GPGT Forum Is Open

#21 @All,

I will address the creation of chapter/topic specific threads Tuesday. I've been working a bit of overtime on my day/regular/other/whatever job so I'll get onto that and replies to queries on Tuesday. (modified last sentences!; See PS below.)

Thanks!

Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT


PS - I'm still at work, and it is now almost midnight Monday. However, I'm taking tomorrow off as comp time and I will start trickling the chapter threads in as well as answers to the above posts (and the one below) at that time.

Thanks for your patience. Now, for some sleep...ZZZZzzzzz.

-Ed M.

#22 A suggestion for a 'Lesson':

Looking at the default SDK[my Indy license SDK...] buttons and noticing it only had a hover sound and not a down sound; I went ahead and managed to get that working fairly easily[buttonDown-new sound profile, -same description, -no new control profile]. I replicated the hover sound 'flow' and it worked!

Then I decided I wanted to maintain the default sounds[certain GUI's and/or certain buttons] and then have different sounds for specific buttons on the same gui[or conceptually to have each button a different sound]...this is where my 'hacking' started and I finally got it working[somewhat]. I can get multiple sounds in one gui's buttons[via new control profile], as I'd liked, but I am getting a warning about my sound profile not being a datablock class object!! This doesn't cause any audible glitches, but I'm left wondering how to do this correctly to avoid this type of warning and get the process down. My crude system worked, just not as elegant as I'd hoped, by following the default hover/down scheme. I tried to duplicate the system as best I could, but it took many cross referencing the new button profile to get it working at all...

I think your explanations about the GUI and controls a very helpful part of the book and documentation in general. Combining this with the excellent flow diagrams[from other lessons] to demonstrate the 'Profiles' schema, would be awesome! I think this would make a great lesson, to 'properly' construct new profiles to use. I do get a bit confused with the default/custom/gameDefaultProfiles...? yikes.

Thanks.

Also... see below, some observations:

guiBitmapButtonCtrl & guiButtonCtrl Sampler:

I understand the four Select Button Theme buttons and they give us a different 'look' to the buttons, and I see them working as I click them. It's the (De)activate Buttons button, I don't understand what it does[seemingly to reset all buttons to deselected state?]. Seems once I use it once, ALL my buttons cease to work ever again, unless I quit and restart the Sampler, much like my Sound Mission Lesson observation. Everthing seems to work as expected untill I start messing with that one button???!

guiBitmapCtrl Sampler:

I'm not certain about the guiBitmapCtrl Sampler [the bitmap control radiobox]...whether it's working correctly, or how it's suppose to look with each toggle. I seemed to see no differenence with checked/unchecked and viewing the background/bitmap image. Might have been my resolution...running in windowed environment?? I haven't gone back and looked into that control to make certain...it was one of the control features, I didn't really understand or at least the way it was outlined...probably me; I'll have to go back and look at this more indepth. Seems either checked/unchecked the image reacts the same??!

guiChunkedBitmapCtrl Sampler:

Again, not exactly certain what is suppose to be happening when the radio box is toggled? What I notice is that if I resize the window to a very narrow width/size and resize it[either toggled/not] the bitmap 'snaps' to the right side of the window control and stays there, minuetly clipping the extreme right few columns of pixels in the image, same as above observation...??

guiRadioCtrl Sampler:

When the guiRadioCtrl button is toggled, the return/forward arrows at the bottom of the Interface disappear and a ESC is needed to return one menu.

#23 RE: disk problem

I got my new copy of the CD today. The publisher AK Peters responded fast in replacing it.

#24 @ Rubes - Actually, I'll take these too if they affect the usability of the guide and accompanying disk. For, example Roto has posted a few mispellings of paths that are perfectly valid and now part of the errata list. So, sling 'em at me if you want. I appreciate all inputs.

Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT

#25 @Mark - Cool. I'm glad you got that disk so quickly.

@All - The errata document has been updated. I've addressed (almost) all the new questions and errors.

I have followed the above suggestions and re-organized the doucument and bug titles by PAGE NUMBERS. I also split some items out into a FAQ.

Please let me know if these documents do not meet your needs!

