Can we get more details about what this means for BT staff, TT game development?
Macworld story

I think GarageGames will benefit from having Bravetree with them.

It means less choice on what they can do but more money....

Woot More money for the Development of TT2 !!

If we just lost the only other freaking mac game maker that rocks to MSFT, I'm going to freak the f-bomb out.

I'm with Pedro, I'm dying for TT2 to come out for computer, I'm jealous at xBox usesrs :[

OMG! The Evil Empire is moving in!!

Sweet. Now they can all afford a haircut! :)

Congratulations Bravetree!

W00H00!!! Umm... Actually, I bought TT from Shockwave, but if anyone wants to tell me how this affects my life, go straight ahead!

GarageGames Adds More Room to the Garage

Last edited: Monday, June 13, 2005 at 12:52:14 PM

Garage Games announcement
No real news here, but comments from the peanut gallery are gathereing.

It'd be nice to actually hear something from the guys at BT on this. I read about it this morning, but was too busy to comment. I have to wonder if this spells the death of TT2 for PC/Mac, or a new bright beginning. Consider the quote:

Bold emphasis mine.
I tend to think this doesn't bode well for non-console players. But, I'm trying to be optimistic here. It's time for some real info from BraveTree on this matter, because being in the complete dark on the future of this game totally sucks. Please fellas, don't leave the loyal players hanging in limbo, ya?

One more thing. Regardless of what this means for the PC and Mac versions of the next games, I'd still like to offer congratulations to BraveTree on this. I realize that this means you can concentrate on what you do best, and not worry as much about where your next paycheck is coming from. That's gotta be a good feeling. I wish you guys all the best.

Last edited: Monday, June 13, 2005 at 7:15:03 PM

Allow me to redirect to post five.

Congratulations Bravetree! XD

Hmmm. Hmmm.

Last edited: Monday, June 13, 2005 at 9:22:23 PM

In the short term some of us will have to focus on Xbox 360 support but we are by no means going to turn our backs on the PC and Mac. This merge just means that we get to make games all of the time instead of spending half (or more) of our time doing contract work =)

What does the aqquisition mean for ThinkTanks?

Our plan has always been to do a ThinkTanks 2. After we finished up ThinkTanks, we started working on a racing game (code name dRacer) and started taking on contract work to build up a warchest so that we could take the time to do it right. We then got offered to do ThinkTanks for xbox live arcade. Getting ThinkTanks onto console was a big positive step for us as a developer.. As it helps establish our credibility. Sadly, we still had to take a good deal of contract work on in order to make ends meet. We have a few of the pieces for a sequel done, and we are still working on others.

Now, as a part of GarageGames, we have a bit more freedom and a few more resourcers to devote to it. In the short term, we are working on a few projects that will insure long term stability.. In the longer term, we are looking to use some of the GG tech to entend the ThinkTanks world.

Instead of just throwing something together, we wanted to take the time to add in all the online community features that you guys want (and need). To get a taste of what we are thinking, take a quick look at ZAP on GarageGames. The game finding and connection handling is far superior, and it has built in name registration.. What we need is a little more robust, and a comprehensive solution is not quick, or easy.

So, will this mean no more thinktanks.. No.. Our hope is that this development will lead to a better thinktanks 2.. We also hope that this means more time to work on it.. And that we will have less interuptions so that once all the pieces are in place, we can do it more quickly.

We are not ignoring the concerns of the PC/Mac players.. We really just need time to focus on getting it done right, and it is our hope that this development will allow for that.

Phew! Thats a massive load off my mind!! I like the name registration thingy... No More Impersonators!!

So are there any screenies on TT2 for Mac/PC.

No, no screenshots as of yet. The XBOX build 'sort of' works on a PC. We use the PC version for development. We have a few test maps, and ideas for a few new worlds (snow, desert), but we have not created them yet. We also have the new xbox control scheme, which I like better. The xbox version used TSE (torque shader engine) so it would take some work to back port it. TSE in still in early adopter phase, so there is at present, no OpenGL support (bad for macs).. The plan for TSE is to add OpenGL support once the core is done.. So instead of duplicating effort, we are just going to wait a bit.. Instead of backporting to an older engine, we can not port, and just wait for the newer engine to support what we need... And now as part of GarageGames, we have a closer tie to the tech, and more input on direction it is taking.

We also have some ideas for new gametypes that we have thought about but not prototyped.. Not going to mention them yet, as if they turn out to suck.. I don't want to promise they will be in there.

We also want to explore making a usable editor (that you don't have to be a developer to use) and more robust modding support.. All in good time.. Much of this stuff is already part of the technology initiatives that are being done by GarageGames..

Thanks PokeMalo for the update! Best of luck in your new digs.

-Rx

I would love to see the use of interiors and water breaks in the new version as you see in Dark Horizons. Will there be any improvements in the download speed? The current downloading of objects, is painfully slow. It would be nice to be able to quickly download element so the whole Mod Pack and Expansion packs for modding can be disolved. I think this would open up more consideration of the larger mods.

Poke da man, poke da man.
( puts down flame thrower )

Now we can pester GG to put more resources into TT2.
Make GG understand the tremendous financial gain they we receive by releasing TT2.

Less lag?
Is it possible?
That would be absolutely fantastic.

On another note:
If it was possible, I would pay an extra $20 registration fee just to have access to servers with less lag and no gdmf 56k dail-ups from timbuktu allowed.

MAX

Last edited: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 3:03:57 PM

Poke, one problem: I have v1.04 still, and I got it at SW.com. How can I upgrade to TT2 when it's out without paying extra?

You are playing with 1.04?
How?

Doesn't the new Shockwave verison of ThinkTanks only go to verison 1.002? Because I got the new version of this and it doesn't go to 1.004.

Can somebody who speaks techie and non-techie please translate for me? I was doing great right up to OpenGL.

Repeat after me 44;
We're not worthy...

Go Go Bravetree!

Raise a glass to health and dental insurance and all the other things that make life go round. A moderate to lively income helps grease the rails of life.

Wooooooooooooo, congrats!!!
All I ask is that the linux version of the game be granted an extra 2 rounds per clip.

^ Listen to him. He's a very smart person and knows what he's talking about.

OK. Glad to read the comments from Poke. I can sleep better now. :)
And once again, congrats on the turn of events. I can't wait to see what this will result in down the line.

WOW! Even bigger news today! Can it be true?! :o

_{...I can't believe this wasn't on CNN, or FOX News.}

Last edited: Friday, June 24, 2005 at 8:32:03 AM

When is actually going TO COME OUT???!!!??!!! IM GONNA KILL MYSELF IF IT DOESN'T COME OUT SOON! XD

That is big new KBC, really a traumatic event for all involved.

In other news, that beard you saw in the xbox picture has been reduced to a small goatee sans mustachio.

Last edited: Thursday, June 23, 2005 at 11:25:27 PM

@Pokemalo
Thanks for the update! Great stuff ahead!!!
By the way, in case you lost the link, here is our TT2 Wishlist which is a collection of the best ideas for new features in TT2 taken from several different threads on PTT.

Eh Laggy you gotta wear a tie with your sandals now? :). Watch out for the bean counter!

Hmm.

So I wonder.... Who owns this URL now? It was BT.

I'm no lawyer, but I'm pretty sure we own it... ('We' being GarageGames now.. :) )

As for bean counters, it seems the BT crew has more bean counting tendancies than the GG guys. Heh.

:) lol Laggy. God bless ya and good luck.

So... Since GG owns the URL and this site is a commercial resource...why don't they pay for it? Nudge nudge wink wink.

Last edited: Saturday, June 25, 2005 at 2:25:57 AM