Thinking about purchasing TGB...
by Jeff Severson · in Torque Game Builder · 10/09/2007 (9:26 pm) · 1 replies
I work in the video games industry. I have a couple shipped titles on the resume. I want to create a 2d isometric sci-fi RPG game (during my free-time of course). Think Fallout, only much more detailed, sci-fi, and a larger game world.
I must admit that while I'm a seasoned artist, I don't know a lick of scripting. Is TGB the right choice for me? Is it generally easy to find artists/programmers out there in the GG community who will volunteer their free time to work on such a huge project?
My goal is to create a flagship product to sell online and hopefully (keyword here) one day open my own game company here in the midwest. Any insight into TGB or the Indie game development industry would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff
I must admit that while I'm a seasoned artist, I don't know a lick of scripting. Is TGB the right choice for me? Is it generally easy to find artists/programmers out there in the GG community who will volunteer their free time to work on such a huge project?
My goal is to create a flagship product to sell online and hopefully (keyword here) one day open my own game company here in the midwest. Any insight into TGB or the Indie game development industry would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff
Torque Owner Tank Dork
Its sad when a question like this is left unanswered for over a month.
I will try and answer some of your questions and maybe it will help someone else if you have already made your decision.
All one needs to do is look at the Adventure Kit pack made for TGB to realize that it is indeed the choice for an isometric or (any angle) game. There was also a true isometric pack being developed by Neo (I think it was he), but haven't heard anything out of it in a while, it was far along and maybe one day will be an option as well. TGB has excellent camera controls as well. TGB now has behaviors allowing you to even attach and unattach cameras to objects on the fly. This gives you very finite control over how your player experiences your creation.
TGB works using levels, but I do not believe there is a cap on how many you can have. This allows you to create an immense world with areas linked through code.
I have tried most game development software and they all require scripting to some degree if you really want to make a unique product and not a cookie cutter arcade game. Torque script is a beast, I won't try and candy coat it. It is a pain to learn, it is a pain to use (even if you have C/C++ back ground like me). There are a few books available about it but they are more or less basic level and expect scripting experience. Documentation for TGB is sketchy at best and the few tutorials are outdated and very basic as well.
The community is very helpfull though and will generally answer your questions in a timely manner (especially the private forums).
No, unless they have a mutual intrest in your project you won't find much free help outside the normal forum/resources avalible here at GG (and a few other sites).
You will however find many skilled members willing to help if offered proper compensation.
Jeff Tunnell, the founder of GG has written several great blogs about just this topic. Use the handy search power of the site to track them down.
Lastly
Based on the project you have in mind, yes. You will find no other development tool with the power of Torque. However, it will not be an easy road and you will only succeed by hard work and perseverance.
I will leave you with an analogy. Imagine your project as an old building in need of demolition. Now imagine an old 30 ton bulldozer over grown with weeds sitting in a field next to it. This machine is more than capable of completing your goal but you have to get it running. You have no mechanic skills but have a basic understanding of what does what. Up for the challenge?