Think Tanks Added to Server Monitor
April 23, 2003

The Think Tanks game by BraveTree Productions has been added to the GG Master Server Monitor. Enjoy!

- The Head Gnome

Version 03-02-18-BETA of LightWave to DTS Exporter Released!
February 19, 2003

A new BETA version of the LightWave to DTS exporter has been released. This version fixes a bug with not being able to select 'Blend' animation sequences, as well as adding the ability to export multiple collision meshes.

- The Head Gnome

Orbz Retail Added to Server Monitor
February 14, 2003

The Orbz retail game by 21-6 Productions has been added to the GG Master Server Monitor. Enjoy!

- The Head Gnome

Version 03-01-25-BETA of LightWave to DTS Exporter Released!
January 25, 2003

A new BETA version of the LightWave to DTS exporter has been released. This version removes all of the debug dialog boxes that appear when exporting a DTS file.

- The Head Gnome

Version 03-01-24-BETA of LightWave to DTS Exporter Released!
January 24, 2003

A new BETA version of the LightWave to DTS exporter has been released. This version includes:

• Double sided surfaces
• Scale-based node animation
• Ability to select which animation properties are exported for each node
• Vertices may be influenced by multiple weight maps

If you're interested in trying out these new features prior to the release version and with minimal documentation, head on over to the Products section.

- The Head Gnome

Orbz Demo Added to Server Monitor
January 22 , 2003

The Orbz Demo by 21-6 Productions has been added to the GG Master Server Monitor. Enjoy!

- The Head Gnome

Version 02-10-18-BETA of LightWave to DTS Exporter Released!
October 18, 2002

A new BETA version of the LightWave to DTS exporter has been released. This version includes:

• Blend animation sequences
• Limiting nodes to specific animation sequences
• Discontinuous UV texture support
• Levels of detail for meshes
• DSQ file export

If you're interested in trying out these new features prior to the release version and with minimal documentation, head on over to the Products section.

- The Head Gnome

LightWave Gaming Links Updated
October 16, 2002

Head on over to the Links section for Tony's 3D Bovine Cappuccino and Relish Depot, a site that contains a number of useful LW tutorials, as well as one on creating characters for games.

- The Head Gnome

Trakers: Bid for Glory Beta Added to Server Monitor
October 8, 2002

With the release of the Trakers: Bid for Glory Torque Engine game public beta, I've added it to the GG Master Server monitor. Enjoy!

- The Head Gnome

LightWave Gaming Links Added
July 23, 2002

I've added a number of LightWave related game design links to the Links section to help those that use LightWave for their 3D gaming content. In addition, I've placed a copy of the Serious Sam 2 SKA Tools for you to download in the Products section. It allows you to export your model from LightWave into Serious Sam 2, and the best part is that the full source code is included! Its a great way to see how the pros obtain game-type information from LightWave.

- The Head Gnome

Dog of Prey Beta Added to Server Monitor
July 12, 2002

With the release of the Dog of Prey Torque Engine game public beta, I've added it to the GG Master Server monitor. Enjoy!

- The Head Gnome

More Improvements to GG Server Monitor
July 11, 2002

I've made yet another change to the GarageGames' Master Server monitor that may be found to the left. This one will likely interest all of you that are building Torque Engine based games. There is now a new text input field at the bottom of the monitor. Here, you may enter in the game type of your own game (usually defined in $Server::GameType) and click the search button. This will then query the Master Server for your particular game, and show all of the game servers that are currently connected.

I had a couple of requests from people that asked if I could add their game to the monitor while they are working on it. This will hopefully fill that need. However, if you have a Torque Engine game that is going to a large public beta just before being released, or is in fact released, then I certainly don't mind adding it to the monitor permanently.

The last change that I've made is increase the time-out period for game servers to 3 seconds. Hopefully now those servers with large ping times will successfully show up.

- The Head Gnome

Improved GG Server Monitor
July 9, 2002

The GarageGames' Master Server monitor to the left has been improved! If there is more than one server found for a particular game type, you may click on the blue arrow to see what games are running, and how many players are on each server.

If you notice a game server entitled 'Timed Out', that means that it has taken longer than 2 seconds for the game server to get back to us. This could mean that there is just a really high delay time, or that the server actually doesn't exist but it is still in the Master Server's game server list.

- The Head Gnome

GarageGames' Master Server Monitor
July 7, 2002

If you've visited the site in the past couple of days, you may have noticed the beacon to the left. It indicates the current status of the GarageGames' Master Server, the one that is used to list SDK Test App and Realm Wars games.

