RPG Maker VX on Ubuntu (Test)

Introduction

RPG Maker XP and VX are designed to run on the Windows platform, so trying to get it to work on Ubuntu (fast becoming my preferred OS) is tricky and fickle. While it's easy enough to install in Windows, installing in Ubuntu can be a somewhat lengthy process. Furthermore, there are still some incompatibility issues to deal with, such as DirectX, sound issues and the RTP, and even with that there are no guarantees that it'll work for a particular system, if at all.

Note: This only applies to RMVX, as I couldn't get RMXP to run at all.

Installation

Caveat: Follow the instructions EXACTLY! Don't skip a step, as this may lead to instability. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, then don't. You do this at your own risk. I'm not held accountable for anything that might compromise your system. It's the procedure that I took (after prolonged study and experimentation) to get RMVX functional.

I'll assume that most Linux/Ubuntu users are confident enough with the system, so I'll go straight into the installation process:

1. Install Wine,
2. Install DirectX,
3. Install Timidity, and
4. Install RMVX.

Install Wine

Note that Wine is not an emulator, it's an open-source project that allows you to run software designed for Windows on other operating systems (such as Linux and Mac OS). It's worth visiting the Wine website to read up on it.

First, go to the Wine Download page and follow the instructions there or open up a Terminal window (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal) and type:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install wine

This will install the latest version of Wine and it'll be ready to use. Now, you can install and run many of your favorite Windows games and applications through Wine, just like you would normally. (There should be a shortcut in Applications; if there isn't, rebooting should do the trick or continue using the Terminal.)

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RPG Maker VX Ace Announced

A new RPG Maker is scheduled for release, entitled VX Ace, boasting new features and customizability. I'm in favour of a new one, especially after RMVX's "failure", but in truth I'm a little more sceptical about it. The major problem I have with RMVX is the tileset limitation, although by the sounds of it that won't be a problem any more.

Here's the English promo video, uploaded on the 10th of this month. (Since I've been offline, therefore out of touch, I've only just played catchup!)



From what I can gather it's basically RMVX with a lot more features (including some of the omitted ones), including character customization and "finishing" moves for battles, as well as an upgraded RGSS (RGSS3).

I'll be posting more about RMVXA a bit later. But, trust me, I'll be watching this one very closely!

Finally Back Online

I finally got the Internet back, but have been busy specifically with coursework as well as volunteering at CHAD.

I'm currently using Ubuntu and warming up to it rapidly. I used a much earlier version while in Canada but, back then, it was a little less user-friendly. My computer's actually dual-booting Ubuntu/Windows XP, but the major problem is lack of memory (mine as well as the computer's) and, while RPG Maker XP/VX does run it doesn't run very well. When I built the computer I thought it had at least 500Mb of RAM, but instead it only has 256Mb. So the result is, well, slow! A snail on a cold day runs faster! Anyway, I'll be upgrading the RAM (hopefully) to at least a Gig.

I tried running RMVX on Ubuntu (under Wine) with very limited results. It can be done, but, unfortunately, there's more against this method than for. I'll write up a report in a future entry.

In the meantime, I'll be looking into updating the navigation menu, as well as working on a few tutorials soon, possibly a few scriptlets (I don't know yet), as well as researching some of the other RPG Makers, so RPG Maker Times can get back on track.

Counting Down The Days

I'm now counting down the days when I will (if all goes well) be reconnected in my new apartment. D-Day is around the 8th or 9th of November.

Dungeon Craft

While I've been offline, I've been experimenting with Dungeon Craft, which is an RPG Maker intended to mimic SSI's Forgotten Realms Unlimited Adventures (FRUA). Once I'm familiarised enough with it, I'll start placing tutorials on RPG Maker Times as well.

Dungeon Crafter III

Another useful piece of software I've found is the flavoursome Dungeon Crafter III (not to be confused with the above one). This is a map (dungeon) creator, with some stunning graphics available and multi-layers for the maps for tabletop RPG games. Do people still play those any more? I've not had a chance to experiment fully with this, but from what I can see so far, it's quite useful for those dungeon romps that predominated almost every tabletop RPG game. Unfortunately, the forum and members area appear to be down; I'm not sure if this is permanent or temporary, but you can still download DCIII for free.

