RPG Inventor - A New RPG Maker in development

[jneul]

I would just like you all to know that I am developing a new RPG Maker - called RPG Inventor for the PC and the XBOX 360.
The maker is based upon RPG Maker XP, but it will offer much more functionality, currently it supports the following features:
* Create new /edit RPG Inventor projects.
* Create and edit highly detailed 3-layer maps/battle areas with the feature of using unlimited tile sets and auto tiles.
* Supports RPG MAKER XP TILE SETS.
* Supports RPG MAKER XP non-Animated Auto Tiles and Animated Auto-Tiles.
* Supports Importable custom bitmap resources (.bmp, .gif, .png, .jpg).
* Supports Importable custom audio(.mp3, .mid).
* Tile Walkability toggle - allows you to define if a tile is Walkable, Passable(used on top of non walkable tiles to allow passage)
or Not Walkable.
* Tile Flat Texture Toggle (used when a tile is on layer 1 or above and you want it always to be drawn behind the character).
* Tile Z-Order modify (controls the draw order of the tile - used for when a tile/s are not drawing over or behind the character
properly).
* Event Editing facilities, which include Map Start and Change.
* Supports the assignment of a sound to a specified Map (normally used for background music).
* Supports opening existing maps.
* Supports saving existing maps.
* Create new/edit characters.
* Setup initial party
* Supports testing and playing of your created game.

Update:
Future plans for this project are huge and some of them include:

• New Tile Set And Auto Resources, we plan to have them sized to Half Kaizer proportions.
• New Charcter Set Resources , again we plan to use Half Kaizer character sets, we just need their permission.
• New Side View Battler Resources
• New Audio Resources - We plan to have our own unique Audio for RPG Inventor
• Error logging features - will monitor and record any errors that occur in RPG Inventor.
• Scripting System - we plan to include a Scripting Sytem for users, the language we plan to use yet is undecided.
• Side-View Battle System
• Customisable Menu Screens (for game start and in game menu etc)

Plenty more features are planned but we are just giving you a small taster of what we want for the future.

New Screenshots / Movie have been added

Spoiler

 

[Glitchfinder]

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and guess you used Internet Explorer to design your website. Mostly because it has some very serious issues with displaying properly in Firefox, which means that it'll have the same issues in Opera and Safari. (And most certainly for anyone unfortunate enough to still be using Netscape) Here's a screenshot of what I mean:

Spoiler

Also, as to your project, will you have a programming interface for the average end user, so that they can build custom systems for their games? And, how will you handle the port to the 360? That requires you'd program it in XNA, but it also means that users have a lot of hoops to jump through if they want to do more with their games than just save them on their Xbox 360 to let friends play when they come over.

Also, I was looking through your feature list, and there are several things that shouldn't be listed as features, because they're more along the lines of being requirements for game development software:

* Create new /edit RPG Inventor projects.
* Supports Importable custom bitmap resources (.bmp, .gif, .png, .jpg).
* Supports Importable custom audio(.mp3, .mid).
* Event Editing facilities, which include Map Start and Change.
* Supports the assignment of a sound to a specified Map (normally used for background music).
* Supports opening existing maps.
* Supports saving existing maps.
* Create new/edit characters.
* Setup initial party
* Supports testing and playing of your created game.

In other words, the majority of the features you listed aren't really features. This is because, if they weren't included, people would refuse to buy the software, because it would be nonfunctional or severely limited. A feature is a piece of that software that isn't require to make it functional or useful, but exists for the purpose of making the software better to use, easier to use, or just to make it look better in the eyes of potential users. Admittedly, the "features" I listed above would fall into the first two of those categories, but the fact that the program wouldn't work without them means they aren't features, but are actually requirements.

 

[Zekallinos]

The problem with that website is that it is dependent on one specific screen resolution. Just try resizing your IE or whatever window and you'll see.

Supporting RMXP Tilesets doesn't sound like a plus for me. It insinuates that the engine is hard-coded to use 256*x tilesets. You should be able to support tilesets of any format (that has 32*32 tiles), as to allow more flexibility for users of different backgrounds. You should have unlimited layers too, as it is quite an annoyance in RMXP (try to make your engine worthwhile by adding more features). If each of your layers is part of an array, it shouldn't be hard to do right?

Another thing is : don't make the interface all colorful with gradients and such. It's not required and just takes more resources (generally). Stick to the professional and simple windows (or mac) look. Use this as a reference.

 

[Glitchfinder]

The problem with that website is that it is dependent on one specific screen resolution. Just try resizing your IE or whatever window and you'll see.

