So ok, I'm making a game blah blah. However, this is the first time I've actively joined a forum for some help. There are LOTS of RPGs out there and I'm sure there are a lot of expectations. I have a really solid idea, however I have a few questions.

1: Graphics: How much "weight" does the graphics have on a game around here on average? I am an artist, but I'm a little bad at making sprites. Environment graphics I'm ok with. If my game looks a little basic, will it turn you off to playing it? I'm also NOT using any RTP.

2: Fonts: I would rather not install a new font and use the default Tahoma font. Again is that another turn off? Stay away from defaults at all?

3: Default Battle System: I'm using it in a slightly modified sense to make it a little more of a side view battle system by changing where the player graphics sit. It looks good but its actually nothing too special. Thoughts?

4: Filesize: Any limits? I like quality where its needed like I have super nice animated water autotiles (96 frames!) amongst other things like around 12 high quality MP3s at around 5 minutes each.

5: Limited Exposure: I like big reveals. I wouldn't risk any exposure of my work until a full demo is done. Does this generally affect the ability for people to help? Also, is it advised to start a topic and present the project?

6: Taboo: Aside from forum stuff, anything I need to watch for?

Thank you for any input or feedback.

I will be much happier downloading a game with a large filesize that has a complete original soundtrack than a demo that has 150MB of music, half of which isn't used, and all of which is from Final Fantasy VII.

Limited exposure is smart. Better to come out with a demo than just big ideas.
Graphics and battle system are what catch people at first. Not using RTP can make you stand out more, but using the DBS doesn't fall in your favor.

mp3s and wavs. Use oggs ffs.

Do they sound better for relatively the same or less filesize? Also, I noticed a slight skip in the audio at the point the sound starts over, does .OGG files do that too?




I can always work up the graphics, that I certainly can do. Yet I don't think there's much I can do about that DBS though. I've tweaked it a lot to be not-so-default but at most I could possibly add an ATB. Know any good script addons for an ATB?

Changing the default will not make you a better designer by any means. There are plenty of games that utilize the default settings, and use them to the full extent of the maker, and some of those games come out better than ones where somebody has done nothing but spam the game with useless audio, tilesets, and scripts, while others are showcased as being the next best thing but the one manning the project doesn't have the time or resources to continue and gives up.

Most would appreciate a coherent story with well balanced game play first, audio and visuals second, but they want to know that you have an intended game plan of when you will be able to finish the product and that you are giving it your best effort. If you are lazy with the game, this will show through the final product and deter people from playing, regardless if you are using the default or not.

And like Rob, I'm tired of hearing the same audio over and over again (namely Chrono, Xeongears, and FFVII). Any game that uses FFVII music usually ends up in the trashbin for me. Anything you can do to get original audio is a definite plus.

I've very carefully designed the kind of game experience then did the research to see what I could add for scripts and modified them in, then asked for help one a few other things. Its really solid. I've worked on evolving this project for almost 6 years now. Don't worry about me giving up any time soon.


That's where I've carefully chosen a sort of rough style for the sprites. Easier to manipulate and animate for many different details and purposes. I have a lot in store as far as the experience goes.


I'm also a composer.

Sounds like your way ahead of the game than most people.

But you were asking about using some of the defaults (font, parts of the dbs although slightly modified) and you want to know how this will impact your game or what we think about it, if I read correctly, as well as if "basic" graphics will turn people away.

I don't know if there is an easy way to answer that. If I see original artwork in a game with a map 500 by 500, and nothing but grass to fill up the space, and you are left to guess where the exit just might be, it doesn't matter how good the art is, the game is dumped. If I see a game that is meant for light entertainment, some customized graphics, nothing too fancy, but still original, in a game with semi-okay (average) mapping, and the story and game play are balanced, using the default dbs, I'm still more than willing to give it a fair test.

The short end:

If you can customize everything and still maintain a decent balance, even if a little basic, go for it. If you can't, but there are other resources available that have not been over-used and you can make them work, go for it. If you are mapping god, and love the default tilesets, then go for it.

If I download a game with the default title page and the annoying Town5 BGM, and the first person I play is a guy named Ralph who is late for some event because he overslept... I'm turned off and already looking for every reason not to keep playing the game.

Anyways, sorry for the long reply, but hopefully it helps provide insight in what some people may be looking for.

Well I will just do my best and keep doing what I'm doing then. Thanks for the tips! Glad to know that people are fair in their judgement, there are a lot of gems out there for games. Look at Minecraft, graphics suck, gameplay is unique, uber fun.

I can only speak for myself, so here's what I think;

1. I usually favor games with the RTP and/or the RTP style. Mostly because they're quality resources and most of the time custom graphics don't hold up very well against them. This all depends on the quality of the graphics though. I would at least be intrigued by very well made custom graphics.

2. Any font that is readable in almost all of its sizes is a good font. Even the default ones.

3. To me, a battle system is about the item/spell and stat mechanics all together. The way the combat-sequences play out is less important. I know a lot of people strongly disagree with this, but it's just my opinion.

