RPG Maker XP - US Release

[Valkysas]

RPG Fan gave the announcement this morning that at long last, Enterbrain has announced that they are bringing the PC RPG Maker series to the US, with RPG Maker XP. Apparently, it will be available on download.com on September 16th. however the price (if any) is not known at this time.

The Pavilion will support this title, despite not being published by agetec. we've had the site modules for XP ready since april, so we should be good to go when it's officially released.

Normally, we'd take such news with a grain of salt, or even a heavy sack of it, but it's a bit hard to do that when enterbrain already has an official US site (http://www.rpg-makerxp.com/)open for it, along with screenshots of the english version.

Thanks to RPG Learner from our forum for the heads-up.

[Big Rick Cook]

Neat. Now all I need is a better computer.

[RPG Learner]

I'm not sure if i can run it i've do have the recommended RAM but that would use it all up.

[Necromancy]

Uhm...neato.

I just hope it doesn't look as weird and bad as the other PC RPGMakers i've seen.

Well, neato. I'm still looking foreward to RPGM3 more.

[Necromancy]

No edit button. >.<

Breezed through the site. Love the graphics. Only thing that seems iffy is the somewhat sloppy-looking battles. We'll have to wait and see.

What kind of payment do you think it will be? As in, will you have to pay with a credit card and download it online? Mmm. I'm proud; finally my online, lazy, cheap friends can play games I make without spending a dime.

[Funk]

THIS... IS... HUGE... NEWS...

[Vonwert]

It looks like it can run on Win98, which is good, since I don't have XP.

Do you think it will be avaible in stores?

[Chuck]

One small step for man, one giant leap for the American RPG Maker community. And a nice leap of faith by Enterbrain. I pray it does well despite prior pirating. If the cost is resonable I'll buy it even if I don't plan to make anything. Now onward to the future, where we'll get a PC RM with the graphics of RM3.

[Funk]

Download only, apparently.

[marcus]

I already own the legal Japanese version (90 dollars well spent) but if I have some extra bills laying around by september I'll be glad to plunk down another 50-90 to help support this company and its (hopefully) rising american community.

Since I'm experienced in the pc version, I'll gladly help anyone that asks when the english version is released next month.

[Big Rick Cook]

I bet it costs $30.

[marcus]

I bet it costs $30.
Most likely 20-40 (I doubt it'll be over 50). Enterbrain should know Americans usually don't spend more than 50 on games (even if this is a "toolset"). I mean, for $90 I could buy a real engine like DarkBasic or Visual C++.

But rmxp's ease of use can't be beat.

[marcus]

Strange, for some reason I can't edit posts anymore.

Anyways, here are some screenshots that I took of projects I've been tinkering with for a while. Shows off some of rmxp's capabilities.

http://staff.whahay.net/marcus/abs.PNG
This is a project using an action battle system (similar to zelda) scripted by Near Fantastica
http://staff.whahay.net/marcus/cms.PNG
A custom menu system scripted by Diego
http://staff.whahay.net/marcus/worldmap.PNG
This worldmap was made by The Inquisitor and is undoubtebly the best worldmap I've seen (it surpasses professional worldmaps in my opinion).

[Chuck]

Nice! I'm still getting RM3 but the chances of me making anything with 1 or 2 are now just about a million to one. Maybe I could eBay them to pay for this.

[Necromancy]

I prefer to keep both my RPGM 1 and 2 even if i'm not going to use them. It's a piece of history for me, and I will never sell them.

[Pandacon]

Oh wow, this is frikkin' awesome, 2 rpgmaker games in September, I dont have time, I just dont have the time.

[Nixon]

I am VERY exicted about this! Perhaps now I can finally make the Bush game sequel.

[John Mora]

Wow. WOW. I... I'm going to cry. :(

[Goyle]

Maybe I'll actually start making a game again. Both the console RPGMs have just been a hassle to me, and, though fun to thinker with, I never really wanted to make a real project. A PC maker is much more appealing in my eyes.

I AM FILLED WITH RIGHTEOUS JOY.

[KumoShinagi]

Yay! Finally! My sequel can be done!

[Biggie]

holy ****, this looks so freaking amazing, it is definitly the rpg maker for 2D rpg's, (good bye RPGM1, I still love you.) I wont ditch rpg maker 2 or 3, since Im more of a cinematic kind of guy, but with a 2D full fledged VFX editor, custom soundtracks, editable objects, this looks freaking amazing, Maybe Ill release the unreleased rpgm1 game Hippy Hunt(number 1) the way I always wished it could be. Its 100% possible with custom soundtracks, all editable sprites, 3 layers in map editor instead of 2, My god it looks fantastic.

[Ixzion]

Looks like great stuff. :D

[RPG Learner]

True but we still don't know how much it costs to download the whole thing from CNet.

[marcus]

True but we still don't know how much it costs to download the whole thing from CNet.
If anything it's probably a shareware. Free to try (english demo I assume), money to buy. Or maybe they give you the full program for free for 10 days or something and after that the LEAP security system deactivates until you pay for the program.

The latter makes the most sense.

[RPG Learner]

True but even so how would i be able to buy it from there.

[marcus]

True but even so how would i be able to buy it from there.
Using pay pal, credit card, or possibly a check or money order.

[Dungeon Warden]

Cool. I've wanted this RPG Maker since I first heard about it. Man, the things a could do with full control of the scripts and images. Of course, the biggest problem is where would I find the time to make my creation? Still, it would be cool to have just to play around with.

RPG Maker 3 might have to wait. On the other hand, making a game will be easier with this toolset. Decisions, decisions.

[Draygone]

Sorry if this distorts the tables but...

YEEAAAHHHH!!!!!

[Draygone]

Curse the lack of an edit button in this forum.

I hope it won't cost too much. I already spent $120 on the Japanese release last year.

