Catching up to speed with Torque3D?
by Weston Elliott · in Torque 3D Professional · 05/23/2012 (2:13 pm) · 19 replies
Hello everyone! Well, it has been quite a while since I've done anything with Torque or coding in general, so now I am trying to catch up to speed with everything again. Quite a while back I bought TGE and played around with it for a little more than two years. Then I got very busy with many things and stayed busy until now. Just recently, I bought T3D 1.2 and have been tinkering around with that. However, my old computer system runs it painfully slow even on the lowest settings which is why I started my other thread on the hardware requirements of Torque3D. You all in the GarageGames community are extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. You really helped me a lot in my other thread, so now I have some other questions.
It has been at least three years since I have coded anything or messed around with Torque / Blender. Now, opening up the programs, everything seems so confusing, I've forgotten almost everything! Do you know of any good books / tutorials dealing with Torque3D? Right now I am looking at the following two:
www.amazon.com/Game-Programming-All-Third-Edition/dp/1435457447/ref=sr_1_1?s=boo...
and
www.amazon.com/Torque-Teens-For-Course-Technology/dp/1435456424/ref=sr_1_16?s=bo...
Now I don't think I will learn nearly all I need to from these two books. So if you know of anything better, or anything that would help at all, I would sure appreciate it! Thank you!
It has been at least three years since I have coded anything or messed around with Torque / Blender. Now, opening up the programs, everything seems so confusing, I've forgotten almost everything! Do you know of any good books / tutorials dealing with Torque3D? Right now I am looking at the following two:
www.amazon.com/Game-Programming-All-Third-Edition/dp/1435457447/ref=sr_1_1?s=boo...
and
www.amazon.com/Torque-Teens-For-Course-Technology/dp/1435456424/ref=sr_1_16?s=bo...
Now I don't think I will learn nearly all I need to from these two books. So if you know of anything better, or anything that would help at all, I would sure appreciate it! Thank you!
#2
05/23/2012 (2:58 pm)
Torque For Teens is about Torque 3D and covers the fundamentals. The majority of it still applies despite recent updates. 
#3
Also go throught the actual docs (in docs folder or online under support/docs/engine_that_you're_using) for explanations about the editors, tutorials on TorqueScript, and the GUIs.
Finally, look through the resources for other tutorials (there's an engine filter now which helps find resources - but won't show older ones before it was added to the site).
Double finally, there's also TDN (findable under support/docs) but it is out of date on a lot of stuff. There is still good info there.
05/23/2012 (4:08 pm)
If you haven't already, go through the 1.2 FPS multiplayer tutorial (even if you have no interest in that genre) - the tutorial is great for familiarizing youself with using the engine. Also go throught the actual docs (in docs folder or online under support/docs/engine_that_you're_using) for explanations about the editors, tutorials on TorqueScript, and the GUIs.
Finally, look through the resources for other tutorials (there's an engine filter now which helps find resources - but won't show older ones before it was added to the site).
Double finally, there's also TDN (findable under support/docs) but it is out of date on a lot of stuff. There is still good info there.
#4
05/23/2012 (4:45 pm)
Mike must have updated it. I didn't see that there was a new edition of it that used T3D. The previous version used TGE. 
#5
if u really curious and take it seriously then old forum post are enough for u to start.i have started with torque 3d 1.5 years ago with only knowledge on c++(as a 2nd year student ) without having any knowledge on game development.u already have 2 years experience with old torque engine.so i think to start with t3d that 1.2 FPS multiplayer tutorial is more than enough for u .also in tdn there are some very good tutorial/information very much helpful.
if u fall into any problem then spend 5-10 minute on searching forum's old post.that is the way i am using.those old thread are better than a tutorial. i have posted only a few 10-12 thread asking about anythings on t3d because of those old thread.
05/23/2012 (7:53 pm)
Quote: I bought TGE and played around with it for a little more than two years.
if u really curious and take it seriously then old forum post are enough for u to start.i have started with torque 3d 1.5 years ago with only knowledge on c++(as a 2nd year student ) without having any knowledge on game development.u already have 2 years experience with old torque engine.so i think to start with t3d that 1.2 FPS multiplayer tutorial is more than enough for u .also in tdn there are some very good tutorial/information very much helpful.
if u fall into any problem then spend 5-10 minute on searching forum's old post.that is the way i am using.those old thread are better than a tutorial. i have posted only a few 10-12 thread asking about anythings on t3d because of those old thread.
#6
I took a similar route and shoe horned Python into the engine. I now know more about the TS interpreter, how functions get called and a LOT about the internals of the engine.
BTW, the game object model is way better with T3D than TGE. I remember there being an unholy dependency on shapebase to the game connection object. That has been fixed. So, if you had any kind of familiarity with that part of the engine I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the improvements.
I can also see areas that have been absorbed into the engine. Like the MemStream object has a constructor that allows the storage to dynamically grow. That was a nice surprise.
05/23/2012 (10:53 pm)
I would say to dig in and follow the tutorials to start. Just go through the manual and try to use the stuff to make a level. Then it will force you to look at different parts and get a feel for the new object names. Form there you can look at the C++ to see how the object is actually functioning.I took a similar route and shoe horned Python into the engine. I now know more about the TS interpreter, how functions get called and a LOT about the internals of the engine.
BTW, the game object model is way better with T3D than TGE. I remember there being an unholy dependency on shapebase to the game connection object. That has been fixed. So, if you had any kind of familiarity with that part of the engine I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the improvements.
I can also see areas that have been absorbed into the engine. Like the MemStream object has a constructor that allows the storage to dynamically grow. That was a nice surprise.
