Goodbye blog!
by Melv May · 03/29/2013 (5:12 am) · 42 comments
Let me start by saying that GarageGames has been a huge part of my life for nearly 12 years. In that time I've messed with the engine, created a whole bunch of extensions for TGE like the foliage and shape replicators, sunlight lens-flares, shoreline rendering, lighting etc then I moved on and created Torque 2D with the intent of releasing it for free but which became TGB only to eventually come full circle and be released for free as open source as Torque 2D.
It's been a crazy ride with lots of challenges along the way. I've gained recognition from many and pride in what I've achieved. I've learned so much in the last decade that it's hard to quantify but I know I've improved many things from coding to remote collaboration alongside lots of amazing and talented folks.
I'd like to say a particular thanks to GarageGames. In the last several years you've been an awesome employer and I've had the privilege of working on some very cool tech that you've trusted me to work on.
But, whilst spending a long time on the same engine technology allows me to get extremely intimate with it, it also means I'm not pushing myself as much as perhaps I should. Now that Torque 2D is out in the wild and I've spent some time after the release making sure that it's as solid as can be, I think it's about time I moved onto another set of challenges. Torque 2D is in safe hands here with GarageGames and the new steering committee can enlist/encourage talented developers from the community to help push Torque 2D forward and get it the attention that it truly deserves.
So with that I'd like to say thanks to everyone at GarageGames and the community at large who've supported and encouraged me to write cool stuff.
This is the T2D developer Melv May signing off. April 2012.
It's been a crazy ride with lots of challenges along the way. I've gained recognition from many and pride in what I've achieved. I've learned so much in the last decade that it's hard to quantify but I know I've improved many things from coding to remote collaboration alongside lots of amazing and talented folks.
I'd like to say a particular thanks to GarageGames. In the last several years you've been an awesome employer and I've had the privilege of working on some very cool tech that you've trusted me to work on.
But, whilst spending a long time on the same engine technology allows me to get extremely intimate with it, it also means I'm not pushing myself as much as perhaps I should. Now that Torque 2D is out in the wild and I've spent some time after the release making sure that it's as solid as can be, I think it's about time I moved onto another set of challenges. Torque 2D is in safe hands here with GarageGames and the new steering committee can enlist/encourage talented developers from the community to help push Torque 2D forward and get it the attention that it truly deserves.
So with that I'd like to say thanks to everyone at GarageGames and the community at large who've supported and encouraged me to write cool stuff.
This is the T2D developer Melv May signing off. April 2012.
About the author
#2
03/29/2013 (5:20 am)
Okay so it's official. You're not allowed to make a post unless it's an animated GIF... :) 
#3
Edit:
By special request, I present to you the entire original Star Wars Trilogy:
03/29/2013 (5:22 am)
Goodbye! I barely knew ye... literally. But still, thanks for the hard work you've put in over the years!Edit:
By special request, I present to you the entire original Star Wars Trilogy:
#5
I remember you created so many great resources for TGE like the foliage etc and it was always exciting to see what you where working on. I was a bit sad to see you go to TGB/T2D as TGE/T3D lost out.
Good luck and I hope you will still be about :-)
03/29/2013 (6:26 am)
Thanks Melv for all your hard work.I remember you created so many great resources for TGE like the foliage etc and it was always exciting to see what you where working on. I was a bit sad to see you go to TGB/T2D as TGE/T3D lost out.
Good luck and I hope you will still be about :-)
#6
03/29/2013 (6:30 am)
I don't have a gif to display, but want to say, you've been a staple around here for longer than I've been here. I do hope you stay active in the community as your insight and talent are awesome.
#7
03/29/2013 (6:36 am)
Thank you for everything Melv. I hope we'll continue to see you lurking this site ! And good luck to you. 
#8
Don't stare too long at this now ;)
03/29/2013 (6:48 am)
Thank you for everything you have done Melv, I hope that you have a bright future ahead of you! The new Engine is really a great design, and I'm sure with the help of outstanding community members we will continue to make it thrive and grow into a great 2D Engine!Don't stare too long at this now ;)
#9
BTW, Michael Perry's gif is the best one. Ha.