4.
^This, oh this, oh this so many times.

5. I think this comes down to personal preference. Lots of people put up their ideas early to get some feedback and some, usually the perfectionists, want everything to be perfect before they release anything. The first impression is always the most powerful one.


Awesome! I'm always interested in listening to music and giving feedback! There's even a section for that.

Best regards,
st3rn

While I don't necessarily think using parts of the RTP is a bad decision, if you know what you are doing, not looking for creativity and originality in your game definitely is. There are plenty of resources that fit that style available, such as Mack Tilesets. Now, Mack Tilesets are probably losing their advantage in the creative field because they get over-used, but I would still refer them as anything but RTP, because to me RTP is what was included at the time you purchased the maker.

There are plenty of VX resources available for people who cannot customize their own, from tilesets, to facesets, and re-edited sprites, battlesets, etc., that just adding a few of these into any game, or making a few sprites on your own if you have any artistic abilities, helps separate your game from the countless others.

I don't think it's necessary to completely change the default, but I do think it's necessary to make some changes. Even good games that appear to be using the "RTP" because they stayed with the tilesets, most of the time you'll see other changes, such as adding scripts, new facesets, sprites, audio. I think I've yet to come across a good game where absolutely nothing (not even the audio) has been changed.

1. RTP graphics are alright, but will turn some people off if you're trying to do a far more 'major' project. With that said, custom graphics do not necessarily work better - if you're going to do custom graphics, go all the way. Rips and style clashes detract significantly from the experience.

2. Nobody notices Fonts unless they're eye-gouging. Just use something that's very readable and people won't care.

3. I've seen some awesome things with the default battle system - hell, back in 2k and 2k3, people had to! It's not what the battle system is, it's what you do with it.

4. Graphics won't matter, generally, for file size - not compared to your audio! For the LOVE OF GOD learn to use looping OGGs - even at minimal quality they still sound great and use up a fraction of the memory of an MP3. While there aren't any strict size limits, people will be far more discouraged at downloading a 500mb file than they will a 50mb one.

5. Exposure plan is up to you. Some people talk about their games only from the concept, some just suddenly drop this AWESOME THING on us. There's no real formula to success, it seems.

6. You should be fine if you're as thoughtful as you currently are in your posting. Or are we talking "taboo subject matter don't have this in your games"?

Good advice all around.
I have music posted here. http://rimrook.dmusic.com/music/

Any taboo stuff not to have in a game. Probably of which to avoid bad cliches.

With enough expertise, you could make bad cliches look good.
That would take a lot of expertise though.

I also hate seeing Ralph or Ralph like characters on every other game I play.

Who is Ralph?

You are my hero.

By the way he's the default RTP character of VX.

A lot of the games I play just wing it and use him as their main character. It gets very old and annoying.

Alex, Ralph, and (I forget his name) - the default, first-slot heroes of 2k/2k3, XP, and VX respectively. If you're gonna use the RTP, try to avoid making them the main characters... they're just so familiar!

For the most part, the only thing that's strictly taboo in the it'll-get-your-game-removed sense is porn - and it shouldn't be too hard to figure where that line's drawn (If you're really, really not sure if your game crosses into pornographic territory, chances are it has!)

In terms of things that'll make people stop playing your games quick? I can think of two things. One, try to get to action as soon as possible. Long-ass intros before there's any battles whatsoever turn people off really quick; especially if the first thing they see is the Star Wars History Of The World Scroll. And two, don't make us grind, please. I know it might feel like it's "cheapening" things a bit depending on how hard you want the game to feel, but chances are people aren't going to be that in love with things that they're willing to put in extra time and effort to play your game - it'll turn people away fast.

meh, I personally think spending your time to go out of your way to avoid cliches can do you more harm than good. At the end of the day, the experience you deliver is more about HOW you do it rather than WHAT you do specifically. A cliche that is predictable, and clearly not thought through? That is bad. But a non-cliche that is basically hemmed together JUST to avoid being a cliche but done poorly? that's just as bad.

i.e. I could easily write a story about an old nun who eats her own feces to power her attacks. It would definitely be about the most original thing you've ever seen in your life, but chances are, it could also be pretty awful too.

Hahaha that Ralph yeah ok.

Really, filesize is nothing to worry about since you could just rar it.
Secondly, they have a spritmaker you could use, so just don't worry about spriting.
The default font is good because it's readable. Don't use something like Angelic Wars I"M BEGGING YOU.

What? That's not true though. Rar files can be big in size too. I don't even know how much of a difference it makes, as the game file is already compressed.

I just rar the rar. Over and over and over. You will eventually get there =)
Anyway, even if it makes no fiffernce, it would already be small. besides, sometimes, rar is better than compreession, because its smaller.
Wait: isn't the compression an exe? Can't you rarf those?

It would already be small? Not if it's a large file, which many games are.