Overview

Setting up TGEA is a simple process. When you license TGEA, you get access to full engine source code. This gives you the power to make changes to the engine's functionality, should you choose to. Studying the source-code is also a great way to learn about advanced game engine programming.

Before you download the source-code though, you'll need to prepare your system to work with TGEA. Make SURE you do the following:

Download the Latest DirectX SDK

Download the Latest Videocard Drivers

Once you've downloaded the DirectX SDK, you'll be ready to download and compile the TGEA source-code. Continue on with this guide to learn how.

Download DirectX SDK

Go to the Microsoft website and download the latest DirectX 9 SDK.

WARNING: If using Visual C++ 6.0, the last confirmed DirectX update that will work with TSE is the October 2004 Update (Google: "DirectX SDK October" ). The October DirectX SDK Extras package must also be downloaded in addition or TGEA will not compile! Microsoft has dropped support for VC 6.0. Milestone 2 is the last TGEA release that will support VC 6.0.

Run Debug Libs

If you are using the Visual C++ development environment, install the debug version of the SDK. If it does not ask you which to run, you can set it up later in the Windows control panel.

To set up the debug libs in the control panel:

Go to the Direct3D tab in the DirectX Properties dialog.

Set your Debug Output Level to the 3rd, 4th or 5th notch.

Set the Debug/Retail D3D Runtime (upper right corner) to "Use Debug Version of Direct3D".

Using these settings will slightly degrade your rendering performance, but the debug information it provides in your IDE output window makes it well worth it when you are programming D3D graphics or writing your own shaders.

As you can see from the dialog, you can switch it back to use the Retail D3D libraries very easily just by changing the selection.

Download the Latest Drivers for Your Graphics Card

It is very important that you make sure your graphics drivers are up to date. If you haven't updated in at least a month, do so now. Videocard manufacturers are constantly improving their drivers, and fixing problems. Updating will save you tons of time if you are coding shaders and trying to track down a bug that turns out to be a driver problem.

Getting and Using the TGEA Source-code

Downloading the TGEA Source-Code From your account page

Once you've updated your DirectX SDK and video drivers, you are ready to begin working with the engine. Since you get access to the full engine source-code, the first step is to download the source.

Downloading the TGEA source-code is pretty simple. Access your account page and select the download option for TGEA. Please note: if you have any questions about materials covered in this guide, please check this before posting on the forums:

Compiling the TGEA SDK source-code

After you have the source-code downloaded, you'll need to get it compiled. Compiling TGEA works just like compiling the Torque Game Engine. You can read below for instructions on compiling with Visual C++ .NET 2003 (7.1) or Visual C++ 6.0.

Compiling with Visual C++ .NET 2003 (7.1)

If you are using Visual C++ .NET 2003 (7.1), you can follow the step-by-step instructions in the guide to compiling the Torque Game Engine with VC++ 7.1, with two changes:

Open the "TSE SDK.sln" file, instead of "Torque SDK.sln". Next, you must make sure that the project properly references the DirectX SDK you installed on your hard-drive. To do so, follow the instructions below:

Open the Tools menu, then click the Options item.

In the dialog which pops up, click the Projects folder from the left pane, and choose the VC++ Directories sub-item.

Now, in the "Show directories for:" drop-down box, select the Include files directory.

Ensure that the path to your Direct X SDK's include folder is first on the list (the directory is C:\DXSDK\Include by default, however if you installed the Direct X SDK to a different directory it will simply be <your_install_path>\Include). If this path is not on the list at all, add it at the top. If it is on the list, but not at the top, move it using the up/down arrow buttons on the dialog.

Set the Direct X 9 Paths

Now, do the same thing for the Direct X library directory, by selecting the "Show directories for:" drop-down again, and choosing the Library files item. The default Direct X SDK library directory is C:\DXSDK\Lib; you'll need to look in <your_install_path>\Lib if you installed the SDK in a different directory. Once the lib path is added at the top of this list, click the OK button on the dialog.

Except for these two concerns, you can follow the instructions in the basic compiling guide for Torque Game Engine directly.