[Draygone]

Third post. Yay.

Aside from the requirement to run the program at least at a 1024 x 768, I don't see much reason why it would require much power.

And darn, this means I only have so little time left to show off my other thing for RPGM1. 'Cause the only reason I'm still using it is because of its 2D gaming, simplicity, and customized sprites/monsters. XP has 2D gaming, simplicity and complexity for those who want it, and customized sprites/monsters/textures/etc. (and not at a limited amount like in RPGM1).

I seriously doubt that this thing is going to be free. Enterbrain almost didn't release it because it wouldn't possibly make much money, so I don't see them releasing it even though it would still not net them a profit.

[Biggie]

rpg maker xp looks like a perfect 2D rpg creator, I have no problems with it thus far, it has beautiful 2D graphics, which you can edit and/or create all new sprites, backrounds, foregrounds, objects etc. Now ill just have to upgrade my computer some >.>

[marcus]

Third post. Yay.

Aside from the requirement to run the program at least at a 1024 x 768, I don't see much reason why it would require much power.

And darn, this means I only have so little time left to show off my other thing for RPGM1. 'Cause the only reason I'm still using it is because of its 2D gaming, simplicity, and customized sprites/monsters. XP has 2D gaming, simplicity and complexity for those who want it, and customized sprites/monsters/textures/etc. (and not at a limited amount like in RPGM1).

I seriously doubt that this thing is going to be free. Enterbrain almost didn't release it because it wouldn't possibly make much money, so I don't see them releasing it even though it would still not net them a profit.
No offense, but are some of you running Tandy 800s or something? I ran this program fine on an ibm pentium 3 800mzh with 128mb ram and 32mb graphics card and I bought that in 1999.

[Draygone]

*waited until someone else posted before making a fourth post*

One thing I'm particularily looking forward to. Translated help text and manual. 'Cause Advocate didn't really get to those last I checked. It'll certainly help me figure out what all those battle stats are supposed to do. (Never fiddled with the battle system enough.)

For those interested, there are something like 50 monsters that can be seen outside of battle, and about the same amount of human characters that can be seen in battle.

Hmm, looks like it'd be possible for mean people to sell their games instead of have them available free on the net. Of course, I won't be doing that. If I sell a game, it will be made for a programming tool like Delphi.

For those worried about the DW-looking battle system, don't forget about the RGSS. Or you could easily create a CBS using the commands already available in the game. Too bad there's no sample world map tiles or default vehicle command. From what I remember.

I can't help but notice that the 5 original sample games aren't mentioned at the web site. PLEASE tell me they'll be in there!

[Biggie]

No offense, but are some of you running Tandy 800s or something? I ran this program fine on an ibm pentium 3 800mzh with 128mb ram and 32mb graphics card and I bought that in 1999.

well, my computer has a 1.3 gh proc, 128mb ram, and a 32mb graphics card as well, one problem, Im running windows xp at these specs, with xp I doubt my computer can run rpgmxp without slowing my computer down.

[marcus]

Draygone, there are several (6 I believe) custom battle systems out there and the inquisitor has generously supplied the best worldmap you'll ever use (check out a post I made earlier in the topic).

[Valkysas]

I would like to remind people that even though we're getting this legally, permanent bans will still be given to anyone who links to a site where there are illegal downloads of the software, or any information on where/how to obtain the illegal versions.

and as always, no linking to that whoreslut wishmoo's site.

[RPGD]

HOLY FUGGIN' CRAP!!!

YES! GOD, YES!

[marcus]

I would like to remind people that even though we're getting this legally, permanent bans will still be given to anyone who links to a site where there are illegal downloads of the software, or any information on where/how to obtain the illegal versions.

and as always, no linking to that whoreslut wishmoo's site.
Rest assured very few websites support the pirated version once Enterbrain announced they would consider releasing a version of RMXP (and even less supporters now that it's official).

There are even less people who actually respect Wishmoo, the greatest bane on the community.

[Biggie]

at least theve upgraded the hell outta this thing, to make up for the time lost cuz of those damn pirates.......

[Valkysas]

marcus, it makes me happy to hear that about wishmoo, because she's tried shutting the pavilion down many times back when we were on EZboard. just because me and blaze (former webmaster of the pavilion) had this habit of "hunting" and taking down RM2K sites (for instance, we got don miguel to quit the RPGM piracy).

god, I should still have that chat log where she talked to kire and made up names of agetec employees that she supposedly talked to about the pavilion, including a Mr. Shigeru Miyamoto.

[marcus]

Let's just say that if you mention her name on any pc rpg maker forum you'll either be boo'ed or laughed at. At one website there's even a filter where all instances of her name are changed to either "wishcow" or "she-who-shall-not-be-named-for-fear-of-legal-action-because-she-sucks." She's pretty the "crazy cat lady" of both communities.

But seriously... SHIGERU MIYAMOTO...

[unicronus]

Cripes!
That is the best news I ever heard. Who would have thought it?

Anyway, enough blubbering. I just want to thank Enterbrain & whoever is doing the official translation. even thou the poor Japanese version has long since being raped (If that word seems in appropriate, please replace it) by those pirates, I'm glad to see that Enterbrain are giving us a REAL translation after all that has happened.

I'm looking forward to buying it & I hope that everyone else here does. Let's show real support to the community.

[Chuck]

No offense, but are some of you running Tandy 800s or something? I ran this program fine on an ibm pentium 3 800mzh with 128mb ram and 32mb graphics card and I bought that in 1999.
My computer is 751MHz with 128MB RAM, 8 MB of which is siphoned off to the integrated graphics. In other words my computer sucks. It's not good for much of anything. I'm not sure how old it is but it had Windows Me, so not too old. Somebody gave it to me for free so I can't complain but I plan to get a new one. I'll have to wait til then to get RMXP.

