RPG Maker

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RPG Maker (RPGツクール [tsukūru, commonly tukuru, also tkool]) is a series of tools for the development of computer role-playing games (RPGs) created by the Japanese group ASCII, part of the Enterbrain company. The Japanese title "Tsukūru"(ツクール) is a pun mixing the Japanese words "tsukuru"(作る), which means "make" or "create," and "tsūru" (ツール), which is the Japanese pronunciation of the English word "school."

Most of the series has only been released in Japan, with some of the later versions made into Hong Kong and Taiwan. The RPG Maker series, by order of Enterbrain, is illegal in other translations.

Contents

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The program

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PC versions

Image:Rtpexample.png RPG Maker allows people to make their own role playing games. Using a relatively simple form of scripting events, using tile sets (called chipsets) and setting switches and variables, even people with little to no programming experience can make relatively complex games.

RPG Maker 2000 was released by Enterbrain and ASCII, and soon illegally translated by Don Miguel, who also took part in the retranslation of RPG Maker 95 after the translation group KanjiHack broke up. Rm2k is a member of the same line of RPG Makers, including RPG Dante, RPG Dante 2, RPG Tsukuru 95, RPG Tsukuru 2000, RPG Tsukuru 2003, and RPG Tsukuru XP. Rm2k offers a simple and easy editing technique using point and click options. In North America and Europe, by 2001, many people had discovered and been using the illegal translation by Don Miguel. In 2002, Don Miguel was given a warning by Enterbrain, and discontinued all work on RPG Maker 2000 and removed all links to any translated software. He urged the community to stop using his translation, and buy the actual Japanese version of RPG Maker 2000. But, due to the popularity of the program and with a lack of an official translation, his voice was never acknowledged. The RPG Maker community in North America and Europe continued to use the illegally hacked versions of RPG Maker 2000, and later RPG Maker XP, until an official and legal version was released by Enterbrain on September 16th, 2005. It is offered on various websites which are accessible from Enterbrain's Official Website.

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Console versions

RPG Maker 3 for PlayStation 2 is the most recent addition to the series as of April 2006. This game is much more user-friendly than RPG Maker 2, and it also features acceptable graphics compared to the "blocky blur" found in the second game. However, thanks to the new simplistic interface, players are much more limited in what they can create. Template:Sect-stub

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Functions

Events commands can do anything from making things move to making the shade of the screen darker. There is a total of 88 usable events, some of which are:

  • Display Messages
  • Show character faces
  • Change character's equipment, skills, life, gold held, etc.
  • Start Combat
  • Change system menu skin
  • Call shops/inns
  • Move NPCs/objects on screen
  • Teleport to a pre-set destination
  • Setting background music/playing sound effects
  • Create fog/shade and various other weather effects
  • Use custom or pre-set animations
  • Ability to disable and enable menus or save menus (Big check for Custom Menu Systems)
  • Fully Customize an array of enemies, along with their skills and attacks.

There are also more advanced features that can be used to create more interesting effects:

  • Switches - Similar to variables except that can be either 'On' or 'Off'.
  • Fork Condition - Similar to the 'If' function in most programs, it executes a different set of commands dependent on the truth or falsity of some conditions.
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Advanced scripting

The generally very limited scripting environment in RPG Maker 2000 makes it difficult for the user to create gameplay mechanics that are radically different from the ones that are included by default. However, by taking what programmers would consider to be many detours Template:Ref, it's possible to create potentially more interesting systems. Most advanced programming is harder to do in pre-XP versions of the software because they don't have RGSS scripting, and thus programming can only be done by using the relatively limited event editor. RPG Maker XP allows the battle engine itself to be rewritten completely.

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Battle System

A customized battle system (usually abbreviated CBS) is an RPG battle system in ASCII/Enterbrain's RPG Maker 95, 2000, 2003, or XP that either involves heavily editing the default battle system, or creating a completely new battle system using the game maker's scripting capabilities.

Makers of custom battle systems are criticized for making their games needlessly difficult to play due to their systems not working as well as they should; many argue that making such a system takes so much time that it needlessly delays the production of a game without adding much to the gameplay experience.

