Request to BraveTree
by Pierre DragoFire Hay · in Site Feedback · 11/17/2008 (2:41 pm) · 7 replies
I'll start off by asking those that are still around from BraveTree Productions days if it is possible to all content packs updated. Yes I know BraveTree Productions became part of GG.
But this has been an on going issues with a number of TGE content packs over the years. The Tank pack is the best example of poor support and out-dated documentation.
Now I know there are fixes in the forums for most bugs/issues with these packs, but when these products have been around since TGE 1.3 days and have had no love given, it's time a request was put forward to get these packs/products updated for the newer versions of TGE and maybe even make them TGEA ready at the same time.
Even just a updated fix document for each would be great.
Most of these BraveTree packs are still in high demand, but in some case haven't been purchased due to the negitive feed-back about out-date content and lack of documentation, these should be ready for use from purchase and download.
I'd love to hear from GG and ex-BraveTree staff about this and also what other GG community member think about this request.
But this has been an on going issues with a number of TGE content packs over the years. The Tank pack is the best example of poor support and out-dated documentation.
Now I know there are fixes in the forums for most bugs/issues with these packs, but when these products have been around since TGE 1.3 days and have had no love given, it's time a request was put forward to get these packs/products updated for the newer versions of TGE and maybe even make them TGEA ready at the same time.
Even just a updated fix document for each would be great.
Most of these BraveTree packs are still in high demand, but in some case haven't been purchased due to the negitive feed-back about out-date content and lack of documentation, these should be ready for use from purchase and download.
I'd love to hear from GG and ex-BraveTree staff about this and also what other GG community member think about this request.
#2
Just a quick idea, wouldn't be a good idea to setup a project for this, with Derek Bronson leading it or managing it?
11/17/2008 (3:58 pm)
Thanks for the quick reply Matt. :)Just a quick idea, wouldn't be a good idea to setup a project for this, with Derek Bronson leading it or managing it?
#3
We're getting to everything as fast as we can given our priorities, but of course, what we deem important may not match up with what you think is important. That's why people who are interested in seeing products get updated faster should talk to Derek. Having the right developers talking to him will make things go much faster.
We know it sucks because we cannot do everything at once. Even though GG has grown substantially since I started here in 2006, there is still always something else we could be doing. We are resource constrained just like any other business, so we do the best we can to make the best choices for our entire user base. Fortunately, the great thing about Torque is that, if we're not working on the projects you like, you have access to source and a community that can create tools and content without us getting in your way. That's the power of open source. This way, you get the best of both worlds: we prioritize things to provide tech as fast as we possibly can, and our talented community can also provide additional tools and content to complement what we are building. Together, we do much more than closed communities who depend on their employees and contractors to get things done.
11/18/2008 (2:07 pm)
@Pierre: Right now, Derek is looking over the entire GG portfolio and prioritizing everything that needs an immediate update. We just released a new beta version of TGEA, and there are a ton of 3rd party products that need a transfer from TGE to TGEA. And right now, looking at all our Developer Tools and Content Packs, plus some other new products he's working on, it's a ginormous list. :) We're getting to everything as fast as we can given our priorities, but of course, what we deem important may not match up with what you think is important. That's why people who are interested in seeing products get updated faster should talk to Derek. Having the right developers talking to him will make things go much faster.
We know it sucks because we cannot do everything at once. Even though GG has grown substantially since I started here in 2006, there is still always something else we could be doing. We are resource constrained just like any other business, so we do the best we can to make the best choices for our entire user base. Fortunately, the great thing about Torque is that, if we're not working on the projects you like, you have access to source and a community that can create tools and content without us getting in your way. That's the power of open source. This way, you get the best of both worlds: we prioritize things to provide tech as fast as we possibly can, and our talented community can also provide additional tools and content to complement what we are building. Together, we do much more than closed communities who depend on their employees and contractors to get things done.
#4
11/18/2008 (2:48 pm)
You can put me down for support and porting the products across. I have released a content pack called the Skeleton Pack, provided documentation, video tutorials, upgrade and support. I can model the sources in Lightwave, and possibly Blender and Milkshape. I also work as a programmer for Interzone, and a contract 3d modeller for Immersive Technologies.
