Stupid, stupid RPG Maker...

[Kinoko]

I'm bringing this question here only because I know you people are SANE and because I know a lot of you also play RPGs and whatnot.

There's an independant RPG that seems to be regarded as one of the best out there called Ara Fell. I downloaded this and upon attempting to play it, realised you need to have the program it was made with (RPG Maker 2003) to play it. Okay, whatever, it's a pain in the ass but what the hey. So I have RM2k3 installed, try to play the game, it still doesn't work.

I'm told by people that I have the wrong RTP file, I'm told by others I need to rename some files here and there, I'm told by others I need to rename so many files it's not worth it and I should get a whole new folder by someone/thing called RPG Advocate... does anyone here have any clue as to what's going on? I HATE this program. I HATE it with a passion I cannot describe. Why do people make games with such a stupid freaking program and why do people play them when there's SO much ****ing around you have to do beforehand.

Is it just me?? This is driving me insane. I feel like when I release my game in the one exe file people won't know what to do with it because it'll be too simple for them.

EDIT: Nope, nope, forget it. I've had my fill of this piece of crap program. I just delted all the RPG Maker games I had and the stupid, stupid RTP files and I'm never, EVER trying to use it again. It just baffles me that anyone would want to use a program like that.

I guess as testament to how crap that program is, you just need to look at the games people make with it and the culture that surrounds it. I swear, if I ever met anyone who made a game with all their own graphics and sounds and programming, I'd turn into a penguin. That whole RPGM culture is stupid, all praising each other for making a pretty looking demo made up of ripped graphics and pre-made chipsets. 75% of the games are Pokemon or Final Fantasy rip offs. ARGH!!!

Is it that they're lazy or it just doesn't occur to them to actually make their own game with their own material? I don't know... I've had it. I've reached the end of my patience.

I LOVE AGS like a thousand and one kittens made out of chocolate flavoured gold. Don't stray people, because it's a scary, crappy, unprofessional world out there.

[Barbarian]

*Looks admireringly at Kinoko*  You know it...
Yeah, I dabbled a little bit with RPG maker (as well as a few other Game Making Programs), and by far, AGS and the wonderful community here is tops in my books in so many ways compared to most of those other game-making programs and communities.
I share similar sentiments that you expressed.

For a while I've been kicking around the idea to make a RPG style game using AGS (I used to be big-time into the RPG scene), so, I just make soon go ahead and do just that.

Best wishes, and keep up with you great work. I for one, am a fan of your wonderful projects.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

I once tried to dabble with Unlimited Adventures. I gave up for the same reason - so many hacks, so many versions, so many things to do before I could even PLAY the damned modules... not worth it.

[Bernie]

RPG Maker games... most of them look and play the same. It seems it can be quite hard to make specialized things in it as it requires coding, so that may be the reason. I'm sure good games made can be made with it, but the trouble surrounding getting them to run annoys a lot of people (including me).

Compared to AGS, RPG Maker isn't really all that much. There are much better and more flexible game makers out there and AGS is one of them.

Another interesting thing is that RPG Maker 2000/2003 is a commercial product in its original (japanese) form...

[jetxl]

RPG Maker came out on the PSX.

[LGM]

Yea. It was fun on the PSX.. But the computer version blows.

[Helm]

that engine assumes to much about how an rpg is supposed to be made, and changing any of the fundamental aspects requires too much code. If one is up to it, why not go with the IKA lib and C or something. RPGMaker is really badly designed, if you hope to wrestle an innovative, challenging amateur rpg out of it.

[Dave Gilbert]

I've played a few of these RPG Maker games, and I remember having a bit of trouble sorting out where everything goes.  It ended up not being that complicated if I remember correctly, but I remember having to figure it all out myself.  What's annoying is there are no instructions on what to do or the extra files you need - and then it's hard to actually FIND the damn files you need.

Never heard of Ara Fell though.  One of the games that I DID like was "Blurred Line".  Despite all the ripped graphics, it had a such a great story that I was willing to overlook that stuff. 

[storycatchermike]

Yeah, you're right. RPG Maker is annoying to run, but I've had good experience with it. My first game came out on it. I'm thinking about transferring it over to AGS, supposing I could get the help I need. I have noticed that many try to make Zelda games on RPG Maker, and my reaction, after 5 months of experience with it, is "Yeah, but are there any puzzles? What about switches? What about pulling statues? What about pictures for the inventory items? What about using the inventory items?" and much more. I have decided that AGS can probably make a good Zelda game, if one tried hard at it. So, I started to try, but I stopped, because I couldn't figure out how to do it. I know, though, that RPG Maker will NEVER make a good Zelda game.