A popular custom battle system that is often times looked down upon for this reason, is The Action/Adventure/Active Battle System. (ABS) This style of combat gets away from the tradtional turn-base default battle system, by allowing the battles to play out in real time, much like that of the Legend of Zelda series, and other various commercial games. This type of battle system is substancially difficult to code, and therefore, few people have been able to pull it off effectively. It is often critisized in the RPG Maker community, because of failure of presentation, and because of lack of attacking variety.

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Menu System

A customized menu system, or CMS is a menu used in ASCII/Enterbrain's RPG Maker 95, 2000, 2003, or XP. The system has two variants - a "Semi-Custom Menu System," which is a CMS that usually has an option that brings the player to the default menu system, and a regular CMS which usually shows no trace of the default menu system at all. CMSs are harder to implement in RPG Maker 95, 2000, and 2003 because of the lack of a real coding feature. Like custom battle systems, the default menu system in RPG Maker XP can be rewritten completely.

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Illegally Pirated Graphics and Music

Unlike console RPG Maker games or games produced with other game-making tools, an overwhelming majority of RPG Maker games made with the PC versions of the program (2000 and 2003 in particular) contain graphics and/or music that are "ripped," or pirated illegally and without permission from their respective authors and copyright holders. Furthermore, a similar majority of such games fail to credit the original authors in any way, shape, or form. Such games include all "noteworthy" PC RPG Maker titles listed on this site, including A Blurred Line, Legion Saga, Laxius Power, Legend of the Philosopher's Stone, and The Way (though the act is significantly less frequently in the Way). This is another reason why it is illegal for RPG Maker games to be sold.

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Timeline

TitleSystemReleaseDeveloperPublisher
PlaceDate
MamirinPC-8801Japan1988ASCII
Dungeon ManjirouMSX 2Japan1988ASCII
RPG Construction Tool : DanteMSX 2JapanFeb. 8, 1990ASCII
Dante 2MSX 2JapanFeb. 8, 1992ASCII
Chimes QuestPC-9801Japan1992ASCII
RPG Tsukūru Dante 98PC-9801JapanDec. 19, 1992ASCII
Dungeon RPG Tsukūru Dan-Dan DungeonPC-9801JapanApr. 28, 1994ASCII
RPG Tsukūru Super DanteSuper FamicomJapanMar. 31, 1995ASCII
RPG Tsukūru Dante 98 IIPC-9801JapanJul. 14, 1996ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 2Super FamicomJapanJan. 31, 1996ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 95WindowsJapanMar. 28, 1997ASCII
Simulation RPG TsukūruSega Saturn, PlayStationJapanSep. 17, 1998ASCII
Enterbrain Collection : Simulation RPG TsukūruPlayStationJapanNov. 29, 2001Enterbrain
Simulation RPG TsukūruWindowsJapanMay. 29, 1998ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 3PlayStationJapanNov. 27, 1997ASCII
PlayStation the Best : RPG Tsukūru 3Nov. 19, 1998ASCII
RPG MakerUSASep. 18, 2000Agetec
RPG Tsukūru GBGame Boy ColorJapanMar. 17, 2000ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 2000WindowsJapanApr. 5, 2000ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 4PlayStationJapanDec. 7, 2000Enterbrain
Uchujin Tanaka Tarou De RPG Tsukūru GB 2Game Boy ColorJapanJul. 20, 2001Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru 5PlayStation 2JapanAug. 8, 2002Enterbrain
RPG Maker 2USAOct. 28, 2003Agetec
RPG Tsukūru 2003WindowsJapanDec. 18, 2002Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru αWindows/CellphoneJapanDec. 18, 2002Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru AdvanceGame Boy AdvanceJapanApr. 25, 2003Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru XPWindowsJapanJul. 22, 2004Enterbrain
RPG Maker XPWorldwideSept. 16, 2005Enterbrain
RPG TsukūruPlayStation 2JapanDec. 16, 2004Enterbrain
RPG Maker 3USASept. 21, 2005AGETEC

Two more RPG Makers are currently in translation from Japanese to English. Exact dates are not known. Tactical RPG Editor will allow users to create games similar to Final Fantasy Tactics. 3D RPG Editor will allow users to create 3D environments, probably much like those on DS RPGs such as Lunar: Genesis (Dragon Song).

