So, WTF was revealed at IGC2007
by Derry Bryson · in General Discussion · 10/16/2007 (8:49 pm) · 17 replies
We've had a couple of threads with a few details (one on IA starring Derek Smart and one hidden in the private forums about Torque2), but nothing official as far as I know.
I would have liked to have gone to the conference, but really couldn't justify it since I didn't know what was going to be presented (other than some vague references to IA, etc., the conference site sucked BTW). The conference was cheap, but airfare, hotel, etc. aren't much less time off work (I'm an indie BTW, and I don't do this full time yet). Seems like you even had boot camps included that nobody knew about. WTF?
So what's the scoop on IA and Torque2? Does IA include an in-browser version of TGE/TGEA? Is Torque2 backwards compatible with TGE/TGEA? Do you guys actually know anything and will you tell us? We've been waiting for the announcements that were promised at IGC2007, so where are they?
I would have liked to have gone to the conference, but really couldn't justify it since I didn't know what was going to be presented (other than some vague references to IA, etc., the conference site sucked BTW). The conference was cheap, but airfare, hotel, etc. aren't much less time off work (I'm an indie BTW, and I don't do this full time yet). Seems like you even had boot camps included that nobody knew about. WTF?
So what's the scoop on IA and Torque2? Does IA include an in-browser version of TGE/TGEA? Is Torque2 backwards compatible with TGE/TGEA? Do you guys actually know anything and will you tell us? We've been waiting for the announcements that were promised at IGC2007, so where are they?
#2
10/16/2007 (9:02 pm)
Phrased like what??? Seriously, I wasn't trying to be confrontational or anything, but we haven't had an official announcement of anything at this point. I am not asking you for anything you don't owe us at this point.
#3
Every single one of your questions was answered in the exact posts you referenced. Since the information was guaranteed to initiate discussion, we presented information in the discussions themselves. There will be follow-up information on both Torque 2 and InstantAction as it becomes available, or more questions (that haven't been answered already) are asked.
We will probably additionally provide a set of summary sheets in the next couple of weeks once all of the major questions have been asked, so they don't continue to generate follow-on discussions due to missing information.
10/16/2007 (9:17 pm)
Quote:
WTF was revealed at IGC2007
Quote:
Seems like you even had boot camps included that nobody knew about. WTF?
Quote:
Do you guys actually know anything and will you tell us? We've been waiting for the announcements that were promised at IGC2007, so where are they?
Every single one of your questions was answered in the exact posts you referenced. Since the information was guaranteed to initiate discussion, we presented information in the discussions themselves. There will be follow-up information on both Torque 2 and InstantAction as it becomes available, or more questions (that haven't been answered already) are asked.
We will probably additionally provide a set of summary sheets in the next couple of weeks once all of the major questions have been asked, so they don't continue to generate follow-on discussions due to missing information.
#4
Assume I am dense and couldn't extract the information from those threads. What was the information revealed at IGC2007? (and why is the Torque2 information limited to private forums?)
Perhaps the WTF's are the problem. I apologize, but I am frustrated that those of us that didn't attend the conference haven't been enlightened yet.
Just a thought, perhaps if you guys provided some information up front then these questions wouldn't "continue to generate follow-on discussions due to missing information."
"We will probably additionally provide a set of summary sheets in the next couple of weeks", probably? What is that?
10/16/2007 (9:34 pm)
Okay, sorry, but my questions weren't answered in those threads (especially the boot camps, where were those advertised? I kept checking the conference site but couldn't even find the schedule (until late) much less anything about the boot camps.). Assume I am dense and couldn't extract the information from those threads. What was the information revealed at IGC2007? (and why is the Torque2 information limited to private forums?)
Perhaps the WTF's are the problem. I apologize, but I am frustrated that those of us that didn't attend the conference haven't been enlightened yet.
Just a thought, perhaps if you guys provided some information up front then these questions wouldn't "continue to generate follow-on discussions due to missing information."
"We will probably additionally provide a set of summary sheets in the next couple of weeks", probably? What is that?
#6
Torque 2 and InstantAction are effectively unrelated--two different announcements, two different products/services.
