Thank you GG
by John Stamets · in General Discussion · 02/02/2007 (7:41 am) · 13 replies
A lot of fussing has occurred over the last few days in other threads, and I think that it is time to not fuss for a bit, at least in my mind. I have had discussions on and off line with Joe, and I think it can safely be said that they understand all of the current issues that have impacted the company and PR recently and as GG moves into the future, we will see less and less of those sorts of things. I know that as a developer and manager that these sorts of flare ups can be demoralizing to the development team and company as a whole, so to add some balance, I felt like the team might want/need some encouragement, because really, they have provided some amazing code to me for a very low price.
It is apparent that GG is still a young company and is experiencing some degree of growing pains, which is expected. I am confident that as products enter the pipeline and more employees are added and sales grow, we will see more and better product releases. Really, the team is quite good, passionate about their work and doing their best - I don't think any member of the community doubts that (I know they are better coders than I am and I respect them a great deal). Some have said they are in over their heads or bitten off more than they can chew. Are they? Maybe so, if by that we mean that they can't code and keep up with PR and shifting markets all at the same time, but every company has to deal with overloads from time to time. If any of you have been customers of GG since the beginning (I have been) then you have seen that GG has been able to consistently improve product and also introduce new product. In the beginning there was Torque with a blue T and a Map2DIf/DTS exporter for Max. Period. Not really any documentation to speak of - just Torque and the exporters.
Now GG has TGB, TGE, decent documentation, tutorials, exporters for many apps, a broad knowledge base that is searchable (no small improvement there...), Content Packs, a slew of bug fixes and engine improvements - all over the last six or so years - about the time it takes to release 2 major games. Soon we will have additional tools, a new improved engine and more content. I could buy all of it for less than a grand. That in and of itself is pretty darned amazing. It would be easy for me to keep fussing over what I don't have, but I think maybe it is time to recognize the contributions that the GG team has given to the Indie community over the last six or seven years and thank them.
So, to the team, we as a community may blow off some frustrations and kick and scream in the forums, but understand, it is because we love the product you have provided and get frustrated when we can't make it or the tools around it to perform to the level we know it can. You have awesome products that and are providing them to the indie community at a price far below what the products are worth.
So, anyway, that was a really long way of saying "thanks" and I for one appreciate what you are doing for us.
- J
It is apparent that GG is still a young company and is experiencing some degree of growing pains, which is expected. I am confident that as products enter the pipeline and more employees are added and sales grow, we will see more and better product releases. Really, the team is quite good, passionate about their work and doing their best - I don't think any member of the community doubts that (I know they are better coders than I am and I respect them a great deal). Some have said they are in over their heads or bitten off more than they can chew. Are they? Maybe so, if by that we mean that they can't code and keep up with PR and shifting markets all at the same time, but every company has to deal with overloads from time to time. If any of you have been customers of GG since the beginning (I have been) then you have seen that GG has been able to consistently improve product and also introduce new product. In the beginning there was Torque with a blue T and a Map2DIf/DTS exporter for Max. Period. Not really any documentation to speak of - just Torque and the exporters.
Now GG has TGB, TGE, decent documentation, tutorials, exporters for many apps, a broad knowledge base that is searchable (no small improvement there...), Content Packs, a slew of bug fixes and engine improvements - all over the last six or so years - about the time it takes to release 2 major games. Soon we will have additional tools, a new improved engine and more content. I could buy all of it for less than a grand. That in and of itself is pretty darned amazing. It would be easy for me to keep fussing over what I don't have, but I think maybe it is time to recognize the contributions that the GG team has given to the Indie community over the last six or seven years and thank them.
So, to the team, we as a community may blow off some frustrations and kick and scream in the forums, but understand, it is because we love the product you have provided and get frustrated when we can't make it or the tools around it to perform to the level we know it can. You have awesome products that and are providing them to the indie community at a price far below what the products are worth.
So, anyway, that was a really long way of saying "thanks" and I for one appreciate what you are doing for us.
