Content Pack Updates for Torque 1.4
by Thomas Scott · in Torque Game Engine · 01/06/2006 (1:33 pm) · 18 replies
Will the content packs available for purchase be upgraded for Torque 1.4? I strongly feel that the authors of content packs should be responsible for upgrading their products and providing 1.4 compatible versions. One of the biggest reasons for buying content packs is to be able to plug-n-play. If I need to have the technical expertise to fix scripts, recompile maps, etc. in order to use them, that defeats the plug-n-play concept. I personally don't have the expertise to make the fixes since I'm so new to Torque. Even so, if I did have the expertise, I wouldn't want to have to invest many additional hours figuring out what needs to be upgraded.
Also, if I purchase a content pack when the current engine version is 1.4, that content pack should also be version 1.4 compatible by default.
I just downloaded Tim Aste's Environment Pack and it will not function in 1.4 and I haven't a clue how to make it work. I assume it would be a no-brainer for Tim himself to update his pack and provide a new download. Although I haven't been able to get a support response from him yet.
Also, if I purchase a content pack when the current engine version is 1.4, that content pack should also be version 1.4 compatible by default.
I just downloaded Tim Aste's Environment Pack and it will not function in 1.4 and I haven't a clue how to make it work. I assume it would be a no-brainer for Tim himself to update his pack and provide a new download. Although I haven't been able to get a support response from him yet.
About the author
#2
01/06/2006 (2:31 pm)
The content pack authors in question are no doubt extremely busy with other things, making new stuff. I'm certain that 1.4-compatible updates are on their minds, but they also have many other things to work on. We'll all just have to be patient. Personally, I'm still waiting on TLK 1.4.
#3
01/06/2006 (2:34 pm)
Yes, I remember reading a post from Tim Aste regarding his content packs. He said he was going to update the textures and stuff like that but didn't say when it would be complete. I don't recall him mention though a 1.4 update for the content pack.
#4
01/06/2006 (2:34 pm)
I have no doubt they are working on new products, but existing products should always take priority. Simply because that's customer service related. New products would be for future customers that don't exist yet and so obviously takes lower priority.
#5
That's good news. So far I have yet to hear back from their support on this issue. I hope the update can be done right away since I need to use the pack I bought right now.
01/06/2006 (2:35 pm)
Sm3,That's good news. So far I have yet to hear back from their support on this issue. I hope the update can be done right away since I need to use the pack I bought right now.
#6
Just what problems are you having with the Tim Aste pack?
I've got the older version (not the new sci-fi) and it works with 1.4.
Steve
01/06/2006 (2:50 pm)
Thomas,Just what problems are you having with the Tim Aste pack?
I've got the older version (not the new sci-fi) and it works with 1.4.
Steve
#7
01/06/2006 (2:55 pm)
The specific content pack that I have is the Environment Pack. I get an error saying "You don't have the correct version of Torque or the resources needed to play on this server." This happens when I load the mission files. It's possible that I might have forgotten to copy over certain files to the correct place, but I followed Tim's directions in the readme file. However, I must admit that the instructions seemed incomplete to me. For example it didn't say anything about some of the directories like scripts or skies.
#8
Did you check the console log output? A lot of times it tells you in the console output what's missing...like data/shapes/sand.png or something like that.
01/06/2006 (3:00 pm)
Well, usually when you see that message its user error. Trust me, I've had it many times. Its just like you said, probably script error or missing data. Did you check the console log output? A lot of times it tells you in the console output what's missing...like data/shapes/sand.png or something like that.
#9
01/06/2006 (3:01 pm)
The specific content pack that I have is the Environment Pack. I get an error saying "You don't have the correct version of Torque or the resources needed to play on this server." This happens when I load the mission files. It's possible that I might have forgotten to copy over certain files to the correct place, but I followed Tim's directions in the readme file. However, I must admit that the instructions seemed incomplete to me. For example it didn't say anything about some of the directories like scripts or skies.
#10
01/06/2006 (3:02 pm)
I've analyzed the console.log file I can see that it complains about a lot of missing stuff from the environment pack. And the textures are in many different places that the readme file does not tell you about. One, in fact, is in a directory that doesn't even exist in the environment pack at all.
#11
Of course while doing that I learned more about Torque!
Steve
01/06/2006 (3:04 pm)
I have that same exact content pack along with all the others from Tim. Unless the instructions have changed, they don't work as listed. You'll definately need to move things around to get them to work. That's what happened to me.Of course while doing that I learned more about Torque!
Steve
#12
01/06/2006 (3:06 pm)
I managed to get one mission running by moving around the files according to the console.log file. It would have been nice if the readme file had told me to put them there in the first place.
#13
I bought the BraveTree girl pack. I thought that it wouldn't work for 1.4 because it was giving me that same error you mentioned above. Turns out it was my fault. Something wasn't where it was supposed to be.
I'm glad you were able to get it working.
01/06/2006 (3:08 pm)
Thomas, I hear you man.I bought the BraveTree girl pack. I thought that it wouldn't work for 1.4 because it was giving me that same error you mentioned above. Turns out it was my fault. Something wasn't where it was supposed to be.
I'm glad you were able to get it working.
#14
However, although I didn't have everything in the right place, I wouldn't exactly call this user error since the instructions never informed me of the correct way to install the pack.
01/06/2006 (3:35 pm)
Tim finally responded and told me to look at the console output for errors and also check the environment.cs and .mis files for game paths that it might be using that are different from my project. I still have some work to do, but I should be able to get it running smoothly soon.However, although I didn't have everything in the right place, I wouldn't exactly call this user error since the instructions never informed me of the correct way to install the pack.
#15
Don't take offense at my "user error" comment. I just meant to say that it was something that we as users/developers could fix by moving files around. Not to imply anything else. Heck, I had the same problems as you and with another content pack.
Steve
01/06/2006 (3:44 pm)
Thomas, Don't take offense at my "user error" comment. I just meant to say that it was something that we as users/developers could fix by moving files around. Not to imply anything else. Heck, I had the same problems as you and with another content pack.
Steve
Torque 3D Owner Apparatus
My guess is : yes, from the perspective of a content pack author it's a no-brainer to update the packs, because that simply expands the customer list, and it's also some kind of Customer support related.