web deployment

#1 TGB definitely does not deploy directly to the web. The product page exaggerates the capabilities of TGB, in it's current form anyway. It also mentions genre kits that aren't yet available.

#2 This is also a feature I am VERY interested in... is this a planned feature in the up and coming Torque2D - presumably after the Torque3D release?

Or should we look for it to be a free upgrade into the present TGB?

#3 This is also a feature I am very interested in. If GG doesn't add this ability to TGB I would gladly pay for a third party add-on that would give TGB this ability.

Jason

#4 Yeah I'm sure about everyone is interested in this feature. Point is they shouldn't be promising things that TGB can't do... I can see how some new customers could be upset after they pay for a license thinking this feature exists in current TGB technology. I don't know who wrote up the TGB product page but they are imagining things. The product description page is not the place for .plans!

#5 The main page should read "buyer beware: they under-explain and over-exaggerate to their advantage"

I imagine the only Web publishing allowed is to publish on instant action, otherwise someone would be able to create a competing site...and eventually GG would lose.

#6 @eb - I don't think that's right - one of the blogs for the upcoming Torque3D, if you look at the packager I think??? - is to package the game for a web page. It was my understanding - and I HOPE I am right - that you will be able to make and package a game for your own website...

I think you would have to have an approved game for InstantAction - it would need to be very polished I would assume.


EDIT - check out the last screen shot here:

http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/16311

The launcher has the options to package it for zip, installer, or web.

#7 I guess we'll see how this unfolds..as we know they are never specific enough even when they are specific.

#8 Indeed - I've been way for a bit and am just coming back to Torque - I have been a little disappointed by the new site and some of the documentation stuff...

I'm excited about some of the new stuff on the horizon - but I'm frustrated by some of what I'm seeing on the site at the same time.

#9 @Eric - I'm sincerely curious. What about the documentation are you disappointed in?

#10 @Michael - well - my first gripe is I miss the old www.garagegames.com/mg/whatsnew/ - lol :) - I enjoyed they layout of how it would present the new information/blogs/etc... But I understand the site as a whole is a work in progress and I will get used to it.

I have emailed you indicating that I would help with grunt work on the "resurrection project" or however you want to label the rejuvenation of the TDN. (As well as a request for documentation I am unable to access on the TDN.) I am fairly noobish and am re-working through all the tutorials on TGB. BUT - I would love an actually viable TDN where all the resources can be found and located in one spot and indicate if they are out of date yada yada... but this has been thoroughly discussed in another blog of yours.

But some of the misinformation on the site is disappointing. (I will say - it is excellent documentation in TGB itself... other than my personal need to learn far more C++ than I know I can't complain about that documentation.) And as for the misinformation - this on the description for TGB "With developments paths that allow publishing to Windows, Mac, Linux, xBox 360, Wii, iPhone, and even web platforms, your game will reach the widest possible audience." and "Build for Mac / PC / Linux / Wii / Xbox 360 / iPhone / Web all from the same project." This cannot be done with just the purchase of standard TGB and is incredibly misleading... If this is a soon to be released feature or coming with a Torque2D - it should say that.

So yeah - I am more disappointed in the present information on the site itself and the way it's presented - I really am a fanboy of GG so don't think I am just being critical out of a dislike...

AND the unanswered questions about web publishing... will I be able to make a game - and then package it to run off of my own website, similar to how InstantAction works?

The Platform game I have in mind as my first real project will not be of the caliber for InstantAction - but that doesn't mean I won't want it on a site for people to be able to play. Will this be an option I should be awaiting? Or do I need to look for different options?


EDIT!!! Also - If I am misinformed on anything I have talked about - please set me straight! :) I will take no offense to being corrected.

#11 @Eric - Ah! Just saw your e-mail and forum info. I'm hearing you more clearly now. I thought you were directly disappointed with the official docs and landing pages. Yeah, you and I are on the same page as far as TDN goes. I will definitely be replying back to you about that situation.

As far as the product pages go, I've already put in a request to have the TGB pages corrected (platforms, deployment, etc). The web team is continuing to work on functionality and making sure all of the old community features are back up and running, but I'm sure they will make the necessary edits soon.

The plan for Torque 2D (future of TGB) is still being planned, so I do not have any honest answers about web deployment or new features.

I know there is still some minor ruckus over certain site features, but we appreciate the patience. I'll post back here when I hear more.

#12 One more thing that would really be great about this - from a developer and testing standpoint - is if I want people to test certain parts of a game for me - I don't need to build and zip up and get the game to all of them - I only need to publish it to a site - and BAM - I know everyone is testing exactly the game and version and parts of the game I want tested.

All from a happy little browser with no downloads/installs needed.

#13 Here is a link to more information from GG about deploying games on the web. This is the item that drives Instantaction and it should, if I understand it correctly, be able to deploy TGB created games to the web.

http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/16113

This might explain why TGB is advertised as being deployable on the web.

Jason

#14 The only 3rd party port for TGB games to the web is an activeX based web plugin called OSAKit @ OSAKit.com

It also works for Firefox, Opera, etc.

I've personally had problems installing it, but I've seen examples of it working for others.

EDIT:

GG's engines are cranked up full speed on Torque3D and the new TGB won't probably be on the scene with it's own web plugin for several months.

I've found a program called "OSAKit".

It works well with IE, Mozilla, and other major browsers. Users have to download a player plugin, which isn't Instant Action innovative, but it's better than nothing.

It runs from FREE versions to more advanced versions for a one time fee.

Finally a Game Engine for TGB (and I think it works with TGE & TGEA).

osakit.com

#15 Geez, web deployment was the main reason I went with this.
Other engines that specify web deployment make it pretty painless, and actually let you do so.