#7
Also, I just got my copy of Torque for Teens Second Edition in the mail this morning. I just scanned through a few chapters of it so far and it seems to hold a lot of useful information within it. I am happy I bought it, though I wish it spent more time on Torque Script and went into Blender instead of Max (since Max is WAY out of my budget range). Torque for Teens Second Edition does deal with Torque3D in case anyone was wondering.
The other book, 3D Game Programming All In One Third Edition, should be arriving in the mail sometime soon too. I have read that this book (the third edition) deals with Torque3D as well while the past two editions dealt with TGE. So I am remaining hopeful that this is the fact and that this book uses Torque3D. I will let you all know once I receive it in the mail.
I will have to buy some more books so I can learn Blender. Do you all have any specific books you would recommend for Blender? Also, why haven't there been any recent books written for Torque3D? I remember back when I worked with TGE, there were quite a few books being released for it. Did the demand for Torque products suddenly drop? Or did the books that were released for TGE not do very well? I think I remember a book being written by the GG team for TGE a few years ago too. You think they will make another for T3D?
05/24/2012 (2:58 pm)
Currently I'm working my way through the FPS Tutorial for Torque3D 1.2 and it is quite helpful. I'm impressed that this nice little tutorial is here for new users of the engine. I am about half way through now and working more through it whenever I have time. Also, I just got my copy of Torque for Teens Second Edition in the mail this morning. I just scanned through a few chapters of it so far and it seems to hold a lot of useful information within it. I am happy I bought it, though I wish it spent more time on Torque Script and went into Blender instead of Max (since Max is WAY out of my budget range). Torque for Teens Second Edition does deal with Torque3D in case anyone was wondering.
The other book, 3D Game Programming All In One Third Edition, should be arriving in the mail sometime soon too. I have read that this book (the third edition) deals with Torque3D as well while the past two editions dealt with TGE. So I am remaining hopeful that this is the fact and that this book uses Torque3D. I will let you all know once I receive it in the mail.
I will have to buy some more books so I can learn Blender. Do you all have any specific books you would recommend for Blender? Also, why haven't there been any recent books written for Torque3D? I remember back when I worked with TGE, there were quite a few books being released for it. Did the demand for Torque products suddenly drop? Or did the books that were released for TGE not do very well? I think I remember a book being written by the GG team for TGE a few years ago too. You think they will make another for T3D?
#9
05/24/2012 (3:28 pm)
Quote:You ordered this one? You noticed it's a pre-order, right?Well crap, no I missed that part. I had no idea it was a pre-order and I didn't even think to look because it has a bunch of reviews tied to it already. Oh well, I guess I will be getting it around the end of July then, haha. I am just glad because it deals with Torque3D and is the only other book I have found that does so. I used to have the second edition which dealt with TGE and found it quite helpful when first learning the engine. So, hopefully this one will be just as helpful when it comes to T3D.
#10
(Or maybe it will actually be released this time! Maybe I will be emperor of Europe!)
05/24/2012 (3:30 pm)
Just so you know: This book is always six months into the future :P(Or maybe it will actually be released this time! Maybe I will be emperor of Europe!)
#11
05/24/2012 (4:27 pm)
It is, is it? You wouldn't suppose there would be a way for me to get my money back from Amazon in the case that this book isn't released by the end of July?
#12
05/24/2012 (4:30 pm)
I'm guessing they'll notify you if the release date moves, and probably give you options. At least they're great about that sort of thing.
#13
05/24/2012 (4:44 pm)
Yeah, I do like ordering from Amazon for that reason. I have not had any problems with them in the past and usually it has been easy to rectify things with them if something does go wrong. So hopefully this book will be released when it states it will be, because a 1,200 page book about Torque3D has got to have at least one page of very useful information, haha.
#14
05/25/2012 (12:33 am)
Options if not released:- Get your money back.
- Put money toward credit or toward release if announced again.
- Pound on Kenneth Finney's door to finish the darn thing.
#15
05/25/2012 (6:38 pm)
Are there any books any of you would recommend for learning how to use Blender? 
#16
I like the free contents so much that I subscribed to be a premium member.
05/25/2012 (10:25 pm)
Plenty of blender learning videos here, http://cgcookie.com/blender/.I like the free contents so much that I subscribed to be a premium member.
#17
One thing I have found, there is not a lack of information on T3D, you just have to think about what you want to do, do a search and somewhere along the line someone has asked the question before and you will find the answer.
I had two licenses for Houdini that I used for GG. But it appears that Houdini may no longer be supporting GG exports. I have tried Blender and can't really get used to the interface, as mentioned above lots of good alternatives. But I think I may bite the bullet and finally purchase 3Ds max.
But for me I prefer the forums and TDN, the books generally never tell me what I want to know anyway.
05/29/2012 (2:40 pm)
Weston, I am in the same boat. However I actually have 4 game engines I need to get back and learn(won;t mention out of respect for GG). Some of the team members I work with, prefer other engines, that's enough to overload anyone. But I love showing them that GG can do the same thing...One thing I have found, there is not a lack of information on T3D, you just have to think about what you want to do, do a search and somewhere along the line someone has asked the question before and you will find the answer.
I had two licenses for Houdini that I used for GG. But it appears that Houdini may no longer be supporting GG exports. I have tried Blender and can't really get used to the interface, as mentioned above lots of good alternatives. But I think I may bite the bullet and finally purchase 3Ds max.
But for me I prefer the forums and TDN, the books generally never tell me what I want to know anyway.
#18
05/29/2012 (5:43 pm)
Does Houdini export to COLLADA? That's all you'd need....
#19
06/08/2012 (11:23 am)
Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions and feedback! I have looked into the link Sei posted and found a lot of great content! The videos on that link would make it much easier for me to learn Blender as I am more of a visual learner and as everyone knows, books aren't always the best for visuals, haha. 
Associate David Montgomery-Blake
David MontgomeryBlake