How do you go about making your games?

[theonejanitor]

I imagine there are some super dedicated people who like have their entire story written down, and all the side quests, items, weapons, and such, and i also imagine there are some who make it up as they go.

I usually have the basic story in my head, but it ends up being altered based on what the software can/can't do. I usually have all of my items and weapons and armors (though, in my latest game, i think i'm just going to do away with armor lol) laid out. i almost never create side quests until I'm already making the game. in RPGM1, i wrote down all my switches and what they did, but RPGM3 has so many available Variables to be modified, its almost impossible to mess up by using the same one twice.

and then at the end, i try my best to use up whatever space i have left if any.

[MagusMartovich]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

It seems to me like you answered your own question there a bit.

I think that depending on which RM you're using the actions you take can differ. LIke you said, with so many variables, RM3 is quite hard to make a mistake in, yet with RM1 you have to be more careful (maybe writing them all down like I do). I ALWAYS start with at least the basic plot in my head (usually for about a week) and then hit the characters, second the useable items (restorative etc.), third I go through all the equipment, fourth comes magic, fifth I usually make the maps and dungeons and then I finish up by creating the critters that pester "our nobel heroes" throughout the world.

I'm not saying either that after I "finish" something I never go back to it either. I think that's the best order for my creative process to work. (On "real" RPGs there are team of people working on each section seperatly and at least one more team working to make sure everything fits nicely with what the other teams are doing. Doing it all by yourself is a little different, but at least you don't need to program it all by a deadling, right?)

[DYRE]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

But... a lot of people never finish anything if they don't have a "deadling." Heheh, typo.

[MagusMartovich]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

Look, I can't spell and I never said "finish" when talking about being done with the RPG itself! TEchnically, I've never finished any RPGs because I keep thinking of things that would make the old ones better and I have to go load 'em up and add stuff. AH, the beauty of not selling a published piece!

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

When it comes to RPGs, I usually come up with the story first, as I feel it's the most important part. Even if it's a throwback to the olden days of NES RPGs with relatively simple quests, I need to know the quest in order to know what places to make.

And then I make it. Simple. I create the maps and events as I go along, and create the bosses (regular enemies only sometimes). I save item creation and battle balancing for last. I may usually create a list of items and basic spells, but for the most part they're useless until I start adding actual challenge to the battles.

If there's some sort of gimmick to my game, I'll make the story revolve around that somehow.

[DYRE]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

For me, it's about the same as Draygone, though I usually save the enemies until I'm done with the area that they'll be in.

EDIT: Vich, I was joking!

[Rodak]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

I use Zen Meditation.

And Beer!

[Dark Sentry]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

I build as I go, but with a little pre-planning. I pick a few portraits of characters and ask myself what kind of story they would be involved in. This gives me the general idea of how the game will flow. The first phase of building a game for me is to do everything required for the core of the story, then I add extra events and flesh out areas as necessary during phase two. During phase one I playtest & balance as I go, then when everything is complete, I do a final run-through to check everything again.

[tjoris9]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

Usually I work out the system on paper, but I keep most of my plot and quests in my head. Regardless of the maker, you should have some things written out on paper before you program them into the system to prevent confusion and make the work faster. It seems like the more versatile the system you're working with (RPGM2 & XP) the more you need written out on paper. Plus the more complex the game, the more you need written out.

[H2SO4]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

I always make the world I want my game to take place in long before I make the story. I sometimes have a vague idea of the story I want to make, but most of the time I just build the world with no direction or plot in my mind. The reason I do this is because I want the game to seem as though the story is built around the world rather than the world is built around my story. Thus, I end up with a lot of towns and cities that have back-stories of their own which don't neccesarily have to be connected with the main story.

[Perversion]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

Damn...I wish I still drank. That looks really good!

[Rodak]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

Damn...I wish I still drank. That looks really good!

Finest Ale In The World!!!

Lindemans Cassis Lambic.

It's Purple!!

There is a Beer Hunt in The Clean Underwear Quest!

Find the Ancient Thread and read the story!

It is VERY Silly.

[Wolfwood]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

i typically think of the best RPGs i've ever played in my life and piece together certain stand out aspects of the game. be it confusing puzzles, character growth, or whatever. this is not what develops though. the look and feel of the maker i'm using ultimately determines such aspects as seriousness level and ultimately the story.

[Chronicle Games]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

i usually start with an idea. the idea could be anything from a plot device to a plot twist, or a theme or anything like that. from there i usually work that idea into a skeleton of a story, then i think "who would be involved in this?"

then i go to my "character vault" where i keep all my made up characters that haven't yet been used (or make some new ones if needed) and decide which ones fit my basic story elements. the next question is "how would each character be involved?" and proceed to tie each character into either the current story or some historical events that lead up to the story. once the story is fleshed out, then i make the world.

when i build with the maker i usually go from beginning to end, and make the game in the order the player would experience it. when the player gets to a dungeon, i make the dungeon (as opposed to making all my dungeons beforehand). the items, magic, enemies, and environments are also made as i go.

then, once everything's the way i want it i go back through a few times to "clean up" and then give it a final test play (or two, depending on replayability and testing all possible quest branches and variations) and then upload it.

so, yeah.


-chronicle games

[KennyKen]

Re: How do you go about making your games?

If your serious about making a good game that others with find enjoyable, I think the more pre-planning the better. It helps you keep your focus over the long creation process. Having said that, everyone is different, so just creating spontaneously may work for you, I, personally, just can't keep all the minute details from getting mixed up inside my head. I like to have a solid core, then, I can use my creativity for additional ideas, instead of being bogged down by trying to think what the heck happens next.

If you just want to have fun, well, have fun. That fun may come through to the player in the end, but it might not.