Torque Collaborative World Design Tool

Arrow Maker Productions
Versions:






TCWDT extends the functionality of TGE/TGEA to include real-time collaboration of game level design while maintaining all the existing editing features of TGE/TGEA World Editor. TCWDT..."Creating Virtual Worlds Together."

TCWDT Pro Now Available! TCWDT Pro includes the entire source code, pre-compiled binaries for TGEA 171, 180 and 181. Also, includes a 40+ page merge document showing all the changes. For all existing TCWDT TGEA owners simply upgrade for $50.

GarageGames' World Editor in the Torque Game Engine (TGE) and in the Torque Game Engine Advanced (TGEA) is rich in features. However, combined with the Torque Collaborative World Design Tool (TCWDT), level editing using the World Editor is further enhanced through real-time collaboration across any available network. One of the main key features of the TCWDT is it does not require a dedicated server setup. In a snap any level designer (host) can easily setup and host a level. Once hosted other designers (clients) with prior authorization can access the hosted level and share the assets for further collaborative games level design.

Definitions

Hosts - are defined as the user who hosts the level. They have comprehensive control over the level and aside from being able to create environmental effects, they also have control over who can save the level. This feature will avoid clients accidentally or unknowingly overwriting the level.

Clients - are users who join an existing level of a host. A detailed list of what a client can do is listed below.

Editing Features

  • Clients can create, delete, move, rotate and scale through the World Editor.
  • Clients can also copy and paste objects.
  • Clients and undo and redo actions.
  • Not only the host can save the mission file, clients can also save it. However, any changes made on the client-side will be monitored by the host and only the host will have the final say whether or not to accept the changes made by clients. A pop-up window will inform the host stating that a client is trying to save the mission file. This feature guarantees that only the host has control and to avoid future file mismatch. This feature also ensures that both host and clients have the most up-to-date mission file they are working on collaboratively.
  • The current editing mode, move, edit or scale is now controlled through a right click menu, and through the main menu. Quick keys are also assigned. The current editing mode is displayed in the top left corner in the World Editor window.
  • The right click menu also allows for quick reset of rotation and scale, hiding and showing objects and object deletion and cloning.
  • Objects in the object tree can be right clicked to hide or unhide them. Folders in the objects tree can be right clicked to hide or unhide entire groups at a time.
  • An object properties window has been added for precise movements of objects. This can also be hidden or shown by using the menu.
  • The advanced camera resource has been added, but in addition to changing camera views, tabbing allows for the following of other users in order to view their actions (credit to Thomas Lund for this resource)
  • Audio Emitter visual representations with rotating dots, can be hidden or shown in mass to avoid visual confusion.
Technical Features

  • A login screen to host a level and joining a level editing sessions for client. Since TGE and TGEA are both client and server, level editing Hosting and Joining is a snap.
  • Your shared environment and assets are only available to your team. Password protected environment must be setup during host. Without the correct password, client PCs will not be allowed to join in.
  • Client object updates automatically scale their update speed based on their selection size to avoid flooding the server with update messages and thus losing real-time object locations
  • When the client is updating an object such as moving it, updates for that object from the host are ignored to avoid a "tug of war" over the object.
  • The Host may adjust the speed at which objects altered by clients are updated out to all other clients using the "Client Updates" window.
  • Hiding objects now results in their disappearing and an inability to select them so that they do not interfere with other object selection or editing.
  • A secondary chat window has been added directly into the editor for quick communication, but will still allow quick keys to be used. It can be hidden or shown using the menu.
  • Clients cannot save missions without host permission. This will help prevent the unintentional distribution of assets to other parties.
  • If a client is missing or not containing the most current terrain file, it will be uploaded to the client.
  • Camera speeds are automatically synchronized between the host and all clients to maintain smooth movement of the camera.
Minimum
1.0 GHz processor (or equivalent)
512 MB RAM
Windows XP
OpenGL or DirectX compatible accelerated 3D video card

Recommended
2.0 GHz processor (or equivalent)
1 GB RAM
Windows XP / Windows Vista
nVidia or ATI accelerated 3D video card

This Software Licensing Agreement ("Agreement") is a legal agreement between you and Arrowmaker Productions LLC. These are the only terms by which Arrowmaker Productions LLC. permits any use of the Software.

Arrowmaker Productions LLC Licensing Agreement for the Torque Collaborative World Design Tool (TCWDT).

1. Definitions.

The "Torque Collaborative World Design Tool" (TCWDT) Software, including the downloadable source code and supporting documentation ("Software"), is governed by the terms of this License Agreement ("Agreement"). The Software is being licensed, not sold, to you ("Licensee") by Arrowmaker Productions LLC ("Licensor"). Except as expressly licensed hereunder, all rights in the Software remain the sole and exclusive property of Licensor.

2. Grant of License.

Licensor grants Licensee a limited, non-exclusive and non-transferable license, subject to the restrictions set forth in section 4 hereof, to employ the Software solely for use in developing source code and object code for electronic single or multi-player games ("Games") in conjunction with the Torque Game Engine ("TGE") or Torque Game Engine Advanced ("TGEA") created and maintained by Garagegames.com, Inc. ("Garagegames"). TGE and TGEA ("Torque Engines") are trademarks of Garagegames, and Licensee may download this Software through a web browser or copy it from Garagegames' approved distributed media onto a single computer for use in the creation of Games. Except as may be permitted under a separate written authorization from Licensor, Licensee shall not use the Software for any other purpose.

3. License Fee.

The fee for said license shall be as set forth on the Garagegames website.

4. Restrictions.

(a) Licensee may not sublicense, lease, sell, rent or otherwise transfer the Software. This Agreement is for one (1) license for one (1) developer.

