Linking Portals
by Carsten Tusk · in Torque Game Engine · 03/20/2004 (9:11 am) · 3 replies
I have a question about linking portals, how would I go about linking two portals together
without putting geometry between the rooms that they link. If I understand the portal rendering correctly a portal is basically a window between geometry zones.
So theoretically it should be possible to link "rooms" (==zones) in an interior design together by simply connecting two portal objects ( well, truthfully one portal that knows which zones it is supposed to link ).
My question is, is this supported by Quark and map2dif in some form? I couldn't figure it out so far, I am just getting started with quark interior design.
Also, based on this it should be possible to link rooms that relate to two separate interior objects contained in separate .dif files using a portal, however there might be engine limitations.
Has anyone ever tried something like this or could maybe point me to a tutorial or resource that might help?
Thanks much,
Carsten
without putting geometry between the rooms that they link. If I understand the portal rendering correctly a portal is basically a window between geometry zones.
So theoretically it should be possible to link "rooms" (==zones) in an interior design together by simply connecting two portal objects ( well, truthfully one portal that knows which zones it is supposed to link ).
My question is, is this supported by Quark and map2dif in some form? I couldn't figure it out so far, I am just getting started with quark interior design.
Also, based on this it should be possible to link rooms that relate to two separate interior objects contained in separate .dif files using a portal, however there might be engine limitations.
Has anyone ever tried something like this or could maybe point me to a tutorial or resource that might help?
Thanks much,
Carsten
#2
That's how far I got so far - now I'd like to connect the rooms with portals without actually physically connecting them with tunnels and I haven't figured out how to do it with Quark.
I suspect that the zone link information based on the placed portals is computed in map2dif but I haven't had a chance to dig into that part of the code yet. If what I am trying to do is not possible currently I suspect the changes would involve introduction of a new "warp portal" entity to quark and implementation of the feature in map2dif ( *shiver* ;) ). For warping between separate .dif interiors I have no idea yet.
03/20/2004 (9:28 am)
@Stefan: The portals work fine, they define the zoning of interior structures currently. To check it out you can create a map in quark that contains a few rooms and link the rooms with tunnels, then place a portal object in each tunnel. Make sure there are no leaks (portal slightly larger than tunnel) and look at your interior object in a mission. Run the debug version of the demo game and use "setInteriorRenderMode(7)". If you placed the portals correctly, each "zone" ( room ) appears in a different color.That's how far I got so far - now I'd like to connect the rooms with portals without actually physically connecting them with tunnels and I haven't figured out how to do it with Quark.
I suspect that the zone link information based on the placed portals is computed in map2dif but I haven't had a chance to dig into that part of the code yet. If what I am trying to do is not possible currently I suspect the changes would involve introduction of a new "warp portal" entity to quark and implementation of the feature in map2dif ( *shiver* ;) ). For warping between separate .dif interiors I have no idea yet.
#3
03/20/2004 (10:20 am)
Thanks for clearing this up Carsten :) I don't know where I got the misleading information from. :/ 
Torque Owner Stefan Lundmark
I've heard it was some code left over by the GG team from Tribes2.
Thought, what I'm saying is only out of mind and I could very well be wrong about this, so don't take me for my word.