That's the problem, then. Did you know that many professional web developers still develop for people with an 800x600 resolution, just in case? (As in, the sites can easily scale to the proper size) This is not only for people with a smaller resolution, but also so people with a larger resolution can keep the browser windowed, if they want it to be. As for developing for a resolution bigger than 1024x768, that's just stupid. The majority of internet users without the money to update their monitor will have that resolution.

 

[jneul]

Glitchfinder: those features are listed for those who have no idea of how development works, not everyone knows about the minimum requirements for programs, sometimes you have to include everything just to make things clear.
Zekallinos: Do you actually know anything about programming?? The program I have invented is not hard coded, it is flexible and supports 32*32 tiles, and you will be able to adjust that setting in the future, via configuration

As for my website, sorry I apologize made it in a couple of hours I will tweak it for smaller displays, I just have not got around to it yet, been busy with my user guide.

As for the user interface - It is fine, and if you look closely windows does use gradients in it's user interface, this just looks sleeker, and far better, you don't understand that this is being developed in XNA so I am using a GUI that was built from the ground up as I intend this to be usable on XBOX 360, It may not be to your liking but I have many fans of RPG Inventor on other sites already.

Update: User Guide is up for those people who are even remotely interested in this (up in my downloads area on my website)

 

[Zekallinos]

I apologize if my post lead to confusion. What I wanted to confirm is whether I could use a tileset that has, say, 13 columns x 39 rows (of 32x32 tiles) in your software easily. If so, it would have been better to list your feature as "Support tilesets of any size", which would include automatically the RMXP type tileset, in addition to showing flexibility to your engine. The way you listed it now makes it sound like you have mainly : for (int i = 0; i < TILE_NUMBER (a constant of 8); i++). In other words, that it only takes RMXP sized tilesets.

So the editor's going to usable on the XBOX too? Impressive (otherwise, the editor can be a windows form app and only the engine in XNA). It does look sleeker - a good thing - but not far better (then what? The work of professionals?). This kind of reflected gradient you are using (but vertical) for your menu is not really the more subtle gradient window uses. It's hard to tell from the size of the screenshot, but your buttons on the top don't have any borders of any kind, so you can hardly compare. It just cuts off. A gradient doesn't make a difference alone, it's the entire design that counts. And I'm not sure having fans proves anything, either.

In any case, those are graphical details. It's the kind of thing you can fix at later stages. As for a utility development goes you haven't given us much to comment on (if you wanted comments). Please take note that we don't want to bash you or anything - only to discuss aspects (if only the presentation) that could use improvement.

 

[Glitchfinder]

Glitchfinder: those features are listed for those who have no idea of how development works, not everyone knows about the minimum requirements for programs, sometimes you have to include everything just to make things clear.

So, by that logic, if you were trying to sell Microsoft Word, you'd have to mention that it saves and loads Word Documents, that you can add images, text, graphs and charts, and various other things, and that it supports naming the documents you save.

 

[jneul]

ok my bad, I’ve been up late putting in all this hard work, I’m not really a artist, so I could do with a couple of artists shaping up my graphical resources for my program, this is just something I made to get the ball rolling (as such to speak)
Oh btw I think I have fixed my website issues as far as resolution goes.
now just for the Netscape fix, I know this browser will not display my site properly, no matter how many fixes I put in, basically because as far as I know it still does not support layers, which my website uses.
Thanks for the suggestions by the way.
Oh and as for the tile sets you can have any amount of rows or columns, in any size, I have just made the default to work with RPG Maker XP tile Sets, Which if you look closely each individual sub graphic is 32*32 in size, and the way you think my code is written is a little wrong, it is far more complicated than that to allow for flexibility it is hard really for me to put out without giving you a look into several classes as I have split the functionality of the program into manageable classes (Object Orientated Programming).

 

[jneul]

Actually Glitchfinder when they did earlier releases of Word they did have those features in their list of available features.
If you ever have done any computer program development, you would know to do these things, I have previously been an developer based in the UK and have over 3 years experience you think I would know a thing or two by now.
Oh and btw I am programming in XNA (using c#), its not really that hard to be honest, and its not relying on windows forms for the GUI either, I am using a brand new GUI built from the ground up (in XNA).

 

[Glitchfinder]

Actually Glitchfinder when they did earlier releases of Word they did have those features in their list of available features.