Fighting Fantasy

I've also rediscovered some of my old gamebooks, including the highly successful Fighting Fantasy, which is still going strong after all these years, after almost three decades! Truly spectacular. I had so much fun with these (and other gamebooks). At one point I had over 150 of them! I don't know whether to include them on here or not, since they're not actually RPG Makers, but I think they deserve a mention anyway. Perhaps another poll might be in order! ^__^

Poll Results

I've closed the poll results in favour of another one. To the question Would you be interested in reading a sample of the Ars Mechanicum: Genesis novel?, 62.5% said "Yes", 12.5% said "No" and 25% are "Not Bothered", so the majority would like to see a sample. I'll prepare something for late November/early December if I can.

That's it for another entry. I should have something more concrete in about two weeks.

No Updates For A While

As the title says, there won't be updates for a while. It's not out of choice, it's just that I'm relocating and won't have easy access to a computer. These past few months in particular have been stressful - coursework, apartment-hunting, seasonal flu, and a plethora of other things to preoccupy my time - but once I've settled into my new apartment I'm sure that things will return to "normal".

In the meantime, while waiting for the internet, I'll be writing a lot of short stories, articles and tutorials. And will also be continuing with the Ars Mechanicum novel as well.

Bear with me through this "transition". Once I can get going again, there'll be more regular updates than previously (everything's going to start settling down again, I'm sure!).

RPG Maker Times Facebook and Other Updates

RPG Maker Times on Facebook

RPG Maker Times now has its own page on Facebook Page. This is primarily part of the expansion planned for 2012, where there will be regular features and competitions. In the new year, RPG Maker Times will include some of the other RPG Makers as well as MMORPGs, editors and creators. The "official" Facebook page is where these particular updates will regularly go.

RPG Maker Newsletter Launch

The RPG Maker Times Newsletter was launched today and the very first edition was sent to subscribers. Click here to subscribe. You can unsubscribe at any time. Don't worry I'm not going to spam your emails - I absolutely detest the idiots that think sending spam is cool - and will only send the newsletter to you (quite irregularly as it happens).

Beautiful Airship Sequence - RMXP

I'd forgotten how bloody nightmarish moving can be! Been going around in circles for what seems like an eternity, and I admit I got a little too overwhelmed, hence the lack of updates.

Anyway, I happened across this on my Twitter account and thought it was so cool I just had to share it.

Ars Mechanicum Novel Update

Progress on the novel is going at full steam, but progress on the game is virtually at a stop. I'd like to get at least the first novel written before developing the game further, since the two will be a natural progression of one another and will tie up some loose ends.

In the beginning, when I first started writing the novella, it was meant to be a tie-in with the game anyway, with the game literally starting right where the story left off, but as the plot developed it became increasingly more complex. It was apparent that some additional background into the storyline was needed because without it, there were more questions than answers, even with the information being released in the game. So the starting point for the novella was a brief introduction to the characters and how they came to be at the tavern at the very beginning of the game.

As the novella developed, however, it started expanding rapidly. Further plot and story ideas gushed out, new characters and their histories entered into the picture, and the mythos behind the novella was further elaborated upon.

Thus, the novella has developed into a full novel. Depending on how the story evolves, it may become a trilogy. The working titles for the Ars Mechanicum trilogy would be:

Edit: 3 Sep, 2011

• Genesis Legacy - Where it all begins. The prequel to the game.
• Legacy Genesis - The after-shocks of Genesis. The game is loosely based on this one.
• Endgame - The culmination of events and loose ends tie-up.

There is no fixed release date on Genesis, as I'm still writing it. It's about a quarter of the way completed, so we'll probably be looking at sometime next year before anything concrete happens.

That said, I may be releasing a sample chapter earlier than that, depending on the results from RPG Maker Times. If interested in viewing the sample chapter, make your vote count (no closing date yet).

RPG Maker Web RMVX Tutorials

In case you're not aware already - and you should be - the "official" RPG Maker makers are on Facebook or Twitter. I would highly recommend following them there if you have accounts at one or both of these places, as you'll get first dibs on their newest products and add-ons, such as the "critically acclaimed" Samurai add-on pack.

Anyway, I digress. They've been creating a comprehensive list of very useful tutorials for RMVX on their official site, RPG Maker Web (link leads directly to the tutorials page).