As always, the can be found here.

@Rex - I have not yet addressed the problems with the Button Lessons. I'm working on a section for 'lesson updates' when I have it, I'll post fixes for downloading.


Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT

#26 Hi I am trying to figure out if i should buy this book right now, since i already purchased 3DGPAIO, i found very little information about GPGT, the TOC is useless, and there is no sample chapters.

What does this book contain? is it a tutorial book, a reference book, what can i learn and how is it formated for newbies, for ppl that want to know the ins and outs of the torque engine, for use only with Torque Script, or does it have more advanced topics like how to modify the C++ source code.

Does it contain a primer of Toque Script?

If you could anwser all or some of these questions so i can make a more informed decision it would be great :)

I have C, C++, Java... JavaScrip and PHP experience, btw.

Thanks for any further info that i can get so i can make an informed decision
-Dan

#27 Dan,

Hello. Fortunately, I just received a detailed table of contents put together by a new owner of GPGT (thanks Khaine).

You can download this document here.

Additionally, I believe you can find answers to your New Users versus Experienced Users question here.

Please note. This book does not cover the C++ side of the engine. I'm covering that in my second book which is going through edits now.


If you would like to see some of the references that come with the guide please see them on TDN:

Torque Console Objects,
TorqueScript Quick Reference,
TorqueScript Console Functions, and
TorqueScript Commands.


I hope this helps. If you have any additional questions, please post them.

Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT

#28 No problem, Edward...I was just referring to the typos and formatting errors I pointed out in the original thread.

#29 Edward,

This is much better, i now can that your book has a much nicer organization than the 3DGPAIO book, i prefer this philosophy, I hope you do not treat your reader with the same disdain like the other book author does ( I mean we all have used computers in a long time, no need for a 10+ page description of the UltraEdit program), he treats his readers like morons i hate that.

The price is a little heavy (compared to the other books). Toque Script looks like a very weird language, all sort of hacks, i do not like it much. I am trying to find other solutions, but if i have to bite the torque script I think i will order your book.

Thanks for the reply.
-Dan

#30 @ Dan

I hope that you do decide that TGE, TSE, or perhaps TGB suits your needs. We're always looking for new blood in the community. I look forward to future posts of your gaming (or other) successes.

@ All

Please never assume that I am competing with Ken Finney. I am not.

Admittedly, this was not always true. To explain, here is a little background on GPGT and it's origins (you'll read about this in my upcoming post-mortem, but I feel this is important to discuss now):

- GPGT was once known as EGTGE.

- During the writing of EGTGE Ken came out with his first book 3DGPAIO. At that time I had no publisher and EGTGE was mostly a pipe-dream. A pipe-dream with content behind it, but a pipe-dream nonetheless.

- When Ken published his book, I quit working on EGTGE. I posted a plan to that effect and then...

- Many community members wrote me and said I should continue. One of those members was Ken. Then GG wrote me and said they'd publish the book.

- During the period that followed, I still felt that Ken Finney and I were competitors. In time I diabused myself of this notion and focused on the book instead. During this time Ken was always positive and encouraging.

- In the end, Ken and I both have published books (only one for me so far). We both cover some of the same topics, but we also cover many different topics. We both approached the coverage differently. Combined, our works can really help both new and old TGE users get into game dev quickly.

- In short, I feel Ken did the community a great service in writing his books, so I encourage you to buy them. Just buy mine too :).

Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT


PS - Proof that Ken is an awesome guy. He even gives me Kudos in his second book. Thanks Ken! I haven't bought your second book yet, but I did look at the dedications. I'm waiting till my book 2 is out so I am not influenced by your writing. Meanwhile, keep up the good work and I wish you much success in future endeavors.

-EFM

#31 Edward,
Are you still considering to release the digital version of your book?

If so, I would like to wait until it happens

Regards

#32 Thanks for the Book Edward!

Its a very valuable reference guide to TGE!

My main comment is that if the index could be done more comprehensively it would even been a better resource :)

#33 I have purchased the soft cover book of Game Programmers Guide to Torque and so far its easy to read, understandable, complete and very helpful.

