RPG Maker game gets $8,000

[regi]

Well, regardless of game quality, it looks like users at that site are pretty generous with their money
I mean, even 100 bucks off that site would be good enough for me. As for any commercial projects planned for the future.. I know where to go!

 

[Ellie]

I really, really wish I'd had that kind of money when I was into RPG Maker more. I could have done so much.

Maybe we can try and get indiephiliacs to come here more and fund some projects, haha.

 

[StudioBlue]

I didn't mean it's a bad thing to use a pre-made engine; saying that would make me a hypocrite. It's the fact that at no point has he given the slightest indication that he's using a program so aptly called RPG MAKER. It's not required for him to do so, I'm pretty sure, but I think he doesn't want to share the fact that the base of his game and -- at this point -- a lot of his resources, can be acquired by anyone for sixty bucks.

If he were straight with everyone, I would be able to accept this easier. Right now it just seems sort of wrong, even if it really isn't.

That being said, I agree with regi; the OST is good, but the graphics seem sort of cheesy.

I understand what you are saying, Spooky, and your point is valid, but that would be like saying a company like SquareEnix would be obliged (not required) to reveal that it was using Unity3D instead of Crystal (or whatever their homebrew engine is), and then have to justify getting $10,000,000 from investors when Unity3D costs like $500.

That $8000 may have gone to those cheesy 3D gaphics, or to the music, instead of lining his pockets.

Or maybe the designer has a Kia now. :P

Anyway, what you are saying makes sense from an emotional standpoint, but is completely illogical from a business standpoint. If you can get money from investors (fans) and are not lying (withholding information is not lying) to them, then it's all okay.

Now if you take their money and don't deliver, or deliver pure crap, then ya...you're in the wrong.

 

[Ellie]

$8,000 really doesn't get you much graphics wise, especially if you're paying the graphical artists fairly for their work.

 

[StudioBlue]

$8,000 really doesn't get you much graphics wise, especially if you're paying the graphical artists fairly for their work.

True, and from the look of Aleph, you get what you paid for...

Still, I've had some Graphics Artists offer all of their pixel or tile work for $300 to $500, so this is something to consider.

 

[Ceiling_Cat]

paying the graphical artists fairly

I almost died laughing.

Seriously, I'd shit myself if somebody offered me $200 for a 2048px spriteset, let alone $500 or a "fair" payment.

 

[Ellie]

You should check out professional graphical artists then. Yes, a guy from an RPG Maker forum would be shitting themselves over $200, but that's different and also exploitative.

 

[Jason]

I've made $70 before... do I win? D:

 

[BlueScope]

While it's not really on topic: Basically, Wyatt is right about the issue entirely... in reality, from-scratch graphics of any kind are expensive as shit, and that for a reason (which I can say as a graphic designer :p ). People need graphics, and oher people can do them. Still, to get a deal, one person has to be able to pay the other. Because this is indie and people have no money (and those who do don't want to spend it), artists have to lower their prices to make a job happen in the first place.

That applies to multiple areas, though... take script support, where people can ask about their problems and 75% of the time get a satisfying answer out of it, all for free. If your programming team sits on their asses in a commercial project, you most likely will need an expert on the subject they're stuck on, and try to find someone who only helps you 75% of the way, however for free... hah.
I'd say unless anyone here actually works in a related business (like me in media design) or did some extensive research, I don't think many people around indie communities have an objective sense of prices regarding any kind of resources.

 

[dinnerordie17]

Hmm... good for him but those rewards you get for donating: weapons naming, npc naming, town naming, mary sueing.... it sounds like he had to sell its soul a bit.

 

[udivision]

Hmm... good for him but those rewards you get for donating: weapons naming, npc naming, town naming, mary sueing.... it sounds like he had to sell its soul a bit.

I think his soul was the $500 donation prize.

 

[Ellie]

Some people just have that kind of money to spend on little things like this, I guess. Which isn't a bad thing at all; I'd personally find something better before spending that much though!

 

[StudioBlue]

Some people just have that kind of money to spend on little things like this, I guess. Which isn't a bad thing at all; I'd personally find something better before spending that much though!

Agreed, for 8k, I'd get a developer to make me a 3D RPG engine that did exactly what I wanted (of course I can model and rig in 3D, so 3D art isn't as big a deal).

Heck, for 8K, I'd probably just purchase a Unity 3D license.

 

[R.J.]

