RPGDX > Forums > Off Topic > Are RPGMaker games good?

tcaudilllg · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:54 am Post subject: Are RPGMaker games good?

Although there may be a handful of independently programmed RPGs scattered about, there seem to be as many RPGMaker "demos" as there are board sets for ZZT.

Are any of them worth downloading? Really?

white_door · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:51 am Post subject:

No.

I don't much care that the english version of the rpgmaker is illegal, what gets me is the ripped art. Most rpgmakers games just use ripped art from popular SNES rpgs and are fairly unoriginal. (Why play some lame indie rpg where the author couldn't even put the minimum effort to draw some programmer art, when you could just go and play the original game?) While I'm sure there are a few exceptions, the question you have to ask yourself, is it worth sorting through the crap for find them?

I tried a pile of them, and I don't think its worth the effort. Generally you'll have better experences with games that use poorer but original art, because the maker will put more effort into an interesting story or writing or gameplay. It shows they actually care about their game.

Terry · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:14 pm Post subject:

RPGMaker is a game design tool, essentially no better or worse than C or Javascript or any other design tool - what matters is that the tool fits the purpose. If you want to make a Phantasy Star style RPG, it's perfect. That many people rip graphics and music is not a reflection on the engine.

Having said that, I've never actually played an RPGMaker game that was worth the download. But then I haven't really looked.

Incidently, my all time favorite Indie-Rpg was created with Verge 2, a customisable RPG design tool that's really only a step from RPGMaker.
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janus · Mage Joined: 29 Jun 2002 Posts: 464 Location: Issaquah, WA

Hey, guys, while we're discussing this not at all generalized question, I've been wondering.

Are black guys all criminals?

;)

DrunkenCoder · Demon Hunter Joined: 29 May 2002 Posts: 559

LeoDraco · Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 7:17 am Post subject:

RuneLancer · Mage Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 441

The enjoyability of RPGMaker games is, as with all other things, proportionally inverse to the amount of pants in them.
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BadMrBox · Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 3:06 am Post subject:

I eh, like pants?

janus · Mage Joined: 29 Jun 2002 Posts: 464 Location: Issaquah, WA

A few game suggestions:
KC(A): http://www.kineticcipher.com/download.shtml
TTHW: http://www.queenscourt.org/games.php?GameID=6
ABL: http://www.gamingw.net/games/8/
TGS:AP: http://www.queenscourt.org/games/TGSAP.rar
Ara Fell: http://www.queenscourt.org/games/arafell1.zip
Sunset Over Imdahl: http://www.gamingw.net/games/457
RE2D: http://projects.rpgi.net/resi2d/files/OriginEvil3.zip
Backstage: http://www.utterlyopinionated.com/files/Backstage.rar

Not all of these are amazing games, but the general consensus is that they're all pretty well done. (I don't like a few of them, but they're definitely better than the average RM* game.) KC(A) has ridiculously good puzzle design, for example, and Ara Fell is a pretty damn good example of an 'epic' indie RPG (I haven't even finished the damn thing - it's pretty long.) TGS:AP is pretty neat, too, if you can stand the gameplay.

Nodtveidt · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 5:14 pm Post subject:

RPG Maker is the BASIC of the game design world. It's easy for any slouch to pick up, throw something together, and garnish their 15 minutes of fame. However, there are people who spend the time to learn the system completely, and put together a real work of art.

And anyone who bitches about the artwork is wasting their breath. :P Not all of us are artists or can get the services of an artist.
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Terry · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 5:19 pm Post subject:

I figured it was unlikely that there wouldn't be anything worth checking out in a community as large as the RPG Maker one, so I recently downloaded a load of RPG Maker games, including all the ones on Janus's list. I can definitly recommend A Blurred Line as "good", and well worth anyone's time to play. It's humble, very well written, and very, very addictive.

It's also got some fantastic characters - in particular, Talan is the kind of character that Squaresoft for some reason keep trying to make, but can never get right. Talan is who Zidane or Tidus should have been - whiney, but unexplainably likable. I really wasn't expecting to like this one, but couldn't help myself.

None of the other RPG Maker games have really impressed me so far, but there's still a few I haven't played.
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