From the depths of Hell... a MACK T3D update
by Jondo · 04/15/2011 (12:49 pm) · 43 comments
This is a long overdue blog regarding the status of our Advanced Character Kit port to Torque3D.
We've had a ton of hurdles to overcome with this port. So much has changed since we originally planned for a simple ACK port to T3D. Its been a rough year or two for most of us here, so I will spare you the sad-stories from the B.A.G. camp and keep this blog about the positive points.
We truly apologize for not having better communication over the past many months. But we are "back" and really excited about the new direction at GG! We're glad to be a part of it and look forward to a big 2011 with the rest of the community.
The Main function of the ACK system has always been to demonstrate the possibilities with character functionality in the Torque engines, and to serve as the "end-all placeholder art" for your human-based game characters until AAA assets can be added to final projects. Its also a viable "final" character model for some game projects, depending on your graphic needs. Once adopted, the system can be used on other characters (with bvh named skeletons), as well.
This update is more than a port of the ACK system to T3D, we've also done a full overhaul of the functionality. More like a Modernization Kit for ACK. The final scope of features definitely affected our production time, but we feel it was worth it. There are still some issues to be worked out, but we are going to move into packaging the build and get the community involved in sorting out any tweaks needed. Now that the engine is nearing its first release build, its finally time to unleash ACKT3D on you. We are planning to package MACK and FACK T3D and submit it to GG by next week. If this is delayed, I will update you here.
I'm most excited to reveal some of the new features previously not included in the ACK system:
Over 60 new clothing meshes added to stack
More LODs
8 way added for movement
4 way melee attacks added
sprinting added
many new animations: ambient roots, movements, crouch/prone, swim
Full swinging arms/weapon arm toggling functionality
melee improvements
Doublejump/flip added
Mantling improved
Advanced skin swapping
Multitexture layers for decal style overlays such as tatoos, damage marks, etc.
Gender selection GUI example
That's where we're at, folks. More soon, and thanks for the continued patience!
Jondo
P.S.
Of course there's a video!
We've had a ton of hurdles to overcome with this port. So much has changed since we originally planned for a simple ACK port to T3D. Its been a rough year or two for most of us here, so I will spare you the sad-stories from the B.A.G. camp and keep this blog about the positive points.
We truly apologize for not having better communication over the past many months. But we are "back" and really excited about the new direction at GG! We're glad to be a part of it and look forward to a big 2011 with the rest of the community.
The Main function of the ACK system has always been to demonstrate the possibilities with character functionality in the Torque engines, and to serve as the "end-all placeholder art" for your human-based game characters until AAA assets can be added to final projects. Its also a viable "final" character model for some game projects, depending on your graphic needs. Once adopted, the system can be used on other characters (with bvh named skeletons), as well.
This update is more than a port of the ACK system to T3D, we've also done a full overhaul of the functionality. More like a Modernization Kit for ACK. The final scope of features definitely affected our production time, but we feel it was worth it. There are still some issues to be worked out, but we are going to move into packaging the build and get the community involved in sorting out any tweaks needed. Now that the engine is nearing its first release build, its finally time to unleash ACKT3D on you. We are planning to package MACK and FACK T3D and submit it to GG by next week. If this is delayed, I will update you here.
I'm most excited to reveal some of the new features previously not included in the ACK system:
Over 60 new clothing meshes added to stack
More LODs
8 way added for movement
4 way melee attacks added
sprinting added
many new animations: ambient roots, movements, crouch/prone, swim
Full swinging arms/weapon arm toggling functionality
melee improvements
Doublejump/flip added
Mantling improved
Advanced skin swapping
Multitexture layers for decal style overlays such as tatoos, damage marks, etc.
Gender selection GUI example
That's where we're at, folks. More soon, and thanks for the continued patience!
Jondo
P.S.
Of course there's a video!
#2
OK now if that is ready, well let me get the credit card out again!
I need the M*A*C*K!
So will the F*A*C*K be along the same lines!
How do we get an upgrade to what we already have?
Regards and Thanks!
Joe
04/15/2011 (10:10 pm)
WOW!!!OK now if that is ready, well let me get the credit card out again!
I need the M*A*C*K!
So will the F*A*C*K be along the same lines!
How do we get an upgrade to what we already have?
Regards and Thanks!
Joe
#3
Good job, looking forward to the release.
04/16/2011 (1:39 am)
Ahhhhhhh ... now I am going to cry ... tears of joy. I swear people on this community can read minds. :)Good job, looking forward to the release.