That's because Microsoft Word was released very early on, for Windows. It was released at a time when most computer programs didn't have saved files, and, at the time, it was revolutionary compared to its competition. If Microsoft tried that kind of thing now, they'd be heckled worldwide, because people no longer think those kinds of things are features. In fact, now they take them for granted.

 

[jneul]

I think you really don't understand how development works, you think you know better, but may I ask you just one question, have you any qualifications in development?? If so then sure I will take everything back, this is the way I was taught to do things and i did not do my course that long ago (5 years ago).
Heckle all you want, you will also be making fun at lots of experienced individuals who taught me how to do development as well.
Oh and if you carry on I will shut down this thread.

 

[Glitchfinder]

I think you really don't understand how development works, you think you know better, but may I ask you just one question, have you any qualifications in development??

It depends what you think of as qualifications. I am an experienced programmer in several languages, and am currently learning several more. I also have experience in the design process, although I was never paid professionally for the work I did at that point.

If so then sure I will take everything back, this is the way I was taught to do things and i did not do my course that long ago (5 years ago).

If you haven't updated your programming skills in 5 years, I recommend you take a refresher course. Accepted programming styles changes almost on a monthly basis, and the slowest estimate I've heard about how long anything relating to computers becomes obsolete is eighteen months, and that's hardware, which has physical restrictions placed on development, whereas programming is more fluid, dynamic, and likely to change.

Heckle all you want, you will also be making fun at lots of experienced individuals who taught me how to do development as well.

I'm not heckling you. I'm merely trying to give you some advice. I used the word heckle in reference to what would happen to Microsoft, worldwide, if they included something as basic as opening and saving files in the list of "features" in a new release.

Oh and if you carry on I will shut down this thread.

Why do you consider this to be a threat of any sort? Threads like this come and go, sometimes on a monthly basis. So far, the only way you've distinguished yourself from the general crowd is by taking most of the honest advice I was giving you and turning it into a personal insult against you and those who taught you to program. As for the threat itself, it's akin to a customer in a store owned by a multinational corporation with millions of other customers telling a manager that they will never shop at that store again, if the manager doesn't give them what they want. All it succeeds at doing is annoying the manager, because the threat would make virtually no difference to the one being threatened if actually carried out.

 

[jneul]

I don't take it as a threat it's just ridiculous how this thread has gone...
Have you not paid any attention to what I said earlier as well i Have been weoriking as a programmer fo the past couple of years, so I always have to keep up to date, anyway it does not matter anymore.
I am fed up of this already I will come back here when I am finished RPG Inventor. I am sure then more people will be less sceptical on this site.
Oh and btw, have you actually even looked at what i have done so far?? or did you just close down the website after you experienced problems??
All I needed was input on what people would like adding to the system, as it improves the final product.
Goodbye - / End Thread

 

[Glitchfinder]

I don't take it as a threat it's just ridiculous how this thread has gone...
Have you not paid any attention to what I said earlier as well i Have been weoriking as a programmer fo the past couple of years, so I always have to keep up to date, anyway it does not matter anymore.
I am fed up of this already I will come back here when I am finished RPG Inventor. I am sure then more people will be less sceptical on this site.
Oh and btw, have you actually even looked at what i have done so far?? or did you just close down the website after you experienced problems??
All I needed was input on what people would like adding to the system, as it improves the final product.
Goodbye - / End Thread

Yes, I have looked at what you had on the site, which wasn't much. You listed a few features, which you also listed here. I looked at the screenshot, but, since the comments I had about it had already been made, I felt that I would not add anything by restating them. As for working as a programmer, that means nothing. Just because you have a job in a given field does not automatically mean you are up to date. I've seen IT professionals who knew less about computers than I did in high school, and yet there they were, making money running networks using outdated methods and knowledge that I could have topped.

Now, I know you've posted this on several other sites, so let me stress something important about this site. Here, members are encouraged to give criticism as well as suggestions, because many of us feel that, if the criticism is actually taken into consideration, it can make you better at whatever you're trying to do. On the other hand, many of the other sites that you've probably posted on, like RPG RPG Revolution, don't encourage much in the way of criticism, but rather, have the members sugar coat everything. To be honest, this thread hasn't degenerated nearly as far as other threads I've seen in the past.

