RPG Maker DS Release Date

Enterbrain formally announced (in October) a release date for the long anticipated RPG Tsukuru DS, as it's called. The title is expected to cost 5460 yen, but there has been no news about a US or EU version or release dates announced so far.

The release of RPG Tsukuru DS, originally scheduled for release in Japan on January 28, 2010, has now been postponed until March 11, 2010. This was announced on the Enterbrain website (11 November).

Nintendo Orimashita, devoted to developing RPG Maker for the launch date [January 28, 2010] for the DS For RPG Maker, has decided to change the release date to make further improvements on the content and quality of game...

We apologize to everyone in the media and distribution and for any inconvenience, and especially to everyone who was looking forward to the release date more than anyone else.

The following excerpt is taken from the Gamer Grenade News Blog, which gives some idea as to what it will be like:

RPG Tsukuru DS will allow players to make their very own Japanese-style RPG, defining everything from characters and world maps to monsters and equipment. The tools are all touch-screen compatible, making the creation process a lot faster than before, and players will be able to use Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, in order to exchange game data with other friends, although the exact details are still yet to be determined.

In addition RPG Maker features an easy-to-use toolset and transforms instruction into worlds allowing players to produce exciting and enchanting games. They choose their characters, worlds, 1,500 items, landscapes, 150 music pieces, add a script, share creations with other users and more. Players have the ability to create the biggest and best RPG with an epic storyline.

I know that I'm looking forward to trying this title - if it is released in English - so only time will tell what Enterbrain decides to do.

Woodcutting Tutorial - RM2K3

Woodcutting DemoAn accompanying demo is available with this tutorial.

This is how to create a basic woodcutting process in RM2K3, similar to that used in Runescape, but without the experience points gained.

Using the "defaults" from a new Project, first create two common items: Handaxe and Logs.

Also, create a variable to store the number of logs chopped. In this example, 0001:Wood.

Next, create a map and place a few events on it, setting the event graphics to trees. Make sure you name each one differently, as each one also has a matching switch. For this tutorial, I created 4 "tree events", named Tree1, Tree2, Tree3 and Tree4.

Create another event for the Woodcutter, who will give you an axe with which to chop the trees down. In the Woodcutter's Event Commands, we'll need to set it up so that:

• He first checks to see if you have a Handaxe. If not, he'll give you one. If so, he'll tell you how many logs you've chopped.
• If you've collected the required number of logs (in this case 10), he'll congratulate you. If not, continue until you have the number of logs.

The code for this is as follows:

<>Branch if Handaxe Possessed
  <>Branch if Var[0001:Wood] is 10
    <>Message: Congratulations! You've collected 10 logs.
    <>
  : Else Handler
    <>Message: You've collected \V[1] out of 10 logs.
    <>
  : End
  <>
: Else Handler
  <>Message: You don't have an axe! Here, have this one!
  <>Change Items: Handaxe 1 Add
  <>
: End

The next step is to set up the trees so that they can be chopped down and you'll receive some logs. We'll start with the "Tree1" event.

Create 2 pages. In the Event Commands (Page 1), we need to:

• Check once more if you have a Handaxe - you can't chop trees down with your bare hands, after all.
• If not, display an appropriate message.
• If so, change the tree to a stump and add the logs to the inventory, not forgetting to "store" the number of logs possessed.
• Finally, add some sound effects and chop away!

<>Branch if Handaxe Possessed
  <>Play Sound: Axe Swing
  <>Wait 1.0 Sec
  <>Play Sound: Axe Swing
  <>Wait 1.0 Sec
  <>Play Sound: Axe Swing
  <>Wait 1.0 Sec
  <>Play Sound: Tree Falling
  <>Switch Operation: [0001:Tree1] ON
  <>Message: You received some logs.
  <>Change Items: Logs 1 Add
  <>Variable Oper: [0001:Wood] + , 1
  <>
: Else Handler
  <>Message: You'll need a handaxe to chop this tree.
  <>
: End

On Page 2, set the first switch under "Preconditions" to 0001:Tree1 and the "Event Graphic" to that of a tree stump.

Repeat the steps for the other tree events, changing the name of the switch to match the name of the event, i.e. in event Tree2 the switch name would be Tree2, and so on.

Now, of course, since we only created four trees, but need 10 logs for the tutorial, the trees would need to regrow. For this, we need to create a simple variable-based timer. Set the "Trigger Condition" (on Page 2) to "Parallel Process". In the Event Commands, place the following:

<>Variable Oper: [0002:Seconds] Set , 0
<>Label:1
<>Wait 5.0 Sec
<>Variable Oper:[0002:Seconds] + , 1
<>Branch if Var [0002:Seconds is 5
  <>Switch Operation: [000:Tree1] OFF
  <>
: Else Handler
  <>Jump to Label:1
: End
<>

Repeat for the other Tree events, once again changing the Switch Operation to the corresponding event name.

When you've collected 10 logs, speak to the Woodcutter and demo over.

Poll Results - December 1-13

The results of December's first poll are in!

Voters opted for more RMXP stuff (windowskins, scripts and charsets). So, it looks like my copy of RMXP will need to come out of hibernation.

At the moment, my preference is RMVX as the RPG Maker of choice for my project, The Gladiator Project. The reason for that is because RGSS2 is much more versatile, with several additional features not available in RGSS, that suit my needs for the project.

