Last Online: 8/7/09

Nick Matthews

I've been working with the Torque Game Engine for about 5 years, and I am still getting to grips with all it has to offer. I started off just scripting in TorqueScript, but I have started to learn how to model using Maya (I used to use Milkshape 3D). I have also started to learn C++ but I'm finding it quite different, as I'm used to languages like PHP (The first real language i learned). I am currently working on my own platform game, and also on a mod (Return to Blockland) for a game called "Blockland".

My favourite types of games would have to be RPG style ones (such as Age of Time - although it has quite an "Eric Hartman" spin on it). I develop my own RPG for my server on Blockland which has been quite popular, and has helped me learn a huge amount about how TorqueScript works, and the various ways in which you can accomplish stuff.

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Return to Blockland

Return to Blockland is currently a community add-on for a game called Blockland. It gives the users of Blockland access to an entirely new way of viewing and obtaining community-created add-ons for Blockland. So far I've been the sole programmer for this, however there is also Mocheeze who coordinates it and does the sexy art, and Wedge who manages our community and comes up with neat ideas. I think the rest of the team are basically inactive but some of them swing by every now and then.

So far RTB has come up with quite a few cool new features:

Ingame Add-On Manager

The MOD Manager as it is referred to, is used to browse our online phpBB-based add-on database which I wrote. The system is incredibly smooth in the way it works and allows users to authenticate themselves through our website and then comment on and rate add-ons for other users to see. Finally they can download the add-on and have it automatically installed without having to restart the game. Check out the picture gallery below for more information about this.

Return to Blockland MOD Manager

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Web Development

My first real language I ever learnt was PHP, and almost 5 weeks into learning this, I picked up a Job for some guy over in Ipswich (Im in the UK) who needed a website done for a Bar. I needed to make an admin panel that would allow him to modify the menu and front page text etc. and got paid $100 for the work, which took about 2-3 hours. I was about 13 at the time, so there was much rejoicing.

From there I began to put together my own website, Doing my own graphics for it too, which I actually did in MS Paint (call me old-fashioned). The website can be seen at www.ephialtes.co.uk. It features a huge variety of complicated systems from a dynamically-created menu to a complete shopping system and User Management System. I really only have it to try out my PHP skills, but I have started to use it as a Blockland Scripts website.

I had many other jobs further on down the road, including a website for some family friends who were travelling around the world, and wanted to keep everyone updated on what they were getting up to, which featured an image gallery and tagboard system. They still ended up paying about $200 for the work I did, despite them being friends.