What to buy?
by David Martin · in General Discussion · 03/21/2008 (7:07 am) · 7 replies
I have some questions about various Torque engines in regards to which to buy.
Torque X:
-I know that it doesn't offer WYSIWYG programming for 3d yet but can you still program 3d games in it?
-Is it a better 2d engine than Torque Game Builder?
-What scripting language is used? I've heard C# mentioned which is good to hear as I'm learning that (only a beginner though but I've come off a reasonable VB background of a few years). Is there any Torquescript involved?
-I want to do some C# scripting. Does this mean that I have to get the professional version?
-Is Torque X essentially the new kid on the block that will eventually make the existing Torque Game Engine and Torque Game Builder obsolete?
XNA:
-I've read about Torque X being intergrated with XNA. What does this mean exactly?
-Does XNA currently offer a WYSIWYG programming environment for 2d and/or 3d?
-What advantages are there of buying Torque X instead of XNA straight from Microsoft?
Thank you kindly in advance for the responses to these questions.
On another side note: Where can I access the public forums specific to each game engine?
Torque X:
-I know that it doesn't offer WYSIWYG programming for 3d yet but can you still program 3d games in it?
-Is it a better 2d engine than Torque Game Builder?
-What scripting language is used? I've heard C# mentioned which is good to hear as I'm learning that (only a beginner though but I've come off a reasonable VB background of a few years). Is there any Torquescript involved?
-I want to do some C# scripting. Does this mean that I have to get the professional version?
-Is Torque X essentially the new kid on the block that will eventually make the existing Torque Game Engine and Torque Game Builder obsolete?
XNA:
-I've read about Torque X being intergrated with XNA. What does this mean exactly?
-Does XNA currently offer a WYSIWYG programming environment for 2d and/or 3d?
-What advantages are there of buying Torque X instead of XNA straight from Microsoft?
Thank you kindly in advance for the responses to these questions.
On another side note: Where can I access the public forums specific to each game engine?
#2
I'm now interested in downloading the free Torque X engine as well as the 30 day demo of the Builder program. I'm interested in this newly released 2.0 version which works with XNA's new 2.0 version. However, I go to the site to download Torque X 2.0 http://www.garagegames.com/products/248/ and it says:
System Requirements
Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista
XNA Game Studio Express
This seems to contradict my knowledge because XNA Game Studio Express is the older version of XNA. Shouldn't I need the new XNA Game Studio 2.0? Also, do I have to download Visual C# Express? It just wasn't listed as a system requirement.
A general list of things I need to do would be much appreciated.
03/21/2008 (7:42 am)
Thank you for the quick and thorough reply. I have a few more questions though.I'm now interested in downloading the free Torque X engine as well as the 30 day demo of the Builder program. I'm interested in this newly released 2.0 version which works with XNA's new 2.0 version. However, I go to the site to download Torque X 2.0 http://www.garagegames.com/products/248/ and it says:
System Requirements
Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista
XNA Game Studio Express
This seems to contradict my knowledge because XNA Game Studio Express is the older version of XNA. Shouldn't I need the new XNA Game Studio 2.0? Also, do I have to download Visual C# Express? It just wasn't listed as a system requirement.
A general list of things I need to do would be much appreciated.
#3
Order of installation:
VS C# Express (or Professional, etc)
XNA 2.0
TorqueX 2.0
03/21/2008 (7:51 am)
TorqueX 2.0 will work with XNA 2.0. If you do not have Visual Studio installed on your computer, then you will need to install Visual C# Express (or one of the other versions).Order of installation:
VS C# Express (or Professional, etc)
XNA 2.0
TorqueX 2.0
#4
03/21/2008 (8:03 am)
Can you give me a link to TorqueX 2.0 please? The place where I was didn't seem to be for the new TorqueX 2.0 as it said it required the old XNA Game Studio Express....not the new XNA Game Studio 2.0.
#5
03/21/2008 (8:06 am)
Did you try to install it and receive an error?
#6
Actually I think I'm alright now because I clicked on the Torque X download link and it gave me a specific option for the 2.0 verison. I'm guessing I now need the XNA Game Studio 2.0 download and I'll be set :)
03/21/2008 (8:13 am)
I haven't even downloaded it yet. I'm downloading Visual C# Express atm.Actually I think I'm alright now because I clicked on the Torque X download link and it gave me a specific option for the 2.0 verison. I'm guessing I now need the XNA Game Studio 2.0 download and I'll be set :)
Associate David Montgomery-Blake
David MontgomeryBlake
TorqueX uses C# exclusively. You will not have any TorqueScript. You will also be programming in C# regardless of whether you use the pro version or not. TorqueX requires programming, and C# is the XNA language of choice, which makes it the TorqueX language of choice. The professional version gives you the complete source code to the engine, though most people will not need it and few would rarely use it. Regardless, you will be accessing the framework of the engine in C# with the binary version or the source version.
XNA does not have a WYSIWYG environment. It is a core framework, not a dedicated engine. The engine developers (say, TorqueX or League or Reactor) are the ones that usually create the tools for their engines.
You can make 3D games in TorqueX, but it is not as easy or intuitive as a WYSIWYG 3D editor (which is in the works). You can download the TorqueX binary right now and start testing. You have 30 days to pick up a license for TorqueX Builder, so that you can see if it is necessary to your development (personally, I have a hard time imagining building without it because it is an excellent workflow tool).
Also, you should note that both XNA and TorqueX are free. You don't have to buy one or the other from us or Microsoft. However, TorqueX Builder is a separate application which costs money. If you are one of the extreme few who needs the full C# source code to the engine, then the Pro version costs money.
It should also be noted that the Pro version does not include a TorqueX Builder license. People get confused on that. They are separate products.
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