I would also like to make a quick comment regarding 3DGPAIO book, though some areas can be skipped over he gives wonderful guidelines for such thing as putting your art together and details how to do that. So I would say the two books compliment each other.

Thank you for this book!

#34 How does one get access to the GPGT forums, if they bought the book through somewhere other than GG?

#35 It's a public forum -- anyone can access this forum whether or not they've purchased the book. So all anyone has to do is log onto the GG website.

#36 I've been working through the revised Appendix E you directed us to in your last resource (June 28 at www.garagegames.com/blogs/2311/10992) and had a problem with this section:

Quote:E.0.7 Add Maze Runner data.
1. Copy the folder "GPGT/Base/Data/GPGTBase"
2. Paste it into the folder "MazeRunner/prototype/data/"
3. Copy the folder "GPGT/MazeRunner/A_SettingUp/MazeRunner"
4. Past it into the folder "MazeRunner/prototype/data/"

When I tried to run the prototype, I received errors that various shapes were not being found. To fix this I had to change step 3 to the following:

Quote: 3. Copy the folder "GPGT/MazeRunner/A_SettingUp/MazeRunner/shapes"

However this requires that you reply to the msgbox asking if you want to overwrite files since there is already a shapes folder in the data folder.

I'm OK now, but is there a more recent version of Appendix E?

(PS. The book is great, by the way! Thanks!)

#37 @Kim,

Hi. Yes. I posted some more info and a complete update of Appendix E in my most recent blog. However, please read the part about the new appendix before getting it. I changed my mind a litte on how this appendix should be organized. If you get the appendix and have any suggestions, please fee free to post them here.

Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT

PS - Eventually the appendix will be housed at my web-site, but I haven't had time to repair the damage from my accidental deletion yet.

-EFM

#38 Thanks for responding so quickly, Edward. Just to make it clear, the version of the appendix that I had the problem with is the one dated 7/28/06 at 5:21 pm -- the same one you just mentioned by referencing your latest blog.

Now I know I am indeed working with the latest Appendix E, so I'll keep on with it.

Maybe you could double check step 3 of section E.0.7 to see if I'm crazy or something.

Part of the confusion I've experienced in the lessons is that it isn't crystal clear whether you really meant for us to
- copy the folder (Select the folder and Ctrl-C)
OR you actually meant for us to
- copy the contents of the folder (Open the folder and then Ctrl-A and Ctrl-C.)

So far (through Lesson 6), except for this one case (E.0.7), I've found that you really mean for us to copy the folder.

Also, I was uncertain whether when pasting, you wanted me to open the named folder and then paste, or locate the named folder and then perform a paste.

Perhaps you could clarify that in the early part of the appendix -- maybe in the "Copy-Paste Operations" section.

Other than that I've had no problems (besides trying to make this post make sense.)

#39 @Kim,

Hi. Sorry for the confusion and the delay in my second reponse, but I meant that you should copy the entire folder and not the contents of the folder.

I know that there is a lot of stuff in that folder, but that is part of the reason why I have you copy the entire folder. :) If I went the other way and had you copy individual sub-folders and files, well my instructions would take up the rest of the page.

So, just for clarity:

1. Copy the entire folder.
2. I'll add a little more verbage as you requested.


Thanks for your input and thanks for your patience, as you must have needed it, while dealing with my OSX slips.

Hall Of Worlds - For Gamers
EdM|GPGT

#40 Edward F.Maurina i was wondering if u could help me out with a piece of script from your book. The main problem i am having is initiating the rendering capabilities discussed at the start of the basic game classes chapter of your book.

I have looked over this particular section in detail and i have not figured out what is wrong with the script below.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

datablock StaticShapeData( healthball )
{
category = "balls";
shapeFile = "...........................";
cloakTexture = "...........................";
};

function StaticShapeData::create( %data )
{
%hball = new StaticShape()
{
datablock = %data;
}

return %hball;
}

%hball.setCloaked(true);

/////////////////////////////////////////////

this script has no errors but the shape itself doesn't cloak.

I also try the fading code you gave in book and it wouldn't activate as well as the emap effect.