Updates to the V12 Engine
by Chris Thomas · in Torque Game Engine · 08/18/2001 (8:27 pm) · 5 replies
Hey guys, I was wondering if you plan on making updates available to the V12 engine. I paid $100, and while I think the download definitely furthers my understanding of game engine design, there are some weaknesses that have been mentioned in the public forums.
1) sound. Just how bad is sound support now? Is there any at all?
2) complex interior problems alluded to by Associates on this forum -- problems with map2dif, they said. At what point are these problems encountered? Is it map complexity, portal processing, lighting, or just general problems with map2dif? Does the 3DS route have these problems? Is there any impetus to fix these?
3) How to make monster models. Labrat's vehicle/bot scripting certainly has been illuminating, but how does one make a monster?
4) Scripting. It seems like you can do an entirely new game with only scripting, not touching C++ at all, if you are satisfied with the 3D rendering in the engine. That is very cool, but I have to say the example was pretty hard to follow.
5) Central repository of bugs and features. A place members can go to see what are the recognized issues/problems.
So to cap an already long post, I guess my basic question is will updates be available, or will updates come from people like me who bought it and need to fix it?
Thanks!
1) sound. Just how bad is sound support now? Is there any at all?
2) complex interior problems alluded to by Associates on this forum -- problems with map2dif, they said. At what point are these problems encountered? Is it map complexity, portal processing, lighting, or just general problems with map2dif? Does the 3DS route have these problems? Is there any impetus to fix these?
3) How to make monster models. Labrat's vehicle/bot scripting certainly has been illuminating, but how does one make a monster?
4) Scripting. It seems like you can do an entirely new game with only scripting, not touching C++ at all, if you are satisfied with the 3D rendering in the engine. That is very cool, but I have to say the example was pretty hard to follow.
5) Central repository of bugs and features. A place members can go to see what are the recognized issues/problems.
So to cap an already long post, I guess my basic question is will updates be available, or will updates come from people like me who bought it and need to fix it?
Thanks!
#2
2) map2dif doesn't believe much in warnings and tends to just stop with an error. In a lot of cases the problem brushes that are generating the errors could just get thrown out and the map would compile cleanly which means that a lot of the problems will be a simple fix. The errors associated with portals is going to be harder to fix but they too will be addressed in time. The lightmap generation really needs working over to create prettier lightmaps also. Using 3dsmax to create the maps won't be any help b/c the .map file will still have to be processed by mp2dif.exe
3) Getting the AI is pretty high up on a lot of people's list. I have a feeling that the community will beat GG to this one.
4) Tim is working on some scripting references and tutorials are popping up everyday.
5) I'm not sure what the plans are for this but it is an issue that is being discussed.
Updates are going to come from both GG and people who need to fix broken pieces they want to use.
08/18/2001 (10:53 pm)
1) There is no sound support at all currently but this is going to be one of the first things fixed.2) map2dif doesn't believe much in warnings and tends to just stop with an error. In a lot of cases the problem brushes that are generating the errors could just get thrown out and the map would compile cleanly which means that a lot of the problems will be a simple fix. The errors associated with portals is going to be harder to fix but they too will be addressed in time. The lightmap generation really needs working over to create prettier lightmaps also. Using 3dsmax to create the maps won't be any help b/c the .map file will still have to be processed by mp2dif.exe
3) Getting the AI is pretty high up on a lot of people's list. I have a feeling that the community will beat GG to this one.
4) Tim is working on some scripting references and tutorials are popping up everyday.
5) I'm not sure what the plans are for this but it is an issue that is being discussed.
Updates are going to come from both GG and people who need to fix broken pieces they want to use.
#3
08/19/2001 (10:54 am)
Once you pay the licensing fee, do you get all continued updates that GG makes?
#4
Its quite normal for an engine to be like this, especially if it wasnt expected to actually release the engine to the public (as is the case with V12).
I think that because you have some professional developers working full-time on the engine, and on using the engine, and quite a lot of others hacking on the engine as well, I am sure its going to be better supported and generally much more usable than most "public" engine project (for instance crystal space or genesis).
Its definitely not going to give you any hand holding, the 100 dollars you pay is simply to cover the legal costs in getting the engine off sierra and keeping the GG site going. Its definitely a good deal if your prepared to live with the state of the engine or put the time into improving it.
Its up to you if you feel thats worthwhile or not.
Phil.
08/19/2001 (11:03 am)
Chris: this is a work in progress. It "works" right now out of the box. But to be really "user friendly" is going to take some time and effort.Its quite normal for an engine to be like this, especially if it wasnt expected to actually release the engine to the public (as is the case with V12).
I think that because you have some professional developers working full-time on the engine, and on using the engine, and quite a lot of others hacking on the engine as well, I am sure its going to be better supported and generally much more usable than most "public" engine project (for instance crystal space or genesis).
Its definitely not going to give you any hand holding, the 100 dollars you pay is simply to cover the legal costs in getting the engine off sierra and keeping the GG site going. Its definitely a good deal if your prepared to live with the state of the engine or put the time into improving it.
Its up to you if you feel thats worthwhile or not.
Phil.
#5
Yes =)
08/19/2001 (12:59 pm)
Quote:
Once you pay the licensing fee, do you get all continued updates that GG makes?
Yes =)
Torque Owner Michael Zajac