Torque in the Social Sciences
by Larry Bradley · in Torque in Education · 06/26/2005 (10:07 pm) · 6 replies
While it seems that most posts in this forum utilize the Torque engine itself as part of course content, my interest is in using the engine to deliver course content in a gaming format. My current project is an outgrowth of two of my archaeological projects: one involving a 3,000 year old bison kill site and the other a steamboat wreck from the mid 1800's. The project is geared toward K through grade 12 students, but will probably be enhanced for higher education once the initial phase is completed. I have been modeling a virtual museum with the usual static museum exhibits, but the uniqueness of the gaming engine allows exhibits to be interactive or 'entered' (every kid's dream) resulting in the student being transported to the location of excavations with remains, field notes and such. The field notes can be added to the student's inventory and can be consulted at a later date for interpretation. The second option allows the student to be transported to the time when the site was initially formed in the original environmental setting. Originally I wanted a museum library to provides source material in book form for solving exercises, but am now leaning toward using an AI 'librarian' who can be consulted by mouse selection of objects or topic lists. After nearly a year of planning, model construction, texture gathering and learning Torquese, I can understand why there are so few learning programs based on game engines out there.
L.E. Bradley
lbradley@usd.edu
L.E. Bradley
lbradley@usd.edu
#2
Without some experienced c++ coders and a couple of artists it can be a pain to try to dev in TGE vs other engines, but your results will be much better for it in the long run. I've tried several other 3d solutions and always come back to TGE for it's extensibility and great support community.
Hopefully your project is grant funded, as I know dev on any 3d project gets expensive quickly!
06/27/2005 (9:55 am)
Sounds like a valid project and a great use of the technology! TGE is a bear to get ahold of initially, but very powerful.Without some experienced c++ coders and a couple of artists it can be a pain to try to dev in TGE vs other engines, but your results will be much better for it in the long run. I've tried several other 3d solutions and always come back to TGE for it's extensibility and great support community.
Hopefully your project is grant funded, as I know dev on any 3d project gets expensive quickly!
#3
06/28/2005 (5:13 am)
Just for reference, Torque was used for the "Virtual Canada" VR simulation, somewhat similar to what you are looking at. It's also being used in various stages in many types of interactive walkthroughs. Certainly can be done, but Jameson's comments should be taken to heart--it is a big project, and would need some developers as well as artists to be successful in a timely manner.
#4
I've used the Torque engine in two presentations involving Missouri river shipwrecks using a 3D wreck model with snags and sandbars and such and the concept generates a lot of enthusiasm among professionals, many of whom see the engine as a potential teaching tool.
The museum project grew out of another 3 year grant which ended this spring. Hopefully I will have additional funds to get this project headed in the right direction in about 6 months and will be able to solicit participants by then. I'm hoping that my experience so far with the Torque engine and supporting software will make staffing and monitoring the project a bit more realistic. Right now I'm trying to get some funds that I ratholed last year freed up for the interum. Regardless, I certainly could use some advice from the Torque community on the most efficient way to proceed.
06/28/2005 (9:39 pm)
Thx for the constructive comments. Besides my own satisfaction in learning a set of new technologies, the prelim phase of this project is solely to demonstrate project feasability and level of dedication before I submit another grant ap which will be reviewed by people with little or no knowledge or experience in this area. I've used the Torque engine in two presentations involving Missouri river shipwrecks using a 3D wreck model with snags and sandbars and such and the concept generates a lot of enthusiasm among professionals, many of whom see the engine as a potential teaching tool.
The museum project grew out of another 3 year grant which ended this spring. Hopefully I will have additional funds to get this project headed in the right direction in about 6 months and will be able to solicit participants by then. I'm hoping that my experience so far with the Torque engine and supporting software will make staffing and monitoring the project a bit more realistic. Right now I'm trying to get some funds that I ratholed last year freed up for the interum. Regardless, I certainly could use some advice from the Torque community on the most efficient way to proceed.
#5
06/29/2005 (12:25 pm)
Recent news item re: games in the social science sphere:Quote:The Independent Television Service, a public television foundation and new media sponsor on the Internet, is searching for online game proposals through its Interactive Electric Shadows funding initiative. The Congressionally funded projects are meant to be non-traditional, interactive works for the Internet that "involve creative risks and address the needs of underserved audiences." Designers of the winning project will receive $100,000 to produce an online game and supporting website. Guidelines and applications are available on the ITVS site.
#6
I think this is an awesome idea. Interactive education is by far the best approach to teaching. As the gamming industry grows, kids are watching less TV and playing more games. Adapting education models to reflect this shift will show great results. I remember playing early interactive educational games like Carmen San Diego, and Oregon Trail. I learned tons about geography and US history and I thought I was just playing a game. Please keep us posted on the progress of this project.
07/28/2005 (11:14 am)
L.E.-I think this is an awesome idea. Interactive education is by far the best approach to teaching. As the gamming industry grows, kids are watching less TV and playing more games. Adapting education models to reflect this shift will show great results. I remember playing early interactive educational games like Carmen San Diego, and Oregon Trail. I learned tons about geography and US history and I thought I was just playing a game. Please keep us posted on the progress of this project.
Torque Owner Michael Brewer