The Ultimate Guide: Preview Coming
by Robert Fritzen · 09/09/2014 (1:01 pm) · 13 comments
So the past two blogs of mine have been revealing of my final micro-pack addons as well as the revealing of the Ultimate Guide to Torque 3D, a nice long book-like resource I have been writing for some time now to help people of all skill levels hop into development with Torque 3D. While there is still a ton of content that needs to be done for the guide in terms of completing it, there's already plenty of content to be had in the guide. Most of the content behind the opening seven chapters of the guide has already been completed or is rapidly approaching that point, so I decided that I'm going to do something.
Starting on this coming Sunday, everyone who priorly purchased the PGD Torque 3D Bundle will receive a free preview version of the guide containing the completed seven chapters. This will be my way of obtaining feedback from the people who have already stated they want this to make sure things are going in the right direction. Call this a timed exclusive offering if you want to. Later next week (Probably a week from Friday), that same preview will be opened up to everyone here in the community so you guys can get at least a glimpse at some of the opening chapters, which cover the editors of the engine, as well as taking some of those first important steps into working with TorqueScript. The actual "good stuff" (Advanced TS, C++) come in the later chapters in the guide, but this should give people some direction on how I'm writing this guide. I'll be looking for feedback and comments on how I've been doing things from everyone who takes part in the free preview offering, so be sure to leave some comments on my blog when you get through it.
The way things are going right now, it's looking like a late September - early October release for the full version of the Guide, so things are right on schedule.
As a final reminder to everyone, anyone who gets the PGD Torque 3D Pack for $60 between now and the release of the full guide will get an immediate free download of "The Ultimate Guide to Torque 3D" on it's release day without needing to pay $20 for the guide itself or buy the PGD Torque Pack for it's adjusted price of $70. But you've still got a few weeks to a month to decide if you want to go that way. I'll have much more on the Ultimate Guide in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
EDIT:
I'm not sure if this is a mistake on my end or if nobody is getting to it, but none of the people who have access to the preview have left any feedback to me, so I've decided to change things up just a little bit.
* Everyone: I've upped the schedule, and you can now download the preview version of the guide here. Please, please, please, provide some feedback on it. I need to make sure things are going in the right direction. I need to know what's wrong, what could be changed, what's good, and what's not.
* PGD Pack Owners: I did mention this was a "timed" thing, so in turn for favor I've re-uploaded the pack on the Micro Download Page with contents including the entirety of Chapter 8 as well to compensate, feel free to grab that and let me know how it went. To make sure it's clear I'll be sending you guys an email about this as well.
Starting on this coming Sunday, everyone who priorly purchased the PGD Torque 3D Bundle will receive a free preview version of the guide containing the completed seven chapters. This will be my way of obtaining feedback from the people who have already stated they want this to make sure things are going in the right direction. Call this a timed exclusive offering if you want to. Later next week (Probably a week from Friday), that same preview will be opened up to everyone here in the community so you guys can get at least a glimpse at some of the opening chapters, which cover the editors of the engine, as well as taking some of those first important steps into working with TorqueScript. The actual "good stuff" (Advanced TS, C++) come in the later chapters in the guide, but this should give people some direction on how I'm writing this guide. I'll be looking for feedback and comments on how I've been doing things from everyone who takes part in the free preview offering, so be sure to leave some comments on my blog when you get through it.
The way things are going right now, it's looking like a late September - early October release for the full version of the Guide, so things are right on schedule.
As a final reminder to everyone, anyone who gets the PGD Torque 3D Pack for $60 between now and the release of the full guide will get an immediate free download of "The Ultimate Guide to Torque 3D" on it's release day without needing to pay $20 for the guide itself or buy the PGD Torque Pack for it's adjusted price of $70. But you've still got a few weeks to a month to decide if you want to go that way. I'll have much more on the Ultimate Guide in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
EDIT:
I'm not sure if this is a mistake on my end or if nobody is getting to it, but none of the people who have access to the preview have left any feedback to me, so I've decided to change things up just a little bit.
* Everyone: I've upped the schedule, and you can now download the preview version of the guide here. Please, please, please, provide some feedback on it. I need to make sure things are going in the right direction. I need to know what's wrong, what could be changed, what's good, and what's not.
* PGD Pack Owners: I did mention this was a "timed" thing, so in turn for favor I've re-uploaded the pack on the Micro Download Page with contents including the entirety of Chapter 8 as well to compensate, feel free to grab that and let me know how it went. To make sure it's clear I'll be sending you guys an email about this as well.
About the author
Illinois Grad. Retired T3D Developer / Pack Dev.
Recent Blogs
• And that's a wrap!• Big Product System Update
• Ultimate Guide News Update
• Progress Update
• ForceFields & T3D Pack
#2
09/12/2014 (4:23 pm)
Best of luck with the writing! Sounds like a great resource for people. 