That said, and with the poll results in mind, what I'll do for the next few entries is this:

• RM2K/2 - A basic "woodcutting" tutorial, which I recently rediscovered from a Runescape type project I started making quite some time ago.
• RMVX - Another few updates on The Gladiator Project, including a tailor-made Status screen, menus and a Dramatis Personae.
• RMXP - A few more windowskins, some of which are converted from RMVX, and a few scriptlets to start with.

Thanks again to all who voted in this poll.

RPG Maker XP Windowskins

View More Windowskins

Here are some RMXP windowskins. Clicking on the windowskin will redirect to the RPG Maker Times Resource Center, where you can view examples of these (and all the other) windowskins.I am not an artist, but like experimenting with different things, although I do find it easier to create RMVX windowskins than RMXP ones.

Final Fantasy I	Final Fantasy IX
Parchment #1
	I'll try and create some more RMXP windowskins as I feel inspired, or convert existing RMVX windowskins to RMXP format.

The Gladiator Project Update #1

After a hiatus in development, I started working on the project again, now that I have more time. I spent some time designing an appropriate windowskin (see below) and deciding on the content of the menu, tweaking the necessary scripts for it.

These are the areas in particular that have updates:

• 
  Windowskin: This windowskin was designed from scratch, primarily to give a kind of Romanesque feel to it. I may yet change it slightly, since the silver "dagger" pointers don't look right and add a background texture to it.
• Plot/Direction: The plot has been reworked from its original RM2K3 incarnation, instead taking a completely different direction than its original. The RM2K3 version simply placed characters in a gladiatorial arena setting, hacking and slashing and gaining kudos and prizes. The plot now has much more depth to it than that, and there are plenty twists and turns - and surprises - to pique interest.
• 
  Click on the image for a larger view (opens in a new window)
  Menu System: This two-column menu was created for aesthetics more than convenience, based very loosely on Rubymatt's Compact Menu System. It has an in-built help window to explain what each menu option means, since they are in Latin. With the extra windows for the gold (denarii) and map location, along with the extra game variables on the right-hand side, I think it makes a solid menu.

And starting some time this week, I will be working on the game itself. Eventually perhaps I can have some kind of demo.

More Windowskins VX #2

View More Windowskins

Here are six more RMVX windowskins. The windowskins on this blog have been compiled on the RPG Maker Times Companion, where you can view these (and all the other) RMVX windowskins.

Black Marble	Pink Marble	Old Parchment #2
Old Parchment #3	Skin Leather	Valentine

The next windowskin update will be for RMXP.

Poll Results November

November's poll is now closed. Thanks for all who visted this blog and voted.

The results of the poll are:

• 42% of visitors use RPG Maker VX
• 46% use RPG Maker XP
• 15% use RPG Maker 2K/3
• And 23% use all the RPG Makers

Of the search engine results, the following percentages indicate which RPG Maker has been searched for, whether it was resources, scripts, etc.:

• 35.64% searched for RPG Maker VX
• 39.28% for RPG Maker XP
• 6.93% for RPG Maker 2K/3
• And 18.15% for other RPG Maker related stuff

And of those, thus far, windowskins or windowskin generators for RMVX is the most popularly searched for, with RMXP windowskins coming a close second. Character sets and resources for all RPG Makers is third.

And those are the results of the first month. I'll try and focus on these particular areas for now, along with more updates for The Gladiator Project (and other projects along the way). In the meantime, feel free to visit the RPG Maker Times sister blog, RPG Maker Times Resource Center for additional resources, etc.

Character Maker XP Online

There are quite a few Online Creators for RMXP/RMVX already, mostly Japanese sites.

I recently discovered - quite by accident - a French site, Nine Sages, which has some absolutely stunning Title and Game Over pictures, in addition to some fabulous resources. It's well worth checking out.

The pièce de résistance for me was finding a working character maker for RMXP. It is still limited in the amount of resources for characters, but it does have enough to make some decent character sets.



The generator can be found here. It is in French, but does not need translating as it's easy enough to use.

Scripting Nightmares

When it comes to scripts, I personally do not like those that directly modify or overwrite the "default" scripts, especially the menus and command positioning. While most are designed as simple plug 'n play scripts to make their implementation quick, simple and easy, they do invariably interfere.

A prime example is where you have created your menu as you want it, then you "install" someone else's script, which calls on a new window or scene, and it modifies that script. The result is that sometimes the selection cursor returns to a different position after canceling and returning to the menu.

What this means is that you need to sift through and determine which part of the script is interfering with the positioning and tweak it. It's not difficult to do, just annoying.

It might be better if aliasing or pushing (or, indeed, some other method of insertion) were used instead - whatever that may be, instead of directly modifying the code. But again, ease-of-use and simple plug 'n play does make life much simpler, especially with those not too familiar with RGSS. Then, when it comes to actually making the necessary modifications, it helps a little in learning about RGSS.

Even now, I'm not a great scripter per se, although I have learned so much just by studying (and experimenting with) others' coding. I've also studied various resources on Ruby - upon which RGSS is based - so that what needs to be done in my projects can be done efficiently.

Kudos to those who have studied Ruby and RGSS to the point where they have a thorough, working knowledge of it. Ruby script is not hard to learn, just labor-intensive at times to get to that point.

More Windowskins VX #1

View More Windowskins

Once again, these RMVX windowskins have been created with Woratana's excellent Windowskin Generator. (Don't forget to credit Woratana and Aindra if any of these are used, as anything produced are essentially theirs.)

Old Parchment Windowskin



Horror Windowskin

I'll upload some more RMXP and RMVX windowskins soon, but some of the ones that I've created (it's just a matter of finding them again).