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Noteworthy games made with console RPG Makers

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Dark Illusions

Dark Illusions is an RPG Maker (Playstation/PS) game created by “Vonwert” and was released in April 2003.

Having taken time to reflect on himself in the woods, a young man named Lex finds himself in the midst of a fierce storm and loses consciousness. He awakens inside of a huge mansion occupied by various guests after being cared for by the mysterious and beautiful Mistress, who treats him well. However, Lex comes to know that things are not always what they appear to be. He, nor any of the guests in the mansion, can leave the mansion grounds and many strange and supernatural occurrences are happening everywhere. The only way he can leave is to solve the mysteries...

The lengthy, detailed plot of horror and mystery and adventure-like gameplay are key notable features in this game.

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Fu-Fu The Acid Trip Bunny

Fu-Fu The Acid Trip Bunny is an RPG Maker (Playstation/PS) game created by Dave Carter and was released in August 2001.

San Francisco, 1967: Three friends are ready to party hard, as it's the last day of school. One of them has a vial of acid on him. Just when they're about to drop, the coach catches them. They bail as fast as they can and dispose of the drug in the science class rabbit's water bottle. When an earthquake hits, breaking the bottle, the poor rabbit is drenched in the water and goes on an acid trip. During the trip, the rabbit meets a godlike creature who declares that he will return him to normal if he finds the keys of each world. The creature then turns the regular, white rabbit into a yellow, anthropomorphic rabbit named Fu-Fu. Fu-Fu The Acid Trip Bunny is born.

This game was the absolute first platforming game created for RPG Maker (PS). The game consists of 3 worlds, each with a varying amount of levels and secrets including cameos by the creator himself.

A notable feature of the game is the amount of custom artwork in the game. Dave Carter used this to depict various movements (such as jumping and swimming) and emotions of Fu-Fu, as well as custom enemies. Because of the limited amount of custom sprite slots in RPG Maker (9 character slots), the amount of unique movements was a technical achievement.

Another notable feature is the actual jumping system created. Since RPG Maker (PS) was created primarily for RPGs, any other kind of play types must be created from scratch using the existing system. Carter combined character movement controls with custom art to create the jumping seen in the game.

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Remote Control

Remote Control is an RPG Maker (Playstation/PS) game created by “Alzar” and was released in December 2000.

In the small town of Aloha, Oregon, one peaceful Saturday morning, everything was going great. The Aloha Hardware Store has picked up some new TVs, and unknown to the residents of the town, they're going to flip some people upside-down. It all happens once a weird purple man drops his remote control in the store. From there, a group of teens get sucked into their favorite TV shows.

Remote Control is very notable, since it was the winner of Electronic Gaming Monthly's RPG Maker contest. The game also features an arcade full of minigames, which at that point, had never been done before on RPG Maker (PS). One of the minigames was a take on Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution entitled “Go Go Super Mega Happy Smile Dance Dance”.

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Noteworthy games made with RPG Maker 2000

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A Blurred Line

A Blurred Line is a RPG Maker 2000 game created by "Lysander86" and released in 2001. The game is set in the future, where a giant corporation known as 'the Agency' provides the lifeblood energy to the world through a solar semi-orbital station linked to the planet. This station is known as the Catch Colony.

The player starts in medias res, but the RPG swiftly flashes back to an epoch "One Year Ago". The protagonist of the game is Talan, a nearly destitute worker for Delcentric, a subsidiary of the mammoth Agency which exercises effective control of the world. (The world in question does not appear to be Earth.) Talan is essentially framed, seemingly by the supposed victim himself, for the apparent murder of the director of the agency, and finds himself on the run toward a society known as "Paradise". The main theme throughout the game is the blurred line between who is "good" and who is "evil." For example, at one point in the game, an Agency Captain is filled with the memories of an entire society that was destroyed by his own hands. However, once he recovers, the Captain returns to his "evil" goals. Talan's destruction of the Catch Colony by releasing its support pillars in a manner idential to Shin-ra's destruction of a Midgar Sector in Final Fantasy VII at the beginning of the game is a direct contrast to how he acts during the remainder of the story.