[The Magic Hat]

This is indeed great news. I was wondering when a legal copy of the PC RPGMs would make it over here. I'd love to try it, but I'm afraid I'd viciously brutalize my P90-1.5 GB HD space-10-yr-old dinosaur of a system. Once I put together enough money to buy a new system, and with this new job I'm getting it WILL be done, I'm all over RPGMXP.

Is there going to be a certain limited amount of time that it will be up? I don't want to miss out just because I had neither the money nor the resources. :(

[unicronus]

By the way, I found this Acrobat document announcing the upcomming release (in Japanese thou).
http://www.enterbrain.co.jp/jp/c_outline/pdf/tkoolxp_global.pdf

Anyone willy to translate?

[unicronus]

One more thing.
It will cost $60 (according to the PDF file I've found on Enterbrain's site).
Not bad (just a bit over the price of one video game), but at least it's better then the amount I paid for the Japanese version with shipping.

[Jeroak Nelave]

All i know is that i am very happy and excited that this is coming here, and i will pay whatever they charge (not more than it would cost in japan of course) to get the game. I look forward to this, and now just hope that i'll be able to get someone to make some custom sprites for me.

Need lots of dragons with human features, LOTS.

I wish i could do it myself, but my artistic skills SUCK!

[The Toecutter]

This is perfect for One Crash of Solace and Legend of the Pale Horseman. I was originally screwing around with complex programming languages for other legal game making programs practicing so that I might eventually make these games, but RPGMXP has made this prospect that much more realistic.

[Jeroak Nelave]

Yup, you can easily make a Post Apocalyptic type game with it if you want, as long as the proper tileset can be found and everything.

[tjoris9]

*Fills the cup...*

Wow. Somebody smack me around like a street corner b----! I think I'm dreaming! :D

And It looks like we may even be able to use real songs for a soundtrack! And custom sprites! It's like a 2-D user-friendly even more highly modifiable version of RPGM2!

Now to decide whether I want RM3 or RMXP.

[Rodak]

This may just be the ideal creation tool for my Dream Project... Looney Tunes vs Aliens!!

[The Toecutter]

Yup, you can easily make a Post Apocalyptic type game with it if you want, as long as the proper tileset can be found and everything.

Find the tileset?

Hell no. I'd rather make my own tiles. I could make much better tiles than the default CRAP that comes with the game.

[Caciss]

The defualts are actually pretty good; much better than anything I'm capable of producin.g

And I'd love to see a good graphic community manifest itself here. Tons of tile-sets for downloads would be might cool.

[RPGD]

Not to mention more people to bug with commissions.

[Caciss]

Let the hazing begin!

[RPG Learner]

Wishmoo sounds like a messed up name can anyone tell me more about the history on the RPG Makers and how this person caused the bane of this place.

Please PM Me for this i don't want to get flamed for this.

[Rodak]

Wishmoo sounds like a messed up name can anyone tell me more about the history on the RPG Makers and how this person caused the bane of this place.
It was before my time, but I dislike anybody giving the word MOO a bad name!

[Necromancy]

Wow.

$60 is a lot for me. I hope it's not $60. 'Cause that's a lot of money.

Mmm. I don't think I can afford it. I might have to just wait and see.

[marcus]

Creating tilesets is not as easy as it sounds because I do it regularly. In fact, it's best not to openly release resources because each game is unique in style and the only way to match what the majority of people are using is to design your graphics with the rtp style in mind.

Even with that set aside, everything I make tends to be vastly different from the majority. I either find myself making a cyberpunk game or a project so weird that few people can understand what's going on. One of my project used scanned hand drawn graphics while another one was made completely in paint.

But that's the power of rmxp and now that the console community has an easy of way of obtaining a version besides shelling out $100, hopefully the community will grow even larger.

[Pandacon]

I'm quite anxious to give this game a try, I'm thinking of graphics and songs that I could create for it, though it might make my game creation take much longer since I'm not very good at doing graphics and music...

[Pandacon]

I'm quite anxious to give this game a try, I'm thinking of graphics and songs that I could create for it, though it might make my game creation take much longer since I'm not very good at doing graphics and music...

[Valkysas]

few things to keep in mind if you're new to enterbrain's PC RPG Makers, or just new to the XP version.

Tilesets can be as large as you want, there's no size limit, which means you won't have to re-use the same graphics over and over in an area. for example, one of the first things me and blaze did when we got it was connect all the default tilesets into one massive set (I'll probably end up posting this massive thing on the pavilion soon). the default tilesets are GREAT, and it is a pain to make your own, especially with 3 different layers and the extremely high resolution of the graphics.

characters can pretty much be as large as you want. you're pretty much only limited by how large you feel like making them.

60 dollars for this software is a bargain. it's 90 in japan, and worth every cent.

[Hedrum]

Forget about RPG Maker 1, 2, and 3. I must get this! :hyper

[Jeroak Nelave]

I'm still getting RPGMaker 3, i'm not knocking agetec, i'm getting both!

I have to support Agetec, even though they dont release alot of games, most of them are great, and they are like a savior to me for making it possible to have an RPGMaker game.

[Chuck]

I'm still getting RM3 because of the 3D graphics and ATB battle system. I've been picturing "Living Legend" on it since I first saw screens of the Japanese version and it'll be perfect. But RMXP will be replacing 1 and 2 for me. I'm going to sell those on eBay to help pay for XP.

