Torque X Platformer Starter Kit

The Platformer Starter Kit is the first advanced starter kit available from GarageGames for Torque X. It brings functionality commonly found in 2d platformer games to XNA. Developers looking to create games similar to Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, Mega Man or Sonic the Hedgehog will definitely want to buy this affordable starter kit.

Like all Torque X starter kits, the Platformer Starter Kit makes use of Torque X and the Torque Game Builder X toolset to harness the power of Torque X and XNA. The source code and art assets included with the starter kit are yours to modify and use, royalty free, in your own games.

The Platformer Starter Kit is made up of two parts. The first is the Platformer Framework which you will use to create your own game. The second is the demo which uses the framework. In the Platformer demo you control a fully animated little dragon who can run, jump and fly his way around platforms and obstacles commonly found in the genre.

With the purchase of the Platformer Starter Kit you will gain access to the private Torque X Platformer Starter Kit forums where GarageGames developers and associates who will be available to help you with the starter kit.

Art Assets and Source Code

The Platformer Starter Kit comes with a tremendous amount of original art and source code, all of which you are free to modify and use in your own Torque X powered projects.

Extensive Documentation

Included with the starter kit is extensive documentation highlighting all the features of the Platformer Framework. This includes a user's guide that gives an overview of both the demo and the framework, an API reference, and a reference to all Platformer Framework components and functions. Additionally it includes tutorials on Basic level Creation, Advanced Level Creation and Advanced Actor Creation.

Play it on the Xbox 360!

Since the Platformer Stater Kit was made with Torque X it runs flawlessly on the Xbox 360 for users who subscribe to Microsoft's Creator's Club.

Full TXB Integration

The Platformer Starter Kit was designed to take full advantage of Torque X Builder's Toolset which which makes constructing levels and platformer games a breeze. Though it is possible to create games using only Torque X, serious platformer game developers are going to want to use TXB with the Platformer Starter Kit.

Torque X Platformer Starter Kit Features

Platforms

Create static, moving, sloped or animated platforms such as conveyors. You can even specify how your actors will collide with the various platforms to create one-way platforms. An example is the ability to jump up and pass through a platform and then land on the same platform.

Ladders, Ropes, Hazards and Kill Triggers

Ladders and ropes are objects that your character can climb. Hazards are objects that deal damage to your character and Kill triggers are objects that immediately kill your character.

Pickups and Items

Most platformers require the player to pick up items or coins, the Platformer Starter Kit supports this through an item pickup and inventory system that tracks items and how many you have picked up.

Spawn Points and Check Point System

The Check Point System helps track your characters progress through a level. In the event that your characters dies or when you first begin a level, a Spawn Point is used to add objects to your scene in a definable way.

Character Animation Manager

The Character Animation Manager uses a Finite State Machine to help determine the state of your characters animation based on various definable physical states. An example is transitioning to a jump animation into a flying animation once your character has left the ground and been in the air for a while and then into a crouch once it hits the ground again.

AI Control System

Another system powered by a Finite State Machine is the AI Control System which uses definiable AI states to help create AI opponents in your game.

Parallax Scroller System

A basic parallax effect can give a flat scene a feeling of depth. The Parallax Scroller System takes the backgrounds you want to scroll and controls the speed that they move based on your character to create this effect without any extra work by you.

Sound Management

The Sound Manager works with Microsoft's XACT audio tool and provides an abstract interface that allows you to interact easily with your sound assets while taking some of the guesswork out of the process at the same time. You can simply register your XACT SoundBanks and WaveBanks with the sound manager and then play sounds from those banks at any time.

What are you waiting for?

Like most GarageGames products the Platformer Starter Kit comes in two flavors: the first is the Indie version for $29.95 aimed at hobbyists and students, and the second is the Commercial version for $149.95 aimed at more serious developers. Both come with the full source code and art assets used in the Platformer Demo and Framework and can be used with either Torque X or Torque X Pro.