Torque - a niche of its own?
by Mike Stoddart · in Torque Game Engine · 09/14/2002 (6:24 pm) · 5 replies
Don't take this the wrong way, but I was just mulling over Torque and what it offers. I came to the conclusion that I didn't know of another engine/SDK that matched Torque.
Whereas Torque gives me:
- animation support
- cross platform
- client/server architecture
- terrain
- Worldcraft, 3d Studio and Milkshape support
- stable network engine
- Sound engine (almost stable!)
- In game editors (mission/terrain etc)
- Source code (for licensees, but not necessarily needed)
- Excellent scripting language
- Particle engine
- Cheap!
I really can't think of one other engine or SDK that matches Torque in all of these departments. The nearest viable SDK competitors are probably Power Render and Auran Jet, except that they're not cross-platform and don't provide networking support. Also Auran Jet doesn't provide large terrains as standard (although the recent upgrades may change this).
So are there any? Or has Torque pretty much carved out a niche of its own?
Whereas Torque gives me:
- animation support
- cross platform
- client/server architecture
- terrain
- Worldcraft, 3d Studio and Milkshape support
- stable network engine
- Sound engine (almost stable!)
- In game editors (mission/terrain etc)
- Source code (for licensees, but not necessarily needed)
- Excellent scripting language
- Particle engine
- Cheap!
I really can't think of one other engine or SDK that matches Torque in all of these departments. The nearest viable SDK competitors are probably Power Render and Auran Jet, except that they're not cross-platform and don't provide networking support. Also Auran Jet doesn't provide large terrains as standard (although the recent upgrades may change this).
So are there any? Or has Torque pretty much carved out a niche of its own?
#2
09/14/2002 (7:40 pm)
There a number of open source engines (and I just remembered the Nebula Device) but I don't believe any of them compete with Torque for features, quality and speed. Unless I've forgotten some.
#3
The benefit of ND is its incredibly liberal license and very good graphics. I don't know what it has for AI, however.
09/14/2002 (8:20 pm)
The Nebula Device is the only competitor with Torque, but it doesn't have much for networking, nor does it have good support.The benefit of ND is its incredibly liberal license and very good graphics. I don't know what it has for AI, however.
#4
www.conitec.net/a4faq.htm
Scroll down to the table, it compares the features of all the major engines.
09/15/2002 (1:02 pm)
I found the following quite handy......www.conitec.net/a4faq.htm
Scroll down to the table, it compares the features of all the major engines.
#5
09/15/2002 (5:48 pm)
Thanks for the link Andru. It really does seem like Torque has its own niche with no direct competitors for features, stability and price. Cool! Congrats GG! 
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