2D Torque game engine aimed at independent devs

The package is built on the popular 3D Torque Game Engine, and features animated sprites, flexible tiles, a special effects system, state-of-the-art collision, real world physics, and hardware-accelerated 2D rendering. These features are combined with easy to use editors that make interface creation, effects, tiles, and level building suitable for anyone with an interest in game development.

GarageGames say that although Torque Game Builder is a 2D engine, it will allow for the incorporation of 3D objects and features, such as parallax scrolling to make pseudo 3D games.

“Torque Game Builder is the next step on our course to revolutionize the gaming industry,” said GarageGames President Mark Frohnmayer. “We won’t stop until everyone with a passion to make games has the tools available to make that happen, using their own creativity and on their own terms. Much the same way that anyone can pick up an instrument and learn to play music, we want them to be able to pick up one of our engines and learn to make games. Torque Game Builder goes a long way towards making that a reality.“

The engine will be available in two packages: Torque Game Builder, and Torque Game Builder Pro. Both offer a complete out of the box solution, but for those that wish to tinker with the engine, optimising for a particular game, the Pro package would seem be the better option, offering access to the C++ and TorqueScript source code. The packages are designed for Windows and Apple OS-X platforms.

Pricing is very reasonable, with the basic package priced at $495 (only $100 to Indies and hobbyists), with Torque Game Builder Pro available at $1250 ($250 with the hobbyist discount). Users or the engine will also be pleased to hear that no royalties will ever be charged. If the Torque Game Builder sounds like something you’d like to test out, you can download a 30-day trial from the GarageGames website.