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What are .cs files and a couple of questions on starting out

by Krisztian Brizs · in Torque Game Builder · 02/12/2009 (11:22 pm) · 6 replies

I have a couple of questions about TGB. I noticed that the Torsion screenshots have files with the .cs extension. What is this extension? Is an entire game written in these files and then compiled? What language would I have to learn. Is it enough to purchase an Indie license $100 and the Torsion editor $39.95 to create a game? What would be the added benefit of purchasing the source code if I do not intend to program in C++.
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Torque 3D Owner Marco Meier
Slickware Games
#1
02/13/2009 (2:46 am)
*.cs files are Torque Script Files.
Script Files are used to control your game. You can do most things with scripts without modifing any engine source code. So... yes, you can write a game just in script.

The Indie License is enough to get you started.
Torsion is an editor for Torque Script files. You don't really need it as you can use any text editor (like notepad for example) to modify the scripts. But Torsion has other usefull features like a integrated debugger, syntax highlight etc... Makes some stuff easier.

If you purchase the source code you can modify the engine directly. Some Resources require engine changes.
But I would say, start with the normal Indie License (without source code). This will give you a great start. If you then move on to more complex stuff you can then buy the source version.

Torque 3D Owner Matthew Langley
Torque
#2
02/13/2009 (11:01 pm)
Marco gives some very good advice. You can quite a ways in script in TGB, even to a complete game. The code would allow you to expand things further (if you chose to do so), also when you get to publishing a game a lot of the portals out there require special DRM and integrated content, some of which requires source code. You can always upgrade to TGB Pro later though.

Krisztian Brizs
#3
02/13/2009 (11:09 pm)
When you say portals require DRM and integrated content, do you mean they would provide you with source that they might ask you to integrate into your finished product?

What is TGB Pro and if you don't mind, what is the pricing on TGB Pro.

Torque 3D Owner Matthew Langley
Torque
#4
02/13/2009 (11:12 pm)
Yes, typically they would give you the DRM to hook up, they each do it a bit differently, have to jump through their hoops :)

TGB Pro is the version of TGB that contains source code. An Indie license to TGB pro is $250 I believe, it should be an option in the product page.

Krisztian Brizs
#5
02/13/2009 (11:19 pm)
Ok, thank you.

Torque Owner Nikos Beck
#6
02/18/2009 (4:38 pm)
In general, you need to write some specific functions into the engine that the DRM, a separate program, will call. Typically, the DRM has a one-hour counter. When the hour is up, it asks your game to stop playing and give the player a screen to buy the game. Some DRMs don't even do that, they kill the game instantly. Usually, you want it to be a smooth switch, that requires you to take steps in the engine.

Mind you, I'm not at that point yet myself. I'm still working out bugs before I buy the Pro version and dig into the engine. I have a little wish list of engine mods that I'm going to implement.