[Biggie]

well, while many of you are ditching rpgm2, I aint, its a perfect rpg maker for making cinematics, and such, while rpgm1 will now be useless. Im a 100% supporter of everything rpg maker. Ill now be supporting RPGM 2, 3, and XP. 2 is perfect for making anything BUT an rpg lol, 3 and XP seem perfect for rpgs. I have still have 2 rpgm2 projects, and wont ditch them after these new ones come out, do to how all around customisable rpgm2 is. Many poeple think you can only do mid evil settings with the thing, there very wrong, I can ANY setting with rpgm2. I can make light sabers, guns, chainsaws, gernades, ps2's, the other day I made a DS on rpgm2 for my friend thomas's rpg. All im saying is RPGM2 still has so much untapped potential, it makes me sad to see so many of you are ditching it. But I cannot wait for RPGM3 and XP, now I have 3 perfect options for what ever idea I have ^^

[Chuck]

I'm only ditching RM2 because I don't understand it enough to make anything substantial. I haven't had it very long. I do like it though. But RMXP will be even more customizable in a more easily understood way so I'd actually manage to make something. And anyone would be able to play it, not just people who have RPG Maker.

[Biggie]

yes, that has me hyped, you can host it as shareware, or even burn your game onto a disk for others to play!

[Hedrum]

But RMXP will be replacing 1 and 2 for me. I'm going to sell those on eBay to help pay for XP.

Ah, don't do that. :(

Well, once I'm done with Monkey Brothers I will be done with RPG Maker 1 for good (though, I'm not making any promises). I just hope RPG Maker 1 doesn't fade away once I'm finished with my game.

RPG Maker 2, I really wanted to make a game with using this, but now that RPG Maker XP is coming out...I don't know, I'm having second thoughts.

[The Toecutter]

the default tilesets are GREAT, and it is a pain to make your own, especially with 3 different layers and the extremely high resolution of the graphics.

This high resolution plus triple layers will just make things even easier for me. No more miniturization and trying to scale down complex objects to match limited graphics capability. This will be quite a step up from making 24 x 32 tiles in RPGM.

Imagine it: I can make flashing neon signs for my cyberpunk set game, maybe even have a blimp with a TV screen hovering above the cityscape ala Blade Runner. Maybe even script in traffic patterns for some cars for areas where the player might be walking over a highway overpass or such.

[Biggie]

yes, the only limitation will be your imagination with this edition of RPGM, I can have a boss fight with system of a down playing in the backround.

[The Toecutter]

Or you could learn to make your own music, like Aznable does with his ambience tracks and techno.

[Biggie]

exactly, this is the perfect 2D rpg maker, I just hope we'll get our own 3D rpgmaker treatment like this in the long run.

[marcus]

This high resolution plus triple layers will just make things even easier for me. No more miniturization and trying to scale down complex objects to match limited graphics capability. This will be quite a step up from making 24 x 32 tiles in RPGM.

Imagine it: I can make flashing neon signs for my cyberpunk set game, maybe even have a blimp with a TV screen hovering above the cityscape ala Blade Runner. Maybe even script in traffic patterns for some cars for areas where the player might be walking over a highway overpass or such.
I'm making a cyberpunk game as well. If you ever need any help on a subject in rmxp just ask as I pretty much know the editor inside and out. Soon I'll learn rgss so I can get some real scripts going instead of asking people for help on it. Ruby's syntax is a pain in the a** for someone who knows other languages like C++ and VB6.

[KumoShinagi]

No matter what, I'm still gonna support all 3 Makers.

Now, it's time to plan!

[Biggie]

with this, there is really no reason to use rpgm1, I aint complaining much, though ill always have a place in my heart for rpgm1, Ill take custom soundtracks over rpgm1 music....I cant believe I used to like that music.

[Chuck]

I'll always have love for the first american RPG Maker too. I still remember back when I first heard of it, a tiny little blurb in an EGM magazine. I thought it'd be something where you put together different story pieces and maybe designed a couple of the buildings. I had no idea it'd be a whole programming tool where you really made your own game from scratch. It'll have have a place in my memory but as for actually using it, RMXP blows it out of the water. And I'd rather get some money towards XP and get RM1&2 to someone who'll still use them.

[Biggie]

Im still gonna keep my old rpg maker 1, just if I want to someday play my first titles, which now suck compared to what im doin now, I could never get rid of my old games.

[Draygone]

You know, I've always wondered what it would be like in a community that supports RMXP. Should be interesting with all the games, graphics, and such being sent here, plus all the discussions. Can't imagine how many people will wind up coming here because of this. Will the Pavilion be mentioned somewhere in the download page?Wishmoo sounds like a messed up name can anyone tell me more about the history on the RPG Makers and how this person caused the bane of this place.In short: Don Migual put up RM2K, which thousands of people went and downloaded. We didn't get it because of it. RPG Advocate put up RM2K3, which too many people downloaded once more. RPG Advocate then was willing to give Enterbrain a chance to bring RMXP here, but put up an English patch for the program just in case, so that English-speakers could import the program and still understand it mostly. In the mean time, some people went and used the English translation Advocate made and used it to put RMXP on the net. I assume Wishmoo is one of these people.

Anyway, I figure I'll keep RPGM1, but only to play the games already available, and to release one more game. I'll miss using it once it's finally dead. I'll always remember the good songs it had. And the two songs I really don't like.This will be quite a step up from making 24 x 32 tiles in RPGM.Translation: "I won't have to make small cars that have lines in the middle of them."

[The Toecutter]

Translation: "I won't have to make small cars that have lines in the middle of them."

Yes.

[Angry Black Man]

All kinds of YAY!

[The Toecutter]

Imagine the sort of game Sir Sniffy could make with the ability to make every damn sprite he can think of.

[Valkysas]

Will the Pavilion be mentioned somewhere in the download page?

no. enterbrain is doing this on their own, not agetec.

[OrinMaxden]

Everyone seems really happy about this. Being someone that has only had RPGM2 can someone tell me why RPGMXP is sooo. cool. also will you miss out on anything if you don't have XP i have 2000 pro.

[Necromancy]

Mmm.

I'm happy. I just did some extra work, and ended up with $50 in all. Not bad. A little more, and RPGMXP is mine. Only problem with it is my dad might not be comfortable buying something like this...i'm definately going to have watch how I explain it.

