RPG Maker

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This article is about the entire RPG Maker series. For the first RPG Maker for the PlayStation, see RPG Maker (PlayStation).
RPG Maker

An example of the RPG Maker XP map-making interface. This screenshot also displays objects such as NPCs.
Developed by ASCII / Enterbrain / Agetec
Initial release Mamirin, 1988
Latest release RPG Tsukūru VX Microsoft Windows / December 27, 2007
Platform PC-8801, MSX2, PC-9801, Super Famicom, Microsoft Windows, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Game Boy Color, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance
Available in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, English
Genre Game creation software
Website http://www.enterbrain.com Enterbrain.com http://www.agetec.com Agetec.com

RPG Maker, known in Japan as RPG Tsukūru (RPGツクール? sometimes romanized as RPG Tkool), is the name of the expansive series of programs for the development of role-playing games (RPGs), first created by the Japanese group ASCII, then succeeded by Enterbrain. The Japanese name, Tsukūru is a pun mixing the Japanese word tsukuru (作る), which means "make" or "create", with tsūru (ツール), the Japanese transcription of the English word "tool".[1]

The RPG Maker series has been released primarily in Japan, with later versions also released in China (including Taiwan), South Korea, and North America.[2]

Contents

[edit] PC versions

RPG Maker is a program that allows users to create their own role-playing games. Most versions include a tile set based map editor, (tilesets are called chipsets in pre-XP versions), a simple scripting language for scripting events, and a battle editor. All versions include initial premade tilesets, characters, and events which can be used in creating new games. An interesting feature of the PC Versions of RPG Maker programs is that a user can create new tilesets and characters, and add any new graphics he/she wants. Several sites have developed, dedicated to helping users share their creations.

[edit] History

According to Enterbrain, RPG Tsukūru Dante 98, released on December 17, 1992, was the first game of the RPG Maker series,[3][4] although there were a few RPG making software by ASCII preceding it. This, along with its follow-up RPG Tsukūru Dante 98 II, was made for NEC PC-9801, and games created with these programs can be played on a Windows computer with emulators called Dante for Windows and D2win, respectively.[5]

RPG Maker 95 was the first Microsoft Windows-based RPG Maker game. Despite being an early version, RPG Maker 95 has both a higher screen resolution, and higher sprite and tile resolution than the several following versions.

RPG Maker 2000 (also called RM2k) was the second release of RPG Maker for Microsoft Windows. While it is possible to do more with RM2k, it uses lower resolution sprites and tiles than RPG Maker 95. However, it does not have a noticeable limit of 'sprites'. Unlike RM95, which can only use one 'set', RM2k can use an unlimited number of sprite sheets with specific sizes for each type. The tilesets also have a similar non-limitation. However, because tiles must be entered into a database, there is a limit on tiles. This limit however is rarely a problem (normally 5000), and even when it is, an unofficial patch exists which can bump most limits much higher at the risk of potential game corruption.

RPG Maker 2003 (also referred to as RM2k3, and sometimes RM2k/3) is largely an improvement of RM2k. RM2k games can be ported to RM2k3 (but not back to RM2k, the conversion is permanent), and most resources are interchangeable. It does however feature a side-view battle system similar to the Final Fantasy games on the Super Nintendo. This was the first version made by Enterbrain, which had previously been a part of ASCII.

RPG Maker XP (also referred to as RMXP) is the first RPG Maker which can use Ruby, making it the most powerful, programming-wise. However, many normal, simplified features present in RM2k(3) have been removed. Most of these features, however, have been programmed with Ruby, and distributed online. RMXP runs at 1024x768 resolution (though games made in it run at 640x480), while offering four times the playable area of its predecessors. Additionally, it allows greater user control over sprite size (there is no specific image size regulation for sprite sheets) and other aspects of game design. This more open-ended arrangement, coupled with the inclusion of the Ruby Game Scripting System (RGSS), makes RPG Maker XP more versatile than other versions in the series, at the cost of a steeper learning curve.

RPG Maker VX (also referred to as RMVX) is the latest RPG Maker version released by Enterbrain. Its official Japanese release date was Dec. 27 2007, and official release date in America was February 29 2008. In this new maker, the interface is more user-friendly, allowing new users to create games with ease. Frames per second rate was increased to 60, allowing a higher quality of gaming. The programming language Ruby is still implemented. New editor and a new RTP are included.

[edit] Console versions

The first console RPG Maker, RPG Tsukūru Super Dante, was debuted in 1995 for the Super Famicom, which was the port of RPG Tsukūru Dante 98.[4] The first official English language release was a Sony PlayStation version, simply called RPG Maker in the North American market. As of 2007, all North American versions of the console RPG Maker are published by Agetec.

[edit] Illegal distribution

Notably, each Windows version of RPG Maker has been, in some form, distributed illegally through the internet.[6] RPG Maker 95, as well as translation patches for the Super Nintendo titles RPG Maker Super Dante and RPG Maker 2, were translated and distributed by a group called KanjiHack. In 1999 KanjiHack closed upon receiving a cease-and-desist e-mail from ASCII's lawyers. RPG Maker 95 was re-released with a more complete translation under the name "RPG Maker 95+" by a Russian programmer, under the alias of Don Miguel,[7] who later translated and released RPG Maker 2000. Later versions, RPG Maker 2003, and RPG Maker XP, were similarly translated and distributed by a programmer under the alias of RPG Advocate. RPG Advocate took the translated versions and patches off his website and later promoted the full English version of RPG Maker XP. Both of the translations that RPG Advocate made are still in circulation.[citation needed]

[edit] Legacy

As of 2005, RPG Maker games as a whole had been sold about 2 million copies worldwide.[3]

Also, RPG Maker has been used in studies involving students learning mathematics[8] and programming[9] through the creation of role-playing games.

