Is torque easy to use?
by Chase · in General Discussion · 06/03/2007 (1:27 pm) · 7 replies
Hello everyone I have never used the torque game engine before, but I have seen alot of good things about it floating around the web. so my question is. is the torque game engine very user friendly and easy to understand? the only engine that I have is called dark basic, and I have played around with it, and still have no idea how it works and no idea what I'm doing with that engine. I've been thinking about investing in the torque engine, but I want to make sure that it is something I can use with no problems, cause I am no programmer, and math is very very difficult for me, so I'm looking for something with a very easy to use interface, and very easy to use editors. any help would be great thanks.
#2
while sure it is way easier than dark basic .. it is still very challenging..
torque works in a very weird and special way ... that at first will be confusing as hell... but once you understand the basic concepts it begins to be easy..
torque has really only 2 editors... the gui editor and the world editor.. they are built in in the game you are making...so you play and edit at once... one diferent key activates each of the editors while playing
of course those editors can be removed easily to leave only the game for game distribution
3d models like players ,vehicles and weapons are made and exported via 3d modelling software like 3dsmax ,maya, lightwave, XSI,blender,milkshape and lightray3d
interiors and exteriors map scenes like buildings and houses,castles.. can be made with quark .. or constructor
terrain,enviroment and object placement of the maps or missions are made via the built in torque world editor...
but yes..althoug you dont need to start from scratch because of the bunch of already functions and the starter kits... you need to have some programming background in C# , PHP, Java or C++... if you have some experience on any of those languages .. you will have no problem at all to learn torque script...pretty much can be done via script... is simple and practical
and to edit the engine source code in case you need to expand the functionality... C++ experience is required
to know just the basics of c++ if you are going to do just a minor tweak ... or intermediate to advanced experience for a complete new functionality expansion.. ( if needed )
torque is a very capable engine .. plus has a very decent price and a user friendly indie license..
if you take the time to learn about it you can make very good things..for sure is not the " hardest " thing on earth but it is not very easy to use at first until you understand how it works
download the demo... watch the tour,see how it is... turn on the editors.. liook at the files that come with it and poke around
hope this helps
Cheers
06/03/2007 (2:42 pm)
Hiwhile sure it is way easier than dark basic .. it is still very challenging..
torque works in a very weird and special way ... that at first will be confusing as hell... but once you understand the basic concepts it begins to be easy..
torque has really only 2 editors... the gui editor and the world editor.. they are built in in the game you are making...so you play and edit at once... one diferent key activates each of the editors while playing
of course those editors can be removed easily to leave only the game for game distribution
3d models like players ,vehicles and weapons are made and exported via 3d modelling software like 3dsmax ,maya, lightwave, XSI,blender,milkshape and lightray3d
interiors and exteriors map scenes like buildings and houses,castles.. can be made with quark .. or constructor
terrain,enviroment and object placement of the maps or missions are made via the built in torque world editor...
but yes..althoug you dont need to start from scratch because of the bunch of already functions and the starter kits... you need to have some programming background in C# , PHP, Java or C++... if you have some experience on any of those languages .. you will have no problem at all to learn torque script...pretty much can be done via script... is simple and practical
and to edit the engine source code in case you need to expand the functionality... C++ experience is required
to know just the basics of c++ if you are going to do just a minor tweak ... or intermediate to advanced experience for a complete new functionality expansion.. ( if needed )
torque is a very capable engine .. plus has a very decent price and a user friendly indie license..
if you take the time to learn about it you can make very good things..for sure is not the " hardest " thing on earth but it is not very easy to use at first until you understand how it works
download the demo... watch the tour,see how it is... turn on the editors.. liook at the files that come with it and poke around
hope this helps
Cheers
#3
06/03/2007 (3:37 pm)
You'll need a book on programming, then you'll need a super expensive book to Torque.
#4
06/03/2007 (4:15 pm)
It definetly has a learning curve. 
#5
Download the demo and dig into it. Ask questions on the public forums. Try it out and see if it is easier.
06/03/2007 (4:28 pm)
Torque is a completely different mentality than DarkBASIC. Sure, there are included editors and tools (you will have to download Constructor to create levels and it has a large learning curve for level creation), but you will have to learn to program in either C++ or TorqueScript down the road. In DarkBASIC, you have to program everything from scratch...and in some games, that is actually more pleasant and easier. In others, having an engine like Torque which has certain functionality, is far easier.Download the demo and dig into it. Ask questions on the public forums. Try it out and see if it is easier.
#6
06/04/2007 (11:11 am)
Its not that tough to me
#7
Once you know it, it's pretty easy for a designer.
It took me about a year and a half to make my demo mission. But knowing what I know now, I could do it in 3 or 4. I don't think I could do it in 3 or 4 months in another existing engine, even if I knew it well.
06/05/2007 (6:06 pm)
I think it might be fair to say that Torque is as easy as it gets.Once you know it, it's pretty easy for a designer.
It took me about a year and a half to make my demo mission. But knowing what I know now, I could do it in 3 or 4. I don't think I could do it in 3 or 4 months in another existing engine, even if I knew it well.
Torque Owner Anthony Abrams
There are many things that can be done with the in-game editors, but a game made with it will require some programming and scripting.
You cannot make a game without doing some coding (be it C++ or scripting).
You can use the starter kits that come with it to help you get head start on things, but they will not be your complete game.
I hope this helps.