RPG Maker VX Ace (First Look) Options

[Esrever]

Source: http://ebten.jp/eb-store/p/4582350663051/



Based on its predecessor "RPG Maker VX", the event command system and various other areas have been strengthened.

Create your own character graphics by simply using a combination of the supplied original parts. This is one way that game production functions have been revamped substantially.

As the latest installment of the RPG Maker series for Windows, this software becomes the trump card (ace) of RPG production.

• Feature 1: New functionality to create your original characters, and migration to RGSS3 for scripting!

Even if you are unable to draw up graphics, an original character can be made from the combination of parts with the built in "Character Maker" and "Face Graphic Maker". One of many new features to assist with RPG production! In addition, for those with knowledge in extensibility (Script Editing) we've made things much easier with the introduction of "RGSS3".

• Feature 2: Additional Enhancements to Basic Functions

Event commands have been strengthened and additional optional settings have been given. For example, there is a newly added function for specialties called "Feature" in which things like "Provoke" and "Protect" which have become standards in many famous RPGs can be added with ease.

• Feature 3: Making Combat More Interesting with a "Finisher System"

A third gauge called the "TP Gauge" has been implemented following the well-known HP and MP gauges. TP can be accumulated in the course of battle and can be released for use of a finisher! Customizing how TP and the rest of the system works is entirely possible.


*The game screen is under development
and does not depict the final product.


<< "RPG Maker VX Ace" Software Requirements >>

OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 Japanese Edition
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz or Equivalent
Memory: 512MB or More
HDD: 400MB Free Space or More
Display: Resolution of 1024x768 or More
Other: Compatabile with both 32 and 64 bit OS

© 2011 ENTERBRAIN, INC. / YOJI OJIMA


Note from Esrever: I'd like to point out that the mentioned function [Feature] may end up being called something else. It is a Japanese word with a few different meanings. The romaji for it is tokuchou. I really couldn't decide what it could be best translated to without knowing a bit more about it. The context really doesn't give too much away. In any case, I will be doing an English translation of the program when it arrives (likely the Japanese trial first), as well as more information as it becomes available and brought to my attention. If anyone has any information that they think I might be interested in, please be kind enough to send it my way through PM or other means. If I have time, and I think the community would like an English version of said material, I'll do my best to see it happen. Thanks!

[Rob_Riv]

In any case, I will be doing an English translation of the program when it arrives (likely the Japanese trial first), as well as more information as it becomes available and brought to my attention. If anyone has any information that they think I might be interested in, please be kind enough to send it my way through PM or other means. If I have time, and I think the community would like an English version of said material, I'll do my best to see it happen. Thanks!

The best solution is really to wait for an English version to be released, as an English translation of the software will likely be illegal, and thus against the rules.

[Oceans Dream]

Well looks like it has battle bgs at least (Assuming it wasn't scripted in for a sample game). I wonder what they'll take away like they have been doing. I guess if they have a stronger mapping system and more tilesets then it could actually be useful and people might actually use it over RMXP.... but then again the DS one still looks very VXy so I don't assume the tilesets will be anything more than just the regular VX. It's not a big deal if you have more tileset flexibility and 4 directional passing though.

[Esrever]

In any case, I will be doing an English translation of the program when it arrives (likely the Japanese trial first), as well as more information as it becomes available and brought to my attention. If anyone has any information that they think I might be interested in, please be kind enough to send it my way through PM or other means. If I have time, and I think the community would like an English version of said material, I'll do my best to see it happen. Thanks!

The best solution is really to wait for an English version to be released, as an English translation of the software will likely be illegal, and thus against the rules.

I'm well aware of this community's rules toward illegal software. I have no plans on releasing my translation on these forums nor on mentioning the whereabouts to obtain it. I'm under a different name now, but I've done translations for the community in the past. I've always released patches or other files which translate the program into English and/or Spanish without cracking any authentication schemes so as to promote actually buying the software. I'm aware that this still breaks the EULA and in some jurisdictions is considered illegal. I'm comfortable where I stand on the issue and will suffer consequences brought before me if they so happen to.