(b) Licensee may not use the Software, or any portion thereof, to create a software product, including any source or object code, that competes, directly or indirectly, with the Software or with Garagegames.

(c) Licensee may publish, release, distribute, sell and/or transmit any Games created with the use of the Software without the prior written consent of Licensor.

(d) Licensee may utilize and study the design, performance and operation of the Software solely for the purpose of developing Games that are compatible with the Torque Engines. Licensee shall not, directly or indirectly, reverse engineer or aid or assist any third parties in the reverse engineering of all or any part of the Software. For purposes of this Agreement, "reverse engineering" shall mean: (i) the disassembly, decompilation, decryption, simulation, debugging or code tracing of microcode; and/or (ii) the disassembly, decompilation, decryption, simulation, debugging or code tracing of object code or executable code.

(e) Licensee acknowledges Licensor's right, title and interest in and to the "TCWDT" Software and any copyright, trademark, logo or other proprietary notices or legends, as well as the goodwill associated with the Software. Licensee will not at any time do or cause to be done any act or thing that in any way contests or impairs or is intended to contest or impair any part of such right, title, interest or goodwill. Licensee shall not represent that it has any ownership in the Software. Use of the Software shall not create any right, title or interest therein in Licensee's favor.

(f) Licensee shall promptly notify Licensor of the loss or unauthorized use or disclosure of the Software and shall promptly act to recover any such information and/or prevent further breach of the confidentiality obligations herein.

(g) Licensee may not distribute Software demonstration and included media in any form with the sole exception of products that directly use these files in conjunction with "TCWDT". These files may not be used separately in other software. In the event that these effects are to be used outside of their intended use, permission in writing must be granted by both GarageGames.Com, Inc. and Arrowmaker Productions LLC. This permission in writing is to be granted at GarageGames' and Arrowmaker Productions' sole discretion.

5. Copyright.

The Software is owned by Arrowmaker Productions LLC and is protected by United States copyright laws and international treaties. Arrowmaker Productions LLC reserves the exclusive copyright and all other rights, title and interest to distribute the Software, and to use Trademarks in connection with them. "Trademarks" refers to the name of the Software, the Software logo, the name Arrowmaker Productions LLC, and the Arrowmaker Productions LLC logo.

6. Confidentiality.

Licensor has provided Licensee with highly proprietary development information constituting the Software, both in source and object code and the documentation that accompanies said code, to enable Licensee to develop Games in connection with the Torque Engines. Licensee shall maintain the Software in strict confidence and will use such Software only in accordance with this Agreement.

7. Limitation of Liability.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES AND UNDER NO LEGAL THEORY, TORT, CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE, SHALL LICENSOR BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY CHARACTER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF GOODWILL, WORK STOPPAGE, COMPUTER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, OR ANY AND ALL OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES. IN NO EVENT WILL LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, EVEN IF LICENSOR SHALL HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY.

8. Warranty Disclaimer.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED FOR A SMALL CHARGE, AND THEREFORE, LICENSOR DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF THE SOFTWARE AS BETWEEN LICENSOR AND LICENSEE. LICENSOR MAKES NO WARRANTIES EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY CONTENT PUBLISHED AT GARAGEGAMES. LICENSEE PURCHASES AND ACCEPTS ALL SOFTWARE FROM LICENSOR ON AN "AS IS" AND "WHERE IS" BASIS AND WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WITH RESPECT TO THE SOFTWARE, LICENSOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A GENERAL OR PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. LICENSEE SHALL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING WARRANTY AND REPAIR/REPLACEMENT SERVICES FOR ANY DEFECTIVE SOFTWARE. Some jurisdictions do not allow exclusions of an implied warranty, so this disclaimer may not apply and there may be other legal rights available that vary by jurisdiction.

9. Licensee's Representations and Warranties.

Licensee warrants, covenants and represents that: (a) the Games do not contain any libelous or otherwise unlawful material or violate any personal, proprietary or contractual right of any person or entity; (b) the Games will be unencumbered by any and all claims of any kind, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, including, but not limited to, claims of copyright or trademark infringement, violations of trade secret laws, privacy and publicity rights, failure to pay or breach of contract claims; (c) the Games are unique, were and will be created solely by Licensee and contain no unlicensed third party materials; (d) Licensee will not violate any agreements it may have with third parties by entering into this Agreement; and (e) Licensee has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement.

10. Indemnification.

(a) Licensee shall, at its own expense, indemnify, defend and hold Licensor harmless from any claim or suit arising out of the misuse or misappropriation of, or any use in violation of this Agreement related to the Software, including any losses, damage or expenses arising from any such claim or suit. Licensor agrees to cooperate with Licensee in the defense or settlement of any such claim or suit, provided that Licensor shall be reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing any cooperation required by Licensee.

(b) Promptly after receipt of a threat of any claim or suit, or a notice of the commencement or filing of any claim or suit against which Licensor may be indemnified hereunder, Licensor shall give written notice thereof to Licensee. Licensee shall have sole control of the defense and of all negotiations for settlement of such claim or suit. Subject to the foregoing, Licensor may participate in the defense of any such claim or suit at its own expense.

11. General.

(a) Governing Law. This Agreement and all of its terms and conditions shall be governed by and interpreted pursuant to the laws of Lane County, Oregon applicable to agreements to be performed in Mississippi.

(b) Modification. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement may not be altered, amended or modified except in writing and executed by each party's duly authorized representatives.

(c) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.

(d) Assignment. Licensee may not assign or transfer this Agreement or the benefit of this Agreement (in whole or in part) to any person or entity without the written consent of Licensor. Licensor may assign or transfer this Agreement or the benefit of this Agreement (in whole or in part) in its sole discretion.

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