Why not GitHub TGEA Engine?
by xGamer · in General Discussion · 10/05/2014 (12:35 pm) · 11 replies
I'm just wondering.. In light of one of the best hobbyist engines of all time, and the engine that made GG.. If no-one can no longer buy a license, then why not open source TGEA either 1.7 or 1.8?
It's been years since I've looked around GG.. Mostly because the community and everything else seemed to have died with TGEA was ditched..
But MMORPG's are what are popular, in my opinion, more so than FPS games! but the problem is that no engines truely focus on MMO's for hobbyists. TGEA just had something special, and it was easy to use!
So, why not release one of the TGEA versions and re-build the GG forum community?
Just a thought,
Chris
It's been years since I've looked around GG.. Mostly because the community and everything else seemed to have died with TGEA was ditched..
But MMORPG's are what are popular, in my opinion, more so than FPS games! but the problem is that no engines truely focus on MMO's for hobbyists. TGEA just had something special, and it was easy to use!
So, why not release one of the TGEA versions and re-build the GG forum community?
Just a thought,
Chris
About the author
I joined GG before I knew anything.. Then I went on to become a Web Site Developer, a Programmer and now a hobbyist of different things online.
#2
10/05/2014 (6:37 pm)
Pretty much what Simon said. T3D is an improvement upon TGEA, so there's no reason I can think of to open source TGEA. I could certainly go into a laundry list of logistical and legal headaches involved in open sourcing a legacy engine, but I think Simon's post caps it pretty well. 
#3
10/06/2014 (2:54 am)
The more relevant question is - why not open-source TGE? ;) 
#4
10/06/2014 (11:26 am)
TGE falls into those same logistical and legal headaches that Mich mentioned, which is the bulk of the reason, in addition to dealing with user confusion. It was kind of surprising when we were going through the open sourcing process how many people out there would refer to TGE and actually mean T3D. 
#5
In fact, I remember noticing the TGEA project structure when looking at some of the early previews for T3D.
The only thing I'd really be interested to see from TGEA in T3D is Atlas terrains. Matching up T3D terrain blocks is kind of difficult....
Mmmm, as a hobbyist I'd say a MMORPG is way more work than most hobbyists are prepared for. TGEA and TGE were no more suited to building a MMORPG than T3D is, in any case. Yes, Prairie Games (http://www.prairiegames.com/) wrote a cool MMORPG with TGE, but there was another outfit that just updated their MMO to use T3D - it was posted on this site but I can't find it at the moment. Anyway, the client isn't the hard part - it's the server. Hope you really like database programming....
10/06/2014 (11:57 am)
Quote:
T3D is an improvement upon TGEA, so there's no reason I can think of to open source TGEA.
In fact, I remember noticing the TGEA project structure when looking at some of the early previews for T3D.
The only thing I'd really be interested to see from TGEA in T3D is Atlas terrains. Matching up T3D terrain blocks is kind of difficult....
Quote:
But MMORPG's are what are popular, in my opinion, more so than FPS games! but the problem is that no engines truely focus on MMO's for hobbyists.
Mmmm, as a hobbyist I'd say a MMORPG is way more work than most hobbyists are prepared for. TGEA and TGE were no more suited to building a MMORPG than T3D is, in any case. Yes, Prairie Games (http://www.prairiegames.com/) wrote a cool MMORPG with TGE, but there was another outfit that just updated their MMO to use T3D - it was posted on this site but I can't find it at the moment. Anyway, the client isn't the hard part - it's the server. Hope you really like database programming....
#7
10/07/2014 (10:45 am)
No argument here. There is just so much more to a MMO than the game client, or even the basic client/server architecture present in most game engines (T3D, UE4, or CryENGINE 3) and almost everyone overlooks that. It's not just the scope of the content, it's the scope of the infrastructure that is massive. As you say, HeroEngine has really lowered the barrier to entry on that front.
#8
I used to spend a lot of time here, back when it was about TGEA. Back when ArcaneFx and MMOWorkshop where the best things around.. But youtube, google searches ect, show the decline in popularity ever since TGEA went to TGE/T3D..
Again, I was asking more along the lines of historical reasons I guess.
