Torque 3D for a beginner?
by Phillip M · in General Discussion · 06/15/2009 (7:59 am) · 10 replies
What the, how come the Start a Thread button is available if your not logged in. I just did a nice long post and ended up at a blank page. :( Oh well, lets try this again. :p
Hey guys, I've been wanting to get into game development for a while now and I was wondering if Torque 3D Basic would be newb friendly enough to allow me to get started in making a simple FPS (I've decided to hold off on a Crysis clone until my second game ;)). The only problem is I don't know C/C++, I know C# and a few other languages, but I don't think I'll have a problem learning it as long as I don't hit a brick wall right at the beginning and can spend my time in the beginning just playing around in the World Editor and running around in game, then once I'm confident start slowly making changes to turn it into a FPS. :)
So the point of this thread is basically, can I quickly get started on the mapping / art side of things and then start to learn how to do the programming side of things later on? Or is a certain amount of programming required to get everything up and running?
The reason I want to go with Torque instead of the modding route is this way what I develop is entirely mine, and if I want to give it to a friend to show off /release it I can just send them the files and away we go. It also means I don't spend 5 minutes waiting for a game to start before I can run around and see how a quick change I've made looks. Aside from that, alot of game engines don't appear to be too noob friendly. I started learning how to model using Blender and tried to bring what I made into a simple HL2 map and soon discovered that I needed to jump through about a billion hoops to get the job done and that I would have to look into the proper commercial apps, but I think Torque can handle Blender files without any problems? :) Oh and before anyway brings it up, 2D games have no interest for me so don't suggest going and practising on those first. :p
So the question of the day is, can a basic shooter be made with Torque 3D Basic? Or am I off in la la land? I'm not fussed spending $200 on something if in a months time I discover game development isn't for me, but I don't want to spend $200 for some code and binaries that just sit on my hard drive looking pretty either. :p
Hopefully the above makes sense and I don't get to many "make a mod" comments. :p
Cheers!
p.s. How come the Road and River tools aren't part of the Basic package? I thought Basic was targeted towards artists, won't they need them? Oh oh, and I take it there's no intention of bringing an X/Y/Z view to the World editor?
p.p.s I spose my definition of simple / basic would be running around in a 3D world with a gun and being able to shoot at another object.
Oh, and sorry if this ends up being double posted. :)
Hey guys, I've been wanting to get into game development for a while now and I was wondering if Torque 3D Basic would be newb friendly enough to allow me to get started in making a simple FPS (I've decided to hold off on a Crysis clone until my second game ;)). The only problem is I don't know C/C++, I know C# and a few other languages, but I don't think I'll have a problem learning it as long as I don't hit a brick wall right at the beginning and can spend my time in the beginning just playing around in the World Editor and running around in game, then once I'm confident start slowly making changes to turn it into a FPS. :)
So the point of this thread is basically, can I quickly get started on the mapping / art side of things and then start to learn how to do the programming side of things later on? Or is a certain amount of programming required to get everything up and running?
The reason I want to go with Torque instead of the modding route is this way what I develop is entirely mine, and if I want to give it to a friend to show off /release it I can just send them the files and away we go. It also means I don't spend 5 minutes waiting for a game to start before I can run around and see how a quick change I've made looks. Aside from that, alot of game engines don't appear to be too noob friendly. I started learning how to model using Blender and tried to bring what I made into a simple HL2 map and soon discovered that I needed to jump through about a billion hoops to get the job done and that I would have to look into the proper commercial apps, but I think Torque can handle Blender files without any problems? :) Oh and before anyway brings it up, 2D games have no interest for me so don't suggest going and practising on those first. :p
So the question of the day is, can a basic shooter be made with Torque 3D Basic? Or am I off in la la land? I'm not fussed spending $200 on something if in a months time I discover game development isn't for me, but I don't want to spend $200 for some code and binaries that just sit on my hard drive looking pretty either. :p
Hopefully the above makes sense and I don't get to many "make a mod" comments. :p
Cheers!
p.s. How come the Road and River tools aren't part of the Basic package? I thought Basic was targeted towards artists, won't they need them? Oh oh, and I take it there's no intention of bringing an X/Y/Z view to the World editor?
p.p.s I spose my definition of simple / basic would be running around in a 3D world with a gun and being able to shoot at another object.
