Title Screen Animation (Experiment) - RMVXA

This is an experiment using RPG Maker VX Ace trial for an animated title screen I did. If there's no saved game the "Continue" option will not show, but when a game is saved "Continue" will be shown in the menu, as demonstrated in the video.

The mouse script is Jet's Mouse System (RGSS3) using a custom made cursor. The name of the font is "SF Gushing Meadow".

Failed To Obtain nTiles Trial Serial Number

This is one of the most common problems. I had to reinstall RMVX after something became corrupted. I had the privelege of trying out the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Bluntly, I don't like it - it's way too gimicky and iOS-ey for my liking - so uninstalled it and went back to the Windows 7/XP dual boot setup I had previously. RMVX was working just fine previously, but now it's not. I had to uninstall and reinstall it, but receive the infamous "Failed to obtain serial trial number from nTiles" error.

I know all about setting permissions, running as admin and running in XP compatibility, but it still won't go past this error for me to re-enter my activiation code. It's probably the firewall blocking something, but to be honest right now I can't be bothered with resolving it.

Instead, I'll focus on RMVXA (trial because I can't afford $90, nor could I afford the $75 during preorder) and some of the other makers I've been playing with. At least until I can reinstall Windows XP and try again.

And, of course, I'm still working on the RPG Maker Times Companion website, which will be all the way complete by the end of this month. (As a result, not only of the website development but also of the nTiles error, the demo for TGP demo will also be put on hold.)

RPG Maker Times Collection Update

I'm getting ready to upload a huge update to RPG Maker Times Collection. That's partly why there haven't been updates to RPG Maker Times; I've been working feverishly on the website. Once it's all the way complete, then the time spent between the blog and the website will be reduced.

The updates will include:

• All of the scripts I've written for RMXP and RMVX (except for the MMORPG Style Status Menu, which is still being rewritten for its integration into The Gladiator Project)
• All of the tools and utilities on RPG Maker Times Companion, plus some additional ones which will also make their way onto RMT Companion. Note that some utilities, especially the ones that are hard to find or no longer available for download, are hosted on the site and can be downloaded directly.
• All of the windowskins, each one indexed and categorised. This will result in the eventual deletion of the RPG Maker Times Windowskins blog because it won't be necessary. It may still be in its current Wordpress blog format, but only if I can host it on my current provider.
• The RPG Maker Times FAQs site is also coming down, but with the FAQs placed on RMT Collection and with an opportunity for readers to ask questions about the RPG Makers. This won't be a forum - there are plenty of those already - but will be a Question & Answer type part of the website.
• The RPG Maker 2K3 Master blog will finally be taken down, since most of its posts were transferred to RPG Maker Times anyway. It had a good 2-year run, but now it's time to say goodbye to it permanently.
• Finally, RPG Maker Times IS going to have a layout change. I'm planning on going for something simpler. I was thinking something similar to the RM2K3 Master blog, with several enhancements. What do you think?

New RPG Maker Times Collection Site Live

The RPG Maker Times Collection site is now online. This is part of an ongoing expansion for RPG Maker Times and, as I mentioned previously is designed as a repository for scripts, resources and additional materials contained on this blog, placed in one convenient place. Bear in mind that the site is still under some heavy construction, but progress is being made slowly and surely.

The RMVX Scripts/Addon-Ons Compendium script is now available for download from RPG Maker Times Collection also. This is the ultra up-to-date version and contains the following scripts/scriptlets:

Battle Start Announce Image: Displays an announcer image at the start of the battle.

Critical Hit Flash Screen: Flashes the screen when a party member performs a Critical Hit.

Extra Stats Window: Displays several additional statistics, such as number of battles fought/won, number of towns visited and number of times saved.

Game Progress Window: Displays the current game progress as a percentage.

Location Window: Displays the current map location.

Parameter Equip +/- Icons: Shows icons next to parameters on the Equipment screen according to stat increase/decrease when equipment is equipped/removed.

Window_Status Parameter Options: Optional feature to display the "hidden" parameters (Hit, Evasion, Critical and Odds) in the Status Menu.

Moving Through Treacle Update

That's how I feel, like I'm moving through treacle. So many things I'd like to do, so many projects on the go, and only so much time to do them. I guess this is where those good time management skills can come out of hibernation now. Anyway, onto some updates.

001 Engine

I've been playing around with the Engine 001 for about a week now. It's pretty damn hot actually and very easy to use, although in the beginning the learning curve can be a bit steep if you're not used to it. One of the things I absolutely love about this maker is that scripting is achieved by selecting the options from a complex set of commands (a bit like the Event Commands in the RPG Makers), which is then displayed in a kind of flow chart format. I haven't even scratched the surface of its potential yet, but from what I've seen it'll be a good one to use and include on RPG Maker Times. And I guess this is where the expert guestbloggers come in handy too because, frankly, I don't know my way around 001 Engine enough yet to justify putting any kind of tutorials up.

