Torque 3D Vs Unity

#21 Sean H, yeah i know what you mean i have tested Unity on a OSX and PC in some ways Unity is easy to use dispite coming from OSX platform.

When i was testing out Unity i found out that you could not use CVS or SVN with Unity because of the code base or what ever so you had to purchase their Pro Version with their Assest Server which in total was going to cost around $2,000 plus without access to source thats when i said to myself "im out".

I didn't realize T3D was out because all GG email was going to my old address but when i found out about T3D and after checking out the video's it was time to jump on board because i have been a supporter/member since August 18, 2003. Also i have seen a lot of the bad rep that GG has gotten over the years and some with reason but it seems after GG partnered up with InterActive Corporation everything has gotten better.

#22 You really have to consider which price point you're comparing the engines at. At the $199 Unity Indie price point, you are given MUCH more versatility as compared to the $300 Torque3D version. However I find that at the higher price points, the advantages provided by T3D outclass the pro version of Unity.

Speaking to usability, if you(like me) have a Java or C# background, scripting will come much easier in Unity. And furthermore, I've found that their documentation is complete enough that I don't often have to ask questions in the forum. Nearly every feature that I've encountered has a page dedicated to describing the function, providing a real world example of its use, and provides a generic block of code for quick integration into your script.

Unity powers an MMO that has attracted over 4 million users. And every other day a Unity powered game hits the AppStore. It's not just a "Game Design" engine(Though it may have been in earlier versions). It too has many published games, and I think it would be deceptive to say that Torque has published "far more", or that its publishing history is a stronger track record.

Quick post, many more topics could be discussed(Unity 2.6 features for instance), but ultimately it comes down to this:

There's alot to love about both Torque3D, and Unity. I'm extremely happy both of them exist as they have both pushed the envelope as to what can be expected of an indie engine. But neither Torque3D, nor Unity3D 2.5 is decisively better, one over the other.

P.S. I dont mean to be so down on Torque here, but I think there needs to be some balance :D.

#23 @Chris - Keep in mind you are comparing documentation of a beta engine to that of a released engine. By the time I'm done with Torque 3D's documentation, there will be no comparison. That's a weird thing to compare anyway, since Torque 3D documentation only benefits Torque 3D users. Still, there will not be a shred of evidence saying Unity 3D has "better" documentation after I'm done.

Torque has powered 5 MMOs, which says a lot for its flexibility. Keep in mind the Fusion Fall project you are referring to was greatly aided by Unity developers. Out of the box, Unity cannot make an MMO. The developers of that project got a lot of help from the engine devs.

The iPhone point is moot, since Torque 3D is not an iPhone engine. It is targeting platforms like PC, Web and Xbox 360. iPhone games are churned out hourly using all kinds of tech, but if you compare the list of games made with Torque it will outshine the Unity 3D game list.

It's been said many times by myself and a few others here that the most appropriate thing for a developer to do is use the tech that works best for them. I just happen to have the opinion that Torque 3D has the most to offer a developer or team that wants a powerhouse AAA game engine.

#24

Quote:I think it would be deceptive to say that Torque has published "far more", or that its publishing history is a stronger track record.

That's really funny because Unity keeps saying in all its press releases that "hundreds of games" were made with it. Both sides are also keeping a running total of all games. Let's do the math:

Torque games
Unity games

I can't even count one hundred on Unity's list, let alone hundreds. We're more than three hundred on Torque. Who's deceptive here?

#25 I really like the news for next T3D as seen at the demo videos so far, and I think it is also nice to see the full GG staf so firmly defend his work, as it really deserves it. I am an old GG products user, but I also use Unity, and I just wanted to offer another opinion from a user.

Answering the original questions, I would say: if you like TGB and TGE, even TGEA, and you miss the web publishing, so yes, Unity is a very good option. Just download the demo and try it out for a month, read the clear manuals and work the many tutorials available and just decide by yourself ;)

Or wait till T3D is finished and compare with next Unity 2.6, also allready anounced. And has been said it will incorporate a lot of the work UT did for Fussionfall.

#26 ok, so i have given a lot of attention to this disscusion, awesome to have such great opinions on te subject, howevr, im gona stick with T3D, two questons:

when is it out, so we can start working comercialy with it?

From what i see, T3D will also have browser deplyment ou of the box, is ths true?

Thank you all, you have been very helpfull

#27 We are hoping to get it into your hands as quickly as possible, but still have the Beta 4 and then the RC stages.

And, yes, Torque 3D will have web deployment out of the box.

#28

Quote: "By the time I'm done with Torque 3D's documentation, there will be no comparison. ...there will not be a shred of evidence saying Unity 3D has "better" documentation after I'm done."

This is the kind of talk I like to hear. Making my already great purchase of T3D an even wiser choice!

#29 Hw far can I take the beta version, can i do comercial work with it? willteh upgrade t teh full version be free o at a cost?

#30 ho and another thing, and i know this question has probably been asqued a billion times, will Torque ever support PS3, PSP developmet?

#31

Quote:willteh upgrade t teh full version be free o at a cost?

You know, I've seen this question pop up several times on the forums lately and it makes me curious about the software people have dealt with where that is considered the norm.

And to answer your question GG doesn't charge you a second time for the release version of software you bought while it was in beta.

#32 Gonzalo: There have been no official announcements regarding the PS3 or PSP, but I would wager that if you were to look at the Torque3D source, and do a find-in-files for "PS3", you would see some results.

#33 ok, so how far con I take the beta version of T3D, can I realase a comercial product with it, good nough for casual and advergames?

#34 It is very nearly impossible to answer a question about how far someone can take any engine since the limits are not on the engine itself but the person utilizing it. I know people who have licenses for GameCore, Unity, BlitzMax, Torque, and GameMaker who have never done anything with them. All of the engines have the potential to be used to develop commercially viable games; but not every person or team will utilize them in the fashion needed to complete a commercial quality project--or even a prototype.

#35 I know but will the beta version due the work if i want to develop with it comercial work?

#36 @Barry: You, as well, bought into the T3D hype watching the videos.
Hold your horses, because according to some GG employees, some features might not make it into the final release, unless some people are really "jazzed-up" about it.
Who talks like that anyway? It is you GG who got us all "jazzed-up" about it in the first place! That is how you got me into buying the Engine in the first place. You sent me an E-mail with a link to the pre-order page with all these videos showing what T3D will be capable of!

Only thing that keeps you on top is access to the source code. And you make sure to remind us this every chance you get.
I do think that Unity is better overall, but I do agree that access to the source code is crucial to making unique games.

With access to the source code, I could probably make some of these tools myself that T3D has, but I don't like making tools. I only like making games. I don't have the time, patience, and knowledge to make complicated Shaders and Tools.
That is why I buy a Game Engine. I research it first, and then buy it. That is how I got into buying T3D. Based on what was advertised, I bought the Engine. Since, it's only in Beta stages, I'll wait and see.

So, T3D wins for now.

#37

Quote:Hold your horses, because according to some GG employees, some features might not make it into the final release, unless some people are really "jazzed-up" about it.

Where did you get that from?

#38 @Michael - That's a quote from Brett Seyler in this thread:

www.garagegames.com/community/forums/viewthread/96975/2#comments

#39 He stated that some things will not make it into the final release, and if it is a feature people want we will add it to a post-release. This includes features we never claimed would make it into the engine.

#40 Of course. If the water shader holds things up, then by all means pull it. That's the only thing I see people are really wondering about.
Personally, I'd much rather that all the current stuff was tuned up and working great than some feature that looks cool but 99% of the people won't use anyway makes it in.