Compiling with Visual C++ 6.0

WARNING: If using Visual C++ 6.0, the last confirmed DirectX update that will work with TGEA is the October 2004 Update (Google: "DirectX SDK October" ). The October DirectX SDK Extras package must also be downloaded in addition or TGEA will not compile! Microsoft has dropped support for VC 6.0. Milestone 2 is the last TGEA release that will support VC 6.0.

If you are using Visual C++ 6.0, you can follow the step-by-step instructions in the guide to compiling the Torque Game Engine with VC++ 6.0, with two changes:

Open the "TSE SDK.dsw" file, instead of "Torque SDK.dsw".

Next, you must make sure that the project properly references the DirectX SDK you installed on your hard-drive. To do so, follow the instructions below:

Open the Tools menu, then click the Options item.

In the dialog which pops up, click the Directories tab.

Now, in the "Show directories for:" drop-down box, select the Include files directory.

Ensure that the path to your Direct X SDK's include folder is first on the list (the directory is C:\DXSDK\Include by default, however if you installed the Direct X SDK to a different directory it will simply be <your_install_path>\Include). If this path is not on the list at all, add it at the top. If it is on the list, but not at the top, move it using the up/down arrow buttons on the dialog.

Set the Direct X 9 Paths

Now, do the same thing for the Direct X library directory, by selecting the "Show directories for:" drop-down again, and choosing the Library files item. The default Direct X SDK library directory is C:\DXSDK\Lib; you'll need to look in <your_install_path>\Lib if you installed the SDK in a different directory. Once the Lib path is added to the top of this list, click the OK button on the dialog.

Except for these two concerns, you can follow the instructions in the basic compiling guide for Torque Game Engine directly.

Summary

At present, for the Early Adopter release, GarageGames only officially supports compiling with Visual Studio 6.0 or 7.1. Of course, it is well within reason to compile the TGEA SDK with other compilers, but doing so may require more time and work than compiling with VS6 or 7.1.

At this point, you are ready to start working with the engine. Continue with this guide to learn how to work with the TGEA.

Note

If you have any questions about materials covered in this chapter, please check the TGEA Developer's FAQ. Most likely, you will find answers to your questions there.

Note about using Visual Studio 8 (2005) Express Edition - as at 1/5/06

To compile TGEA using MS Visual Studio 2005 Express you will need to install the Windows platform SDK - follow the link from within Visual Studio's "Start Page" for "Install PSDK"

-Update----------------------------------- For us noobs to programming :) To install the Platform SDK in -->Tools-->Options-->VC++ Directories. In the Dropdown "Show Directories for:"

the "Executable Files" section needs both the listings: (preferably at the top in this order)

• C:\DXsdk\Utilities\Bin\x86 (change to your install location)
• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows Server 2003 R2\Bin (default install location)

the "Include Files" dropdown selection needs:

• C:\DXsdk\Include (change to your install location)
• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows Server 2003 R2\Include (default install location)

the "Library Files" dropdown selection needs:

• C:\DXsdk\Lib\x86 (change to your install location)
• C:\Program Files\Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows Server 2003 R2\Lib (default install location)

This shows that both the Direct X AND the platform SDK are installed and linked within the compiler. ______________________________________

With the platform SDK and the DirectX SDK installed, you need to load up the "TSE SDK.sln" file found in the vc8 directory.

-Update- I found these 2 files (below) alread listed---------------------------------------- Once loaded, you will need to change the setting for the "Torque Shader Engine" project (Right-hand click on it and select properties). Then navigate to Linker > Input > Additional Dependencies and add the following two libraries:

   oleaut32.lib
   ole32.lib

Also I found I needed to manually add the directories where the ljpeg.lib files were being created before VS could find them (it should be something like: tse\lib\out.vc7.win32.release)

Doing at least this, will hopefully provide you with a Windows binary.

In addition it is worth manually editing each project in the "Configuration Manager" to be the "release" version when you select release configuration - otherwise it will always output a Debug version.

See the following threads for more help: