Where to Buy/Download?
by David Minka · in Torque 2D Beginner · 05/27/2013 (7:21 pm) · 9 replies
Hello, I am currently looking for a program to try out a bit of game programming. I currently have Unity(but want to make a 2D style game and its more for 3D), which then brought me to Torque 2D after a search. However I'm going insane trying to find where I download Torque 2D, or where I buy it.
Thanks
Thanks
#2
05/27/2013 (8:01 pm)
Ok, I am still stuck, or more or less confused. What exactly is Torque 2D? I was watching a tutorial via YouTube of a "map maker" so to speak. Did he create this?, or is this part of Torque 2D. More or less is Torque 2D a beginner friendly "program" or is it all programmed to ones liking? I ask this because I already downloaded the packages, and still have yet to see a installer, there is one .exe but it just loads a truck game. Sorry if this is "noobish", just trying to start somewhere, and have more questions then answers. 
#3
What you saw in video form is most probably Torque Game Builder, an engine that dates back a few years, which features full editors as seen in the video.
You can still purchase it here but note that It is now unsupported and will not receive further updates.
Torque 2d MIT is the open-source offspring of Torque Game Builder and features No in-game editors at the moment. It also has no installer; you download the source code and compile it using free C++ compilers or download the .exe to get started.
If you want to create maps for it, you may use free tile-mapping software like Tiled.
While this might seem weird, know that this project is community-based, meaning that everyone who chooses to adopt the engine can contribute to make it better. Editors will eventually be integrated as the community works on them together.
Click "Show Tools" in the lower-right corner of the screen if you want to see all the toys included in the Sandbox. Every one of these toys was made entirely using TorqueScript without having to touch C++.
In the meantime, you will have to learn TorqueScript (T2D's proprietary scripting language) to create games with the engine.
Your ultimate choice depends on the level of investment you are willing to commit. An easy way to start would be by downloading the Torque Game builder demo from the link above and getting familiar with it.
Migrating to T2D after that will be easier if you understand the basic flow of the engine.
05/27/2013 (8:18 pm)
No problem, David! Torque Game Builder
--------------------------------------------What you saw in video form is most probably Torque Game Builder, an engine that dates back a few years, which features full editors as seen in the video.
You can still purchase it here but note that It is now unsupported and will not receive further updates.
T2D MIT
--------------------------------------------Torque 2d MIT is the open-source offspring of Torque Game Builder and features No in-game editors at the moment. It also has no installer; you download the source code and compile it using free C++ compilers or download the .exe to get started.
If you want to create maps for it, you may use free tile-mapping software like Tiled.
While this might seem weird, know that this project is community-based, meaning that everyone who chooses to adopt the engine can contribute to make it better. Editors will eventually be integrated as the community works on them together.
Click "Show Tools" in the lower-right corner of the screen if you want to see all the toys included in the Sandbox. Every one of these toys was made entirely using TorqueScript without having to touch C++.
In the meantime, you will have to learn TorqueScript (T2D's proprietary scripting language) to create games with the engine.
Your ultimate choice depends on the level of investment you are willing to commit. An easy way to start would be by downloading the Torque Game builder demo from the link above and getting familiar with it.
Migrating to T2D after that will be easier if you understand the basic flow of the engine.
#4
05/27/2013 (8:52 pm)
Can the Torque Game Builder make games worthy of today? Since it will no longer receive updates. Meaning, if I drop $128 will I actually be able to make something that might work?
#5
05/27/2013 (8:53 pm)
Also - the game builder is what I saw on the video, thanks.
#6
Platforms
Torque Game Builder (TGB) is intended to make 2d games on Windows and Mac. T2D MIT, out-of-the-box, supports Mac, Windows, iOS and eventually, Android, Ouya and Linux.
Physics
Physics in TGB are functional but they can be really complicated to work with and can get really buggy. T2D MIT, on the other hand, fully supports Box2D physics, allowing for high performance and easy portability.