I've been poking around in the Torque Engine's network code, and decided to try a GarageGames' Master Server monitor Perl CGI script. After a few hours of tracing through the code and determining what the protocol is, I've finally managed to get a monitor program working. This was more of an experiment than anything else, but it looks like it could be quite useful. Especially if your own game server cannot connect to the Master Server and you'd like a second opinion of its status :o)

If you click on the open monitor link under the beacon, a new window will open that displays the number of game servers that are currently connected to the Master Server. For a couple of reasons, this number could be larger than the number of game servers you see by clicking on the Query Master button within the game. However, it is quite accurate from the Master Server's point-of-view (in other words, don't be concerned if this is the case).

This Perl script could be extended to show the actual game servers and the total number of people playing Realm Wars, for example. But, for now, it serves its original purpose.

Enjoy!

- The Head Gnome

Source Code for LightWave DTS Exporter Released
July 3, 2002

A number of you have asked that we release the source code to the LightWave to DTS exporter. Well, you've got your wish! The source code to the 17-05-2002 version of the LightWave to DTS exporter may be found on the Products page.

Enjoy!

- The Head Gnome

June 24th Version of MilkShape DTS Exporter for Download
June 24, 2002

As a service for the Torque Engine community, we've placed the June 24, 2002 version of the MilkShape DTS exporter on the Products page under Torque Engine Based 3rd Party Products. It contains all of the changes that have been made to the exporter up to June 24th. This includes extended access to material attributes, and a fix for exporting animations. The usage details may be found in the archive in the readme file.

This is for those that do not own the Torque Game Engine source, but would like to use MilkShape to build models that may be used in TGE based games.

As this plug-in was created by a 3rd party, it is not supported by Gnometech. For help with the plug-in, please head on over to the Garage Games' Tools forum.

- The Head Gnome

Version 17-05-2002 of LightWave to DTS Exporter Released! New DTS Files also Included.
June 14, 2002

Greetings!
Release version 17-05-2002 of the LightWave to DTS Exporter plug-in for the PC, Mac OS X, and Mac OS 9 has been posted to the Products page. You'll also find complete documentation on how to use the plug-in there.

The most significant change is the ability to now save out animation sequences! Yay! This now brings the LW exporter up to the same feature set as the MilkShape exporter.

I've also posted some new DTS files for you all to take a look at: A six-legged SpiderBot (yes, six legs, not eight), and a player-replacement Tin Man. If you've downloaded the LW exporter doc, then you already have these. For those that don't use LightWave, you can download and use the objects as you please.

Enjoy!

- The Head Gnome

MilkShape DTS Exporter for Download
March 25, 2002

As a service for the Torque Engine community, we've placed the March 25, 2002 version of the MilkShape DTS exporter on the Products page under Torque Engine Based 3rd Party Products. This is for those that do not own the Torque Game Engine source, but would like to use MilkShape to build models that may be used in TGE based games.

As this plug-in was created by a 3rd party, it is not supported by Gnometech. For help with the plug-in, please head on over to the Garage Games' Tools forum.

- The Head Gnome

LightWave Created DTS Racing Car
March 24, 2002

A brand new Torque Engine DTS file has been placed on the Products page. It is a new racing car to replace the one in the Torque Engine Head Version racing demo. It includes both the DTS car and tire files, as well as the LightWave 7.0b scene and object files for you to try out.

All objects were created with version 21-03-2002 of the LightWave to DTS exporter plug-in, also found on the Products page. If you're not sure how to get started with Torque Engine vehicles and LightWave, this is the archive to check out!

- The Head Gnome

Version 21-03-2002 of LightWave to DTS Exporter Released!
March 22, 2002

Greetings!
Prerelease version 21-03-2002 of the LightWave to DTS Exporter plug-in for the PC, Mac OS X, and Mac OS 9 has been posted to the Products page. Head on over to get your copy and some preliminary documentation.

The biggest change in this version is the ability to save out nodes. These are used for mount points, muzzle flash points, and in a future release, for animation.

- The Head Gnome

LightWave Created DTS Rifle
March 21, 2002

Greetings!
A brand new Torque Engine DTS file has been placed on the Products page. It is a new rifle to replace the one in the FPS demo. It shows off some of the new stuff in the latest LightWave DTS Exporter plug-in, especially nodes!

Be sure to check back for the latest test-version of the LightWave to DTS Exporter plug-in for the PC and Mac, to be released in the next few days.

- The Head Gnome

Welcome to the Brand New Gnometech!
March 11, 2002

Greetings!
'Tis great that you've managed to find your way here. Unfortunately, the site is still in a state of disrepair. Fear not fellow Gnomian! The site will be fully operational soon enough.

- The Head Gnome