Ok guys I have been getting a LOT of messages about this ever since I have gone pro from people wanting to know how they can do it to. Kickstarter being the big thing now so ill talk about it. Now I know what your thinking, what does lato know about anything. Well take a look.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1311105626/kingdom-rpg

Ok thats what I know I know lol. My work is popular and makes money and im a professional so lets move on to the important stuff like getting started. Keep in mind this is just from my successful experience so I am by no means a expert but its better then hearing from someone who hasnt done it...

1The first thing you need to ask yourself is DO you want to be a professional and start a project on Kickstarter? This is a big boy choice so I would suggest if you dont already know or have to think for a long time you already have your answer. When people are paying you good money for your work you better deliver! A mans only as good as his word after all.

2 Don't be greedy or have some crazy goal! I see it a lot and its just sad. Im not the best at math but for RPG makers you dont need 20k in funding unless you want to explain to your backers that a important part of the game making process is buying a new car lol. Ive worked on my game Kingdom for years and have hired SO MANY PEOPLE, more people then everyone else combined and all those costs are not even 1/4th of what 90% of these ppl are asking for. Most ppl can do basic math and if they know anything about RPG maker they know it doesn't cost that much to make a game so they will be less likely to fund your work. i know all projects are different but keep it real, I have professional voice actors custom graphics and music, and I could hire a whole team to do it all over again in custom style and it wouldn't cost even half what some ppl dream up.

3 Make connections! This is just the weirdest thing I see people doing wrong, We are in a rpg community, as are 99% of ppl making RPG games so it only benefits you and your project to mingle with other ppl, collaborate, work together! I made more connections at Kickstarter in 1 month then in 5 years in the RPG community scene...ppl mail me with all sorts of questions and begging me to do more and wanting to fund me more and more. You only hurt yourself if you think your too good to work with other skilled ppl, and I see it a lot, If I see a skilled person I could use for my work I hire them simple as that, im not afraid to introduce myself and take it from there.

4Just go for it! If you have done all the above then your ready for this, if you really believe in your work then go for it, dont worry if ppl try and put you down. I have had some ppl say some pretty bad hurtful things about my work recently in the RPG world, but I did'nt let that stop me, I did what I always do, got really pissed off and worked my ass off even harder! I started my own company and have a badass product ppl want, money talks louder then words and now that I have gone professional my life and my work has never been better.

If there are any other tips you guys would like to add in feel free, as I said, these were just from my own experience.

Can you seriously make a living with RPG Maker? Are you charging people for your creations?

Well to be fair, it's surprising to know that there are customers willing to pay for RPGs on pc, especially when today, it's all about the mobile industry. I don't want to sound pessimistic, and while you got more than what you asked for, I'm not sure if this is going to continue once your game is actually out.

I wouldnt know if you can make a living lol, thats why I didnt go over that in the topic, I have a normal soul numbing job like everyone else. I just now have a fun job that I love as well, and GUESS which on pays the bills! You are behind on the times it seems... the big thing now IS putting rpg maker games on mobile phones, check out that app store next chance you get. I do not do that, I could have I suppose, asked for more money got the platform support but even though im a professional I dont have my head up mu #$%^ enough to do that, but dont worry I still get good and mad at ppl that assume things about others And to answer your question how can I charge someone for something I dont even have? A bunch of ppl just decided to give me alot of money cause the like and want my work. And when its done I could charge ppl for it, or I could give it away, whatever pisses you off the most maybe lol

Oh and I know it will countine cause I already got some crazy offers but im not greedy so I dont really care how much or little it makes.

Honestly? Can you now make games on RPG Maker and sell it on the appstore? A good reason for me to learn it properly now since I haven't really touched it since 2006.

Or maybe you're not understanding me, but I'm saying, since you reached your targeted budget, obviously, you're going to need a way to keep getting money after it's out, and if it's good enough, I don't see what's so bad about selling it. That's the whole point of being a professional, is it not?

Yes the app store has some nice RPG maker games on it now, its slowly being flooded with all sorts of indie game makers, I even bought a few

Being a professional can mean different things to different ppl, for me being a professional meant making a professional game that ppl loved so much they would pay to see it made. I could keep selling it but thats not whats on my mind, I am thinking about the next game I am making! I already had a place to sell my game long before I did the kickstarter, depending on what happens until Kingdom is finished will decide if I sell it or not, I am just very happy to know ppl love my work and want more.

But I made this topic to help the people that want to go the kickstarter route cause they needed help and asked me for it. Thats a part of being good staff

Are you sure they're made with RPG Maker? Could be they're using just regular COCOS 2D/Objective C. Either way, can you point a link to me about those? My google fu is weak at the moment.

Also, thanks for the clarification. So when you said you went professional, I thought you were living off it. Might send the wrong message to people, as in, give up your normal daily job, and go pro.

In my eyes, you're a devoted hobbyist making games that look professional enough to sell.

I believe so, but then again I dont know what COCOS 2D is, check out Symphony of Eternity and you tell me, I dont have a link cause I just use my tablet for it, either way the games using RPG maker on kickstarer are easy to see cause they use the default RTP a lot and say the want to have it for multi platforms if they get overfunded.

No im not living off it lol, I dont think I would enjoy it if I knew I HAD to do it if I wanted to eat. I hope ppl arent stupid enough to think that because I didnt say that.

http://www.cocos2d-iphone.org/

Oh wow, so how did they port this to a tablet, considering the memory limitations and all.


I don't think people are stupid for mistaking what you said. Being professional does mean you're making a living out of it. Considering you even set up a company and all.

That site looks confusing lol, thats probly why I never even considered it. If you have 2 jobs can you still be a professional living off that money? I make a lot more money doing my normal crap job that I hate, that just sounds like a bag of worms I dont want to get into, I say what I mean and dont like ppl to assume ANYTHING in life, but if it will help....ppl dont quit your day job!

Well, COCOS 2D does require knowledge of Objective C. You need a mac to develop on it. I won't go into more details of what being a professional entails, anyway.