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Torque Game Engine comes to the iPhone
We've mentioned the Torque gaming engine from GarageGames here a few times before -- it's a pretty powerful 3D engine that makes developing great games on the Mac that much easier. And now, they've released a version of it for the iPhone, complete with support for multitouch input and even screen gesture recognition.I am hardly a game programmer, but my understanding is that this sits on top of the OpenGL ES system in the iPhone -- you use the Torque engine to develop, and then the iPhone runs the games developed without any other special software. The benefits are that you can use the Torque Game Builder software (which is also available for many other platforms) to put together iPhone specific games, which makes it not only easier to develop native games, but to port games from those other platforms as well.At any rate, this is good news for both iPhone game developers and players -- the easier it gets to create quality software on the platform, the more games we'll have to choose from.[via IMG]
Torque Engine main reason for Penny Arcade's absence on PSN
The first downloadable Penny Arcade adventure is coming soon to Xbox Live Arcade, Mac, Linux and PC. Why is it not coming out on PSN? Simple: the Torque Game Engine isn't compatible with the PS3, at least not yet. It was always intended to bring the game over to PS3, explained a representative from Hot Head Games. However, the engine's lack of support for Sony's console made it impossible to make it multiplatform.The Torque Game Engine is commonly used for Xbox Live Arcade games because it is a low-cost solution for developers that can't invest in other options, such as the Unreal Engine. Downloadable titles need to keep their costs low, especially when developed by independent teams. For now, it seems as though Penny Arcade Adventures won't find a home on the PS3. Gallery: Penny Arcade Adventures
Open-source MMO engine updated
The Torque MMO kit, first published last year by Prairie Games and GarageGames, has recently announced their newest version of the open-source engine which developer TalentRaspel describes as "completely revised". In this version 1.1 SP3 of the engine, TalentRaspel is proving that their continued support of this product since they took it over late last year promises a step in the right direction for independent game developers.Not only that, but this could be good news for those smaller companies looking to spend more resources on other aspects of running an MMO, and kicking it off with an established, well-maintained engine. The Torque MMO kit engine was first responsible for powering Minions of Mirth, which is said to have 70,000+ users. Plus, with a price tag of $199 to $999 (depending on sales expectations) for the kit combined with Faust Logic's Arcade FX effects library, you just can't beat that.
New Torque Engine aims to boost Wii Ware
GarageGames has announced a new version of the Torque development engine for Wii, with added 2D drag-and-drop game creation functionality. Torque 1.5 features elements of the Torque Game Builder, a tool designed for easy development of 2D games. In addition to the Game Builder functions, the new version of Torque for Wii features "extensible Wii Remote support, Wii optimized skinned mesh rendering, compressed texture, interior support, and hardware blending for terrain textures. Developers will also find a powerful WYSIWYG tool chain for designers, scripting language support, a comprehensive Lot Check compliance component, and Wii graphics and audio abstraction layers."Torque's "zero-royalty, flat-fee structure" and reduced pricing for Wii Ware developers should be a boon to the download service, making a low-cost, easy-to-use design tool available to prospective developers. [Via press release]
Joystiq impressions: InstantAction (PC)
Do gamers need yet another platform? GarageGames hopes so. The company's latest project, the InstantAction "platform" -- that word was specifically used -- sits inside a web browser, creating a new environment for gaming. And unlike Flash's 2D limit, InstantAction will support a variety of developer-driven technologies and engines, scaling up to first-person-shooters that even utilize video hardware acceleration. (GarageGames had its hand in the Tribes games after all.)Like other browser plugins, InstantAction has cross-platform intentions. It's first launching for PCs in early 2008, Mac support will be coming as soon as possible, and a Linux version is under consideration. Gamers will be able to download several titles at launch with pricing to be determined. (Free content may be an option, while paid titles could follow subscription models, multi-game package sales, or single purchases.)We recently explored an in-development version of InstantAction to wrap our heads around the platform-in-a-browser concept. The execution impressed us, but we're still unsure if InstantAction attempts to solve a problem nobody has. Will 3D and developer-driven environments be enough to displace Flash, as GarageGames hopes?%Gallery-9494%
