TGB dev team building and dev tools
by Steve Miles · in Torque Game Builder · 02/21/2006 (8:18 am) · 11 replies
There are probably forums outside of the TGB ones that I could post this too, but I'm specifically thinking about a TGB-built game.
So, say you get about 3-5 guys together to build a TGB game. Nothing fancy, say a match-3 or something to start out. Everyone lives in different areas, so this collaboration will be online. Right now, it seems like for dev purposes you would:
Set up CVS or Subversion for the engine code and Torquescript
Set up a Wiki for planning, outlines, and documentation
Set up a project management system for, well, project management
Set up some sort of gallery or repository for game art and sounds
So, is there any type of solution that would combine these things? Would CVS/SVN be the best option if the game was 100% in Torquescript? I'm thinking it would be great to have an online service that combines all of these things, and maybe when you log in there's a "dashboard" containing links to all these things and more, including a chat window, a simple forum, and more.
I'm a biologist by day, and there's a site bioinformatics.org that hosts different biology-related projects. I guess it's a bit like sourceforge...but if you click on the project links you'll see some of the tools available. Is there a more feature-filled, commercially available tool for web-based development like this? It wouldn't hurt if it was a little easier on the eyes as well.
So, say you get about 3-5 guys together to build a TGB game. Nothing fancy, say a match-3 or something to start out. Everyone lives in different areas, so this collaboration will be online. Right now, it seems like for dev purposes you would:
Set up CVS or Subversion for the engine code and Torquescript
Set up a Wiki for planning, outlines, and documentation
Set up a project management system for, well, project management
Set up some sort of gallery or repository for game art and sounds
So, is there any type of solution that would combine these things? Would CVS/SVN be the best option if the game was 100% in Torquescript? I'm thinking it would be great to have an online service that combines all of these things, and maybe when you log in there's a "dashboard" containing links to all these things and more, including a chat window, a simple forum, and more.
I'm a biologist by day, and there's a site bioinformatics.org that hosts different biology-related projects. I guess it's a bit like sourceforge...but if you click on the project links you'll see some of the tools available. Is there a more feature-filled, commercially available tool for web-based development like this? It wouldn't hurt if it was a little easier on the eyes as well.
About the author
#2
because of this, it doesnt give developers very much flexibility to attempt these types of projects.
It's kind of a chicken-and-egg problem..
- GG wont take you seriously unless you have a working tool.
- You cant get permission to sell your tool unless GG takes you seriously.
And before you say "well people would do it for free", most of those people are using ogre or whatever. Torque devs are in the "cheap ass's who actually want to make money" catagory ;)
02/21/2006 (12:43 pm)
The problem, is that GG is pretty restrictive about their licensing terms in the area of "3rd party tool" development. The reason for this restriction probably is the result of GG's anti-piracy measures (they dont want people to be able to write games without licensing the engine) and as such, tools would be available on GG's site only.because of this, it doesnt give developers very much flexibility to attempt these types of projects.
It's kind of a chicken-and-egg problem..
- GG wont take you seriously unless you have a working tool.
- You cant get permission to sell your tool unless GG takes you seriously.
And before you say "well people would do it for free", most of those people are using ogre or whatever. Torque devs are in the "cheap ass's who actually want to make money" catagory ;)
#3
You are best off running it by Josh or Melv and if the ok is given then you will most likely be prompted to work on it and get back in touch later when the progress is further along, but thats just common sense. No use handling all of the business aspects until the tool/utility/software (etc) is fairly close to completion, or at least in existence.
02/21/2006 (12:49 pm)
You'd be surprised how easy going and community supportive we are, especially Josh who handles this aspect. Before being hired I ran a lot of things by both him and Melv and neither of them shot down any ideas I had. You are best off running it by Josh or Melv and if the ok is given then you will most likely be prompted to work on it and get back in touch later when the progress is further along, but thats just common sense. No use handling all of the business aspects until the tool/utility/software (etc) is fairly close to completion, or at least in existence.
#4
02/21/2006 (6:21 pm)
I'm a bit confused about the last two posts--as far as I can tell they have nothing to do with the original question? The guy was asking about what virtual team management packages are available, not using TGB to make one (as far as I can tell, again!).