So far they have 18 tutorials. I probably won't update this as they'll be "be continuing this series with a new tutorial every Friday". Note: None in the list are linked; this'll just give you a better idea on what tutorials they have (on the website itself all tutorials are in PDF format, including pictures with a step-by-step guide for each).

• Level 1 - Creating a Story Line
• Step 1: Creating a Story Line.
• Level 2 - Drawing Maps
• Step 2: Setting Up a New Project.
• Step 3: Preparing to Draw Maps.
• Step 4: Drawing Maps.
• Step 5: Testing Maps.
• Level 3 - Creating a Castle
• Step 6: Creating the Good King's Castle.
• Step 7: Using Quick Event Creation (Transfer).
• Level 4 - Talking with the King
• Step 8: Talking with the King.
• Step 9: Organize Events with Switches.
• Step 10: Enhancing Events with Event Page.
• Level 5 - Creating a Main Character
• Step 11: Creating an Original Main Character.
• Step 12: Bringing your Initial Party Together.
• Level 6 - Creating a Village
• Step 13: Creating Minato Port.
• Step 14: Using the Map Tree.
• Step 15: Creating Doors with Quick Events.
• Level 7 - Creating Shops
• Step 16: Creating Villagers.
• Step 17: Creating the Inn.
• Step 18: Creating the Weapon Shop.
• Step 19: Creating the Item Shop.
• Level 8 - Recruiting a Team
• Step 20: Creating Villagers.
• Step 21: Recruiting Teammates.
• Level 9 - Getting a Boat
• Step 22: Considering the Flow of Events.
• Step 23: Linking the Boat Event.
• Level 10 - Creating a Dungeon
• Step 24: Using the Terrain to Guide Player Movement
• Step 25: Using the Generate Dungeon Function.
• Level 11 - Placing Treasure Chests
• Step 26: Quick Event Creation - Treasure Chest
• Step 27: Understanding Self Switches
• Level 12 - Creating a Locked Door
• Step 28: Preparing the Locked Door
• Step 29: Creating the Locked Door Event
• Step 30: Placing a Key in a Treasure Chest
• Level 13 - Creating Yes/No Player Options
• Step 31: Constructing the Airship Event
• Step 32: Creating a Yes/No Player Option
• Level 14 - Creating a Dungeon 2
• Step 33: Planning the Lair
• Step 34: Drawing the Dungeon Map
• Step 35: Setting Traps
• Level 15 - Creating a Puzzle
• Step 36: Outlining the Puzzle
• Step 37: Using Variables
• Level 16 - Useful Functions to Remember
• Step 38: Playtest Functions
• Step 39: Using Control Characters
• Level 17 - Creating a Puzzle Part 2
• Step 40: Outlining the Puzzle Part 2
• Step 41: Variables in Use
• Level 18 - Creating Monsters
• Step 42: Monster Settings (Parameter Curve)
• Step 43: Monster Settings (Actions Patterns)

Resource Sites for RPG Maker

I've been using RPG Maker for awhile, as regular visitors will know, so it would be inevitable that I'd have some graphical resource sites at hand. In fact, my collection of bookmarks is huge! Sadly, however, some of the sites have faded into obscurity. These are some of the best resource sites that I know of, and I'll be adding more some time as well.

• Etorie Material (RMXP/VX) - A Japanese resource site with the slant on anime. All resources here are good quality. Windowskins are for RMXP for the most part. — English version (Google Translated)
• Mutation Genes Similation T.D. Lab (RM2K3/XP/VX) - A Japanese site with some stunning graphics for all RPG Maker platforms, from Title/Game Over screens to transitions to message backgrounds. — English version (Google Translated)
• Neo RTP (RMVX) - This Japanese site has very few resources on it, but it's mentioned because it's the only one I know of with "school" themed resources, from characters to windowskins.
• Onirology (RPG-Maker) (RM2K3/XP/VX) - A French site with a few resources, but they are quite good, including Windowskins. The site does not appear to have been updated for a while.
• Zanyzora's RMXP Resources RMXP - Contains a comparatively small amount of resources, but good ones nevertheless. Some are matching sets and some are add-ons too, including ships. It does not appear that the site has been updated for a while.