And I fully intend to buy RPGM3 as well. XP I will love, though, because I can talk on AIM and work at the same time. Plus, I can let other people play my game I made without having to use a dexdrive and all that. Oh, and I can add in cool music. Nothing like "Masquerade" by Symphony X playing in the background...

Mmm.

[Angry Black Man]

Imagine the sort of game Sir Sniffy could make with the ability to make every damn sprite he can think of.

I know, I am drooling just thinking about the kinds of sprites I can make...and no more 9 custom graphics...DROOL!

More detailed sprites, battle animations(!), monsters.

I can finally make mermaids that don't look like 'tards, and I can make whole COWS with the monster graphic maker!

*overwhelmed am I

[Biggie]

and the sprites can be as big as you want....you can have realistic looking characters even, my god this will be fantastic.

[John Mora]

Terrorist can finally make his modern environments!

[Biggie]

this will be a good challenge for me, I can do absolutely anything in rpgm2 when it comes to vfx, I cant wait to challenge myself to making 2D vfx, where you start from scratch...

[tjoris9]

I'm getting both RPGM3 and XP. I know I'll probably end up more or less abandoning the first two.

It's not that I don't like RPGM1, I just don't have a functioning Dex Drive, and with RPGMXP looking like a souped up, vastly more customizable, version of RPGM1, with a far more vast audience, I doubt it'll really be worth the money to find a new one.

XP will also be an upgrade from RPGM2, both graphically and in terms of user-friendliness.

RPGM3, however, graphically surpasses all the others, and thus will still be useful. I have a few decent ideas for it. I think this will be my "traditional RPG" tool, while XP will probably be the platform for my cyberpunk and modern games, as well as the ideas that require a bit more flexibility.

[The Toecutter]

Terrorist can finally make his modern environments!

And post-apocalyptic, and cyberpunk, and victorian, and industrial, and space-age, and prehistoric, and ancient Chinese, and...

The first game to be made from me will be Legend of the Pale Horseman, set in the near future(< 4 years). It will be a strategy RPG in the vein of Tactics Ogre for the Playstation, in which you play the role of a biker named Atzlan Hellion, a leather-clad shotgun-toting badass out for blood over an attack on his town. And he has a sweet bike. Plenty of Harley Davidson motorcycles, naked biker chics with guns, heavy metal music, senile old ladies with Howitzer units, plenty of Hell's Angels, and numerous biker movie references to films such as The Wild Angels, Easyrider, and The Wild One to go around. YAY?

I shall soon make a topic on it in the games forums.

XP is good news. Very good news for me.

[Biggie]

Wait a minute now, Im guessing you can make your own sound effects as well.......This could possibly mean if you really wanted to you could include voice overs in your game.

[Angry Black Man]

My head is going to explode...I should leave...

[Pandacon]

Wait a minute now, Im guessing you can make your own sound effects as well.......This could possibly mean if you really wanted to you could include voice overs in your game.

Yeah, I was thinking about this last night... now I just need some voice actors...

[marcus]

Yeah, I was thinking about this last night... now I just need some voice actors...
I recommend leaving voice overs out unless you have a professional or someone who actually knows how to voice act.

Did someone say prehistoria?

http://staff.whahay.net/marcus/prehistoria.PNG
this is a failed attempt at making a grid, turn based strategy game that took place in a humerous prehistoric world.

I've pretty much came up with a game in almost every setting you can think of. They all failed, but they're on my harddrive. When the english version is released I'm going to put up my "failed games" package for download. It might be a good point of reference to newcomers.

[RPG Learner]

Good idea.

[Big Rick Cook]

I'm a decent voice actor, but I don't have any equipment that would make it worth hearing.

Years of voicing the characters in games like Shining Force II out of lunacy, and 'acting' in my brother's cheesy horror movies (that I swear I'll someday show everyone) have given me an amateur's basis for believable acting.

I guarantee it to sound better than Shining Force III.

Not that I'm offering. Cause I'm not.

[marcus]

I'm a decent voice actor, but I don't have any equipment that would make it worth hearing.

Years of voicing the characters in games like Shining Force II out of lunacy, and 'acting' in my brother's cheesy horror movies (that I swear I'll someday show everyone) have given me an amateur's basis for believable acting.

I guarantee it to sound better than Shining Force III.

Not that I'm offering. Cause I'm not.
I don't think anyone can have worse voice acting than the original Resident Evil, Grandia, or Tales of Symphonia.

With that being said, the problem aren't the voices themselves rather how you would implement them. You'll have to make your own custom script with ruby to have the voices match the text boxes. Also, rmxp has problems with really long .wav files. The problem probably got fixed in a patch because the last time my LEAP system ran I noticed that some of the problems I used to have with sound are now gone.

[Big Rick Cook]

You don't have to have all that.

You can change your .wav files to .mp3, lowing file size substantially. You can chop the voice clips up and have each one load with each text window, and you have to press a button to move on to the next one. I forget which commercial game utilized this, but it worked rather well.

Grandia's voice acting was decent as far as games go.

House of the Dead II was wretched. Worse than everything but Shining Force III that I've heard.

[marcus]

RMXP doesn't "technically" support .mp3s because .mp3 is a copyrighted compression method and enterbrain would have to pay royalties. You can still play .mp3 files, but sound effects have to be .wav or .ogg(at least that I know of).

[Big Rick Cook]

Hm. That's a conundrum.

[marcus]

Just for your own future reference, the best method for voice acting would be to save it as a .wav (but keep it down to only 10-20 seconds so the filesize won't be freakin huge) but when you implement it in the game, leave out a text box and replace it with cinema style subtitles instead. This way you won't have to worry about spending crazy amounts of time and frustration trying to get the text to match the words and it still looks good.