#3
09/12/2014 (6:15 pm)
Can't wait, will be looking for it on Sunday. Are you going to have a link to send the feedback or are you going have a thread in the forum?
#4
1) This blog post.
2) The Forums (A topic will be opened on Sunday)
3) Via Email
Essentially, I'll be wanting to know the overall direction of the guide in terms of how easy it would be to understand from someone who's new to the engine versus someone who's experienced, and if the content of the guide is actually useful to help people learn the engine.
09/12/2014 (7:48 pm)
I'll be accepting feedback from 3 sources:1) This blog post.
2) The Forums (A topic will be opened on Sunday)
3) Via Email
Essentially, I'll be wanting to know the overall direction of the guide in terms of how easy it would be to understand from someone who's new to the engine versus someone who's experienced, and if the content of the guide is actually useful to help people learn the engine.
#5
For everyone else, you'll get your hands on the guide on Friday, September 26th sometime later in the evening.
Thanks again for all of the support for this project, I hope you guys enjoy it.
09/14/2014 (10:48 am)
@Torque Pack Owners: The download for the preview is now live! I'll be looking for your feedback on the guide. This will basically shape the overall direction I'll be taking for the remainder of the guide, as well as any changes that need to be made to the already existing content between now and the release.For everyone else, you'll get your hands on the guide on Friday, September 26th sometime later in the evening.
Thanks again for all of the support for this project, I hope you guys enjoy it.
#6
09/14/2014 (3:33 pm)
@Robert: Was the download link supposed to be sent by email? If was, I did not receive it.
#7
09/14/2014 (5:12 pm)
@Mark: Nope, all you need to do is go back to the download page for the micro packs and it will be in there.
#8
09/19/2014 (11:43 am)
@All: I've decided to change the schedule. Download is now live for everyone. See original blog post for more info. 
#9
09/19/2014 (7:33 pm)
I just ran across this. Man thanks, this is exactly what our community needs! Respect.
#10
I ran into an issue with T3D compile failing. I am using VS2010 on Windows 8.1. I think it is because the files are read only and my system won't let me adjust them. Anyways I just bypassed that for now and continuing to go through the book.
09/20/2014 (3:33 pm)
@Robert: I'm working through it slowly. I haven't had much time till this weekend to go through it. I have a fulltime job so it is hard to work through it during the week. I ran into an issue with T3D compile failing. I am using VS2010 on Windows 8.1. I think it is because the files are read only and my system won't let me adjust them. Anyways I just bypassed that for now and continuing to go through the book.
#11
On page 14 par 2: "From the Library tab, you can select objects that are saved in the engine based on their type and categories and then either drag and drop into the editor pane or double click to spawn them. "
- In the object editor they only can be double clicked. In the GUI editor you can drag or double click.
I highly recommend this book if someone is just starting out. Awesome job on this so far, Robert! I can't wait to continue reading and learning from this book. Thanks for your hard work.
09/28/2014 (4:23 pm)
@Robert: I have ben going through your Preview. I am up to chapter 5. I haven't been able to do more because of work and other things. What I have read is awesome. I am also going through it while I am using T3D. On page 14 par 2: "From the Library tab, you can select objects that are saved in the engine based on their type and categories and then either drag and drop into the editor pane or double click to spawn them. "
- In the object editor they only can be double clicked. In the GUI editor you can drag or double click.
I highly recommend this book if someone is just starting out. Awesome job on this so far, Robert! I can't wait to continue reading and learning from this book. Thanks for your hard work.
#12
Your guide is very excellent Sir , my feet are just beginning to get wet here and I breezed through the first 50 very exciting pages and noticed only a handful of typos , about 1 per chapter . Not complaing just saying . Thank You Very Much for the preview .
I came back today so I can link this to a T3D Beginner post where I think the author may need to know where to place his assets . If I recall , there is a seperate folder for art . :)
anyway , seeing that you mentioned no one had replied , I felt obliged even though I can offer no actually useful review of your MEGA COOL preview .
ThankYou
10/23/2014 (8:51 am)
Mr. Fritzen , Your guide is very excellent Sir , my feet are just beginning to get wet here and I breezed through the first 50 very exciting pages and noticed only a handful of typos , about 1 per chapter . Not complaing just saying . Thank You Very Much for the preview .
I came back today so I can link this to a T3D Beginner post where I think the author may need to know where to place his assets . If I recall , there is a seperate folder for art . :)
anyway , seeing that you mentioned no one had replied , I felt obliged even though I can offer no actually useful review of your MEGA COOL preview .
ThankYou
Richard Marrevee
R.G.S - Richards Game Studio