Torque 3D Community Edition Is Alive

GENERAL SUMMARY
Torque3D Community Edition is a version of Torque3D 1.2 with new features and bug fixes collected from forums, resources, and user knowledge. All changes are made by community members, and not officially by GarageGames. The project is maintained and shared via a private svn repository with Trac Project Management and Bug/Issue Tracking Service for the purpose of sharing these enhancements with all valid licensees of Torque 3D 1.2 upon request.


HOW IT BEGAN
The establishment of the Torque 3D Community Edition began after a bit of discussion in a forum thread by Konrad Kiss in which he explained how he had to overcome some problems with stock engine code: you can read all about it here. Eventually this discussion led to a desire of several members of the community to come together in order resolve many of these issues for the benefit of all Torque 3D users, and how a centralized location was needed in order to allow such to happen. Fortunately for us all Alfio Saitta quickly jumped in and established a VPS platform with an Authentication System, Versioning Service, Bug/Task Ticket Management, Roadmaps, Changelog, Wiki, and more -- I'm sure he would appreciate any donation we can make to help cover his cost for maintaining this server. He continues to spearhead the bulk of the improvements seen so far.


MAJOR GOALS

• Fixing bugs, typos, and logic errors that were considered low priority for GarageGames and have yet to see an official fix but are of immediate concern for those in the community.
• Correcting coding errors that were found by using static code analyzers.
• Optimizing memory and string functions as well as key mathematics for greater overall performance.
• Continued enhancement and improvement of current features
• Inclusion of new features that can logically be of benefit to everyone.

HOW TO BECOME INVOLVED
Participation. Participation can be as simple as reporting on a bug/issue that has not seen official action or as much as you would like to contribute from your own skills and knowledge. A forum thread was created in order to have a centralized location for requests and license verification: Torque 3D Community Edition Activation. Once you have access to the Trac page, do make use of the Ticket pages to post bugs you know of and/or improvement requests so that we can begin dialogue about them on how best to resolve and assign tasks for these issues. Basic access only gives you read access to the repository - this is a safety precaution in order to reduce superfluous/accidental commits - but write access can be given to those who request it and wish to provide improvements and fixes of their own. We can of course still make use of
the Forums here for much of the discussion about project management and goals thereof but actual requests and tasks will be assigned or approved via use of the Trac Service ticketeting tool.


CURRENT ATTRACTIONS
Alfio has made excellent progress with updating the Bullet libraries and incorporating some improvements for Bullet style physics.


Another contribution by Alfio is a great basis for skinnable editors.
The Dark skin is so much more pleasing to the eye than the Default corporate look.

I actually see how this can be useful and easy to use for game GUIs and Hud skins as well!

I went through and removed the scripted numerical health display that I had added to Torque 3D -- which was only supposed to have been temporary -- and replaced it with a C++ GuiHealthTextHud. It works much like the standard GuiHealthBarHud, but shows numbers instead of a colored bar. There is also a T3D-CE wiki page dedicated to it's usage -- my attempt at documentation.


For extra fun, how about player gibs? We're actually making use of a standard yet neglected feature here.


There is also a modified version of the Improved Particle System resource by Lukas Joergensen that has been integrated.


And of course there have been other miscellaneous tweaks, fixes, and cleanup in preparation of the changes to come!

THE TORQUE 3D COMMUNITY EDITION NEEDS YOU
Our volunteer effort to expand on these and other improvements will depend on available time and skills of the participants already involved and upon you. It is up to you to begin discussions on what you would like to see on the Roadmap. I am silently compiling a list of bugs and other known issues for review but I am certain that my knowledge of these things is not comprehensive. We all have knowledge that can be beneficial to a collective group. That is what the Torque 3D Community Edition hopes to make use of: the collosal amount of information and knowledge that we all have a part in.

There are still a few organization hurdles to overcome, but this is where we all can have a chance to have say in what direction the Roadmap will take us. The greatest value as a whole will be seen as we, the Community, pull together for the benefit of all who wish to be involved.

The Community Edition can only be successful with the particpation and cooperation of the Community itself, and great things can be accomplished by a willing Community. I look forward to seeing what we can achieve!