Also, I do like RPG Maker, but in my experiences with it, I have decided the following: RPG Maker CANNOT make voice games. RPG Maker CANNOT make long and fun games. RPG Maker CANNOT make hybrids (like Zelda and Quest for Glory) and RPG Maker CANNOT make good RPGs, unless one is looking for an amateur-like game. Although, I do have one RPG Maker game, it is only a free version. When I get better at AGS, I will probably make the game again, but next time, it will not be with RPG Maker.

[Kinoko]

I would VERY much like to see your Zelda game made in AGS ^_^ Hope you pick that up again someday.

[Nine Toes]

Yea. It was fun on the PSX.. But the computer version blows.

What are you talking about?Ã,  The PSX version sucked dirty diapers too.

If it makes you feel any better, Kinoko, you kind of inspired me to make an RPG with AGS... sorry, not anything near Zelda.

[Kinoko]

Oh hell, it's all good! ^_^ Let's ALL start making RPGs!

[scourge]

sorry for bumping this old thread, i also saw a similar one by kinoko talking about rpg makers

i am a great JRPG fan like those old snes and early playstation games , Lufia, Chrono Trigger, seiken densetsu 3, secret of mana, zelda, ff, etc.

Of course the best ever is Suikoden and if you haven't played this and you're a fan of the genre, you must play it. (that is Suikoden 1 and 2)

the reason for my post. I have been working for quite a while (mostly planning and system design) for a RPG engine similar in style to AGS. It will not be a an RPG maker as i find them usually not very strong (and not even free). I will create this engine as complete freeware and embed it with functionality to make any RPG game possible.

It will have a script engine similar like AGS (its very much AGS inspired) and a different sort of GUI system. However the room structure will differ slightly.

It will solely be an RPG engine (more tile-based), but because of its design it should be relatively easy to design adventure, platformers, brawlers etc on it as well. Its functionality will be vast and anything you have ever seen in RPGs WILL be covered in it, for example switching between battle systems will be a small button (that is between realtime fighting (secret of mana), turn-based (lufia) and active timer (chrono trigger). For now its very much still in production.

Anyways its merely a starting project now, but once done, hopefully it will also have its own community etc.

Of course i'm halting it for the moment since i'm first creating an AGS game myselfÃ, 

OH, what would you guys like to see in an RPG engine like AGS? What is the musts and the don'ts?

[magintz]

I just hated the program, i tried to make an rpg, but the switch system is just more complicated than it has to be for something so simple.

As for the games, they are almost all the same... I'd rather use AGS to make an RPG any day.

[Pet Terry]

Anyone remember Amaranth (the maker of Gaea Fallen)? Some time ago I happened to stumble upon her website. She has made quite a neat RPG called Ahriman's Prophecy which is similar to old Snes RPGs. Have a look: http://www.amaranthia.com/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=8

She has used an engine called RPG Tsukuru (I think), I haven't heard about it before, but it certainly doesn't sound bad, Ahriman's Prophecy proves that.

[esper]

I used to use the official hamster republic role playing game creation engine (ohrrpgce). It's DOS based, but it's pretty good, fully customizable, and it's easier just to make your own sprite- and tilesets than try to find a compatible one and import it. That was back in the day, though. I decided to make horror games instead of fantasy games.

[Ubel]

I remember Ahriman's Prophecy. I downloaded it a few months ago and still have it installed on my computer. Gonna have to play it through some day.

The engine sounds fine, but I'd still be with magintz about rather using AGS for RPG making. I don't like those RPG makers.

[Afflict]

Hey it might be stupid but, its got its good point..

*Really nice tile sets.

Man that was kewl I loved the graphics you got with the engine.
And I think there was sound too.

[scourge]

i'm checking out that game from the girl. Looks excellent!

[SpacePirateCaine]

She has used an engine called RPG Tsukuru (I think), I haven't heard about it before, but it certainly doesn't sound bad

Heh, RPG Tsukuuru is the japanese name for RPG maker, actually - though she may well have been using a more up to date, commercial version of the program. I saw a copy of it for the PS2 the other day when I was game-shopping. Thought about picking it up for a moment, then slapped myself mentally for even thinking about it. I can barely divide my time between the projects I'm working on in AGS, much less mess around with a new one that only I'd be able to play anyway.

I'm definitely all about AGS. Hell, with all of the extra game types being built with it, like platformers and RPGs, AGS is almost seeming like a misnomer or understatement.