Is it normal to use this much memory?

[Hugbees]

So I just finished the "prologue" for my game and just got my heroes ready to jump into the action, but then I noticed how big my game is. I went to save the data and already it is using up 2 blocks of data and it's only about 10 minutes long.

I have about 7 dungeons made, and each one takes up 700-1000 memory, and the events stored in each one take up around 1000-2000 each, with the lowest being about 600.

The event that is over 2000 memory each is the most complicated one, containing many take overs, and is about 1/2 of what I have done so far. However, the one that comes after that is almost pure talking and that takes up 1000 in memory.

At this rate I'll eat up all my memory before I'm half way done the game. This troubles be a little because I checked Gobli's events, and most of them take up less memory than mine, and they seem to have the same amount of complexity as mine.

I would assume I'm doing things the long and involved way when most of what I want to do can be done a lot easier than how I'm doing it, but I'm not entirely sure.

Is there some general memory saving tips that would help? If not I can try to be more specific if needed.

[Leish]

Re: Is it normal to use this much memory?

RPGM is a real memory hog, indeed. It can catch you off guard if you're not thinking about it.

Do your dungeons take up the entire space they give you? That's a big area, so if your dungeons do take up the entire field, I'd shrink it down to as small as you can without hurting your game. After I realized how much space I was using, I started to fit two towns in one map, including the insides of buildings, and I stopped using all of the map most of the time (even with multiple areas). Just make sure they're far enough apart that you can't see the other no matter where you walk in the town/dungeon. I also share the insides of buildings with other "real" dungeons I make. I guess what I'm getting at is you can make your towns and dungeons as big as you'd like, but be reasonable and efficient with the size.

Also, you can use more than one memory card per game you make. You can create a switch that makes it so you can switch from one memory card to the other while playing the game.

Other tips? Keep the buildings simple. I mean, they're not really important enough to spend much time constructing. My girlfriend likes doing my buildings, but she finishes in no more than 4 minutes with an entire town's architecture. Creating a character in anime maker will use up one block automatically, so I suggest not doing that.

If this doesn't help, then you might want to help me help you.

[Hugbees]

Re: Is it normal to use this much memory?

Is there anyway of actually making the map smaller, or does it have to be a giant 64x64?

[Leish]

Re: Is it normal to use this much memory?

You can only work with that size map, but (and don't quote me on this) it's really what you put on the map that takes up a lot of the space, not the empty map itself. You can put obstacles in the way to "lock-in" a small portion of the map, like trees or a type of tile, and just work in those small vacant lots. Give it a try and experiment. Make a town like that, see how much space it takes up. Delete it if it's not the size or style you're looking for.

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

Re: Is it normal to use this much memory?

After I realized how much space I was using, I started to fit two towns in one map, including the insides of buildings

I've found that that actually hurts memory consumption. Sure, you're using one less map, but it's counting the memory of the empty space between one town and the next, as well as the empty space between one building and the next. Yes, it counts what spots are being used up, but it also uses up memory based on the dimensions of the map being used.

Text will definately be the biggest memory hog. In addition to the starting amount for a text message, it's 1 memory per letter plus 1 memory for every extra line used and in between.

I don't know much about what you're doing in your dungeons. Are you using event encounters?

Overall, I'd worry about the memory number rather than the amount of blocks the files are taking up. It is a rare occurance when a file tries to exceed 15 blocks, and it will allow you to place different files on different memory cards. System data on one card, scenario data on another card, animé maker on another... that's how a lot of RPGM1 games handle it. And animé maker data won't affect system or scenario memory.

[Hugbees]

Re: Is it normal to use this much memory?

That puts things in a little more perspective, but man, 1 memory for each letter? That adds up real fast in a text heavy scene. As long as I'm not doing something that causes more memory to be used up than normal, then I'm okay with it.

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

Re: Is it normal to use this much memory?

Yeah, and at least RPGM1 has it's own built-in feature for making multi-scenario card games.

[Valkysas]

Re: Is it normal to use this much memory?

and a user-made feature for making multi-system card games.

so yeah, memory problems arent what they appear to be. you can get around all of them.

[Karr Lord of Chaos]

Re: Is it normal to use this much memory?

the biggest advice i have is to cut out the filler. once you do that then you can free up ridicules amounts of lost memory. cut out what isnt propelling your game, minimize stuff that doesnt add a big impact, shrink dungeons to reduce long pointless walks.

rpg maker 1 will eat your memory, and it already looks as though your spending too much already.