. I'm pretty sure it can do 'em, would just like confirmation is all =)
Does T2D support large images as backgrounds? Sort of like a panoramic image, something that scrolls along as the player moves. Or is it just tile support only?
What's the level of support for 3D models? Can I have the player and other beings as 3D models, animate them accordingly and not have to worry about sprites? What about models for objects, like barrels and tables and so forth, which behave accordingly?
Is it possible to have an over-the-shoulder type shooting gallery effect? Could probably be done with layers, I think.
That's about it for now. Any helpers?
Does T2D support large images as backgrounds? Sort of like a panoramic image, something that scrolls along as the player moves. Or is it just tile support only?
What's the level of support for 3D models? Can I have the player and other beings as 3D models, animate them accordingly and not have to worry about sprites? What about models for objects, like barrels and tables and so forth, which behave accordingly?
Is it possible to have an over-the-shoulder type shooting gallery effect? Could probably be done with layers, I think.
That's about it for now. Any helpers?
About the author
#2
2. 3D models aren't supported, per se. You could integrate T2D with TGE, if you so pleased, and play around with that, but out of the box, T2D is just a 2D engine. If you want to use a 3D model, though, you can render the model out in frames, and use that as your animated sprite.
3. You've pretty much answered your own question with that. :)
03/27/2005 (8:17 am)
1. T2D has a chunked image class that will do that. It basically takes a large (optionally non-POT) image and splits it into 256x256 chunks for rendering. You can scroll this, have it static, etc. The Torque logo in the background of the default screen is an 800x600 chunked image.2. 3D models aren't supported, per se. You could integrate T2D with TGE, if you so pleased, and play around with that, but out of the box, T2D is just a 2D engine. If you want to use a 3D model, though, you can render the model out in frames, and use that as your animated sprite.
3. You've pretty much answered your own question with that. :)
#3
03/27/2005 (8:32 am)
Hmm, interesting. That lack of 3D has caught me out somewhat, now I'll have to think of neat psuedo-3D effects. Or do some 
#4
If you're a TGE owner then you can use 3D models to render. You'll have to write you own method to render this (which is pretty easy) or wait until I get time to release an unsupported version that I have on my computer.
T2D supports whatever the underlying graphics card does. You can use the fxScroller2D (or any other object) to render large textures but that'll be no good if your customer doesn't have that support. The chunked sprite decomposes them down into support textures and automatically tiles them.
In the future, we'll be making this kind of support abstract so you just choose what you want to render and the system will handle it appropriately according to the underlying system. We want to make this part completely transparent.
- Melv.
03/27/2005 (9:02 am)
Matt,Quote:That lack of 3D has caught me out somewhatJust wondering why a 2D engine not having 3D caught you out. ;)
If you're a TGE owner then you can use 3D models to render. You'll have to write you own method to render this (which is pretty easy) or wait until I get time to release an unsupported version that I have on my computer.
T2D supports whatever the underlying graphics card does. You can use the fxScroller2D (or any other object) to render large textures but that'll be no good if your customer doesn't have that support. The chunked sprite decomposes them down into support textures and automatically tiles them.
In the future, we'll be making this kind of support abstract so you just choose what you want to render and the system will handle it appropriately according to the underlying system. We want to make this part completely transparent.
- Melv.
#5
03/27/2005 (9:42 am)
Just that I've seen a few little 2D-scrolling games with neat 3D effects in them, figured T2D might have something to that effect. Sprites are no big issue, really, I just have to get into a different mindset. 
Torque Owner Philip Mansfield
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Support for 3D models? Don't think so. You'd need to render your images as sprites.
Over the shoulder? Don't see why not. Some clever layers and scaling of objects could easily give the desired effect.