This tutorial will explain how to compress your RPG Maker XP or RPG Maker VX game and create an encrypted archive. I'll be explaining the way in which you can do so while creating the smallest file size possible and allowing anyone (not just someone with the program) to play your game.
Customizing the RTP
The first thing you have to do is "customize" the RTP that your game will use. This is done in the Resource Manager, but you first need to know what RTP you're using. This includes any graphics - characters, battlers, tilesets, windowskins, etc. - and music that isn't already custom. You may wish to customize all of the RTP for convenience, and although that's an option, it would make your game folder larger, which means it would take longer to upload and download. Plus, it takes a while to customize a large amount of items.
Now, go into the Resource Manager. Find each file you need and, for each of them, click the "Extract" button on the right. When you're prompted to choose a location, put it in its original folder. For example, if you're using "Project1/Audio/BGM/001-Battle01", you'd place it in "Project1/Audio/BGM". What this does is classify the files as custom. If you go into a different directory and return, the file you extracted should now have an orange circle instead of a blue one.
Alternatively, if you're using RPG Maker VX, you could check the "Include RTP" box when you compress the game. However, this includes all the RTP, not just what you need.
Creating an Encrypted Archive
This is something extra you need to do if you want to create an encrypted archive. Inside the editor, go into File > Compress Game Data... , check the "Create Encrypted Archive" box, and save the file somewhere easy to find (I recommend your desktop). Now, find the *.exe file and extract it (be aware that you can't extract it in the same place that the original game folder was, so I suggest sticking with the desktop). This seems completely counter-productive, but you'll now notice that your archive is encrypted, not open for editing.
Including the RGSS Library
Without the RGSS library, the game can't run. You'd normally need the full RTP (in VX) to include these files, but you can find the files on your computer, as well (if you have the legal version). For XP, do a computer search for RGSS102E.dll. For VX, search for RGSS202E.dll. Copy the file and paste it into your game folder (if you've encrypted the database, put it in that folder).
Configuring And Zipping it Up
There's one more thing you have to do to the game folder before you compress it. Go into the Configuration Settings file located in the project folder. If you're using RPG Maker XP, delete "Standard" next to RTP1= so it'll just be "RTP1=" on that line. If you're using RPG Maker VX, delete "RPGVX" next to RTP= so it'll just be "RTP=" on that line. That's all you have to do with the configuration settings.
The most common form of compression using this method is the *.zip file. Alternatively, you could use a *.rar file using WinRAR, but I've found that not everyone has WinRAR, which is required to extract files from a *.rar file. To make either file, right click in an empty space in any directory (desktop, a folder, etc.) and go down to New > Compressed/Zipped File. Name the compressed file. Now, drag and drop the game folder (with the RGSS library) into the zipped file. Your computer should compress the data automatically. You've now made a game that can work whether or not the user has the RTP! Now, just upload it to a file hosting site and give people the link so they can download it.
Customizing the RTP
The first thing you have to do is "customize" the RTP that your game will use. This is done in the Resource Manager, but you first need to know what RTP you're using. This includes any graphics - characters, battlers, tilesets, windowskins, etc. - and music that isn't already custom. You may wish to customize all of the RTP for convenience, and although that's an option, it would make your game folder larger, which means it would take longer to upload and download. Plus, it takes a while to customize a large amount of items.
Now, go into the Resource Manager. Find each file you need and, for each of them, click the "Extract" button on the right. When you're prompted to choose a location, put it in its original folder. For example, if you're using "Project1/Audio/BGM/001-Battle01", you'd place it in "Project1/Audio/BGM". What this does is classify the files as custom. If you go into a different directory and return, the file you extracted should now have an orange circle instead of a blue one.
Alternatively, if you're using RPG Maker VX, you could check the "Include RTP" box when you compress the game. However, this includes all the RTP, not just what you need.
Creating an Encrypted Archive
This is something extra you need to do if you want to create an encrypted archive. Inside the editor, go into File > Compress Game Data... , check the "Create Encrypted Archive" box, and save the file somewhere easy to find (I recommend your desktop). Now, find the *.exe file and extract it (be aware that you can't extract it in the same place that the original game folder was, so I suggest sticking with the desktop). This seems completely counter-productive, but you'll now notice that your archive is encrypted, not open for editing.
Including the RGSS Library
Without the RGSS library, the game can't run. You'd normally need the full RTP (in VX) to include these files, but you can find the files on your computer, as well (if you have the legal version). For XP, do a computer search for RGSS102E.dll. For VX, search for RGSS202E.dll. Copy the file and paste it into your game folder (if you've encrypted the database, put it in that folder).
Configuring And Zipping it Up
There's one more thing you have to do to the game folder before you compress it. Go into the Configuration Settings file located in the project folder. If you're using RPG Maker XP, delete "Standard" next to RTP1= so it'll just be "RTP1=" on that line. If you're using RPG Maker VX, delete "RPGVX" next to RTP= so it'll just be "RTP=" on that line. That's all you have to do with the configuration settings.
The most common form of compression using this method is the *.zip file. Alternatively, you could use a *.rar file using WinRAR, but I've found that not everyone has WinRAR, which is required to extract files from a *.rar file. To make either file, right click in an empty space in any directory (desktop, a folder, etc.) and go down to New > Compressed/Zipped File. Name the compressed file. Now, drag and drop the game folder (with the RGSS library) into the zipped file. Your computer should compress the data automatically. You've now made a game that can work whether or not the user has the RTP! Now, just upload it to a file hosting site and give people the link so they can download it.