 

[Zeriab]

This is a sad thread. :sad:
This is a perfect example of how not to act to criticism. Don't let your ego be in the way of your product.
jneul apparently will not come back, but that does not mean this thread has lost it's purpose. It's a perfect example for other developers to learn from.
You don't live long enough solely to learn from your own mistakes. Learn from others mistakes as well

How should jneul had acted? Critically consider the information provided and see how the product can be improved based on the information. Don't apply it all, that's not what I am saying. I am saying that one should relate it to ones product and ones goal. We want our product to be as good as possible. (Well, unless we just want to earn money)
Don't ridicule others opinion by some authority argument. (I know best and therefore I can close my ears to critic, mhmm)

I believe that the RTP license states that the RPG Maker XP RTP cannot be used in other software, so be sure that you can get a license which legally allows you to use the RTP in RPG Inventor.

*hugs*
- Zeriab

 

[Ellie]

Hi,

Thought I'd try it out so I downloaded the alpha:

- First of all took ages to install
- Secondly, the program does not run

All that happens is "RPG Inventor has stopped working..." comes up on clicking the icon in the start menu.

Windows Vista Home Prem
64-bit
4 GB Ram
2.0ghz dual core Pentium
.NET framework latest

 

[Anonymouse]

(1)I don't take it as a threat it's just ridiculous how this thread has gone...
(2) Have you not paid any attention to what I said earlier as well i Have been weoriking as a programmer fo the past couple of years, so I always have to keep up to date, anyway it does not matter anymore.
(3) I am fed up of this already I will come back here when I am finished RPG Inventor. I am sure then more people will be less sceptical on this site.
(4) Oh and btw, have you actually even looked at what i have done so far?? or did you just close down the website after you experienced problems??
5) All I needed was input on what people would like adding to the system, as it improves the final product.
Goodbye - / End Thread

1) How did you expect it to go? Even if you don't ask for it people will voice what they think of it. Trust me I made one of these topics myself (did not go down hill like this one, but then again I never posted it on RMXP.net; when this site was known as that). I see topics like this popping up all over, everyday (seems like it any way).

2) Claiming you have something is nothing. True or not people need some proof; even if that proof was a Name Generator or Calculator program. Something to back up your claim of having the knowledge to do this.

3) Bad idea; I mean if you are serious about it topics like this can help and improve. Showing screen shots and constant updates to a topic like this would grab more people and show them you are serious about this. Why give up? Wrong or right the members here voiced their opinion and if you can't take that can you truly handle a project as this? I mean in my topic I made I clearly stated to people that I had no programming experience and even though they knew this some had bad things to say; but I ignored them. It's like following a dream; no one can say you can't unless you believe them!!!

4) No need to get mad; first off a domain name would help in getting a few people to believe you are serious about this and finding a designer (free or paid). Remember they are not judging you for what you did BUT FOR WHAT YOU DID NOT DO!!!!!

5) You may have wanted just that, but you will get peoples opinions. Just ignore them or reply in a PROFESSIONAL way.

 

[jneul]

oh yeah I plan to get a domain name don't worry it is on my list of things to do, I have realized that I have already done a whole load of things wrong, I will try and handle things better next time, as for the way I started this off, I think you are right I should have put some pictures here, but they would have only been the same as the ones on my website and on my photo bucket account, so I though it would be better to direct link to my website, oh well maybe I should take a long look at how I am pesenting things as it obviously has affected this project, and people's view on it, yeah i know it was my bad, never mind, I can't take it back now...
As for the issue Commodore Whynot is experiencing, I have put up a new version since then, is it still not working?? I know the first version I put up did not work, (because I forgot to remove a file that caused a problem), trouble is I have had no feedback from any of the users if the newer version I put up is ok, I have no other pc's to try this out on, but by your specs the program should easily run on it, because mine is less powerful and its the one I am developing it on, I may release the source code to other people to try and figure out what is happening on other peoples computers, that way I can get the issue fixed

 

[jneul]

Ok just to say a big sorry to everyone who has taken their time to download and install this, but unfortunately I have been informed by one of my friends that not even the new version is not loading, I am now working with them in an attempt to resolve this, as a result the file will be unavailable until this issue is resolved.
Again I offer my apologies, and I hope to have a version that works for you all very soon

 

[Alexander Morou]

I'm just curious, but how much functionality is presently in your eventing model for RPG Inventor?

I ask, because it appears as though you have... a map editor, and a party system.

Depending on the level of complexity involved, a map editor can take around 24 hours to code (I was dared once...).

What else is done (please refrain from mentioning basic I/O persistence operations, and behaviors related to program centric project management)?

Edit:
Your website goes to mention that it intends to be used for the PC or the XBox 360. I'm assuming this is why you've opted to construct your own interface controls for use on either platform. Have you done the proper research to determine whether such a program would be allowable on the 360 given it would be a development program versus an actual game, in and of itself? Just food for thought.