New books from Garage Games
by Hokuto · in General Discussion · 03/14/2006 (1:25 am) · 143 replies
Http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=8502
- GarageGames, an independent game publishing label, has announced a partnership with book publishers A K Peters to create game development-focused books. The first one to be published will be "The Game Publisher's Guide to Torque," a tutorial on using GarageGames' proprietary Torque game engine. "Publishing books is an extension of our efforts to teach aspiring programmers the fundamentals of game development," said GarageGames CEO Mark Frohnmeyer. "We could not have a better partner than A K Peters, a global book publisher with a stellar reputation for publishing high quality texts and references."
- GarageGames, an independent game publishing label, has announced a partnership with book publishers A K Peters to create game development-focused books. The first one to be published will be "The Game Publisher's Guide to Torque," a tutorial on using GarageGames' proprietary Torque game engine. "Publishing books is an extension of our efforts to teach aspiring programmers the fundamentals of game development," said GarageGames CEO Mark Frohnmeyer. "We could not have a better partner than A K Peters, a global book publisher with a stellar reputation for publishing high quality texts and references."
#62
Chapter 8, section 8.6.6 Maze Runner Lesson #11, page 296, Adding the Lightning and Thunder.
Was there supposed to be thunder added in this lesson or is it going to be discussed in a later chapter?
03/30/2006 (6:07 pm)
@EFM: GPGT QuestionChapter 8, section 8.6.6 Maze Runner Lesson #11, page 296, Adding the Lightning and Thunder.
Was there supposed to be thunder added in this lesson or is it going to be discussed in a later chapter?
#63
I will check into the status of your shipment and contact you personally once I receive an answer. I will attempt to find out myself for sure.
03/31/2006 (12:19 pm)
@Michael: In what manner have you been contacting GarageGames? I am not aware myself of any communication attempts, but I do apologize for your frustration.I will check into the status of your shipment and contact you personally once I receive an answer. I will attempt to find out myself for sure.
#64
03/31/2006 (1:10 pm)
Edward, This book is sounding great. There will always be bugs and things to fix, so thankyou for staying on top of it. It will make reading your book a whole lot easier. I plan to buy it next month. :) (it's tax time:/ )
#65
I have tried contacting Garage Games from the support link, the book description page under support and
"My account" download and product information link. I have sent 4 emails through those links now with no responce from anyone. email is msbranin@cox.net
03/31/2006 (2:12 pm)
@ Stephen ZeppI have tried contacting Garage Games from the support link, the book description page under support and
"My account" download and product information link. I have sent 4 emails through those links now with no responce from anyone. email is msbranin@cox.net
#66
After reading your post about having not received your book yet, it lead me to be a bit concerned about my delivery as well. I ordered about a week ago, my card got charged on the 23rd, and I have yet to have received it in the mail.
@Stephen Zepp
Could you look into my order as well and let me know the status? My email is EdgarRice2003@yahoo.com
Thanks!
04/01/2006 (7:37 am)
@MichaelAfter reading your post about having not received your book yet, it lead me to be a bit concerned about my delivery as well. I ordered about a week ago, my card got charged on the 23rd, and I have yet to have received it in the mail.
@Stephen Zepp
Could you look into my order as well and let me know the status? My email is EdgarRice2003@yahoo.com
Thanks!
#67
Chapter 8, section 8.9.10, page 325, Other Culling Features.
It should read Table 8.26.
04/02/2006 (6:23 am)
@EFM: Subject: GPGT feedbackChapter 8, section 8.9.10, page 325, Other Culling Features.
Quote:
... When an object is at the perimeter of the outer sphere it will begin to fade, fading completely out at the perimeter of the inner sphere. See Table 8.25 and Figure 8.27.
It should read Table 8.26.
#68
I know that you want the book 5 seconds before you purchased it--but reality hits, and to keep the shipping costs to a minimum, it will take roughly a week of business days (not a calendar week) for delivery.
04/02/2006 (12:36 pm)
Just to keep everyone in the loop: I know that you want the book 5 seconds before you purchased it--but reality hits, and to keep the shipping costs to a minimum, it will take roughly a week of business days (not a calendar week) for delivery.
#69
Chapter 9, section9.5.10 Maze Runner Lesson # 17,page 372, Copy Required Files.
Lesson_12\telporters.cs should be Lesson_17\levelloader.cs.
04/02/2006 (1:22 pm)
@EFM: Subject: GPGT feedbackChapter 9, section9.5.10 Maze Runner Lesson # 17,page 372, Copy Required Files.
Quote:
From the accompanying disk, please copy the file "\MazeRunner\Lesson_12\teleporters.cs" into ....
....
exec("./MazeRunner/levelloader.cs"); //MazeRunner
Lesson_12\telporters.cs should be Lesson_17\levelloader.cs.
#70
Lesson Learned ... If it is anything that you can not dled from garage Games and they have to ship it to you ... Run away as fast as you can. Guess I will be placing an order from Amazon.