#5
But I'm more design and ideas, than hard coding (dreams of the day when it all comes back). I could do documentation if needed.
About setting up projects for each tool and content pack, would that be a better way to get things rolling faster to try and tie them into the same time-line as the release of TGEA 1.8 non-beta?
The offer of royalties (as above ) could be a means of getting a good crew of developers working on these for GG, and allow GG to work on those more important key project target items.
@Andy from what I understand most(not all) of the GG's tools and content packs need is to be updated to work from download with the latest TGE/A and have documentation update or added.
11/18/2008 (11:54 pm)
I'd offer my services, but hate to say it I'm no where near some of the guys out there. I wish I was then I'd jump onboard to get things realy moving.But I'm more design and ideas, than hard coding (dreams of the day when it all comes back). I could do documentation if needed.
About setting up projects for each tool and content pack, would that be a better way to get things rolling faster to try and tie them into the same time-line as the release of TGEA 1.8 non-beta?
The offer of royalties (as above ) could be a means of getting a good crew of developers working on these for GG, and allow GG to work on those more important key project target items.
@Andy from what I understand most(not all) of the GG's tools and content packs need is to be updated to work from download with the latest TGE/A and have documentation update or added.
#6
I'll offer here to help provide existing/?future? packs with updated Milkshape3D based content.....embrace the 'lowEnd'....the demographic is larger than you might think!
11/19/2008 (6:57 am)
I have offered, Derek, my skills to provide Milkshape3D based content for just about any current sourceFiles before today; SDK KORK I have weighted as the Max SDK version, even with MultiRes LOD's in the same ratios. Any Content Pack I purchase, I immediately produce Milkshape3D source files for, I've exported from Houdini an Imported KORK that loads all the existing sequences...I'll offer here to help provide existing/?future? packs with updated Milkshape3D based content.....embrace the 'lowEnd'....the demographic is larger than you might think!
#7
@Andy - Thanks for offering your support and services. Always great to have a Lightwave guy on board.
@Pierre - Thanks for starting this thread and offering your services. I have been working with the engine devs and for future releases of the engines I am going to try to get a pre-beta build into the hands of 3rd party partners so they aren't reacting to new engine releases but trying to launch with them. Royalties are easy for me to offer on certain packs like the BraveTree stuff because we own the content. Other packs require a little more back and forth with the content creators to try to get things updated.
@Rex - You've already provided a ton of help with various projects and I will be taking you up on your Milkshape offer very soon. Like I said I have recently taken a step back and have a much better understanding of what needs work and what doesn't. I agree that Milkshape and Houdini are great for budding artists or those that can't afford a license to Autodesk stuff, but in most cases the art that I get is generated in one of the Autodesk formats. I will send a follow up email to see if we can work something out to get the Milkshape and Houdini files included in our content packs.
11/19/2008 (11:32 am)
I thought I would chime in and mention some of my thoughts considering this is my space :) As Deborah said I have been spending a large amount of my time catagorizing the vast list of content packs that we have to help prioritize what packs I spend time on getting updated. This thread will help me get a list of people together that I can start leaning on to update packs, which is great.@Andy - Thanks for offering your support and services. Always great to have a Lightwave guy on board.
@Pierre - Thanks for starting this thread and offering your services. I have been working with the engine devs and for future releases of the engines I am going to try to get a pre-beta build into the hands of 3rd party partners so they aren't reacting to new engine releases but trying to launch with them. Royalties are easy for me to offer on certain packs like the BraveTree stuff because we own the content. Other packs require a little more back and forth with the content creators to try to get things updated.
@Rex - You've already provided a ton of help with various projects and I will be taking you up on your Milkshape offer very soon. Like I said I have recently taken a step back and have a much better understanding of what needs work and what doesn't. I agree that Milkshape and Houdini are great for budding artists or those that can't afford a license to Autodesk stuff, but in most cases the art that I get is generated in one of the Autodesk formats. I will send a follow up email to see if we can work something out to get the Milkshape and Houdini files included in our content packs.
Associate Matt Fairfax
PopCap
If anyone is interested in doing the work of updating any of the packs to TGEA, please get in touch with Derek Bronson at derekb@garagegames.com. If your work is sufficiently high quality we would be willing to offer you a cut of the royalties.