Torque 2 is not backwards compatible, by design. It's a generational change in engine technology.
"Probably", because depending on infrastructure finalization and implementation time, we may not have to--the transparent development community forums may be up relatively soon (no current expectation as to a timeline).
10/16/2007 (10:26 pm)
Derry has a good point on the boot camps--they were initially an invitation only thing post IGC, and then we opened it up to whomever was staying.Torque 2 and InstantAction are effectively unrelated--two different announcements, two different products/services.
Torque 2 is not backwards compatible, by design. It's a generational change in engine technology.
"Probably", because depending on infrastructure finalization and implementation time, we may not have to--the transparent development community forums may be up relatively soon (no current expectation as to a timeline).
#7
10/16/2007 (10:48 pm)
Invitation only to who by the way? I honestly had no idea about the boot camps until someone mentioned it AFTER I got to Eugene... (hm. I think I'm somehow not been added to some mailing list somewhere, cause I didn't get any actual information about when/where IGC was being held either... ah well, I got there so all is good =). 
#8
10/17/2007 (6:22 am)
And you have the pictures to prove it. You even got me stalking Dave Wyand with his own camera!
#9
10/17/2007 (6:39 am)
Quote:and why is the Torque2 information limited to private forums?I agree on that, maybe you could move the current private topic to a public area, mostly for the many of us who own only TGB.
#10
to all conference attendees about mid-morning on Thursday.
So that you don't have to go through the pain of reading that whole mess of a thread
started by Derek, here are some key points that I remember from the discussions about
Torque2. (Stephen, please correct me if I'm wrong, or verbally abuse me if I'm saying to
much..)
- Complete rewrite of the entire engine code base.
- Componentize everything to make it easier to build your own plugins, and to take out
peices of the stock engine that you don't need for your game.
- Combine the current products, TGB, TGE, TGEA, and TorqueX into one code base instead
of 4 so that updates and fixes come easier and quicker.
^^^^^ As I understand it, the bulk of this has already been done ^^^^^^
- Due out sometime in 2008. (working out the kinks and making sure it's doing what they want)
- Current games in the development pipe should continue to use current tools. It was simply
and aptly put, if you have a game that's going to start development in LATE 2008, that would
be the time to switch to T2. If T2 comes out in early to mid 2008, take that time to get to know
the new code. Then dive into your new game's development.
Hope that helps eleviate some tension.
10/17/2007 (8:42 am)
I was there in Eugene for both days of the conference. The free boot camps were offeredto all conference attendees about mid-morning on Thursday.
So that you don't have to go through the pain of reading that whole mess of a thread
started by Derek, here are some key points that I remember from the discussions about
Torque2. (Stephen, please correct me if I'm wrong, or verbally abuse me if I'm saying to
much..)
- Complete rewrite of the entire engine code base.
- Componentize everything to make it easier to build your own plugins, and to take out
peices of the stock engine that you don't need for your game.
- Combine the current products, TGB, TGE, TGEA, and TorqueX into one code base instead
of 4 so that updates and fixes come easier and quicker.
^^^^^ As I understand it, the bulk of this has already been done ^^^^^^
- Due out sometime in 2008. (working out the kinks and making sure it's doing what they want)
- Current games in the development pipe should continue to use current tools. It was simply
and aptly put, if you have a game that's going to start development in LATE 2008, that would
be the time to switch to T2. If T2 comes out in early to mid 2008, take that time to get to know
the new code. Then dive into your new game's development.
Hope that helps eleviate some tension.
#11
Don't take this as an offensive comment, but to be quite honest its none of our concern whether or not we get to see a private forum discussion with a lot of conceptual ideas that may or may not make the final cut. Yes I can fully understand that you want to feel as though you have some say to ensure that whatever Torque 2 becomes when its released a long time from now suits your needs, but seriously its not something that will help GG at this point. Just trust that those that are in the discussion are looking out for your needs, and they should be since they are studios whose livelyhood depends on it being an excellent product.
If and when it comes time to gather your feedback, I am sure GG will do it. They have done it in the past.
10/17/2007 (8:47 am)
Quote:and why is the Torque2 information limited to private forums?