One of A Blurred Line's key features is its "magic" system. In most RPGs, the player acquires new spells as a matter of course, upon gaining a new level. This is not the case, at least, with Talan. Similar to Final Fantasy VIII, Talan acquires spells by first "identifying" them, then drawing them out of various enemies. Initially the spells will be lost after battle, but should Talan draw out the spells enough times in repeated battles, they become his permenantly. Moreover, Talan's android can equip weapons that determine both how many Skill Points (SP) it uses, but also the skills that it has at its disposal, much like the robot class in Final Fantasy Legend 2 for the Game Boy. Other features include a built-in database that can be accessed from the menu, alternative story paths that depend on which job Talan takes upon arrival at Paradise, and several side quests that enhance replay value.

Lysander released an updated version in early 2003, named "A Blurred Line 2.1", which added hours of gameplay, as well as graphical fixes and other additions. Two years later, however, (as of November 2005), Line's End continues to remain unreleased. Nevertheless, a teaser trailer at the end of "A Blurred Line 2.1" shows that the game is very much in progress and continues right where "A Blurred Line" left off.

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Legion Saga

Legion Saga is a game series by "Kamau" made with RPG Maker 2000 and RPG Maker 2003 game engines. Similar to the Suikoden series, the games feature army management and large-scale combat. The series currently holds a total of five games: Legion Saga, Legion Saga II, Legion Saga III, for the RPG Maker 2000 engine, and Legion Saga R (a remake of the original Legion Saga) and Curse of Silence (a side story featuring Sazaku, an assassin who appeared in the first and second installments of Legion Saga) for the RPG Maker 2003 engine. The story of the series revolves around a god named Dansa, falsely believed to be the creator of all and the keeper of peace. In reality, his might is to be used to destroy the world of Beryllusir, which is the series's setting. Only the "Legion Masters", warriors who are capable of commanding a limitless army, were able to defeat Dansa in the end. Dansa had many minions during the crusades of the Legion Masters, including Barbatta, a man who was hypnotized by the might of the Legion Sword, and the false acolytes of the Church of Dansa.

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The Way

The Way is an RPG Maker 2000 game series released in six parts, created by Luke Wacholtz of Crestfallen Studios. It contains a complex storyline and custom duelling system (known as 'The Plunge'). Several of the game areas were not created using chipsets, but rendered using the Bryce 3D Image Rendering Software, and displayed as panorama backgrounds.

The worldview of The Way is very different than ours; instead of seeing it as flat or spherical, the 'Wanderers' of the Way view their world as a single, ever-changing path. The 'Rolling Mists' supposedly swallow up wanderers who fall too far behind, and prevent others reaching too far ahead. It is unknown whether this reflects the actual nature of their world, or is a fiction designed to prevent the supposed corruption and vice that comes when people establish permanent settlements.

The Way follows the story of Rhue of Landorin, a young wanderer on a search for his lost love, Serena. He's been searching the Way for many years already as Episode One begins. Another major plot element is that of a mysterious serial killer known as 'The Phantom Slasher', that appears to be somehow connected to Rhue, often appearing near or just behind Rhue on the Way. Rhue himself may not be all that he appears; it is not known whether or not his confused memories are really his own.

Although it is unknown whether there will be further episodes, it seems unlikely as Episode Six appears to be the conclusion of the story.

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The Misao Awards

The Misao Awards are annual awards given out to many RPG Maker games at The Queen's Court each year, usually in December. The awards have been going on since 2002.

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Notes

  1. Template:Note In order to create a custom battle system in RPG Maker 2000 and 2003, one has to take many detours in order to create something that can be considered viable. For example, one usually needs to use images to draw numbers on the screen; the event editor does not allow setting the depth of such an image by a variable and limits the user to 50 images on the screen at the same time. For such a reason, people sometimes add images of numbers in the maker's sprite data, which is generally only meant and used to display sprites of characters and objects, to get around this limitation. This can reduce the amount of work a game author has to do because with this method, one doesn't need to hardcode every possible position of a number, although it also limits his ability to position and move the numbers, since they are now restricted to the same movement that character sprites have.
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See also

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External links

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Official sites

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Fansites

The RPG Maker series has acquired a large following on the Internet. Many active online communities make it simple to get into using the program. This is a list of the largest and most noteworthy sites — as such, its communities generally have a member count of around or over 5,000 members.

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