04/03/2006 (12:55 pm)
Going on 2 weeks now since I ordered the book from Garage Games. At this rate I could have waited till Amazon got the book in April and ordered it from them and I would have recieved it sooner than the Garage Games Order.Lesson Learned ... If it is anything that you can not dled from garage Games and they have to ship it to you ... Run away as fast as you can. Guess I will be placing an order from Amazon.
#71
It's good to have a heads up as to the time for shipping. I was getting worried about my order on the 24th having not arrived as of today the 3rd.
04/03/2006 (1:33 pm)
@StephenIt's good to have a heads up as to the time for shipping. I was getting worried about my order on the 24th having not arrived as of today the 3rd.
#72
@Rodney - The book is in fact available. You can order it right now from GG or AK Peters.
@Rex - I agree with you. Mark has been doing a stellar job of finding and reporting bugs/issues.
@Mark - Never fear, I'm working on the next batch of answers.
@Stephen - Thanks for looking into folks' shipping questions/issues.
@Anton - I never did thank you for the congratulations. Thank you! I do hope that the book meets your needs. Although I am over that initial period of relief at being done, I'm still a bit wound up from the whole thing. Writing a book is a unique experience, with its own trials-and-tribulations. I am thinking about doing a .plan writeup on it, but I have to attend to some other business first. i.e. I must answer Mark's errata finds. :)
@Michael - I'm sorry to hear that you haven't received your book yet. In the interim, did you have any particular questions/issues that you need help with? I know that an offer to help with questions isn't the same as getting your book, but I want the experience of purchasing my book to be as satisfactory as possible. So, sling away and I'll see what I can do.
Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT
04/03/2006 (10:29 pm)
@Matthew - Thanks for ordering and I hope that it helps you with your presentation. Remember, my goal is to maintain a living document. So, if you find that there is a topic in the book that is not well covered or is not clear ask about it in here or in the GPGT forum when it is available. I'll come up with some kind of resolution for you.@Rodney - The book is in fact available. You can order it right now from GG or AK Peters.
@Rex - I agree with you. Mark has been doing a stellar job of finding and reporting bugs/issues.
@Mark - Never fear, I'm working on the next batch of answers.
@Stephen - Thanks for looking into folks' shipping questions/issues.
@Anton - I never did thank you for the congratulations. Thank you! I do hope that the book meets your needs. Although I am over that initial period of relief at being done, I'm still a bit wound up from the whole thing. Writing a book is a unique experience, with its own trials-and-tribulations. I am thinking about doing a .plan writeup on it, but I have to attend to some other business first. i.e. I must answer Mark's errata finds. :)
@Michael - I'm sorry to hear that you haven't received your book yet. In the interim, did you have any particular questions/issues that you need help with? I know that an offer to help with questions isn't the same as getting your book, but I want the experience of purchasing my book to be as satisfactory as possible. So, sling away and I'll see what I can do.
Hall Of Worlds - For GamersEdM|GPGT
#73
Thanks as always. I've updated the errata doc and posted it to the support page. There are still some errata with 'outstanding' answers. I will get final answers for them as soon as possible.
Are you posting more than I wanted? No, not really. Am I disappointed that you found 16 errata? Sure, but I'm glad to have you finding them.
Thanks!
Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT
04/04/2006 (12:19 am)
@Mark Barner - You're currently up to 16. You are way out ahead of the competition with 1 each for two other folks who have asked questions that are turning into new '3D Lessons'. I'll post in this thread when the new lessons are ready for download.Thanks as always. I've updated the errata doc and posted it to the support page. There are still some errata with 'outstanding' answers. I will get final answers for them as soon as possible.
Are you posting more than I wanted? No, not really. Am I disappointed that you found 16 errata? Sure, but I'm glad to have you finding them.
Thanks!
Hall Of Worlds - For GamersEdM|GPGT
#74
04/04/2006 (9:26 am)
I ordered the book from AK peters last week - got it yesterday.
#75
@Edward thanks but I really have no questions to ask about the book seing as how I have not recieved the book. Talk about Frustrating, I have not heard of shipping that takes 2+ weeks to get something to someone. Even at its worse Amazons shipping was only 7 days. How does GG ship thier books? Do they use normal mail, or do they use UPS or do they hand a book to some intern and have them walk on foot all the way to the delivery spot?
04/04/2006 (10:59 am)
Yea another day gone by and another day no book has arrived. I really should have just ordered from AK Peters.@Edward thanks but I really have no questions to ask about the book seing as how I have not recieved the book. Talk about Frustrating, I have not heard of shipping that takes 2+ weeks to get something to someone. Even at its worse Amazons shipping was only 7 days. How does GG ship thier books? Do they use normal mail, or do they use UPS or do they hand a book to some intern and have them walk on foot all the way to the delivery spot?
#76
I noticed when I clicked on any of the pre-existing menu buttons and altered their positioning property (then set it back to relative) that the extent of the button would reduce by some factor and its positioning would offset to the left. I am a Noob to Torque, so be gentle... but I can't for the life of me figure out why this is happening due to the fact that the settings are the same on all the buttons, but every time I adjust one then set it back... it does this!
Any help or explanation would be appreciated.