Don't take this as an offensive comment, but to be quite honest its none of our concern whether or not we get to see a private forum discussion with a lot of conceptual ideas that may or may not make the final cut. Yes I can fully understand that you want to feel as though you have some say to ensure that whatever Torque 2 becomes when its released a long time from now suits your needs, but seriously its not something that will help GG at this point. Just trust that those that are in the discussion are looking out for your needs, and they should be since they are studios whose livelyhood depends on it being an excellent product.
If and when it comes time to gather your feedback, I am sure GG will do it. They have done it in the past.
#12
I'll take it upon myself to edit your post to remove the offensive comment:
that's all you really needed to say.
hey modding a forum is pretty easy!
10/17/2007 (9:00 am)
Damn that was rude L Foster. I like how people tend to prepend a potentially offensive comment with "Dont take this as an offensive comment" as if that's supposed to make it better.I'll take it upon myself to edit your post to remove the offensive comment:
Quote:
The Torque2 information is a private forum discussion with a lot of conceptual ideas that may or may not make the final cut.
that's all you really needed to say.
hey modding a forum is pretty easy!
#13
10/17/2007 (9:32 am)
/me taking a vow of silence
#14
10/17/2007 (9:36 am)
I give up. 
#15
.... and now they have more money? As-in, more publishing and new funding opportunities? Double score!
As an aside... what about the opportunity to get pro feedback on our games? Josh D and Stephen Z have both written me emails with a ton of feedback on my first TGB project. (In fact, I've just sent Josh a second side project's beta.) Plus, I've gotten lots of forum-based feedback from various employees.... Do people just not comprehend the amount of support they're getting? I've spent exactly $100 for all this service. :)
In summary.... if you put the frustration of "not knowing" in context of all the good stuff offered here... how can you be frustrated in the first place?
10/17/2007 (11:49 am)
I don't honestly understand why everyone is upset. Finding Garage Games has been nothing but a total score for me. I got an awesome 2D game engine as a early adopter for a great price. Then I got free updates to the engine (and source!). And now I get news that they're making a next-gen set of tools, which is great because that's where I want to go once I've cut my teeth on a few 2D projects......... and now they have more money? As-in, more publishing and new funding opportunities? Double score!
As an aside... what about the opportunity to get pro feedback on our games? Josh D and Stephen Z have both written me emails with a ton of feedback on my first TGB project. (In fact, I've just sent Josh a second side project's beta.) Plus, I've gotten lots of forum-based feedback from various employees.... Do people just not comprehend the amount of support they're getting? I've spent exactly $100 for all this service. :)
In summary.... if you put the frustration of "not knowing" in context of all the good stuff offered here... how can you be frustrated in the first place?
#16
It ialso easily transfers negative emotions towards those that are undeserving.
While I have my concerns like anyone else, I am also very pleased with what I've
found in TGE and GarageGames. It's hard to put a price on the tools that will help
make your dreams come true.
I choose to wait and see what happens. No sense in speculating. Speculation only
serves to feed frustration and anxiousness.
I also choose to let GG handle it's own business in it's own way, while I handle mine.
10/17/2007 (12:17 pm)
Frustration is insideous. It can get you doing things you wouldn't normally do.It ialso easily transfers negative emotions towards those that are undeserving.
While I have my concerns like anyone else, I am also very pleased with what I've
found in TGE and GarageGames. It's hard to put a price on the tools that will help
make your dreams come true.
I choose to wait and see what happens. No sense in speculating. Speculation only
serves to feed frustration and anxiousness.
I also choose to let GG handle it's own business in it's own way, while I handle mine.
#17
In the interests of having all the information in one place, please refer any further questions specifically related to Torque 2 or Transparent Development to the comments of that .blog. Over the next couple of days we will have a separate blog discussing some of the details of InstantAction as well.
10/17/2007 (11:47 pm)
I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the Torque 2/Transparent Development .blog, which you can read here: Transparent Development, Torque 2, and You!.In the interests of having all the information in one place, please refer any further questions specifically related to Torque 2 or Transparent Development to the comments of that .blog. Over the next couple of days we will have a separate blog discussing some of the details of InstantAction as well.
Torque 3D Owner Stephen Zepp