- J
#2
02/02/2007 (8:10 am)
I second that. I think sometimes people forget what GG has done for us, and they focus on what they haven't. If GG wasn't here, I don't know where I'd be in indie game developing.
#3
100$, forum support, constant free (or close to free :)) upgrades, and even a core team dedicated to give us the tools we need to create the games that we want to create. Just add effort.
Thanx GG, don't know where I'd be without you guys.
02/02/2007 (8:15 am)
I also appreciate everything that GG did for us. They have built a wonderful community, and given the power of high-tech game engines to everyone who wants to dabble in it. I also am kinda bummed out with all the negative threads, I understand people's complaints but I do not get the feeling that they truly understand where GG comes from.100$, forum support, constant free (or close to free :)) upgrades, and even a core team dedicated to give us the tools we need to create the games that we want to create. Just add effort.
Thanx GG, don't know where I'd be without you guys.
#4
It has been the quality of the character of the individuals both in the company and the community that has re inspired me.
So yup, thanks guys.
02/02/2007 (8:44 am)
If a friend had not pointed me in the direction of Garage Games, I would very likely had abandon the game development industry completely. It has been the quality of the character of the individuals both in the company and the community that has re inspired me.
So yup, thanks guys.
#6
02/02/2007 (10:13 am)
Yeah, I know this is kinda sappy, but I do appreciate Torque and GG. I have 3 kids and we are adopting a few more (ya I know.. nuts, heard it all before...) and they love FPS. I don't want them playing a lot of what is out there and even if I did, I can't afford $50 a pop per seat for eight kids. So we are writing our own (extending the demo) - the kids come up with an idea and then we work together to build it into the game. They see what really goes into a game as well as, just maybe, learning something. I couldn't do this without GG.
#7
Personally I blame the instant gratification culture.
I can't wait for the howls of outrage when the next tool is finally released when people realise that there is no "create game" button on it and there is still work to be done before a result can be achieved ;)
Regards
Graham
02/02/2007 (11:18 am)
Yeah, I am gonna chime in here and say thanks GG.Personally I blame the instant gratification culture.
I can't wait for the howls of outrage when the next tool is finally released when people realise that there is no "create game" button on it and there is still work to be done before a result can be achieved ;)
Regards
Graham
#9
02/02/2007 (8:16 pm)
I agree, GarageGames has made a lot of things possible so props to them! 
#10
02/02/2007 (9:57 pm)
GG is fantastic, I used to always look around for an engine worth while using for years at that. But I couldn't find anything of any good use (Except for modding uses - and budget of cause), until V12 :-).
#11
Since I was already somewhat good at RPGMaker, I was looking for a new 2d engine, more complex. And then comes TGB, right in time ^^
Amazing documentation and tutorials, excellent community forum. We can go from nothing to being a good scripter in almost no time.
The devs are here with us, and that's really great to feel listened.
Right... now GIVE ME THE FRICKIN RED BIG BUTTON !!!!111!!1!!!11
Thanks.
;)))
02/03/2007 (3:00 pm)
I know GG because I liked games with jetpacks, blue plates, turrents and such ;) Since I was already somewhat good at RPGMaker, I was looking for a new 2d engine, more complex. And then comes TGB, right in time ^^
Amazing documentation and tutorials, excellent community forum. We can go from nothing to being a good scripter in almost no time.
The devs are here with us, and that's really great to feel listened.
Right... now GIVE ME THE FRICKIN RED BIG BUTTON !!!!111!!1!!!11
Thanks.
;)))
#12
02/03/2007 (6:13 pm)
I have to agree. The GG gang is great, and so is the engine.
#13
Thanks again GarageGames, it's a wonderful product!
;~)
02/03/2007 (10:29 pm)
I also wanted to say thanks to GG, I am a noobie and GG has made it a fun trip to learn. I believe that some of the frustration comes from newbies not reading the print all the way thru.Thanks again GarageGames, it's a wonderful product!
;~)
Torque 3D Owner Sean H.
I can sincerely say GG is the shiznit fo sho'. :)