Software Tool : "RTS Starter Kit

#1 Disclaimer - I do not own the RTS Starter Kit, but I thought the following thoughts would help. My applogizes if they do not.


1) No - Its considered a add on product.
From the RTS Starter Kit Purchase Page:

Quote:
Note: You must own Torque to purchase the RTS Starter Kit. This Starter Kit consists of an installer which contains the full Torque 1.3 codebase along with the changes needed to make use of the RTS code.

So you have to own TGE either 1.4 or 1.5. It looks like you would get a working copy of the RTS but with version 1.3 of the engine. I believe I have seen thread that said there was "merge" examples to get it working with 1.5, but as I don't own the RTS Kit I can't confirm nor deny that rumor.

2- Don't know if it does this out of the box. Certainly you could code it.

3- Sounds game specific so as a result I would guess you would have to code it yourself.

Generally I would say that if what you want isn't in the the list of features or the demo movie you would have to code it yourself.

Hope that helps.

#2 Dan covered everything quite nicely. I'll clarify a couple of points as well.

Quote:(1.) Is this a standalone product (or TGE edition) -- or would I have
to purchase TGE v1.4 (or v1.5 upgrade), then make changes to
the original and somehow incorporate it with this "RTS Starter Kit" ?

You have to own TGE first. There is a merge guide and a renewed community support of the kit on the RTS forum.

Quote:(2.) Is there only a "top view" offered by the camera system ? Or in other
words, can I have the camera follow a character (or the player)
from an FPS angle ?

There is only a "top view" as stock, though I believe the updates that the community have put together allow multiple views. But with the stock kit, there is only the main top view.

Quote:(3.) Also, does this "RTS Starter Kit" allow for a somewhat "off-course" view
in terms of a character's entering a building, let's say, for a specific
assignment / task that I want the player to complete as part of a game ?

You would have to code in any game-specific functionality. This is not handled by the kit as it is simply a starting point and not a full-fledged implementation of variant RTS gameplay styles.

#3 @Dan - Thanks for the tips & link : I think it may be a good time
to watch the demo :-)

@David Blake - Thanks for the clarifications :-)


However,

For all anybody knows,
I could simply combine the "Buggie Car" game
that comes with the DEMO of TGE v1.4 (or v1.5),
which does have an FPS-Camera view option,
and thus incorporate it into my RTS game, yes ?

Oh BTW : Does TGE v1.4 or v1.5 Upgrade ship
with the DEMO's game source(s), so that I
would have a ready-to-go game to look at ?

Thanks,
Ronnie

#4 Yes. 1.4 and 1.5 both ship with the complete C++ sources as well as the torquescript sources for the FPS and Racing stater kits (as well as demo and tutorial.base).

The "simply combine" segment of working with the RTS kit and the buggy example would require some C++ source code changes to make sure that the camera systems would work according to your scheme. The "simply" is the problem.

#5 Just a word of advice, the RTS Kit is no longer officially supported by Garage Games (Check the support list if you don't believe me). If you buy it, the only bug fixes, additions, code examples, etc are being developed by the dedicated RTS Kit community, not by Garage Games.

Just for clarification, I called Garage Games a few times about the RTS Kit and was told it was no longer supported. There were many promises in the RTS Kit private forums about it being updated, bug fixed, etc that never happened.

#6 There is a huge community effort right now in the forums to update the kit and all. The community behind it has been rekindled so to speak over the last few months. There is a lot of stuff in the forums (even a patch to get it updated to AFX if you own that as well), so its worth it in my opinion.

#7 Chip, I agree it's worth it and the community has done great things for the RTS Kit, but alot of people buy the RTS kit thinking it's supported by Garage Games or will eventually be updated and it's not and won't (See the many past promises in the forums). I've asked very nicely several times for GG to let folks know that it is no longer officially supported with a simple disclaimer, but, and I'm trying to be nice, they refuse.

With all the strides that GG is trying to make the RTS Kit, at least in my opinion, is one black eye that just won't go away. I just wish some one from GG would do the proper thing about this for once.

#8

Quote:or will eventually be updated and it's not and won't

Maybe that is go too far on your side Chris.