New and have questions.

[VarnFury]

Hello all, The title says it all. Basicly i been eyeing RPM3 for awhile now, i've always wanted to get it but kinda shy away from it because i've always been told that "You cant share it with people unless they have the game themself and you known them". Now that i know there's away to share them online, im looking toward getting it but i do have a few questions.

One of being, Which RPM should i probly look into getting. Sense there like four of them (RPM 1-3 plus XP), Wondering some pro's and con's from thoses that have used them sense "User" info is normaly differnt from "Reviews" info.

Are there other Sites like this that others know of? There was only abit more then a handful of games i seen on the main site, as well few on the boards.

Beside that, i cant think anything else to ask.

[Duel]

Re: New and have questions.

www.rpgmmag.com

[Rodak]

Re: New and have questions.

It depends how much of a challenge you want and how much work you are willing to put in to it and what you ultimately want to make.

Here's a Detailed Review of each console game (I never used XP):

RPGM1 - Custom Graphics allowed, but only 2D. No variables for scripting, but it has "switches" which act like flags in programming.

RPGM2 - My Favorite! Extremely Flexible scripting - GREAT Visual Effects Editor - but "cartoony" looking characters put some folks off. The most flexible of the lot. I'm fond of pointing out that TETRIS has been successfully reproduced on RPGM2! Jugem did this feat which is inconceivable on any other maker (except maybe XP?). Check the link in my signature for a VFX Editor Guide I started and never finished! 2 involves more work than the others, but that is to be expected with a more flexible system.

RPGM3 - Very Limited scripting ability, but pretty graphics. My least favorite of the lot (I need to be able to script things in great detail or it's no fun for me).

If you go with 2 - check http://doansdomain.proboards27.com for an RPGMaker site focusing mostly on that game.

Have Fun. and Welcome to The Pavilion!

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

Re: New and have questions.

Of note, in order to transfer game saves online, you're going to need either a Dex Drive for RPGM1, or a Max Drive for RPGM2 or RPGM3.

I personally prefer RPGM1. It's lacking variables, if/then commands, and the ability to move more than one unique event at the same time, but I find it a lot more fun because there are a lot more ways to bend its limits to produce suprising games. It is 2D, so this means you can create sprites, monsters, or title screens. Though in limited quantities. You're quite limited in special effects. You've got limited objects you can move in limited ways for battles, and you've got basic pre-set effects outside of battle. The battle system is kinda like the Dragon Warrior/Quest system, in which it's in a first-person view, but it's very speedy. This is the only RPGM we got that has no weather effects. Map creation is simple. For world maps, it's like tactical RPGs with a brown map that you move from point to point. Just connect land to land, sea to sea. Every other map, you place the ground tiles, and then everything that goes on top of the ground. You've also got some pre-set maps, some of which look pretty nice, but they use graphics you can't use for custom maps.

RPGM2, on the other hand, is so powerful you don't really need to worry about bending limits. As Rodak mentioned, the graphics aren't anything special. The characters look like Lego people, the monsters on the same level as the ones in Final Fantasy VII (though lacking in the modern and futuristic types), the draw distance is so bad you can only see 14 steps in any direction, and the game is taking so much power that the screen blurs a bit with any movement. The game is also the most difficult to learn and takes the longest to make games on. But that hardly matters if you like how much power it holds. Especially with the VFX editor. That editor is notably lacking a coordinates display, but you can create some great-looking special effects with that. And you can use those effects both in or out of battle. By default, it uses the older style of the DW first-person battle. 8-bit sound-effects when characters take their turn, text box telling who's attacking and who's taking damage. But the RPGM2 battle system can be edited to a fairly large extent if you know what you're doing, so that it's a lot less sucky. Map creation is one of those difficult things. Two map systems. One is used mostly for outdoors or caves, and requires placing markers at various points to raise, lower, affect slope incline and angle of the land and place ground textures. The other is mostly used for indoor areas, as well as buildings, in which you place together various different-shaped blocks, placing textures on each side.

RPGM3 is actually a spinoff title in Japan, so naturally it's rather limited compared to the other two console RPGMs we got. Cutscenes are more-or-less restricted to static backgrounds with character portraits. (Character portraits that hardly look anything like the 3D models they're supposed to represent.) Not to say you can't try to create real-time cutscenes, but they aren't going to be very impressive due mostly to the inability to move characters through events at all. You're also limited to 100 people in your game. Period. And you can't reuse them in multiple places. Special effects are horribly limited. You've got nothing but basic pre-set effects to choose from for the battle system, and pretty much just flashing and shaking screens outside of battle. Town maps are pretty much-preset land. All you can do is place buildings, objects, and people on them. Field maps are created using a tool where you draw a 2D version of the map, and then go to a vertical mode where you raise and lower land, once more in 2D. Because this editor is in 2D the whole time, it requires a whole lot of trial and error. You can't see what effect you made to the land until you preview it. And it's all too easy to make a mistake.