[edit] RPG Maker series timeline

Title Platform Region Release Date Developer Publisher
Mamirin PC-8801 Japan 1988 ASCII
Dungeon Manjirou[10] MSX2 Japan 1988 ASCII
RPG Construction Tool: Dante[11] MSX2 Japan Feb. 8, 1990 ASCII
Dante 2[12] MSX2 Japan Feb. 8, 1992 ASCII
Chimes Quest[13] PC-9801 Japan 1992 ASCII
RPG Tsukūru Dante 98[4] PC-9801 Japan Dec. 19, 1992 ASCII
Dungeon RPG Tsukūru Dan-Dan Dungeon[14] PC-9801 Japan Apr. 28, 1994 ASCII
RPG Tsukūru Super Dante Super Famicom Japan Mar. 31, 1995 Kuusou Kagaku ASCII
RPG Tsukūru Dante 98 II[4] PC-9801 Japan Jul. 14, 1996 ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 2 Super Famicom Japan Jan. 31, 1996 Kuusou Kagaku ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 95 Microsoft Windows Japan Mar. 28, 1997 ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 95 Value! Nov. 21, 2001 Enterbrain
Simulation RPG Tsukūru Sega Saturn, PlayStation Japan Sep. 17, 1998 Pegasus Japan ASCII
Enterbrain Collection: Simulation RPG Tsukūru PlayStation Japan Nov. 29, 2001 Enterbrain
Simulation RPG Tsukūru 95 Microsoft Windows Japan May. 29, 1998 ASCII
Simulation RPG Tsukūru 95 Value! Nov. 21, 2001 Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru 3 PlayStation Japan Nov. 27, 1997 Kuusou Kagaku ASCII
PlayStation the Best: RPG Tsukūru 3 Nov. 19, 1998 ASCII
RPG Maker USA Sep. 18, 2000 Agetec
RPG Tsukūru GB Game Boy Color Japan Mar. 17, 2000 Kuusou Kagaku ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 2000 Microsoft Windows Japan Apr. 5, 2000 ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 2000 Value! May. 14, 2003 Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru 4 PlayStation Japan Dec. 7, 2000 Enterbrain
Uchūjin Tanaka Tarou de RPG Tsukūru GB 2 Game Boy Color Japan Jul. 20, 2001 Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru 5 PlayStation 2 Japan Aug. 8, 2002 Kuusou Kagaku Enterbrain
RPG Maker 2 USA Oct. 28, 2003 Agetec
RPG Tsukūru 2003 Microsoft Windows Japan Dec. 18, 2002 Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru α[15] Microsoft Windows/Cellphone Japan Dec. 18, 2002 Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru Advance Game Boy Advance Japan Apr. 25, 2003 Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru XP Microsoft Windows Japan Jul. 22, 2004 Enterbrain
RPG Maker XP Worldwide Sept. 16, 2005 Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru PlayStation 2 Japan Dec. 16, 2004 Run Time Enterbrain
RPG Maker 3 USA Sept. 21, 2005 Agetec
RPG Tsukūru for Mobile[16] Microsoft Windows/Cellphone Internet Apr. 17, 2006 Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru VX Microsoft Windows Japan Dec. 27, 2007 Enterbrain
RPG Maker VX Worldwide Feb. 29, 2008 Enterbrain

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Outline at the official Tsukūru website (Japanese)
  2. ^ "International Licensing Business" at Enterbrain's website
  3. ^ a b Enterbrain (2005-8-16) 『RPGツクールXP』英語版 海外サイトにてダウンロード販売を開始(Japanese)
  4. ^ a b c d "RPGツクールの歴史" (History of the RPG Tsukūru) at the official Tsukūru website (Japanese)
  5. ^ [1](Japanese) at Digital Famitsu Homepage
  6. ^ "Sad Fact" at Enterbrain's website
  7. ^ A look at RPGmaker 2000, translated by Don Miguel at gfxartist.com
  8. ^ Marcus Vinicius Maltempi and Maurício Rosa. "Learning Vortex, Games and Technologies: A New Approach to the Teaching of Mathematics" (PDF). . Universidade Estadual Paulista Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
  9. ^ Tiffany Ralph and Tiffany Barnes. "The Catacombs: A study on the usability of games to teach" (PDF). . Colorado State University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
  10. ^ Dungeon Manjiro at Generation MSX
  11. ^ Dante at Generation MSX
  12. ^ Dante II at Generation MSX
  13. ^ "RPGツクールでつくーる"(Japanese)
  14. ^ "ツクール博物館" (The Tsukūru Museum) at the official Tsukūru website (Japanese)
  15. ^ RPGツクール2003製品情報 at Enterbrain's website (Japanese)
  16. ^ エンターブレイン、iアプリ対応RPGを制作できる"RPGツクール"を無償公開(Japanese) Retrieved on 2007-8-26.