Developer's Mode Script

It can be tedious when developing games to go through the Title Screen each time when playtesting them. Developer's Mode enables you to bypass the Title Screen completely and go directly into the game, without having to select "New Game". Hence, the Developer's Mode Script.

During development (unless you're modifying the Title screen itself), you can turn "Developer's Mode" on and then switch it off to playtest the game all the way through. Then, when the game is finished, the script can be deleted. Or it can be kept in if players want to skip past the title and any beginning cutscenes.

I originally created this during the development of The Gladiator Project, where it became necessary to playtest frequently to fine-tune the layouts and positions of items.

Windowskins & The Gladiator Project Demo

Windowskins

The windowskins are almost completely ported over. All that's left is the finishing touches and making sure all the links work properly. And then I'll be able to create some more.

Coliseum Header Image - From the MMORPG I play, Aion - © NCSOFT

The Gladiator Project Demo

A small demo will be available for The Gladiator Project (TGP) game soon (I'm hoping for the weekend), so you can play at least up to the Training Arena. And then, as progress continues, I'll continue to release further demos or playable areas. Further updates on TGP are on the official site or you can subscribe to its Facebook page.

Windowskins Integrating With The Blog

The Windowskins subdomain is migrating to RPG Maker Times & Companion. The old site will remain but it won't be updated.

This is part of the integration process to make it easier to update. I do have a few more windowskins to update and convert, so once the migration is complete the new windowskins will be added. This also includes the windowskins tutorials, both old and new.

I'll be using the Windowskin Generator and adding my own graphics to create new ones on a more regular basis as well.

Just For Fun: Shut Down The Game With A Keypress

This just-for-fun (and seemingly pointless) scriptlet enables you to shut down the game by pressing a key. This is what happens when boredom kicks in. It might come in handy for a very quick shutdown, rather than going through the Status Menu and exiting that way. (This was created in RMVX, but it'll probably also work in RMVXA.)

Title Screen

So, from the Title Screen, add this bit of code:

#============================================================
# ** Scene_Title
#============================================================
class Scene_Title < Scene_Base
  #----------------------------------------------------------
  # * Frame Update
  #----------------------------------------------------------
  alias cwkpsds_scnttl_update update
  def update
    cwkpsds_scnttl_update
    if Input.trigger?(Input::Z); exit; end
  end
end

Map

Alternatively, it can be used on the map.

#============================================================
# ** Scene_Map
#============================================================
class Scene_Map < Scene_Base
  #----------------------------------------------------------
  # * Frame Update
  #----------------------------------------------------------
  alias cwkpsds_scnmap_update update
  def update
    cwkpsds_scnmap_update
    if Input.trigger?(Input::Z); exit; end
  end
end

Available Keys

You can use other keys too: Z, SHIFT, CTRL, ALT, F5, F6, F7 and F8.

Note

Using this scriptlet means that you WILL lose your progress after any save point. Where this script might be most useful is if you're at work and playing, and the boss is nearby, you'll be able to quickly shut down the game with just one button. That is, if you don't mind replaying from the last save point.

The full, updated scriptlet can be downloaded here.

Just A Brief Update

As regular visitors will notice, I've gone back to the original template. The other one just wasn't working! Anomalies with the style sheets will be ironed out at some point.

My RMVX project, The Gladiator Project (including TGP Arena), is on track with its (re)development. You can keep up-to-date on any or all of its pages:

• TGP "Official" Weblog
• TGP Google+
• TGP Facebook

Future updates will appear on these pages rather than the blogs.

Granny's Resources Lists

I was browsing through Steam's RPG Maker VX Ace Discussions when I happened across something everyone needs and will benefit from. Note that most of these will also work for RMVX.

Grandma Deb has compiled some COMPREHENSIVE resource lists for all your RMVXA needs, including tilesets, portraits and emosets on a wide range of themes.

Among my favourites are the the Star Wars Resources.

Yoda | Star Wars Resources

And also the Animal Sprite Compilation, which includes dragons!

Dragon Charset | Animal Sprite Compilation

The above resource images link to the "original" websites and copyrights belong to the respective artists. If you use any of them - and I'm quite confident you will at some point - give the appropriate credit.

The Gladiator Project Official New Blogsite & Updates

The Gladiator Project blogsite is now live, having been revamped in tandem with the redevelopment of the project. The site's layout and design is still being worked on, but that will come in time.

Newly added pages:

• Character Classes - Details about the various character classes used in the game.
• Glossary - A complete list of the Latinesque words used in the game, as well as on the blogsite.
• About TGP - A detailed history about The Gladiator Project and how it has evolved.

Updates will continue as the project itself evolves and will be implemented on the site.

What Happened To The Paranormality Webisodes?

I was asked the other day about what happened to the "Paranormality Webisodes" I started doing. Well, several things really.

The first is that the motherboard on my previous computer started going out and, despite a lot of upgrades, it become irreparable without major additional cost. I decided that it was better in the long run to just buy a new computer. The storyboard and resources are still stuck on its hard drive without an immediate solution to transfer the files. I guess I could invest in an IDE to USB cable, but that's not top of my priority list right now.

The second thing is that since I started my new job, working nights, it gives very little time to actually focus on most of the projects I started, including the webisodes. I've not had a chance to reinstall the movie making software I'd previously installed either. This is one of the most frustrating parts of working the night shift, but as long as it pays the bills, then it balances out.

The final thing is that inspiration and motivation dried out. With several different projects on the go at once, it was difficult to maintain them all and prioritize them, so I took a major hiatus from them. Instead, the focus shifted to work and spending time with family.

The Paranormality project isn't quite dead yet, though. Since my purchase of RMVXA, I've been experimenting with it for a while and decided that Paranormality: Darkling would greatly benefit from RMVXA's additional features and functions, so work has been progressing on that slowly but surely. Be sure to subscribe to the site's feed for the updates.

At this point, I don't know if I will be continuing with the webisodes; it's been left open at the moment.

Paranormality: Darkling (RMVXA)

The project, Paranormality: Darkling, has been restarted. Since I bought RMVXA, I've been experimenting with it quite extensively and decided to use it for this project to take advantage of many of its additional features and functions.

The primary resource used is the Mythos Horror Resource Pack and I'll be purchasing several other resource packs as the project progresses as well.

I've also designed two windowskins specifically for the project and will be (attempting on) creating some customized graphics, including icons, of my own.

The game is entirely mouse-driven, using Amaranth's Super Simple Mouse System for Ace, replete with customized icons.

To keep up-to-date with its progress, be sure to subscribe to its official site, Paranormality: Darkling. Right now, I'm developing the overall theme, and will probably be adjusting the style sheets over the next week or so.

Windowskins Updates

The Windowskins section has been updated. More will be added over time, available for both RMXP and RMVX/VXA. I'm planning on converting the ones currently unavailable on the site as well.

Several windowskins tutorials are also available, which will also be expanded in the near future.

Work on the migration/conversion is continuing, slowly but very steadily, and much of it has already been completed. All the dead links are now working (those on this blog haven't been updated).