Hello everyone, my name is obviously Ageshero, And i have an extremely bad habbit of biting off way more than i could ever chew.
Go easy on me, dont use fancy words(cause you are smarter than to waste that kind of time on me, haha.) No crazy lingo that anyone outside your hobby could ever understand, and if you going to use it, tell me what it means.(Also, there's a whole load of elitist jerks that keep pointing out some how, no matter how i write, that my post is a wall of letters, Get the hell over it okay? Hahahaha.)
Okay, So here is the point, i want to make a 2D Action/Adventure/ RPG video game, Top down probably. I'm aware of engines like Gamemaker, but it seems a bit annoying... and i don't know if its what i want.
I have no Coding or programing experience, lets even assume that i don't even know what that is.
I'm sure there are plenty of problems to have to work through as i go on with the project that i want, It's probably going to be a pc only game, though getting it to work as a homebrew title for some random device would be absolutely wonderful.
I've pretty much got my head wrapped well around the aspects of Art, pixels, Animation, and im working on getting a fluid work flow and understanding music composition programs and sound effects for a classic feel, being a painter and general character artist etc, and also a musician, im ontop of that.
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So what i need is some sources on what i should do to start learning how i would make a game. Or a really stretchy game engine that will let me do whatever i want ( Anything that is more flexible than RPGMAKERVX which is seems pretty limited and feels like i havent made my own game at all in any way. And might be the same if not easier than GAMEMAKER)
If i find that game maker is really what i want, what am i able and not able to do inside of this. I dont want "THIS GAME WAS MADE WITH GAMEMAKER" slapped on to some poorly designed and ugly loading screen. I figure theres probably a way to remove it.
So basically in the end im asking if there are any programs i should be aware that will help me make my game, but not take the development abilities away from me.
I want to be able to make cutscenes, and interesting title screens and things. If anyone has some help of any kind, please throw it at me.
Earthbound is the best example, a game pretty similar to the style and function of what i want.
(info like, how on earth did they make things Flash, move, animate, The crazy little background motion effects)
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Another little bit of info, If gamemaker is my option, I want to make it look like game maker was never even there. I dont want framerate Defying smooth motions that destract entirely from the pixelly style of the game either.
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Hope this wasnt to confusing, any help is appreciated ( im not a rocket scientist, speak english please.)
[size="5"]Yo no hablan la ciencia de cohetes.
Honestly, the RPGMaker series is more or less tailored to 2D Top Down RPG games. The other posts with you saying "why can't RPGMaker ver XX do this, or that" makes it obvious you have not done your research at all.
Search around the web, the latest RPG Makers use scripting (Ohmahgosh I need to learn scripting?! Other posters pretty much covered this.), if you have no intent to begin scripting, search the forums of various websites for user submitted scripts. This very from messaging systems to action battle systems. Commercial and successful projects have been made with RPG Maker such as the Aveyond series.
Alright, so I'm not here to constantly praise RPG Maker, it's good at what it does and certainly a great way to start with top-down RPGs as its newb friendly with its eventing system, help file, and pre-made editable database.
Most of the games out there that are fun to play were made by teams. Organization and a position for every member will allow for a more faster game and social/work experience for its members if they plan on entering the industry soon enough. There are also one man projects, people may do every single resource and need by themselves or commission others for their help. This either requires time or a budget respectively, but if you know how to sell your project right, you might interest others and (insert magic SFX here) you may have a team member or a free commissioner!
You have various options as well. Game Maker relies on GML for the making of games. It is possible to make them based only on the D&D (Drag and Drop) system, but it's a big big hassle. If you do not want to learn GML, or have no patience with scripting, I personally don't think you should commit yourself to it. There are a vast number of engines for different kinds of expectations: Stencyl, Game Salad, Multimedia Fusion, Construct, etc.
You have to go around and search, research, and discover your options. (Tom Sloper rule
) There are always options, and there's always and exception to that rule (even this one). Honestly, I recommend the first thing you absolutely do is go here to Tom Sloper's advice section. Just what the doctor ordered in my opinion. Another tip of personal advice from myself is don't start overly ambitious. Judge what you can do and set your limits from there. If you really want to start working on your visioned game, try something like this (For the sake of something I'm experienced with, I'll use RPG maker again):
Teh Bazics:
0- PLAY SOME RPGs. Get to know them.
1- Experiment, get to know the basic foundations. Keep on eventing random things, like doors opening, moving to new locations, and engaging with NPCs or battles.
2- Know what switches, variables, and common events (in the database) are and what they do. Make various little examples.
2- Create a full map that works with events. Little things like object interactions, shops, more NPCs, and simple quests that use switches and variables.
3- Make an experimental dungeon, monster events (or use random encounters), simple puzzles, treasures, and possibly a end-dungeon boss.
4- Now create separate maps, a map for an over world, a map for a town, a map for that towns indoors, a map for the towns dungeon. Link them all.
Dancing and Advancing:
5- See that button that links to the database, the great mammoth of a window with a lot of tabs? Press it.
6- Look at all the screens and familiarize yourself with what they do. Experiment.
7- The database consists various elements such as animations, eventing, RPG statistics, weapons, spells, items, common events, battles, etc. This will vary depending on your version of RPG Maker.
8.1- Known how RPGs work, behind the scenes. How to make balanced attacks, stats, items, skills, monsters, etc.
8.2- Customize your database, make your own animations, your own spells, items, weapons. Make your own characters and specialize their stats for their respective classes/jobs. Customize tilesets (also called chipsets) as needed for various areas. Make your own monsters. Make your own battles with in-battle events for bosses or other encounters. Make your own monster parties. LIMITLESS THINGS.
Expertize:
9- Click that script button, see what makes RPG Maker XP or VX tick. (RPG Maker uses a scripting language based off of Ruby.)
10- Make your own scripts, learn how to use other user made scripts. Learn how to use an customize different kinds of scripts overall.
11- Learn the creation of story lines. (Very important, it's an RPG dammit. You want a convincing role.)
12- Master mapping and mapping tricks to create great maps.
13- Import resources. Sprite your own sprites, sprite your own tilesets, make your own music, your own SFX, your own scripts, your own animation sheets, your own ETC. Otherwise, use resources other people have kindly made, give credit.
14- Sharpen use of the engine to create an atmosphere using said scripting for light effects, storyline, events, battles, music, and other things.
15- Use all above and other learned abilities
16- ???
17- Game and experience in several areas that can be put to use for other game engines.
Along the steps, make small, little games, that advance as you advance to test your knowledge so far. You do not have to release these small projects. Asking communities (Like RMVX, RpgRpgRevolution, and other communities) for feedback and other tips of advice is also helpful. ...Just be careful though, not all are nice people (trolls and flames, hello!), and make sure to use the search button FIRST.
The above steps can be mutated for other engines depending on the genre. Shmup? Play some, study them, make them. Shooter? Same. Platformer? Same. Puzzle? Same. Other RPGs in other engines? Same, of course with the addition that you will have to make your own database as opposed to RPG Makers pre-made one. So study RPG Makers script for its database if you want an idea.
If your just going to pick up any game engine, like Construct lets say, for two second without experimenting or reading tutorials, say "Meh, can't do crap" and toss it into the recycle bin, you're going to get nowhere.
More kudos to Tom Sloper for his help greatly. :3
