Author Topic: [Guide]Improving your Add-Ons, Step by Step (With Flowcharts) (Read 1070 times)

Pacnet2012� · February 13, 2013, 08:29:47 PM

A Guide to Improve your Add-Ons

This guide contains some useful information on how to make add-ons you create become better and how to successfully develop quality add-ons.

Note that while you may have your own way to make successful add-ons, I am just sharing my way of making successful add-ons. There isn't just one way to do this, but if you want somewhere to start, look here.

Contents
Self-Assess Yourself : Do I have good qualities for making add-ons?

The Add-On creation process

Reference A : TorqueScripting Resources

Self Assessment
Follow the quiz below to determine if you are a good mod maker or future add-on creator.
You may disagree with these answers, but to get the best add-ons in my view, this can help you determine where you need to improve :

Question 1 : Do I make add-ons just so I can become popular and famous?
Yes No✓

Question 2 : Do I frequently give up on add-ons I make?
Yes No✓

Question 3 : If you are a beginner, would / are you trying to make really complex things that people would want first or starting off simple to learn gradually?
Starting off simple✓ Making things complex immediately

Question 4 : Which of the answers below is the best amount of times you think you should revise add-ons before you think you are finished?
Never revise 1-2 revisions sounds good 3-4 revisions is good 6 or more revisions✓

Question 5 : Do you / would you post pictures of something about your add-on into a topic if you release it on the Blockland Forums?
Who needs pictures? Pictures aren't really important all the time. nopixnoclix (pretty rude)

Pictures are important since they give people a graphic visual of what an add-on does ✓

Question 6 : What would you do if you had trouble doing a part of an add-on's script? (3 Answers are right)
Who cares, this is too hard, I give up. Hm... maybe I could ask one of my friends for help!✓ I'll ask for help on the Coding Help forum.✓

I'll look online at references and other help topics to find my solution.✓

Look over your answers, and if you got some wrong, try to get into a mindset of the correct answers.

The Add-On Creation Process
I created the following flowchart below which describes the process, decisions and steps you must take in order to make your add-on the best it can be before uploading it or sharing it to other people, or calling it "finished." Just follow through the flowchart's Yes and No lines to what you decide in your head!

I apologize for the size of the text, and if you have trouble reading the chart, feel free to zoom into the page, probably by pressing Ctrl + Mouse Wheel Scroll, or check your browser.

Reference A : TorqueScript Resources
TGEA Scripting Reference - http://docs.garagegames.com/tgea/official/content/documentation/Scripting%20Reference/Introduction/TorqueScript.html

Categorized TorqueScript console functions - http://docs.garagegames.com/tge/official/content/documentation/Reference/Console%20Functions/TorqueScript_Console_Functions_3.html

Official Coding Resources Thread - http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?topic=214415.0

The Coding Help Forum - http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?board=25.0

The GarageGames Online Documentation - http://docs.garagegames.com/

TGE Console Commands - http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=21753.0;attach=10846

Appendix A Quick References - http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~stewart/GPGT/Appendix%20A%20-%20Quick%20References.pdf

I hope you found this useful!

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Glassi · February 13, 2013, 08:34:23 PM

This would belong in modification discussion I think, but it's pretty good!

Mysteroo · February 13, 2013, 08:34:38 PM

Interesting, it seems pretty good to me. But then I've never made an add-on before though so I really can't tell how good it is.

Nasoa · February 13, 2013, 08:39:41 PM

I don't think add-on creation is something there's one "correct answer" way to do. Everyone has a different creative process and way of managing workload, which is why I disagree with some of the ideas of a flow chart and a survey that generalizes so much. As for getting help, many of the things you said are good for beginning players.

Daenth · February 13, 2013, 08:41:12 PM

You really fluffed up this guide.

Evar678 · February 13, 2013, 09:18:21 PM

Sticky worthy.

EazyE · February 13, 2013, 09:58:52 PM

Great job, Pacnet. Really excellent.

Swollow · February 13, 2013, 10:43:34 PM

useless addons can still be interesting

Perlin Noise · February 13, 2013, 10:47:23 PM

I chuckled because of the guy who posted this.
All aside, good job

Pacnet2012� · February 14, 2013, 07:32:10 AM

Quote from: Nasoa on February 13, 2013, 08:39:41 PM

snip

Quote from: swollow on February 13, 2013, 10:43:34 PM

useless addons can still be interesting

Alright, I updated the topic to include some of these ideas

Cookiez664 · February 14, 2013, 08:07:05 AM

This is good :)

deserves a sticky

Pacnet2012� · February 14, 2013, 05:41:35 PM

If anyone wishes to expand the topic, please post.

elm · February 14, 2013, 09:36:46 PM

Quote from: Perlin Noise on February 13, 2013, 10:47:23 PM

I chuckled because of the guy who posted this.

If that's the case, i roll on the floor laughing whenever you post add-on related stuff.

Perlin Noise · February 14, 2013, 09:45:42 PM

Quote from: elm on February 14, 2013, 09:36:46 PM

If that's the case, i roll on the floor laughing whenever you post add-on related stuff.

I don't know why you are a constant richard to me
It's kind of annoying, and even though you may even be subconsciously thinking that it is in some forgeted up way helping me, it's just loving annoying.

Swollow · February 14, 2013, 09:50:34 PM

Quote from: Perlin Noise on February 14, 2013, 09:45:42 PM

I don't know why you are a constant richard to me
It's kind of annoying, and even though you may even be subconsciously thinking that it is in some forgeted up way helping me, it's just loving annoying.

we're all mad that you won't release terrain generator