Performance
T2D MIT supports Batching and get framerates orders of magnitude higher than TGB.
Shaders
Shaders (to get modern Special Effects like dynamic lighting, reflections, etc.) are not supported in TGB or in T2D MIT. However, one awesome community member is working on an update which will allow the use of shaders in T2D MIT.
If you look at these comparisons, you can see that the obvious choice for the future is T2D MIT. The ONLY advantage of TGB is the editor.
05/27/2013 (9:14 pm)
@David : It all depends on what type of game you want to make and what kind of features you want to support. Personally, I see it as an easy way to get results quickly, great for prototyping ideas. Here are a few things to think about.Platforms
Torque Game Builder (TGB) is intended to make 2d games on Windows and Mac. T2D MIT, out-of-the-box, supports Mac, Windows, iOS and eventually, Android, Ouya and Linux.
Physics
Physics in TGB are functional but they can be really complicated to work with and can get really buggy. T2D MIT, on the other hand, fully supports Box2D physics, allowing for high performance and easy portability.
Performance
T2D MIT supports Batching and get framerates orders of magnitude higher than TGB.
Shaders
Shaders (to get modern Special Effects like dynamic lighting, reflections, etc.) are not supported in TGB or in T2D MIT. However, one awesome community member is working on an update which will allow the use of shaders in T2D MIT.
If you look at these comparisons, you can see that the obvious choice for the future is T2D MIT. The ONLY advantage of TGB is the editor.
#7
05/28/2013 (5:04 am)
If you want to be future thinking, T2D MIT is the way to go. Getting started in TGB now with the ancient documentation is a little like trying to fill a bathtub with a leaky bucket: Why not just get a new bucket? 
#8
We have been making up for a lack of editors in Torque 2D MIT by supporting 3rd party tools, some of which users begged for support in the old TGB. Here is what is available or will be available shortly:
TexturePacker: Combines multiple images and creates the assets for T2D
Zwoptex: Similar to TexturePacker, but a different developer
Spine: Skeletal animation editor. T2D will load the output natively
Spriter; Similar to Spine, but a different developer
Tiled: The most popular 2D map maker
PhysicsEditor: Create simple physics shapes for sprites
ParticleDesigner: Create beautiful particle effects easily.
So, the above tools give you something to create assets for images, animations, maps, physics objects, and particles.
Torque 2D MIT will eventually have its own editors, but that will be a huge endeavor that will take more time. It takes less effort to support 3rd party tools, so we've been working on that to get people going for now.
05/28/2013 (6:19 am)
@David - Simon's answers are perfect. I thought I would chime in with some details on existing tool support. We have been making up for a lack of editors in Torque 2D MIT by supporting 3rd party tools, some of which users begged for support in the old TGB. Here is what is available or will be available shortly:
TexturePacker: Combines multiple images and creates the assets for T2D
Zwoptex: Similar to TexturePacker, but a different developer
Spine: Skeletal animation editor. T2D will load the output natively
Spriter; Similar to Spine, but a different developer
Tiled: The most popular 2D map maker
PhysicsEditor: Create simple physics shapes for sprites
ParticleDesigner: Create beautiful particle effects easily.
So, the above tools give you something to create assets for images, animations, maps, physics objects, and particles.
Torque 2D MIT will eventually have its own editors, but that will be a huge endeavor that will take more time. It takes less effort to support 3rd party tools, so we've been working on that to get people going for now.
#9
08/11/2013 (6:27 am)
Hi everybody, Simons answers are very clear. Thats great cause i know a few people who speaks in real life as complicated as programming is :)
Associate Simon Love
If you are familiar with programming, I suggest obtaining the engine from here.
Make sure to take a look at our Tutorials and Guides to get you started and also to get to know how the engine works.
If you want to get started right away though, simply click here to download the pre-compiled .exe of the latest version.
Feel free to ask us questions, the Torque Community will always be there to help out!