[Big Rick Cook]

I probably won't even buy the game. My system doesn't even meet minimum requirements, I'm tight for cash these days because I may lose my job any day now, and I haven't the capacity to write my own script, nor do I want to take the time to learn to write script. I would use the default stuff, but I'm selfish and I want everything the system can't do without major tweaking. I have far too many hobbies and not anywhere near enough time to undertake another one.

[Alzar]

Hell yes.

This > RPG Maker III.

Will buy.

Will make Remote Control II.

Or, well. Will make SOMETHING. It will probably suck.

[marcus]

Sorry to hear that, Big Rook, but at least you'll be able to download and play other people's games.

[Jugem]

By the sounds of it, I'll be able to use my own midi compositions rather than try and compose using RPGM2's stubborn limitations. Not that you couldn't get decent sounding music with RPGM2, because you can. But now I'm definitely looking forward to this. Still need to buy a computer first though. :lol Not that I plan on ignoring RPGM2... And I'll probably fool around with RPGM3 also.

[Vonwert]

I hope at least some people will be buying RPGM3....

[KumoShinagi]

I suspect that there will still be quite a few people that will
buy RPGM3.

Myself included.

[Biggie]

I hope a lot of poeple buy this, then maybe agetec will turn around and publish it for retail :)

[Misty]

I'm definately going to download this.

[Big Rick Cook]

Big Rook?

Where do people come up with this stuff?

[Pandacon]

Well, at least he didnt call you Big Cick

[marcus]

Big Rook?

Where do people come up with this stuff?
Sorry, I have a slight dyslexia. It's not serious, but I sometimes flip vowels around when they're so close together. There's also no edit button on this one particular forum for some reason.

[Funk]

Well, Rick DOES have a big rook, if you catch my drift.

[Big Rick Cook]

Hardly the proper forum to be talking about my chess game.

[IRC]

Can I call you Brook?

[Big Rick Cook]

You've already called me Richard Francis Cook. I hardly think anything else compares.

[The Magic Hat]

Just for your own future reference, the best method for voice acting would be to save it as a .wav (but keep it down to only 10-20 seconds so the filesize won't be freakin huge) but when you implement it in the game, leave out a text box and replace it with cinema style subtitles instead. This way you won't have to worry about spending crazy amounts of time and frustration trying to get the text to match the words and it still looks good.
If I may make a suggestion...

How about just limiting the voice acting to just in-battle comments/grunts/shouts/etc.? Those shouldn't take more than maybe 10 seconds, 15 if you're feeling long-winded. There are quite a few games in the industry that do this already. Personally, I tend to find in-battle voices a lot more fun than cutscene voices and if I had the means, I'd do it for XP.

[Funk]

Voice acting sounds great. Anyone that is planning on using it in their game, let me know. I really would like to see how it turns out.

[lilwilddude]

I'm planning on using Voice Acting in certain, VERY IMPORTANT events. They won't show up much.. But they will appear at some points.

[Jeroak Nelave]

i plan on requesting other pavvies to provide voices for certain scenes in my game.
not sure if i will use alot of voice acting though.

[Pandacon]

I plan on doing some voice acting for some monster magic call outs. Not really any speaking dialoge, just enemies yelling out "Thunderous Lighting of the Gods!!", or something like that.

[tjoris9]

Another good place for voice acting might be when you begin a conversation with a character, like in some of the D&D games. Voice acting greetings can tell volumes about the character that ordinary text can't.

[Big Rick Cook]

Voice-acting greetings are like when an author tells you the sounds of a person's voice when they are first introduced in a novel. It gives you something to work with in your mind as to how they actually sound, giving that character a realism text can't bring.

[KumoShinagi]

Voice-acting greetings are like when an author tells you the sounds of a person's voice when they are first introduced in a novel. It gives you something to work with in your mind as to how they actually sound, giving that character a realism text can't bring.

I agree with that.

Didn't they do that in Brave Fencer Musashi?

Depending on how things go, I might have some voice acting for my game.

....Just maybe.

[Goufunaki]

Might not be possible but i will ask anyway, but is there anyway to know what created games were made with a bought version rather than a pirated version? Like some missing files or something?

[Valkysas]

the way the text is formatted in-game is different.

[Chuck]

Does that mean you'll be able to block up pirate program created games while still allowing the legal ones on the site? That's good.

[marcus]

I didn't think there was a format difference between the Jap version and the English version. If there is, I hope there's a way to transfer my game to the english version (probably just copy all the script files or just copy and paste the english .exe or something).

[Valkysas]

its basically in the way the text appears on the screen in the pirated/patched versions. there's more space between the letters, and the text size is different.

[tjoris9]

It doesn't seem all that surprising, as the pirate translators probably had to make their own font for the Japanese version.

[IRC]

So do you have to make the graphics in the RMXP program or can you use something else and then insert them into it?

[marcus]

It comes with a standard set of graphics in the Run Time Package (generally called RTP or Default). They're not the greatest and they're fantasy/medieval only but they get the job done if you're not good at making custom graphics.

Custom graphics and rips from other games (like snes games) do exist in a lot of places and now that a lot of websites have taken down pirated rmxp links and no longer support the pirated version, I can link to them here.

[IRC]

Is there a certain program that people use to do their custom graphics and stuff? And yes I would be interested in such sites.

[KumoShinagi]

I believe you would use Photoshop, GIMP, and MS Paint for custom graphics.

[RPG Learner]

It comes with a standard set of graphics in the Run Time Package (generally called RTP or Default). They're not the greatest and they're fantasy/medieval only but they get the job done if you're not good at making custom graphics.

Custom graphics and rips from other games (like snes games) do exist in a lot of places and now that a lot of websites have taken down pirated rmxp links and no longer support the pirated version, I can link to them here.


But there's still going to be the pirated version to worry about still and are there any from other games like the Saturn. I would love to take a good look at them.

