RPG Maker VX (RPGツクールVX RPG Tsukūru VX ) is the latest program from the RPG Maker series. It was developed by Enterbrain and is the latest in the PC RPG Maker series, following its predecessor, RPG Maker XP. RPG Maker VX follows the naming pattern present in previous RPG Maker releases by having a suffix based on the Windows versions the software was designed for (in this case, Windows Vista and Windows XP).
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RPG Maker VX RPGツクールVX |
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Developer(s) | Enterbrain |
Publisher(s) | Enterbrain Inc. Degica Co., Ltd. |
Series | RPG Maker series |
Version | 1.02 (2011-05-26) |
Platform(s) | Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 |
Release date(s) | Japan: 2007-12-11 (demo) 2007-12-27 (retail) |
Genre(s) | Game creation software |
Mode(s) | Single player |
Rating(s) | ESRB: E (Everyone) |
A Japanese trial for RPG Maker VX was released on Enterbrain's Japanese VX website and was available for download[4]. It features limited and reduced features, like the inability to save games and limited database functionality. An English version of the program is also available from Enterbrain, with full functionality and a 30-day time limit.
The standard runtime package for RPG Maker VX is available for download on the Enterbrain website. This allows users to play games created with RPG Maker VX. It was developed so that games used mostly default resources and can be distributed to the public with a small file size.
Early Japan order included Masterpiece Note notebook.[5]
In late January 2008, Enterbrain of Japan released an update that included an extra script which improved performance. This release was called RPG Maker VX 1.01 and is available to those who own the full version of the program. The last version at the moment is 1.02.
The retail version of RPG Maker VX includes following game demos, which are also available separately from the Enterbrain website:
They feature advanced effects such as pseudo-3D battle graphics, custom battle systems written in RGSS2 and more. Sword of Algus and Abyss Diver are not included with Japanese version of the product.
Many of the features included in previous versions of RPG Makers made a return.
The mapping system in RPG Maker VX differs greatly from the one used in RPG Maker XP. Instead of assigning tile sets to each map, there are nine global tile sets which can be used indiscriminately. The layer system used in previous releases has also changed, as RPG Maker VX only has two "usable" layers; one layer for Tile set A1 to A5 (which contains tiles for floors, walls, etc.) and another for tile sets B to E. Tilemap class in RGSS supports three layers, but two of them are used for combining tilesets from A1 and A2, in order to produce the autotile mapping system. Any tile from tile sets B to E always go above any tile from tile set A1-A5. It is possible, however, to create another layer of sorts assigning tile set graphics to events.
For users to import their own tiles, RPG Maker VX provides a blank, 512x512 tile set (a total of 256 possible tiles) which is by default tile set E. The size of this tile set cannot be changed, unlike in RPG Maker XP, where users could import any number of tile sets which could be of any size.
Generally, the tilesets tended to be more general than RMXP, since no tilesets are used aside from global ones; however, this prevents greater and more specialized usage of tiles. There are also fewer tiles than XP.
Tiles used for characters and objects in the native RMVX tilesets are "square-sized" with deformed profiles (similar to those found in Final Fantasy IV) rather than the height-proportional figures found in previous RPG Maker versions (or Final Fantasy VI). Designers who prefer the more realistic look of "tall" characters may readily make use of RMXP character and object tiles for this purpose. Tiles from RM2K, however, are essentially unusable because of their much-lower graphical resolution.
RPG Maker VX uses a "letter by letter" text system, as opposed to the previous version RPG Maker XP. The Windowskin graphic has been expanded to include overlay graphics, which tile automatically on top of the main Windowskin. It also and now has an image-defined color palette, where in XP users would have to use the script editor to change text colors. The faceset system seen in RPG Maker 2000 and RPG Maker 2003 can be implemented through the "Enter Message" command. Previously, users would use a special event commands to change text options. In RPG Maker VX, however, the options have been merged to the "Enter Message" command.
Making a second appearance is the Automatic Dungeon Generator from RPG Maker 2003, which automatically generates a random dungeon map. The Automatic Dungeon Generator works by prompting the user to select wall and floor tiles, then a basic dungeon is generated based on the user's selection.
The battle system in RPG Maker VX is an update of the front-view battle system seen in RPG Maker 2000 ("Dragon Warrior" style), which does not allow for character graphics.
The script editor from RPG Maker XP was updated, and is based on the language RGSS2. Users can add custom scripts to the game or edit existing ones, and the capabilities of RGSS2 provide sufficient flexibility that programmers with enough time and knowledge can add or modify virtually any game function that suits their purposes.
A new feature to RPG Maker VX is the "Quick Event Creation" function. It's a tool that allows less experienced users to create events for doors, inns, and treasure chests.
RPG Maker VX has received mixed reviews amongst the game development community. It has been praised for being much more user friendly than previous RPG Makers and for including a variety of features that otherwise had to be coded manually in previous RPG Maker installments.[6] The addition of RGSS2 has also been received favorably amongst users, although the battle system has been criticized for having no graphical representation of the actual player characters and for being largely text-based. However, scripts to make party members appear on the battle-screen, akin to Final Fantasy titles, are easily found on the internet, which simply need to be copied and pasted. It has also been criticized for the tile set limitations, which only allow for a very small number of custom tiles.[7]
Minimum | Recommended | |
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Operating system* | Microsoft Windows 2000 / XP / Vista | Microsoft Windows XP / Vista / 7 |
CPU | 1.0GHz Intel Pentium 3 equivalent | 2.0GHz Intel Pentium 4 equivalent |
Memory | 256 MB RAM | at least 512MB RAM |
Video | 1024x768 video resolution | [none specified] |
Storage | 100 MB available hard disk space | 400MB available hard disk space |
Disk drive | CD-ROM (required for retail box)† | [none specified] |
* 64-bit versions of Windows operating systems are not supported.
† Retail versions of the software packaged for sale in stores come on CD-ROM, but no optical drive is required for copies purchased via download. An internet connection is required for product activation, however, whether purchased on CD-ROM or via download.
All hardware must be DirectX-compatible.
RPG Maker VX Ace | |
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Publisher(s) | Enterbrain Inc. Japan: Kadokawa Games |
Series | RPG Maker series |
Platform(s) | Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (32 Bit or 64 Bit) |
Release date(s) | Japan: 2011-12-15 US: 2012-02 |
Genre(s) | Game creation software |
Mode(s) | Single player |
Rating(s) | ESRB: E (Everyone) |
RPG Maker VX Ace (RPGツクールVX Ace) adds the following features:
However, the game data (except art) that are made from RPG Maker VX are not compatible with this title.
Minimum | Recommended | |
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Operating system* | Microsoft Windows 2000, XP or Vista | XP, Vista or 7 |
CPU | 1.0GHz Intel Pentium 3 equivalent | 2.0GHz Intel Pentium 4 or better |
Memory | 256MB RAM | 512MB or more RAM |
Video | 1024x768 or better video resolution | (none specified) |
Storage | 100MB available hard disk space | 400MB available hard disk space |
Disk drive | CD-ROM (required for retail box)** | (none specified) |
All hardware must be DirectX-compatible.
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