Tge Or T2d?

#1 Use T2D... iirc, you can load a .dts (torque 3d file format) in to T2D, so you could do what you wanted.

There should be more info about it on the forums...

#2 T2D uses 3D hardware acceleration (In fact, requires it). Given what you've described, you just want T2D, although "games with a 2D perspective" is quite loose.

#3 I understand what you're trying to accomplish. Something like Viewtiful Joe, Pandemonium or Blowout, right? A fix-pitch camera that tracks the player as necessary in a 3D environment.

I haven't tested the 3Dshapes (T2D) in multiple resolutions, but it may be able to take your 3D objects and render them correctly at a variety of resolutions. For example, the project that I'm working on right now is currently in T2D, but I may be moving it to TGE for a simple reason. Currently, the three modes (free run like Smash-TV), way point (linear like Contra), and fixed (static like Space Invaders) work well in T2D. I created my models in Modo and Lightwave and they could easily be DTS files since they are low-poly (they are extremely horrible programmer art for prototyping). But I also realized that the control scheme that I have working with my 360 controller also works well with rail shooters without a cognative shift in control. And since I love rail shooters and already prototyped a basic one almost two years ago (man how time flies!), I'm thinking about shifting out to TGE.

#4 I feel like a dummy--I forgot to mention what I'm guessing is an important detail.

I want to render all my stuff with 3D models. Textured, and plenty of billboards, sure. But rendered with polygons. I don't want to make games with sprites; I want everything to be scaled.

Do I still want T2D? Just double-triple-checking. :)

Thanks for your time,


/larry/

#5 Well, TGB will use dts shapes without problem. Aren't billboards essentially sprites anyway?

What about your background/landscape graphics? Are they going to be 2D images, or are you going to want 3D models for those too? I'm not that familiar with TGE, but from what I understand, difs are used for terrain work, and TGB (AFAIK) won't deal with those.

But without a bit more info on the game you're trying to create, it might be quite tricky to come to a decision.

You could always make GG happy and buy both ;)

#6 T2D will render sprites via 3D hardware, but also the latest version now supports the ability to load and render 3d models in DTS format. Have a read through melvs blog on this, it includes videos of various new T2D features.

www.garagegames.com/blogs/5416/9212

If you were planning on making a side scrolling platform game or top down shooter using 3d models but movement limited to 2D then T2D would be more than suitable. You can simulate a form of depth via T2D's rendering layers that lets you have foreground and background layers (32 in total)

#7 If you want your game world to be constructed of 3d models you'll need to go with TGE. T2d can handle models for sprites, but if you're doing everything in 3d it's probably not the best choice.

It, for instance, will require you to manually sort your 3d models as if they were sprites, and you will not be able to use lighting with your models out of the box.

#8 Thanks folks, you talked me into it. I'll start with T2D, and if that somehow becomes too restrictive I'll... I'll... buy TGE.


larry