Hero Engine is great, as is UR4 or Cryengine. All of these can be obtained for $10 - $20 pet month.. But UR4 wants 5% royalties, Hero wants 35%.
I wasn't asking for the sake of making a game really. Just wanted to use that specific version TGEA 1.7 or 1.8 for a small project.
I already run a full time MMORPG so I know whats involved (I'm full time programmer, web admin, server admin, customer support guy etc all by myself), boi-infinity.com but I was just looking at different aspects of these engines for a small project.
I just never found the excitement with TGE/T3D as I once did in TGEA's hayday.
Chris
10/07/2014 (11:20 am)
I really wasn't trying to start a debate or anything over this.. I guess as someone whos been around GG a long time, I just asked about releasing TGEA for our own use I guess.I used to spend a lot of time here, back when it was about TGEA. Back when ArcaneFx and MMOWorkshop where the best things around.. But youtube, google searches ect, show the decline in popularity ever since TGEA went to TGE/T3D..
Again, I was asking more along the lines of historical reasons I guess.
Hero Engine is great, as is UR4 or Cryengine. All of these can be obtained for $10 - $20 pet month.. But UR4 wants 5% royalties, Hero wants 35%.
I wasn't asking for the sake of making a game really. Just wanted to use that specific version TGEA 1.7 or 1.8 for a small project.
I already run a full time MMORPG so I know whats involved (I'm full time programmer, web admin, server admin, customer support guy etc all by myself), boi-infinity.com but I was just looking at different aspects of these engines for a small project.
I just never found the excitement with TGE/T3D as I once did in TGEA's hayday.
Chris
#9
As for the excitement, I don't think there's a 3d game engine out there that has me really excited anymore; the tech has been around for awhile and things like Shader support are pretty standard fare these days.
T3D has morphed into a different beast but there is as much excitement in the community over new features. The main difference is that the community is part of it now 100%. Just a few months back, T3D was one of the first engines to support Oculus Rift, with demos! The excitement of olden times was felt by many.
10/07/2014 (11:46 am)
@xGamer : Bear in mind that back in the days of TGEA, there weren't as many alternatives as there are today. Unity was nowhere near how popular it is now and while Unreal mods were a thing, they were lightyears from what UE3 or UE4 is doing in terms of accessibility.As for the excitement, I don't think there's a 3d game engine out there that has me really excited anymore; the tech has been around for awhile and things like Shader support are pretty standard fare these days.
T3D has morphed into a different beast but there is as much excitement in the community over new features. The main difference is that the community is part of it now 100%. Just a few months back, T3D was one of the first engines to support Oculus Rift, with demos! The excitement of olden times was felt by many.
#10
10/07/2014 (1:29 pm)
Quote:At the time it was removed from early T3D development Atlas terrains still worked, albeit with lighting/rendering artifacts... probably would only take minimal effort to make it work again -- just couldn't share it due to licensing.
The only thing I'd really be interested to see from TGEA in T3D is Atlas terrains.
#11
I guess it really came down to licensing and effort - I'm guessng there were large-ish chunks of TGEA that would need "cleaning" before they could be released unencumbered. T3D required a sweep before it was released as it is, and TGEA had more of the old TGE stuff in it.
10/07/2014 (3:50 pm)
Good idea, Mike! Maybe I'll give it a shot, then do a write-up if I get it working for people who own both engines....Quote:Well, T3D also introduced a $1000 price point - four times the cost of TGEA. I'm thinking the decline in popularity came with that price hike. T3D really is a better engine in my opinion. And ArcaneFX has been updated to work with the latest T3D MIT release!
I used to spend a lot of time here, back when it was about TGEA. Back when ArcaneFx and MMOWorkshop where the best things around.. But youtube, google searches ect, show the decline in popularity ever since TGEA went to TGE/T3D..
I guess it really came down to licensing and effort - I'm guessng there were large-ish chunks of TGEA that would need "cleaning" before they could be released unencumbered. T3D required a sweep before it was released as it is, and TGEA had more of the old TGE stuff in it.
Associate Simon Love
What in your opinion, makes TGEA better than the open-sourced, community-maintained T3D engine?