I didn't mean it's a bad thing to use a pre-made engine; saying that would make me a hypocrite. It's the fact that at no point has he given the slightest indication that he's using a program so aptly called RPG MAKER. It's not required for him to do so, I'm pretty sure, but I think he doesn't want to share the fact that the base of his game and -- at this point -- a lot of his resources, can be acquired by anyone for sixty bucks.

If he were straight with everyone, I would be able to accept this easier. Right now it just seems sort of wrong, even if it really isn't.

That being said, I agree with regi; the OST is good, but the graphics seem sort of cheesy.

I understand what you are saying, Spooky, and your point is valid, but that would be like saying a company like SquareEnix would be obliged (not required) to reveal that it was using Unity3D instead of Crystal (or whatever their homebrew engine is), and then have to justify getting $10,000,000 from investors when Unity3D costs like $500.

That $8000 may have gone to those cheesy 3D gaphics, or to the music, instead of lining his pockets.

Or maybe the designer has a Kia now. :P

Anyway, what you are saying makes sense from an emotional standpoint, but is completely illogical from a business standpoint. If you can get money from investors (fans) and are not lying (withholding information is not lying) to them, then it's all okay.

Now if you take their money and don't deliver, or deliver pure crap, then ya...you're in the wrong.

But... He used the RMVX RTP for all his maps and perhaps even some characters. I'm pretty sure the "backers" are under the impression he created everything himself.

Anyway, I have to say I am amazed. I never would have thought an RPG Maker game could make so much money. I really can't see the value in this game, but I suppose the backers did.

 

[Spoo]

It feels like I am in the process of climbing a gigantic wall. If I look up, all I see is more wall. If I look down, I see how far I have come. I can't just let go, so I have to keep climbing higher and higher and sometime (soonish would be nice) in the future when I look up I will see the top. It is exhausting, but at the same time a lot of fun. Creating this game is the perfect mix of art, music, technical know-how, and problem-solving abilities. As much as people are looking forward to playing the game, I am looking forward to completing it.

I lol'd. He's been getting messages from other people besides me, apparently. He accused me of making a duplicate account to pester him more. The funny thing is that he got so defensive about my inquiry about RMVX.

Yeah, you need to stop making new user names specifically just to bother me with minute details of which are of no consequence to anyone but you (and I garauntee you I understand the EULA far better than you - obviously I do otherwise you wouldn't be pestering me with such garbage).

I don't know why you feel the need to waste your time with this. I am sorry you made a pokemon fan game with RPG Maker and nobody liked it or whatever, but that is not my problem. Do not contact me any further.

Apparently this guy has a degree in English. Funny how he misspells words, makes grammar mistakes, and has generally flawed logic. I'm not saying he's a fraud based on this -- it's the internet, spell things how you want -- but I do think his defensiveness on the topic confirms my theory that he doesn't want people to know he's using RMVX for his "masterpiece."


Anyways, sorry for starting up my anger mode again; I read his response and thought it was pretty funny.

 

[Juan J. Sánchez]

I don't mind telling people I'm making my game on RPG Maker XP, specially since I'm custom coding most of it. But boy it would be nice to give a talented spriter $8000 to make me custom graphics. Besides, I would be able to sell the game. I'd also pay someone else to translate the game. I'd probably market handheld devices.

At least it's free to dream.

 

[StudioBlue]

Apparently this guy has a degree in English. Funny how he misspells words, makes grammar mistakes, and has generally flawed logic. I'm not saying he's a fraud based on this -- it's the internet, spell things how you want -- but I do think his defensiveness on the topic confirms my theory that he doesn't want people to know he's using RMVX for his "masterpiece."


Anyways, sorry for starting up my anger mode again; I read his response and thought it was pretty funny.

Well, that defensiveness blows my defense of him out of the water.

Seriously, like Juan said, be proud of what you are doing. Transparency is the key.

Shit, I think I'll try to do this for my upcoming game, only I'll be totally honest. And won't hold back any details for my backers.

And when I get $10.00 only, and that is from my mother, we will all know the truth.

 

[BlueScope]

I don't see how honesty really has anything to do with it... if he gets the money needed for him to make this game, and people who donated get a game they like to play, why does it matter what he made it with? It's like saying "Hey doc, you saved my life by lieing to me, but it wasn't right... DIE!" *stabs*

Whichever floats the boat, I say... and there really is no loser here, because noone got ripped off - there were no promises made that it's 100% self made.

 

[Draycos Goldaryn]

Whichever floats the boat, I say... and there really is no loser here, because noone got ripped off - there were no promises made that it's 100% self made.

My thoughts exactly....

I second that emotion.

 

[Echo Magnum]

We're all just jealous blue :blank: , your right lol ...