#5
To me, when I read the first post, It sounds like he's talking about the potential of some kind of SourceForge.net specifically for Torque products.
While I like the idea of it, the cynic in me (most of me that is) thinks that nobody would bother spending the time to build up such a system.
And thus my above post came to fruition. :)
02/21/2006 (6:47 pm)
@Stephen: sorry, i'm mostly just ranting as I usually do :PTo me, when I read the first post, It sounds like he's talking about the potential of some kind of SourceForge.net specifically for Torque products.
While I like the idea of it, the cynic in me (most of me that is) thinks that nobody would bother spending the time to build up such a system.
And thus my above post came to fruition. :)
#6
02/21/2006 (7:01 pm)
Yeah, I hear you! Going back and re-reading again, I'm pretty sure he's just asking if anyone knows of/uses any virtual/remote team management tools that are integrated into one package.
#7
I personally would not go for a single package which manages it all as there tends to be some very good standalone open source packages out there that can easily be integrated together.
02/27/2006 (2:48 am)
I am currently putting some stuff together for this, I am going to be using Subversion Server for source control, front ended by Apache running the web_dav_svn module. I am just going to be using htaccess for securing the repository initially. For general communication, project status I am planning to run Media Wiki. For defect tracking will probably use Bugzilla although I have not installed it yet.I personally would not go for a single package which manages it all as there tends to be some very good standalone open source packages out there that can easily be integrated together.
#8
02/27/2006 (6:06 am)
GG has had a lot of success with Mantis, and through personal experience Bugzilla is "nice", but mantis is useful... 
#9
We use it to run projects both huge and small at work. I also use it at home to organise lots of other stuff. It's also plugin-based so you can extend it. A really, really cool free plugin is the subversion plugin (screenshot) that reads your subversion database and will show you revisions against issues right inside JIRA.
It's also got a wiki-based text-renderer inside it based upon it's other way cool WIKI system confluence..
You can run JIRA via apache (and lots of other ways) and also link it against lots of different database back-ends. I chose to use mySql.
I'm not a web-app guru and I managed to get all this running in less than one hour ... seriously!
- Melv.
02/28/2006 (1:26 am)
... and JIRA is the best of the lot. Once you use this, you'll never turn back. Free for non-commerical activities AFAIK.We use it to run projects both huge and small at work. I also use it at home to organise lots of other stuff. It's also plugin-based so you can extend it. A really, really cool free plugin is the subversion plugin (screenshot) that reads your subversion database and will show you revisions against issues right inside JIRA.
It's also got a wiki-based text-renderer inside it based upon it's other way cool WIKI system confluence..
You can run JIRA via apache (and lots of other ways) and also link it against lots of different database back-ends. I chose to use mySql.
I'm not a web-app guru and I managed to get all this running in less than one hour ... seriously!
- Melv.
#10
02/28/2006 (5:30 am)
JIRA is lovely - I have used it in the past but does cost $600 if you plan to make a profit with the software (which is always a nice long term goal). I'll have to have a look at confluence. Subversion I am finding great at the moment.
#11
-Andrew
03/02/2006 (7:24 am)
I think the majority of what you are looking for is covered by the open source Trac Project + Subversion. If you want to go the extremely free route and you want to host this all on a machine with a dynamic ip address instead of trying to procure a host, I can speak from experience and say that you can by with a little help from dyndns.com. Good luck.-Andrew
Torque Owner Unk
I would search the web for 'groupware' and 'content management systems' or 'cms'. I have done research on groupware before but not for a year or two. There are lots of solutions out there... many of which get away with charging people with exorbitant prices.
One of my pet peeves are online software businesses which don't post their prices online but make you ask for a quote. About 90% of these CMS sites are like that... then you finally get the application installed and it is a pile. =) Total waste of my time that litteraly sucks the life out of me.
There are web based database systems which work but which can be pretty slow. There are also clients like 'Groove'.
In my experience, there are no 'full meal deal' packages out there. Ultimately, you want something that integrates everything... email, IM, source control, project management, and asset management. You want it to be quick and you want it to be extensible so you can tailor it to your own needs. I haven't found such a package yet though Alienbrain is getting close...
The problem is that a package like this really needs to be developed by actual game developers and game engineers generally don't like to do tools. =P
If you find something cool, make sure to post it as a resource!
-Unk