04/04/2006 (12:20 pm)
I have just completed Chapter 3 on the Mission Editor/GUI Editor. I was able to get everything working as it should be, but...I noticed when I clicked on any of the pre-existing menu buttons and altered their positioning property (then set it back to relative) that the extent of the button would reduce by some factor and its positioning would offset to the left. I am a Noob to Torque, so be gentle... but I can't for the life of me figure out why this is happening due to the fact that the settings are the same on all the buttons, but every time I adjust one then set it back... it does this!
Any help or explanation would be appreciated.
#77
Chapter 14, page 598. THE PAGE IS BLANK!!!!! :)
....ok where is the rest of the book? Damn.... I'm done! I guess this means I won't bug you anymore on errata... but wait... I will be re-reading what didn't sink in the first time and then there is the Appendices. ;)
I learned alot from your book and plan on learning more as I go back re-read sections. Thank you for taking the time and writing this book. It has helped me alot and I know it will help many others getting started with Torque. OK... now when is book two going to be done?
04/04/2006 (1:31 pm)
@EFM: Subject: GPGT feedbackChapter 14, page 598. THE PAGE IS BLANK!!!!! :)
....ok where is the rest of the book? Damn.... I'm done! I guess this means I won't bug you anymore on errata... but wait... I will be re-reading what didn't sink in the first time and then there is the Appendices. ;)
I learned alot from your book and plan on learning more as I go back re-read sections. Thank you for taking the time and writing this book. It has helped me alot and I know it will help many others getting started with Torque. OK... now when is book two going to be done?
#78
Don't be disappointed... there wasn't that many errors compared to other books. I have seen errata's on whole chapters before and that was from writers writing their fourth or fifth book.
04/04/2006 (2:02 pm)
@EFM: Subject: GPGT feedbackQuote:
Am I disappointed that you found 16 errata? Sure, but I'm glad to have you finding them.
Don't be disappointed... there wasn't that many errors compared to other books. I have seen errata's on whole chapters before and that was from writers writing their fourth or fifth book.
#79
04/04/2006 (2:23 pm)
Michael, I'm still checking into why you haven't received the book yet. Sounds like something has gone haywire in the delivery.
#80
1. What are you running? GPGT Lesson Kit, TGE Demo, etc.?
2. Which GUI/Interfaces specifically are you editing?
3. What are the exact steps you take to produce your results?
i.e. a. Click 'Load Missions...' button; b. Change horizSizing from relative to width; c. Click apply ... etc.
I know this is tedious, but sometimes this kind of effort is required.
Alternately, if you can reproduce this using the GPGT Lesson Kit, go ahead and record a journal and send it to:
gpgt hallofworlds com
See appendix B.3. pg. 34 shows how to do this.
@Mark Barner - Congrats! I only wish I could have written it that fast. :) Don't forget once you start working on your own games, if you find things that the book doesn't cover well feel free to request a lesson for the GPGT lesson kit. i.e. Just tell me what you're trying to do. If the question is interesting enough I'll make a new lesson to demo the concept and make it available at the Hall Of Worlds web site.
Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT
04/04/2006 (11:42 pm)
@Matthew Johnson - Of course I'll take it easy on you. :) However, I am going to need more details. I tried to recreate your issue using the GPGT Lesson Kit and didn't have any luck. Please provide me with answers to the following questions and I'll see what I can do:1. What are you running? GPGT Lesson Kit, TGE Demo, etc.?
2. Which GUI/Interfaces specifically are you editing?
3. What are the exact steps you take to produce your results?
i.e. a. Click 'Load Missions...' button; b. Change horizSizing from relative to width; c. Click apply ... etc.
I know this is tedious, but sometimes this kind of effort is required.
Alternately, if you can reproduce this using the GPGT Lesson Kit, go ahead and record a journal and send it to:
gpgt
See appendix B.3. pg. 34 shows how to do this.
@Mark Barner - Congrats! I only wish I could have written it that fast. :) Don't forget once you start working on your own games, if you find things that the book doesn't cover well feel free to request a lesson for the GPGT lesson kit. i.e. Just tell me what you're trying to do. If the question is interesting enough I'll make a new lesson to demo the concept and make it available at the Hall Of Worlds web site.
Hall Of Worlds - For GamersEdM|GPGT
Torque Owner Mark Barner
mbarnatl
RE: Posted: Mar 25, 2006 17:42
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copy Required Files
From the accomanying disk, please copy the file "\MazeRunner\Lesson_006\mazerunnerplayer.cs" into "\MazeRunner\prototype\server\scripts\MazeRunner".
...
exec("./MazeRunner/mazerunnerplayer.cs"); //MazeRunner
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
now on page 226 it says...
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To get the entire datablock, please copy "\MazeRunner\Lesson_006\MazeRunnerPlayer.cs". to the "\MazeRunner\prototype\server\scripts\MazeRunner" directory.
Loading the Datablock
...
exec("./MazeRunner/MazeRunnerPlayer.cs"); // MazeRunner
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think what caused the confusion was "mazerunnerplayer.cs" on page 223, and on page 226 the script was "MazeRunnerPlayer.cs". The capital letters and to load it twice in the same section threw me off.