Opinions on Torque 2D
by Donald B.C. Allen · in General Discussion · 02/23/2006 (7:51 pm) · 8 replies
I'm looking to start making games and so need to choose between Torque 1.4 and Torque 2D. I'd particularly like to know if Torque 2D is significantly more user-friendly than 1.4, but I'm interested in any opinions you would like to share. Thanks!
#2
I guess my follow up question would be: is T2D still pretty powerful? Could I make an RTS in it? or would I be limited to Contra clones?
02/23/2006 (8:02 pm)
Thanks David,I guess my follow up question would be: is T2D still pretty powerful? Could I make an RTS in it? or would I be limited to Contra clones?
#3
From what I've seen looking around a RTS seems very doable. I don't have T2D yet but have been considering it myself.
@ David Blake
That's great to hear about T2D being a bit more accessible. I grabbed the TGE because there seemed to be more literature for it (the books) but I am struggling a bit.
Do you think that T2D would be a good stepping stone to get the basics of Torque? I'm also curious how much you might have to end up changing your code as the engine evolves.
02/23/2006 (9:02 pm)
@ Donald AllenFrom what I've seen looking around a RTS seems very doable. I don't have T2D yet but have been considering it myself.
@ David Blake
That's great to hear about T2D being a bit more accessible. I grabbed the TGE because there seemed to be more literature for it (the books) but I am struggling a bit.
Do you think that T2D would be a good stepping stone to get the basics of Torque? I'm also curious how much you might have to end up changing your code as the engine evolves.
#4
Scripting in Torque is basically the same for both TGE and T2D. I don't think the updates to any of the engines are going to have much impact on your scripts. The impacts will be more to customizations of the engines themselves. If you are looking at just getting the basics of Torque, there's no need to buy any one of the engines. That's why they have the TGE demo. TGE does have plenty of documentation and would be the stepping stone.
As for making a game or customizing the engines, T2D would have more of a lower learning curve. I'm not sure if this was what David Blake was meaning or not. As for just learning Torque script, it doesn't matter except of the cost. I'm a hobbyist and have both.
02/24/2006 (12:28 am)
@Kelly SmithScripting in Torque is basically the same for both TGE and T2D. I don't think the updates to any of the engines are going to have much impact on your scripts. The impacts will be more to customizations of the engines themselves. If you are looking at just getting the basics of Torque, there's no need to buy any one of the engines. That's why they have the TGE demo. TGE does have plenty of documentation and would be the stepping stone.
As for making a game or customizing the engines, T2D would have more of a lower learning curve. I'm not sure if this was what David Blake was meaning or not. As for just learning Torque script, it doesn't matter except of the cost. I'm a hobbyist and have both.
#5
You will need to make a lot of different engine changes to get TGE to be the game you want. Most TGB games, if not all, will never make an engine code change, you can do everything in TorqueScript.
If you're looking to do an rts, TGB does NOT have real time multiplayer yet. However, you could build the game as singleplayer and then port to the new TGB that does have realtime multiplayer, once it's out.
TGB is extremely powerful. You can make any kind of game you can imagine.
02/24/2006 (4:09 am)
TGB (formerly T2D) is easier to use, faster to learn, and the docs are more complete and getting better and better.You will need to make a lot of different engine changes to get TGE to be the game you want. Most TGB games, if not all, will never make an engine code change, you can do everything in TorqueScript.
If you're looking to do an rts, TGB does NOT have real time multiplayer yet. However, you could build the game as singleplayer and then port to the new TGB that does have realtime multiplayer, once it's out.
TGB is extremely powerful. You can make any kind of game you can imagine.
#6
02/24/2006 (8:13 am)
One of the reasons for the lower learning curve, as mentioned, is that the source is clean and tight and doesn't have nearly as many hooks as TGE does. Navigating the TGE source base can be extremely confusing for someone new to the engine because you not only have to look at the deep internals, but you have to also try to be aware of the big picture to see how things flow together. It's a major task. Since the vast majority of TGB (T2D) functionality is not only revealed to the scripting process but also designed to be scripting friendly from the ground up, it takes a lot of the learning curve out of the equation. Of course, if you feel like digging in, you can hook up the net hooks before Melv and Josh and crew get to it...Quote:Do you think that T2D would be a good stepping stone to get the basics of Torque? I'm also curious how much you might have to end up changing your code as the engine evolves.I've seen a lot of people using it this way and have heard positive comments from people who were lost in TGE but found their way through TGB quite easily.
Quote:I guess my follow up question would be: is T2D still pretty powerful? Could I make an RTS in it? or would I be limited to Contra clones?It is extremely powerful. There are a number of examples of different gametypes (platformer, shooter, RTS, etc) on TDN for it. It is well suited to a number of different games without any internal engine modification.
#7
Once you use TGB you'll be so addicted you'll never go back to TGE.
02/24/2006 (8:19 am)
I don't think TGB is a good stepping stone to TGE.Once you use TGB you'll be so addicted you'll never go back to TGE.
#8
Heh. Yeah. I picked it up last night and I agree. :P
I wish I had know the documentation for it was so good because that is one of the reasons I initially got the TGE instead. I can already tell I am going to have a much easier time with T2D and that will make it a lot more fun.
I've tried Allegro and SDL but they were too much for me to deal with (I am horrible with libraries and linking etc) TGB is something I've been wanting for years.
02/24/2006 (9:13 am)
@ ChrisHeh. Yeah. I picked it up last night and I agree. :P
I wish I had know the documentation for it was so good because that is one of the reasons I initially got the TGE instead. I can already tell I am going to have a much easier time with T2D and that will make it a lot more fun.
I've tried Allegro and SDL but they were too much for me to deal with (I am horrible with libraries and linking etc) TGB is something I've been wanting for years.
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