03/29/2013 (7:18 am)
Wow. Bye Melv. I'm leaving with you (seriously). BTW, Michael Perry's gif is the best one. Ha.
#10
Thank god for weirdos collecting stuff like this on the internet
Good luck, Melv.
And a not quite so manly version
03/29/2013 (7:54 am)
Thank god for weirdos collecting stuff like this on the internet
Good luck, Melv.
And a not quite so manly version
#11
03/29/2013 (8:14 am)
Good luck with your future endeavors Melv, you have been a great asset to the community. 
#12
Aw man! Who am I going to bug with T2D questions now? Mitch is always so grumpy....
03/29/2013 (8:15 am)
Aw man! Who am I going to bug with T2D questions now? Mitch is always so grumpy....
#13
03/29/2013 (9:27 am)
You will be sorely missed. You've helped me without knowing me. Thank You. Best of skill with your new challanges -another page is turned. 
#14
It's been great working with you Melv and we're going to miss you around here. Thank you for all your hard work throughout the years and always being able to pull something awesome out of a hat.
I'm not going to cry, I'll just somberly stand here in the rain trying to look stoic.
03/29/2013 (10:32 am)
You were already becoming a name in the community when I first joined all those years ago. I still remember how there was this guy that was talking crazy right before I took a year or so off from the tech, he actually wanted to take TGE and make it do 2D stuff. Like I said, crazy. Then I come back a year or so later and not only did this nut actually come up with a way to make TGE into a 2D engine, but it had become an official product and there were fancy editors just weeks away. Best $80 I ever spent.It's been great working with you Melv and we're going to miss you around here. Thank you for all your hard work throughout the years and always being able to pull something awesome out of a hat.
I'm not going to cry, I'll just somberly stand here in the rain trying to look stoic.
#15
03/29/2013 (10:37 am)
Melv is wrapping up his work day, which means his official time on the GG clock is about up. I'm sure he will post some replies to this blog. For now, we just had a toast to his departure, so glasses up everyone!
#16
I've officially finished my day and my last commit to the repo by allowing everyone a choice of using TAML to write/read XML, Binary and now JSON for modules, assets etc.
I just had a Whiskey with Mich over a G+ hangout so his GIF is appropriate!
Now I'm a community member again ... full circle! :)
Oh yeah ... keep those GIFS coming...
03/29/2013 (10:43 am)
Hey everyone, thanks for the comments!I've officially finished my day and my last commit to the repo by allowing everyone a choice of using TAML to write/read XML, Binary and now JSON for modules, assets etc.
I just had a Whiskey with Mich over a G+ hangout so his GIF is appropriate!
Now I'm a community member again ... full circle! :)
Oh yeah ... keep those GIFS coming...
#17
What The Heck?!
Here is where I am at now:
What!?
So I assume that you will still be a community member?
03/29/2013 (11:31 am)
This is my initial response (warning, contains really bad swear word):What The Heck?!
Here is where I am at now:
What!?
So I assume that you will still be a community member?
#18
All the best, Melv!
Now let's have a drink in your honor and look at the physics code...hmmm maybe that's not such a good idea..
03/29/2013 (11:39 am)
Dang, It's all been said already.All the best, Melv!
Now let's have a drink in your honor and look at the physics code...hmmm maybe that's not such a good idea..
#19
03/29/2013 (11:45 am)
Melv, thank you for creating such a great engine. Good luck to you, you will be fondly remembered here for all you have done. 
#20
You will change your mind! You will change your mind! All hail the hypnotoad.
03/29/2013 (1:57 pm)
You will change your mind! You will change your mind! All hail the hypnotoad.
Employee Michael Perry
ZombieShortbus
In all seriousness. Working with you has been a joy and privilege. You are one of the reasons I wanted to work at GarageGames. Thank you for all your contributions and for being an amazing teammate.