[marcus]

As long as there's someone willing to hack a game's protection or host it's iso, there will always be pirating. Pirating never made much sense to me because you first have to buy the game and then you're willing to take the time to crack the protection and give it away for free? I'll willingly admit that I'll share music or software with my closest friends and family, but I just can't see myself spending good money on a product and passing it around for free. I'm too selfish for that.

Anyways, I don't know if there are rips for any saturn games (there's quite a few suikoden tilesets so I guess that sorta counts) but if you want them, you'll have to rip them yourself.

[RPG Learner]

And how would you do that?

[Goufunaki]

the way the text is formatted in-game is different.

ah, i see. thanks valk.

[marcus]

And how would you do that?
Load the game up on your computer (if you have the original cd or iso, there are plenty of working saturn emulators), go to the screen you want, press print screen, paste it in paint, and copy and paste 32x32 tiles onto a tileset template. I'll upload a complete template set sooner or later. They help you allign custom graphics and such.

But, if you want an early start, rmxp's tilesets are loaded as infinitex256 pixel image files (png or bmp). Each tile you select is 32x32; the width is set to 256 but the height can be anything you want as long as it's divisible by 32.

[RPGD]

This can actually be done with virtually any screenshot of any 2D game. You can snatch a bunch of other stuff, too.

[tjoris9]

So you could actually hand-draw the area, then scan it and make it into a tileset.

Awesome! :D

[Caciss]

I could make hand-drawen background's and sprites?

That'd be utterly fantastic.

[marcus]

I could make hand-drawen background's and sprites?

That'd be utterly fantastic.
Yea. The problem with rmxp is that the way the tilesets are shaped, it makes creating maps like that really difficult.

In rpgm2k (which has taken a huge pricedrop since rmxp... but rm2k3 is f'ing $200 wtf?) you could create a panorama (a image that shows up behind the main tileset to create vistas and such) and match it to the map. Because rmxp has a wonky panorama function where you can't see the panorama while building the map, you have to convert handdrawn images to a tileset which means you have to break the image and stack it ontop of each other (because a tileset is only 256pixels wide). I have a little practice project somewhere in a folder where I took handdrawn pictures (drawn with a highlighter for added style hoho) and made a few maps.

Hmm, I might turn that into a game actually. I'll be sure to convert all my projects to english so I can finally READ THEM.

[Draygone]

and no more 9 custom graphics...DROOL!Yes, that's one of the biggest improvements right there. Right along with making your own custom tiles without taking up those 9 graphics or event space.Wait a minute now, Im guessing you can make your own sound effects as well.......Not in RMXP itself, but if you have a sound creation tool of some sort, you could import sounds into your game. Same with music. And yes, voiceovers would definately be possible.You can chop the voice clips up and have each one load with each text window, and you have to press a button to move on to the next one. I forget which commercial game utilized this, but it worked rather well.Star Fox 64, Tales of Symphonia, to name a couple.I'm planning on using Voice Acting in certain, VERY IMPORTANT events.Personally I say that if you're not going to have voice acting in every scene, don't have it at all. I found it a little odd in Tales of Symphonia when one scene had voiceovers and the next scene that took place seconds after was quiet. Grunts and stuff in battle or little "hello" clips when a person starts speaking works okay, though.

Anyway, I'm a bit weary about the idea of voice-overs. Unless if they're in battle. It's just that they take up so much memory, even if they're cut up into pieces.

Out of curiosity, would it be possible to use a file created in the Japanese version in the new English version? I might want to port over what I had of Something Stupid IX, and I'd hate to do it the hard way.

[marcus]

Out of curiosity, would it be possible to use a file created in the Japanese version in the new English version? I might want to port over what I had of Something Stupid IX, and I'd hate to do it the hard way.
I'm hoping the same thing but I don't see how the english version is any different than the jap version besides obvious language and format differences. I can't see Enterbrain altering the actual core engine or scripts.

[The Toecutter]

Hand drawing my own graphics will make things easier by many orders of magnitudes. Imagine the face portraits one could do, the tiles, the sprites...

*drool*

[Pandacon]

This makes me wish I could draw better and had more drawing experience.

[tjoris9]

Pandacon, I ain't no artist, but I think I may be able to talk a friend or two into making tilesets and sprites. Plus, I have a wealth of monster pictures with my D&D bestiarty collection. Just imagine a game where you face off against the Tarrasque! :grin

[marcus]

Here's an example of using handrawn graphics to create a tileset.

http://staff.whahay.net/marcus/lolhanddrawn.PNG

Please excuse the crappiness (I seriously did this in about 3 minutes hence the cut off edges and white blocks) but this is a basic way of drawing tiles and scanning them.

The way I did it is I looked at Earthbound (for inspiration) and drew these objects from a 3/4 top down view (the standard view used in most rpg's). I drew the objects in pencil, highlighted the edges with permanent marker, and colored it using a highlighter (you can use whatever you want, but I pride myself in using highlighters as colors for some reason). From there you scan it at a decent resolution (320dpi is fine) and resize the the objects to fit 32x32 tiles. The tree is 96x96 (so I rescaled it), etc. The "grass" is an auto tile which is more complicated to make but it follows pretty much the same process.

So yea, handdrawn requires quite a bit of work but it looks exceptional if you can pull it off (and you're a much better artist than me but few people are worse than me so that's saying a lot).

[Pandacon]

That's some interesting tilesets there Marcus.

I figure I'll give a go at some artwork, I really want to make a custom graphic for the last boss, I have it in my head how I want him to look, it's just a matter of transfering the idea to paper and then to computer.

I figure I'll start working on this stuff once I clear FF7 again, which should hopefully be by next weekend.

[Biggie]

I seriously cant wait to get this, Ill remake Hippy Hunt 1 on this thing, Hippy Hunt XP coming right at ya guys.