Finally, we get to RMXP. It is undeniably the most powerful RPGM we got so far. This is due in part to a completely optional built-in programming language you can edit to effect anything about the game you're creating. Plus, you can import custom graphics, custom music, custom sound, etc., in virtually limitless quantity. Ignoring the programming feature, though, the basic system is actually less powerful than RPGM2's. But it is also a lot easier. Its special effects sytem is rather powerful as well, consisting of various 2D graphics you can manipulate in pretty much any way. And these special effects can be used both in or out of battle. Its battle system is a lot like RPGM1's, but more flexible, as you can have cutscenes take place in battle now, and you've got a lot more potential effects and spells to create. Creating maps is similar to RPGM1 as well, graphics on top of graphics. This time though, these graphics are separated into three layers. You've got the ground layer, the middle layer used mostly for buildings, trees, and other objects, and the top layer for anything that goes on top of those (like windows on a house). The biggest drawback is that, by default, RMXP does not have any sort of world map. You have to import your own, and you'll also have to pull off a few tricks if you want to do any world mappy stuff like riding in airships, as it does not provide such an option by default. RMXP does have the advantage of both being the only RPGM we have that does not require a save transfer device, and people can play games you make on it without owning RMXP themselves. They'll need to download the RTP package to play them, but that's free.

I think that's pretty much it.

[VarnFury]

Re: New and have questions.

By the sounds of it, If i want go with a console game i should really go for RPM2 because of how flexible it can be. Though by the sound of it (Plus the fact i would need the Max Drive) I'd probly be better off with RPMXP.

[Vonwert]

Re: New and have questions.

Seriously, the Max Drive doesn't cost much. Only 20 bucks.

And you can use any usb keyboard for both RPGM2 and RPGM3. Plus you would be missing out on a lot of good games for both of those makers that people have made.

[11Evil Chipmunk]

Re: New and have questions.

RPGM 2 and RPGM 3 are both great games, although it's hard to understand RPGM 2 at first, (and maybe even RPGM 3) but RPGM 3 has better graphics and allows you to move in any angle direction. But, for RPGM 2, you can't see your weapon, or any other item for that matter, making it better. You want a machine gun in RPGM 2? You can make a Machine Gun. Also, there is much more BGM in RPGM 2. If you do get RPGM 2, I reccomend playing with the system for 100-150 hours at first. Then get started on a real game.

[Valkysas]

Re: New and have questions.

Are there other Sites like this that others know of? There was only abit more then a handful of games i seen on the main site, as well few on the boards.

There just arent that many full games finished with RPG Maker 2 and 3. We actually have the largest collection of console RPG Maker games anywhere online. but even then, I'll stress the importance of visiting both www.doanthenado.com, and www.rpgmmag.com (our partner site), because each site has some games the others don't, and it's important to have access to EVERYTHING.

[hitogoroshi]

Re: New and have questions.

For the record, RPGM3 is a pretty good game too. I noticed that Draygone only talked about the flaws, and while those criticisms are true there are some redeeming features of it too. The map editior may be hard to work with, but if you spend time you can make the best maps out of any of the three. Overall if you're a programming newbie I'd suggest RPGM3 - its easy to find, and there is the big help community for it here on the pav. RPGM2 and RPGM1 are both great too, and I'd recomend also getting 2 if you get a Max Drive just to play games - 2 definantly has the most innovative of the lot.

[VarnFury]

Re: New and have questions.

Well i was going pick up RPM3 but when it comes to RPG's, i like some the old school feelings plus from what i seen from video's of RPM3, it seem like your loading every 5 secounts and it abit drawn out. RPM2 looks like a nice fast way go, plus i like being flexible.

Problem is, out all them.. i only seen RPM3 in stores and i've only seen one copy of it. The others cant seem find anywhere and i dont really buy things online (Sense it not my credit card).

Anyways, i think im gonna mess around with XP demo for abit. Only thing im wonder is can the XP play the other RPM games?

[Red Dragon]

Re: New and have questions.

Only thing im wonder is can the XP play the other RPM games?

It can't.

[Pagerron]

Re: New and have questions.

No, RPG Maker XP cannot play RPG Maker 1, RPG Maker 2, or RPG Maker 3 games.

[Kolgeroth]

Re: New and have questions.

How much time are you willing to give away to make a game? RPGM2 is VERY complex, and you have to deal with coding and do every bit of the game by yourself, even the textures placement and entire shape of areas. I suggest starting out with ANY RPG maker BUT RPGM2, because you'll probably just end up being very frustrated.

[VarnFury]

Re: New and have questions.

Well right now im messing around with RPMXP, Abit confused about how do things (Sense i only quickly read the manaul) but i already figured out how lay out maps and Events in less then an hour without much help. lol.

As far what im willing to spend for time, Probly quite abit. I get bored easly, so im always mulity tasking (Playing EQ, FG, and Rainbow Six all have Downtimes), So ya. Plus im a story writer in spare time, so it be cool to turn that into a game. (Which means, Some kind Resident Evil style game will be coming!)

So far im liking XP.

[JPS]

Re: New and have questions.

Its easier to program a game from scratch with visual basic then try to build a game on 2 IMO

My favorite is 1, then 3, but because 1 doesnt allow for keyboards, Id rather make mine on 3, the game Im working on now is for 3 but I plan on making a game using 1 afterwards