R 3D games played from a 2D perspective possible with this?

#1 You can't use 3D models in T2D, but there is no reason you can't animate your sprites in such a way that they appear 3D. However, some of the advanced animation techiniques you might need to make the objects animate smoothly (such as tweening) aren't in T2D. More features will come as time progresses, and the feature set that's currently implemented is pretty solid, but it is still classed as an 'Early Adopters' release.

If you want to use 3D models you will need to use a 3D engine. If the camera was locked in place, I'm sure you could create the effect you want.

But as you've classified yourself as a beginner, you might be best off in the 2D realm for a little while to help you get your feet wet.

I know I looked through the TGE demo scripts and thought "Oops, too much for my beginner brain." So I bought T2D as soon as it came out. There's still plenty to learn with regard to TorqueScript, but at least I'm making progress.

On top of that 2D graphics are easier to create than 3D models (if you're as artistically challenged as I am).

#2 Thanks for the info Phylip. As far as learning goes, it would be good to pick 2d up, but as far as what I want, I need a 3d torque--correct? All I'd have to do is lock the camera into a side perspective? (I DO want the camera to zoom in and out though.) I want to make a fast-paced action game that revolves around a specific game mechanic-- a mechanic that I don't want to publically talk about because of its unique potential. The fast but responsive/precise gameplay I want to create simply will not work in full 3d due to control issues and pacing problems that would arise.

Thus, I'm looking to mix the 2. Funny that you mention art, I have absolutlely no artistic talent and I have no idea how I will jump that hurdle. I assume I'll have to collaborate with an artistically gifted partner or something... Or is it possible to do it alone?

#3 I'm sure what you want to do is possible in TGE, but depending on your game mechanic, you may find that you'll need to tinker with the underlying engine. Not a problem if you're a decent C++ programmer I'm sure, but doing that on top of all the scripting required for the game might be a bit much if you're new to programming in general.

Maybe it would be worthwhile getting to grips with whichever engine you choose by starting on a smaller project. To get going though, download the TGE demo, and have a fiddle with the scripts for the various demos and see how you get on.

I'm sure if you're talented enough (programming, art, music, etc) you could create pretty much any title single handed. But be prepared for it to take a long time. If you can get a prototype going with dodgy artwork, you'll probably find it easier to get an artist to help you out. But they may want paying for their efforts...

#4 Actually, I've just looked at Gradius 5, and it looks pretty sweet. I would suspect that you could do something a bit like that by joing TGE and T2D together (which is relatively straightforward from what I can gather).

However, you can produce 'reasonable' results in just T2D. Here's a screenie from my in progress shooter:
It's not a stunning shot as I still have quite a bit of work to do.

#5 You've only "looked" at Gradius 5? lol... you really should pick it up if you love 2d shooters. IMO, Gradius 5 is the best 2d shooter ever and yes, I also have Ikaruga. G5 is published by Konami and developed by the current gods of 2D gaming, Treasure. Seriously, give it a look-- it's inspired me a lot.

Your screenshot looks like it already has some nice particle effects at least, those flames are sweet. You're right though, it DOES kind look like 3D models in screenshot.

What did you mean when you said I could combine torque 2d and TGE?

#6 It's also funny that the screenshot you show me is of a 2D shooter you're making... maybe we kind of share the same philosophy here--heh...

#7 I'm not really into consoles. I only have about half a dozen games for my PSX lol!

As for combining the two, well, you could use TGE to display some 3D backgrounds that spin and zoom in and out as you'd expect from a 3D engine, and overlayed ontop of that would be T2D which is where the game would actually be played.

There are a couple of threads in the private T2D forums where people have integrated the two successfully, so if your coding skills are upto scratch, there's no reason why you couldn't do something similar.

#8 ----

#9 That's what I did in the screenshot above, but that's not really what Patrick was asking. He was asking about the possiblity of having a proper 3D environment as the background for a 2D game. The only real way of doing that (at the moment at least) is to use TGE and T2D together.