[John Mora]

RPGM XP can only get cooler with people making custom tilesets.

[RPG Learner]

This will be a very great experience for everyone who wants to make their own tiles.

[Draygone]

Hopefully there'll be nothing "wrong" with using the default stuff. I had a couple game ideas that were to use the stuff.

[Pandacon]

Hopefully there'll be nothing "wrong" with using the default stuff. I had a couple game ideas that were to use the stuff.

lol, well, I for one will be using default stuff, I only hope to make a few custom graphics.

[John Mora]

Nothing wrong with using default at all, since I have no tile-making talent. It's just that I hope people share tilesets with us talentless schmucks.

[Dreamknight]

Don't worry, I will.

Even though you said it looked like my Missionary sprite had a clam on it's head :(

[The Toecutter]

RPGM XP can only get cooler with people making custom tilesets.

I'm hoping The Mora will play my lude games. They will, after all, have custom tilesets, characters, 'monsters', and objects, even if there may be a scene where a mob of about 100 escaped convicts and angry bikers surrounds a U.S. Senator's car, shakes the car and beats on it, tries to open the handle but fails, breaks open the windows as the car alarm starts going off with the senator frantically trying to start it, flips it over, drags the guy out, and begins tearing him apart like a chicken at an ozzfest, ripping his hair out with their bare hands, 8-10 or so grab an arm and try to pull it out of its socket tearing off skin in some places and ripping his sleeve off his suit and shirt at the same time, eventually knock him unconsious with a gooseneck wrench, and then hang him on piano wire from which as it tightens after about 1 minute his body falls from his head and they shove a pike up the base of the head and parade it around the town mounted on top of an armored early 80s model Ford F250 pickup with these huge concert speakers rigged up in the back playing "Balls to the Wall" by Fozzy and the bikers making loud noises with their motorcycles speeding down the street with the townspeople parading on the sidewalks cheering!

RPGM XP allows one to do that if they are creative and great at drawing. Theoretically I could do every frame within one giant graphic(or multiple sets of graphics and change them as appropriate) and place it onto the map to make it look like there is more than one sprite, even though there isn't, and not necessarily have it restricted by tile to tile movement because it's all one graphic. Therefore RPGM XP rules if it could allow me to do this.

Simply could not do this and make it look real for RPGM on the Playstation without laughable results.

[Caciss]

Right.

[IRC]

technically it would have to be 256 wide.

[Funk]

Is it here yet?

[John Mora]

September, *****!

[RPGD]

Yes, very September!

[Funk]

Yes, I know the release date, but I'm still feeling impatient, and I'm usually VERY patient. :(

Oh well, more time to think things out before I dive into it, I suppose. :)

[Funk]

Hey, I hate to double post, but did anyone check out the demo video at the English RMXP site? It's complete with ROCK MUSIC and SHOUTING! Every American should love the demo video! Seriously, it is very cool, though, and shows a wide variety of ways that RMXP can be used. It looks like this is going to be well worth the $60. Check it out, even if only for an R2-D2 with legs(trust me, you need to see it to believe it)!

[Pandacon]

I love how the guy has a good american accent but you can tell he's japanese because of his l's and r's, and he mispronounces made for mad, its funny.

[Ryner]

Wow, that video is really, really bad.

[Dreamknight]

Yeah, when R2PO showed up....

wow.

[Dreamknight]

Whoa wait....60 dollars?

[Valkysas]

yeah, 60. that was revealed just two days after the initial announcement.

[Biggie]

I saw the video demo, I want this F'n game! Did you see the game with the real time cbs? Man this looks so awesome!

[The Toecutter]

I'd be willing to pay $160 for it, let alone $60. There aren't many choices that can match the versatility of this software for 2-D RPG creation, but this choice is easier to use than most any other. There are some freeware kits like RPG Toolkit and Sphere, but they are buggy and take a lot of time to learn. 500 hours of Sphere will net you a very basic game, most of that time spent learning the Java language.

[Dreamknight]

I know...I know....

I guess the eq2 expansion can wait.

[Funk]

Yeah, why engage in many pointless hours when you can instead engage in many productive hours? I plan on using my game as on my résumé someday.

[Dungeon Warden]

RPG Maker XP is now avaible to download!

Go here (http://www.download.com/RPG-Maker-XP/3000-7537_4-10437118.html?tag=lst-2-1) to get the free 30 day trial version and pay $60 to unlock the full version.

[Jeroak Nelave]

He's right, i went to it myself(without using the link he posted to check and see how easy it is to find), and it is there, available for download!

Doing it now!

[Dreamknight]

Got it working.

I have no idea what to do! :thumbs

[Funk]

OMG...

Getting this thing on an offline computer = PAIN IN THE ASS.

I had to bring the tower down, get it hooked up, get the Internet connection to work on that computer, get the program started, enter the serial number, get an activation code, and enter the activation code.

But it worked, and I can now use RMXP in the sanctity of my room upstairs. :)

Lord of the Shoes will be born tonight...I think. Tomorrow, I have to resist the temptation to call in sick to work.

[IRC]

****, I have a test I'm studying for tonight. BREAK TIME!

[tjoris9]

Download in progress. :D

I think it's time I started work on Unlikely Heroes. Then there's a game I want to do with the default data. Decisions, decisions...

[tjoris9]

I just tried playing an app I made with the hack, see the font difference myself. It looks like you have to actually do something with the program in the legal version to even get the thing to play stuff made with the illegal version (It will play... For about 10 seconds, then it closes the window). Thus, even without the difference in font, you should be able to spot something made w/ the illegal version easily.

I think all you have to do is open the file in RPGM mode and save.

I may be wrong, but it seems that's all it takes.

Unfortunately, it may also mean that those few with the Japanese version will have to own the U.S. version in order to make games playable on the U.S. version. Either that, or make your code available to be saved as a U.S. file.