I'm really here to pass along information. To make it readily available and easy to read through for the English and Spanish speaking userbase. I have no intention on breaking your community's rules, and I certainly don't mean to step on any toes. Just please understand that. I've bought plenty of software from Enterbrain in the past, and plan on continuing to do so. I'd be translating this for my own personal use anyway. I may as well help the community out so that they are able to have a proper translation so they have more of a reason to support the software maker too while enjoying the product in their native tongue.

EDIT: Update - WIP Translation of the Character and Face Maker from the extremely small thumbnail that Enterbrain has provided.


This post has been edited by Esrever: Oct 2 2011, 01:37 PM

[amerk]

This does have potential, so I'll have to pay attention. Some of the added features are nice, especially being able to customize the faces right in the program itself. I'm hoping they address the tile limitation, but time will tell... in a few short months hopefully.

[udivision]

At the very least, this shoudl make me no want to use VX.

XP failed to do that with 2k3 in some ways, VX soundly failed to do tha with XP.
All have their strengths and weaknesses... it should be a little more black and white.

[X-M-O]

I wonder if they'll add the functionality to allow users to Import Accessory 1/2 items or other items that can be applied in the window above.
It would add a lot more flexibility to the program's new feature.

[Night5h4d3]

My bet would be that it'd be in the RTP, somewhere. If they package it into the .exe, that'd just be terrible. Then again.. Enterbrain has done worse.

@esrever I've no clue how you can see that small XD, anyway, I tried; couldn't find any similar shaped kanji, my guess is that it's shoe type.

[Esrever]

My bet would be that it'd be in the RTP, somewhere. If they package it into the .exe, that'd just be terrible. Then again.. Enterbrain has done worse.

@esrever I've no clue how you can see that small XD, anyway, I tried; couldn't find any similar shaped kanji, my guess is that it's shoe type.

A lot of scaling was involved. Magnification between 200-400% and switching between those values a lot to come up with some clean characters. Also, plenty of squinting. Really, I had to guess for some things, but made sure that would be a pretty good fit. Also, originally I had thought shoe, but I really can't confidently confirm it. I'll try to clear the image up some more later tonight or tomorrow and give it another check.

This post has been edited by Esrever: Sep 29 2011, 01:07 PM

[Rukiri]

The only thing RMVX needed was a better map system that would support map battles, as most map based battles are, A.) horrible, B.) buggy, C.) unplayable.

If all they really added was a better mapping system people are going to like it and I really hope RGSS3 is just Ruby 1.9.. c'mon let's just cut the crap and use the latest version of ruby already..

Since I sorta understand Japanese I'll probably order this when it's released. Is there a digital download for the Japanese version or do you have to wait until the dvd arrives? Haven't ordered software from Japan for years..

This post has been edited by Rukiri: Sep 29 2011, 03:53 PM

[Night5h4d3]

Please no more GDI!! >.< I could go for OpenGL or something.. But that's probably not gonna happen. Also makes me wonder what classes they're gonna hide from us this time.. And I really hope the don't use deadcafe again.. That'd be the death of me (pardon the pun)

$100+ for a DVD? Sounds overpriced, though I'd imagine if they already included tax, they'd have said something about shipping I'd there would be any. On the other hand, a DVD is a sure-fire way to preven those nasty problems where rpg maker 'forgets' it's registered. (I swear, this has happened to me more than 5 times between XP and VX, I've had to called in every time..)

Character generator, don't know if want.. If it's done right, *drool*

Limit break system, meh, I'd rather an integrated ATB.

[amerk]

Night, I also had a bit of concern with the pricing. It seems to be about twice the cost of the current VX maker, so in my thought it had better be twice as good. As one poster commented, the upgrade to RGSS3 seems like a nice touch.

The downside for me is, that means that current scripts already available might not work without being upgraded, which means people who know very little of scripting will have to start all over again in their requests and patiently waiting.

The features they do mention seem nice. I can only imagine how quick and simple it will be to create new faces and sprites now, without the hassle of trying to find the right template, size, and making sure to import them correctly, and being able to alter the sprites/faces various will go a long ways in create original games. Hopefully they will still allow people to add their own faces and sprites as well, or to change the add-on pieces (hair, mouth, clothes, accessories).