#4
04/16/2011 (4:57 am)
AWESOME! :) 
#5
04/16/2011 (5:59 am)
Nice update. Looking forward to seeing the technology as well as the art. 
#6
04/16/2011 (7:49 am)
WB & keeep it up guys ;) 
#7
04/16/2011 (8:04 am)
Im glad i bought MACk a few months back then, thinking it might get a T3D update, glad I was right:O) Great job BTW! 
#8
the turn animation should lead with the foot on the side the character is turning to. when turning right, the right foot should move outward while the left foot stays planted. the hips shouldn't twist at all.
other than that, lookin' nice.
04/16/2011 (9:09 am)
the turn animation needs some work. people usually don't twist their hips when turning. the turn animation should lead with the foot on the side the character is turning to. when turning right, the right foot should move outward while the left foot stays planted. the hips shouldn't twist at all.
other than that, lookin' nice.
#9
"You sayin' we walk funny?" The animations that play when the character rotates are actually the walk/left90 and walk/right90 anims, blending between eachother as you rotate the different directions. I believe the system allows for calling unique animations there, too.
Thanks for the comments guys.
04/16/2011 (11:10 am)
Quote:So will the F*A*C*K be along the same lines!Yes, same deal with the female, she got a revamp too. In addition, there's a new GUI to toggle gender when you die. You will be able to download the T3D port as a separate build from your Products pages as soon as GG has the zips hosted.
How do we get an upgrade to what we already have?
Quote:the turn animation needs some work. people usually don't twist their hips when turning.
"You sayin' we walk funny?" The animations that play when the character rotates are actually the walk/left90 and walk/right90 anims, blending between eachother as you rotate the different directions. I believe the system allows for calling unique animations there, too.
Thanks for the comments guys.
#12
04/17/2011 (5:03 am)
I am also interessted in a download/purchase link, is there a prerelease/release available?
#13
FACK: http://www.garagegames.com/products/fack and
MACK: http://www.garagegames.com/products/mack
04/17/2011 (8:57 am)
@Sparkling - I expect it is FACK: http://www.garagegames.com/products/fack and
MACK: http://www.garagegames.com/products/mack
#14
04/17/2011 (10:41 am)
Thanks Stefan but I already have the original kits. I'm waiting for the update. :)
#15
You will be able download the update packages from your GG "My Products" page once GG uploads them (sometime Monday I would guess).
Bit of news:
We've successfully packaged mack and fack for T3D. They merge and compile with the stock engine (T3D1.1B3). We'll have some external QA done over the course of the day, but should be all-good for a release tomorrow...
thanks again for the patience,
Jondo
04/17/2011 (11:04 am)
Hi Again,You will be able download the update packages from your GG "My Products" page once GG uploads them (sometime Monday I would guess).
Bit of news:
We've successfully packaged mack and fack for T3D. They merge and compile with the stock engine (T3D1.1B3). We'll have some external QA done over the course of the day, but should be all-good for a release tomorrow...
thanks again for the patience,
Jondo
#16
We caught some usability issues in QA on the FACK, but got those resolved last night. Just doing some final art tweaks on the anims and materials to make them as tight as possible for a release later today, fingers crossed!
Jondo
04/20/2011 (9:29 am)
An update on the update...We caught some usability issues in QA on the FACK, but got those resolved last night. Just doing some final art tweaks on the anims and materials to make them as tight as possible for a release later today, fingers crossed!
Jondo
#17
This is unexpected and exciting, I have bought everything you guys have put out for sale. MACK/FACK were both added to the old TGEA version of a game I built. It worked well, and I really missed it when I migrated to T3D. Now I have something to integrate into my newer build!
04/20/2011 (1:42 pm)
I really was expecting to buy the new T3D update, not get it for free.This is unexpected and exciting, I have bought everything you guys have put out for sale. MACK/FACK were both added to the old TGEA version of a game I built. It worked well, and I really missed it when I migrated to T3D. Now I have something to integrate into my newer build!
#18
04/20/2011 (10:41 pm)
Thanks Jondo! Can't wait to get at this. I have 2 nextGen Characters that I want to get compatible with this system. Also before I do that I meant to ask if it was ok to advertise that my characters work with your packs? They are among the asset packs I have been working on.
#20
04/21/2011 (6:27 pm)
Downloading now! Thanks for all the hard work guys:O) 
Torque Owner Michael Branin
Default Studio Name