RPG Maker Times Collection

I started some serious work on the RPG Maker Times Collection website. Regular visitors will already know that it's a repository for much of the materials on RPG Maker Times, rather than having them strewn all over the place.

At the moment, the site is still a bit messy, with broken links and a lack of real content. I'll be working on that bit by bit, so regular visitors to the site should start noticing something more concrete as time goes on.

The Gladiator Project

I've finally finished Stage One of the MMORPG Styled 3D Model Status/Equip script. Using a combination of Make Human (a program that allows you to create 3D models) and GIMP Shop, I've ended up with a much better, cleaner model than previously. In versions above 1.0, this will be fully integrated into KGC's Equip Extension script.

RPG Maker Times Cartoon Strip

As many of you will probably already know, especially if you've read the previous post about this topic, I've started creating a few random cartoons. At the moment, the main Cartoon Strip is hosted at Wordpress, but y'know, I'm just not happy with it. So today I'll be migrating it over to Blogger, which means that I may finally end up using one of the Dynamic Layouts I've been eyeing up for a while. But we'll see how it goes.

That's it for another exciting update. Stay tuned until the next one!

Guardian Spirits Summon Tests (RMVXA)

With the imminent release of RMVXA, I figured I'd check out YouTube to see what others are showcasing there. And I happened across this video, which grabbed my attention. It looks quite cool.

Ruby Tutorials in RPG Maker Videos

While browsing around YouTube a while ago, I happened across some video tutorials. They are for RMVX only, but it shouldn't be difficult to port them over to RMXP. I've actually been going through them recently and have been learning a few tricks.

The first video tutorial - "vidorial"? - addresses a commonly asked question: How to remove the Save option from the Status Menu. Simple enough to do, but there are other areas you'll need to find to completely disable it, as the video explains.

Anyway, enough preamble.

Most of the tutorials on this channel are quite informative, easy to follow, and aimed more at the beginner to intermediate programmer. I'd highly recommend viewing the videos from the beginning. Experts, however, obviously have no need. At the time of writing this post, the current tutorial is at 18.

New Companion Site & Updates

New Companion Site

RPG Maker Times will see a few changes in March. I've been working on a new website, RPG Maker Times Collection, which will become a repository for some of the main pages on the RPG Maker Times sites.

The main aim of the site is to (finally) place all of the scripts and resources (such as windowskins) all in one place, thereby reducing the need for additional blogs outside of RPG Maker Times and RPG Maker Times Companion. A single site will make it easier to update them more regularly.

The Gladiator Project

In March, I'm determined to get a demo out. Work will resume in March and I'll continue with the project in earnest. The bugbear at the moment is the body model for the MMO Style 3D Model script for the Status and Equipment screens, but I'm so close to cracking it. Incidentally, this script was first implemented on Ars Mechanicum Genesis, which was also integrated with KGC's Advanced Equip script, and which has since undergone a major overhaul.

The Extra Stats script has also been modified to integrate with the TGP system, including Reputation, Favor/Disfavor and Arena Stats. I'm also attempting on redesigning some game-specific icons for the Extra Stats mini-window on the Status Menu.

The first few maps are almost done, with only a few minor tweaks necessary. The cutscenes and event-based fillers are the only things not done. That said, the battle system has yet to be decided.

Engine 001

I'm also getting ready to try and install Engine 001 again. If I can get it to work I'll spend a little time experimenting with it. Maybe I can produce a few tutorials or how-to's on it as well. This might take some time, as I've never really played with it.

Small Island Town Map Tutorial (RMVX)

If you're like me and never really been too good at mapping, especially towns, then this video might inspire you. I thought it was a really neat way of doing it, so thought I'd share.

What I like about this video tutorial is that it's such a simple design, yet it works quite adequately for the purposes of an island town. And it's easy enough to design something similar for your own games.

RMVX Ace Release Date Announced

It's official! RMVXA's release date was announced yesterday on RPG Maker Web.

RPG Maker VX Ace
Release Date
March 15, 2012

Preorders will be allowed from March 1, 2012, with additional discounts for existing owners of RMVX. Plus there are special offers and other announcements via email subscription or on their Facebook and Twitter.

As I've already mentioned, I won't be able to purchase RMVXA right away, though I will be working on it. This is even with any discounts. For right now I'll continue using the trial version, as limited as it is, and working with RMVX.