Oh, and sorry if this ends up being double posted. :)
#2
As for as learning the engine, I have you covered in this area. I'm writing the Torque 3D documentation from scratch, with a heavy emphasis on guiding a completely new Torque user. The Beginner's Guide section will walk you through every single tool, interface, application and folder you will encounter as a newcomer. I will be showing you how to use the engine to its fullest before proceeding to the specialized and advanced content targeting individual fields (Artist, Scripter, Programmer).
06/15/2009 (12:02 pm)
@Phillip M - The details of the Basic package have not been finalized yet, which means you might still get all the tools. Brett will be posting more about this in the coming weeks. So, just keep following his blog.As for as learning the engine, I have you covered in this area. I'm writing the Torque 3D documentation from scratch, with a heavy emphasis on guiding a completely new Torque user. The Beginner's Guide section will walk you through every single tool, interface, application and folder you will encounter as a newcomer. I will be showing you how to use the engine to its fullest before proceeding to the specialized and advanced content targeting individual fields (Artist, Scripter, Programmer).
#3
A beginner will find a bit of a learning curve learning the code layout and script language, but so far as the new tools in Torque 3D and improved art pipeline goes, Torque has never been easier to use.
06/15/2009 (12:40 pm)
An almost feature complete FPS can be created in Torque using nothing but script. A simple & basic Deathmatch/TDM comes provided out-of-the-box already.A beginner will find a bit of a learning curve learning the code layout and script language, but so far as the new tools in Torque 3D and improved art pipeline goes, Torque has never been easier to use.
#4
06/15/2009 (12:58 pm)
Michael you rock! You guys are just selling me more and more to buy Torque 3D. I was already 100% going to buy it within a week, but now you made me 110%. Thank You :D
#5
Michael Hall:
Does the included shooter already have multiplayer support? :o That would make my day. :p
06/15/2009 (6:41 pm)
Oh wow, serious? :D Thats awesome, thanks guys. :) These definitely weren't the kind of responses I was expecting. :p The documentation sounds perfect. :) Would I be safe to continue modelling in Blender so when Torque 3D is finally released I can just throw them straight in? :)Michael Hall:
Does the included shooter already have multiplayer support? :o That would make my day. :p
#6
The networking is just one of the foundations that Torque is built upon. Torque originally started out as a game that was multiplayer only -- so it has a history that is proven and battletested.
06/15/2009 (9:25 pm)
@Philip:Quote:Yes. The Blender DTS Exporter works quite well and is my favorite out of the low/no cost alternatives. Of course Torque 3D can also import collada files (.dae), which practically any modeling program including Blender can export, so that is a boon for many artists.
Would I be safe to continue modelling in Blender so when Torque 3D is finally released I can just throw them straight in?
Quote:Yes :D
Does the included shooter already have multiplayer support?
The networking is just one of the foundations that Torque is built upon. Torque originally started out as a game that was multiplayer only -- so it has a history that is proven and battletested.
#8
06/16/2009 (7:28 am)
@Stanley - After using Torque 3D for months and watching our interns pick it up (with no Torque experience), I have to say it's the most intuitive 3D engine we've produced. It is still an advanced engine that comes with a decent learning curve, but the new tools and documentation are targeting a high quality user experience that anyone can pick up and run with.
#9
Also, Is torque basically a gamemaker type thing, because I want to start learning something that I can actually use to get me into the gaming industry when I'm older.
My thanks to anyone who replies!!
06/17/2009 (8:30 am)
Hey I'm 16 and I don't know any programming(I'm trying to learn C++), so could I buy torque and figure it out as I go?Also, Is torque basically a gamemaker type thing, because I want to start learning something that I can actually use to get me into the gaming industry when I'm older.
My thanks to anyone who replies!!
#10
06/17/2009 (8:44 am)
Quote:I did, other people have, you could, but it's too much "learning" for some people. The answer ultimately depends on you. You would definitely want to study a quick primer for C++ at least, and also follow the tutorials/resources and read the documentation. You're never too young to learn and starting now will give you a good head start for later if that is your intention.
could I buy torque and figure it out as I go?
Quote:No, no, and no. So-called game-makers are only "toys" in my opinion. To me they're little more than sandbox editors good for prototyping. Torque is an engine that when you learn to use it will allow you to create a game.
Is torque basically a gamemaker type thing, because I want to start learning something that I can actually use to get me into the gaming industry when I'm older.
Torque 3D Owner Tuomas Kaukoranta
Making a shooter where you run with gun shooting things should be easy enough with T3D.