Game Development Community

Torque 2D for Linux

by Tim Newell · in Torque 2D Professional · 10/26/2013 (6:14 pm) · 5 replies

So now that I have finished the android port of torque 2d (should be a blog about it soon from Mich or one of the committee members), I was wondering if there was any interest in a Linux port with the up and coming Steam OS or just normal distribution through Ubuntu, etc.

My thoughts were to either run a kickstarter or do paypal donations until a goal is reached. I am thinking about 2 or 3 grand for the port goal. I need to research it some more to find out an exact price but I wanted to keep it low since Linux is not as popular as the other platforms plus I think I can get it done much faster than the android port took.

Basically I am starting this thread to gauge interesting and see what you guys think and to kinda judge if there is even a point in trying it.

And of course if the goal is met, the port would be merged into T2D MIT on github just like the android port.

#1
10/26/2013 (8:27 pm)
Paypal donations would be cool since there's no deadline, people won't forget about it. Also people could keep building on it with each of their paychecks ;D.
#2
10/26/2013 (11:26 pm)
Having Linux available as a development/deployment platform would be great for T2D. This forum doesn't see a lot of traffic so don't be surprised if this thread doesn't get a lot of response but I agree with practicing's comments that a donation link would be better than kickstarter. There would just need to be some regular updates so the community can see how much money has been raised/how far to go.
#3
10/27/2013 (5:19 am)
Yeah I have said after the last failure I wouldn't do another kickstarter I just wasn't sure if everyone would be cool with a donate button.

Mike, do you think this would be better off in a blog? I can always move it there.
#4
10/28/2013 (5:03 am)
You might get a few more response in a blog, but I'd be careful judging interest based solely on replies to this topic. The active community around T2D that regularly posts to the forums/blogs is small, at least that is my impression. That doesn't necessarily mean a donation campaign for a Linux port would fail though, it just might need several months time to raise the money.

Speaking personally and not as a steering committee member, my idea would be to:

1. Do whatever research is required and provide us with a concrete dollar amount you need to make this happen. Hopefully setting up a way to send you donations is not too time intensive either.

2. Ride the coattails of any "marketing" push for the pre/post release of T2D 3.0 with Android support. I haven't spoken to Mich or Charlie about this yet, but I can't imagine anyone being against highlighting a donation campaign in any official announcement blogs - which will get the most visibility.

3. Having some sort of exclusive reward module with either example scripts or game assets would also be a good way to give people more incentive to donate, since obviously the Linux code would eventually be available to everyone free of charge. I know that was something certain people were willing to do months ago for the Kickstarter - we can't expect those same people to promise that again but maybe others in the community are willing to chip in and help in this respect.
#5
12/29/2013 (11:42 pm)
Just to tie loose ends for anyone reading here, I've gotten Torque2D working, more details here: www.garagegames.com/community/forums/viewthread/135794

Hope to have a branch available on github shortly once I've got the commit cleaned up.