My one concern, of course, is the tileset limitation. To me, if they can address and fix this, even if it's to give us another 5 tileset sheets to work with (including 1 additional auto tile sheet), then I believe this would be worth the cost for that alone. If not, then I'm afraid it may turn people away, especially since the current VX has SwapXT to get around this fiasco.

I'm also assuming that while this is still VX, then the tileset size will probably remain the same, so any VX tilesets accumulated from the original will probably work with the newer model, hopefully. But I guess at this point it's just a waiting game.

[Night5h4d3]

I agree with you there; here's how I'm seeing it.
RGSS3 = 2x price
Scripters = usually not funded
Scripters' funds <= Price of VXA
RGSS3 Scripters <= RGSS/2 Scripters

It's almost inevitable that for a long period of time, there will be relatively few scripters for RGSS3 than there are for RGSS2. I'm also wondering, since they do call it VX Ace- RGSS3 might really be more like RGSS 2.5 and a majority of scripts from RMVX will work on VXA, unlike XP to VX.

Tileset is indeed one of the main issues over VX, I certainly hope this is resolved. The smartest way would've been to allow the creation of Tilesets, like if you dont need set C you don't need to load it, and thus you'll only have A, B, D, whatever else you included. Judging by the sprites (still being a 3x4 32x32 spritesheet) I'd say that it's highly likely that this version will also be 544x416.. Hopefully, there'll be a way to raise the resolution to above 640x480 without stretching and without modifying the DLL.

[Esrever]

A lot of these complaints can be seen in the Japanese communities as well. Many of the common requests/desires I've seen so far include a resolution of 800x600, easier use of tilesets (preferably more like 2000/2003), and that it has methods toward importing existing projects. I see a few already popping up saying that they are pleased about the RGSS3 announcement, and I'd imagine that many of the scripts starting out would be from them. It's similar to how XP and VX were in that you'd see translated scripts being used (KGC comes to mind) by the English community.

Though yes, time will tell. Nearly everything is speculation at this point. We're waiting on more information from Enterbrain, really. Once that happens, hopefully some of your questions will be answered. More importantly, hopefully the information indicates that they're listening to the userbase and catering to what they want.

This post has been edited by Esrever: Sep 30 2011, 01:47 PM

[Night5h4d3]

800x600 is great, but then you have the issue of the fact that it's not divisible by 32, so you'd need like a 8px vertical scroll or something like that, otherwise I think they would've used/allowed it sooner.

Either way, December is a long time from now.. I don't really like the fact that Enterbrain doesn't showcase more of the features of a new RPG Maker until it's for sale.

[MagitekElite]

They need to work on the tile system, and make it so you can add more tilesets. Its the biggest thing, I think, that is holding the system back.

[TheBen]

Definitely with you on the tileset thing. I hope they can combine the greatest aspects of XP (mapping, overlays, battle system) with the stuff that made me choose VX (easier scripting, message system, blurring &c.)... but I still wouldn't pay more than 70 or 80 bucks for it. I mean, hobbies are hobbies, and I don't want to put in that kind of money to something that seems to be the equivalent of the Turbo edition of Street Fighter II.

One thing that I'd really love in this RPG Maker is interpolated scaling (which basically means that scaled and rotated images, animations, and sprites don't look like complete crap). Ever single game engine I've worked with (except for one, I think) has interpolation... except for the RPG Maker series.

(Also, I think I heard from a guy who'd gone to Enterbrain support that they'd be releasing this in the US sometime in 2012, not in December. Then again, one can always hope...)

This post has been edited by TheBen: Sep 30 2011, 05:49 PM

[Esrever]

From my understanding, a U.S. release is marked for Spring 2012. If you were looking for a more specific response, sorry. That's really only as specific as I can get.

This post has been edited by Esrever: Oct 1 2011, 12:21 AM

[Rob_Riv]

Looking at VX, RPG Tsukūru VX was released Dec. 27, 2007, and RPG Maker VX was released Feb, 29, 2008. That's a delay of two months and three days. Applying that time to Dec, 15, 2011 would mean an English release on Feb, 18, 2012.

From my understanding, a U.S. release is marked for Spring 2012. If you were looking for a more specific response, sorry. That's really only as specific as I can get.

Where did you get that information from?

This post has been edited by Rob_Riv: Oct 1 2011, 05:26 AM

[Esrever]

Enterbrain (US)