So long and thanks for all the fish!
by Simon Love · 09/18/2013 (10:44 am) · 16 comments
After 7 months spent pushing T2D towards 3.0, fixing bugs, writing docs and trying to answer as many forum posts as possible in the most helpful way possible, I've decided to retire from the committee.
It might not have looked like it on your end but it got pretty close to a full-time job for me.
Unfortunately, this role, as fulfilling as it is, doesn't pay the bills and there comes a time when you have to focus on your career. Keeping Committee work as a side-job wouldn't work either as I can't help myself ; I really had a hard time putting in less than 12 hours every week.
The Steering committee is fueled by passion for the engine but in the end, we are only human. Over the course of the past 7 months, I've noticed that most users seem to adopt a 'let's wait for GG to fix it' attitude. I completely understand this; for those of us who have used TGB for years, we've been conditioned to wait for the next update for more features, bug-fixing, etc.
However, this engine is open-source now, GarageGames will play no role in actively supporting the engine moving forward.. This means that you guys must really take T2D's future into your own hands. It requires a completely different approach and mindset, one which might not yield results right away but in a few short weeks will really put you ahead of the curve.
I suggest using the engine to learn! For all of you out there who have a hard time with C++, take the time to trace through the code step by step; Load up the solution in Visual Studio and hit F10 to see EXACTLY what happens. You will learn everything you need to know about creating a window in your OS, capturing its events, how event managers are built, how rendering works, etc.
Creating new classes to suit your needs, modifying / adding console functions to facilitate your work will really become a reflex and take only a few minutes after a while.
It's also the best way to find bugs or tweak the engine towards your liking.
Last year, I wasn't really good at C++ but working with T2D has really sped up my learning up to a point where I feel comfortable tackling any library or engine out there.
Thanks to all of you who have shown patience and curiosity and most of all thanks for supporting our efforts! Know that T2D is wayyy more solid now than it was just a few months ago.
Best of luck to the Steering committee and to the community with bringing T2D to 3.0!
It might not have looked like it on your end but it got pretty close to a full-time job for me.
Unfortunately, this role, as fulfilling as it is, doesn't pay the bills and there comes a time when you have to focus on your career. Keeping Committee work as a side-job wouldn't work either as I can't help myself ; I really had a hard time putting in less than 12 hours every week.
The future is in YOUR hands
The Steering committee is fueled by passion for the engine but in the end, we are only human. Over the course of the past 7 months, I've noticed that most users seem to adopt a 'let's wait for GG to fix it' attitude. I completely understand this; for those of us who have used TGB for years, we've been conditioned to wait for the next update for more features, bug-fixing, etc.
However, this engine is open-source now, GarageGames will play no role in actively supporting the engine moving forward.. This means that you guys must really take T2D's future into your own hands. It requires a completely different approach and mindset, one which might not yield results right away but in a few short weeks will really put you ahead of the curve.
I suggest using the engine to learn! For all of you out there who have a hard time with C++, take the time to trace through the code step by step; Load up the solution in Visual Studio and hit F10 to see EXACTLY what happens. You will learn everything you need to know about creating a window in your OS, capturing its events, how event managers are built, how rendering works, etc.
Creating new classes to suit your needs, modifying / adding console functions to facilitate your work will really become a reflex and take only a few minutes after a while.
It's also the best way to find bugs or tweak the engine towards your liking.
Last year, I wasn't really good at C++ but working with T2D has really sped up my learning up to a point where I feel comfortable tackling any library or engine out there.
Thanks to all of you who have shown patience and curiosity and most of all thanks for supporting our efforts! Know that T2D is wayyy more solid now than it was just a few months ago.
Best of luck to the Steering committee and to the community with bringing T2D to 3.0!
About the author
I am here to help. I've worked at every imaginable position in game development, having entered the field originally as an audio guy.
#2
09/18/2013 (3:25 pm)
Sorry to see you go! Here's to the hard work you put in :). 
#3
Thanks for all your efforts brother and I trust me, I know where you are coming from ;-). You will certainly be missed. Good luck and I am pretty sure you will still be around constantly.... it's kind of hard to walk away completely. There are some really great people in this community, oh yeah.... Your Hitchhikers Guide is showing, LOL.
Ron
09/18/2013 (4:08 pm)
Simon, Thanks for all your efforts brother and I trust me, I know where you are coming from ;-). You will certainly be missed. Good luck and I am pretty sure you will still be around constantly.... it's kind of hard to walk away completely. There are some really great people in this community, oh yeah.... Your Hitchhikers Guide is showing, LOL.
Ron
#4
@Ron : Yeah, they should really come up with a name for this disease. Community-tis? Torque-a-holic? Forum-fiendishness?
09/18/2013 (4:38 pm)
Thanks y'all!@Ron : Yeah, they should really come up with a name for this disease. Community-tis? Torque-a-holic? Forum-fiendishness?
#5
Edit: That's supposed to be a fish.
09/18/2013 (5:23 pm)
Thanks for all of your effort. It was greatly appreciated.__/|_/ <').- ``
Edit: That's supposed to be a fish.
#6
Grant me the serenity to sit in front of my computer and not log into Garage Games, Should I log in, grant me the wisdom to identify a new post, and answer to the best of my ability... without muttering 'it's in the documentation, dumbass'....Just kidding
Ron
09/18/2013 (5:58 pm)
I like Torque-a-holic myself.... and see once you admit you have a problem, you can start the healing process :-). Grant me the serenity to sit in front of my computer and not log into Garage Games, Should I log in, grant me the wisdom to identify a new post, and answer to the best of my ability... without muttering 'it's in the documentation, dumbass'....Just kidding
Ron
#7
Good luck with your future projects Simon! And thanks for all the work you put into T2D.
09/19/2013 (1:10 am)
Good luck with your future projects Simon! And thanks for all the work you put into T2D.
#8
I hope everyone takes your words to heart regarding the future of Torque.
09/19/2013 (6:33 am)
@Simon - You have been an invaluable help to the T2D committee and community. I have thoroughly enjoyed working along side you, but I understand your reasons for stepping down. I wish you the best. Contact me anytime you want to chat. I hope everyone takes your words to heart regarding the future of Torque.
#9
09/19/2013 (7:56 am)
I had already thanked Simon in a separate email but his all around general awesomeness also deserves some public praise. So again, it was a real pleasure working with you Simon. Please don't cure your Torque-aholism, would be great to still interact with you as a productive community member. All the best for your professional endeavors. 
#10
09/19/2013 (4:33 pm)
Good luck on your further projects, Simon!
#11
09/20/2013 (12:37 pm)
@Mike : No worries, my Torque-aholism is absolutely rampant and completely ruins my social life. I plan to keep it that way. 
#12
Thanks for being you. I really came to enjoy discussing T2D because of the great people involved. Glad to hear you will be hanging around!
09/20/2013 (7:22 pm)
@Simon,Thanks for being you. I really came to enjoy discussing T2D because of the great people involved. Glad to hear you will be hanging around!
#14
09/23/2013 (11:45 am)
Everybody is leaving .. O.o
#15
@William : I should change the title to "So long and thanks for ASCII fish".
09/23/2013 (12:01 pm)
@Alienforce : Not true, friend. Life ebbs and flows in a constant state of change; so does the community.@William : I should change the title to "So long and thanks for ASCII fish".
Torque Owner Nathan Martin
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