What to get for a beginner - pretend money is no issue
by David Martin · in Torque Game Engine · 06/17/2007 (12:36 am) · 4 replies
Hey there. I've read up various things about Torque, mainly on this forum, and I'm looking at purchasing it possibly. Therefore, I was wondering what would be recommended if money was indeed no issue (of course it is but this is just so I can gauge the scope of the engine and its addons)
I'm looking mainly at TGE but would TGB be useful too? Maybe even TGEA too?
Would the Addon packs be essential because it's too hard to make something from scratch?
What books would be needed most?
Would all of the other little addons like car texture packs and building props be overly necessary?
Which C++ compiler would you recommend? (I already have VB.Net studio 2003)
Does Torque come with its own animating program or would I have to buy one separately?
What is the best program for coding in Torque-script?
Any other handy bits of know-how would be appreciated too!
Thanks heaps guys,
Dave
I'm looking mainly at TGE but would TGB be useful too? Maybe even TGEA too?
Would the Addon packs be essential because it's too hard to make something from scratch?
What books would be needed most?
Would all of the other little addons like car texture packs and building props be overly necessary?
Which C++ compiler would you recommend? (I already have VB.Net studio 2003)
Does Torque come with its own animating program or would I have to buy one separately?
What is the best program for coding in Torque-script?
Any other handy bits of know-how would be appreciated too!
Thanks heaps guys,
Dave
#2
- Start with TGB or TGE: TGB is easier to use, more suited to a beginner and has better documentation and examples available. Some of the principals and philosophies learnt in TGB will carry across to TGE. TGB, in essence, is a 2D game creator whereas TGE is designed for 3D games. Don't start with TGEA - it's not a beginner's engine and will only frustrate you.
- Content packs can wait. Which ones you will need will depend on the genre of game you plan to create. Typically most people find a character pack, vehicle pack and environment pack useful as a good starting point.
- Grab this book to help you learn and understand Torque Script: The Game Programmer's Guide to Torque
- Grab this IDE for scripting: Torsion
- Grab this compiler (it's free):Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition
- You'll also need the Platform SDK
- You'll also need a modeling program, image editor and sound editing tool plus a variety of other tools to help you along the way. Some popular choices include 3ds Max, Maya, Milkshape, Blender, Lightwave, Photoshop, PaintShop Pro, Gimp, Sound Forge, Reason, FL Studio etc (start Googling).
06/17/2007 (1:13 am)
Hi,- Start with TGB or TGE: TGB is easier to use, more suited to a beginner and has better documentation and examples available. Some of the principals and philosophies learnt in TGB will carry across to TGE. TGB, in essence, is a 2D game creator whereas TGE is designed for 3D games. Don't start with TGEA - it's not a beginner's engine and will only frustrate you.
- Content packs can wait. Which ones you will need will depend on the genre of game you plan to create. Typically most people find a character pack, vehicle pack and environment pack useful as a good starting point.
- Grab this book to help you learn and understand Torque Script: The Game Programmer's Guide to Torque
- Grab this IDE for scripting: Torsion
- Grab this compiler (it's free):Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition
- You'll also need the Platform SDK
- You'll also need a modeling program, image editor and sound editing tool plus a variety of other tools to help you along the way. Some popular choices include 3ds Max, Maya, Milkshape, Blender, Lightwave, Photoshop, PaintShop Pro, Gimp, Sound Forge, Reason, FL Studio etc (start Googling).
#3
What I'd love to be able to do would be make a simple 3d representation of AFL (Australian Footy). I don't mean code an entire match engine...let's not be silly. I am just talking about some guys perhaps running around and programming them to kick it to each other. However, it seems that Torque isn't very well set up for sporting games? Has anyone made any soccer, basketball, hockey, football games? I'm sure that it'd be doable but would it require heavy modding of the game engine itself? I would have thought it wouldn't have been too hard to code in a simple ball following projectile motion (physics background will come in handy) if you had the kicking and spinning animations.
06/17/2007 (1:49 am)
I've got a reasonable VB.Net knowledge so it wouldn't be as if I'd be jumping into the programming blind. I've already got Photoshop 7 and a "I can get by with basic stuff" knowledge of it. I've also got 3ds Max 6. What format do most of the content packs come in with the animations and buildings and such? Do they work in all of the modeling programs or are they specific to a certain one. If that is the case then I should perhaps get the most popular one.What I'd love to be able to do would be make a simple 3d representation of AFL (Australian Footy). I don't mean code an entire match engine...let's not be silly. I am just talking about some guys perhaps running around and programming them to kick it to each other. However, it seems that Torque isn't very well set up for sporting games? Has anyone made any soccer, basketball, hockey, football games? I'm sure that it'd be doable but would it require heavy modding of the game engine itself? I would have thought it wouldn't have been too hard to code in a simple ball following projectile motion (physics background will come in handy) if you had the kicking and spinning animations.
#4
What I'd love to be able to do would be make a simple 3d representation of AFL (Australian Footy). I don't mean code an entire match engine...let's not be silly. I am just talking about some guys perhaps running around and programming them to kick it to each other. However, it seems that Torque isn't very well set up for sporting games? Has anyone made any soccer, basketball, hockey, football games? I'm sure that it'd be doable but would it require heavy modding of the game engine itself? I would have thought it wouldn't have been too hard to code in a simple ball following projectile motion (physics background will come in handy) if you had the kicking and spinning animations.
06/17/2007 (2:35 am)
I've got a reasonable VB.Net knowledge so it wouldn't be as if I'd be jumping into the programming blind. I've already got Photoshop 7 and a "I can get by with basic stuff" knowledge of it. I've also got 3ds Max 6. What format do most of the content packs come in with the animations and buildings and such? Do they work in all of the modeling programs or are they specific to a certain one. If that is the case then I should perhaps get the most popular one.What I'd love to be able to do would be make a simple 3d representation of AFL (Australian Footy). I don't mean code an entire match engine...let's not be silly. I am just talking about some guys perhaps running around and programming them to kick it to each other. However, it seems that Torque isn't very well set up for sporting games? Has anyone made any soccer, basketball, hockey, football games? I'm sure that it'd be doable but would it require heavy modding of the game engine itself? I would have thought it wouldn't have been too hard to code in a simple ball following projectile motion (physics background will come in handy) if you had the kicking and spinning animations.
Torque Owner Magnus Blikstad
I'm looking mainly at TGE but would TGB be useful too? Maybe even TGEA too?
For a beginner, I'd definitely say go with TGB. TGB will of course only do 2d games, but as with everything; You should start small... 2d is perfect for that and it will get you up and running much faster.
If you absolutely must create a 3d game go with TGE. But there's a LOT of more code in TGE compared to TGB so be prepared to be confused. =)
Which C++ compiler would you recommend? (I already have VB.Net studio 2003)
VS2003 should work. Otherwise there's the excellent, and completely free, VS2005 express at microsofts site.
Does Torque come with its own animating program or would I have to buy one separately?
Torque is a game engine, not art software. You will need other things to produce you art.
What is the best program for coding in Torque-script?
Torsion.