RTP Graphics?

[Venetia]

Another idea, and this is what I'll be doing eventually, is to offer your game for free, but offer "exclusive content" for a donation.

So if you give a donation, you get, say, 5 new really neat sidequests and some cool gear. It's an incentive, while still giving people the opportunity to play your game and let it get popular without charging for it. Might be an excuse to allow the gfx to be a shortcoming, too.

 

[Twirly]

Well ok, maybe Second Sun, but we'll see about that.

(SSun will be all-original, BTW :3)

I know that is why I would buy it :3

Another idea, and this is what I'll be doing eventually, is to offer your game for free, but offer "exclusive content" for a donation.

So if you give a donation, you get, say, 5 new really neat sidequests and some cool gear. It's an incentive, while still giving people the opportunity to play your game and let it get popular without charging for it. Might be an excuse to allow the gfx to be a shortcoming, too.

That's a good idea. I think Wyatt does the same with Vengeance, right?

 

[computerwizoo7]

actually i don't see it as bad to use the rtp graphics because i did pay for it!

 

[Ellie]

I've leaned against the RTP graphics to be honest. I used to be all like "yeah, they're alright" but after playing a few games such as Master of the Wind I realised I couldn't play them seriously without picking out the mapping errors, seeing the quite horiffic mapping, etc, that I don't think I'd have noticed as much if it wasn't something I'd worked with for years.

I think if RMXP was brand new and I'd never heard of it, the graphics would still be poor. Areas are too open, there's too much going on in the characters, and there's just too much detail. I prefer the 16x16 style of RM2k/3, and old style kinda graphics. The RMXP RTP and RMVX RTP seem to be trying to fill the void between 16x16 and 3D, which was never filled in commercial gaming and so they're in unchartered territory, and it kinda sucks.

I don't think I could ever play a commercial RTP game, as I wouldn't be able to take said game seriously enough to buy it. That's not to say I'd never play a commercial RMXP/VX game, just the RTP present would put me off.

 

[ellenor]

Well it is not wrong to use the rpt graphic BUT! you need to know that some people have seen it before and they don't gona want to buy something that they have already seen....
If you make original graphic it will be easier for you to get customers ^^
Ok if we take aveyond....
The first one was pretty bad... So I just played the demo.
Aveyond 2 on the other hand had almost only orginal well made tilesets ^^
And I actually bought that game.... Heh :P

 

[feralninja]

Well, it kinda depends on how good game is other than the RTP graphics.

But, i personally do like custom graphics more. (And would perhaps pay a little more for such a game.)

 

[Glitchfinder]

The thing is, the default materials are definitely good enough to make a game. You just won't be getting a good sampling of the real results here. People here have worked far too long with the RTP, and have been desensitized to it. Yes, they wouldn't buy the RTP. But, I've seen a few custom games posted on non-RM boards, and they all ended up with a lot of posts to the effect of "Where did you get those graphics? They're not from anything we've seen, and they look really good!" In effect, you've got to know your market. If RM communities are your market, then you've got to comue up with original graphics. If your target is the general public, then not even 1% of them will actually know and recognize the RTP, and most will think they look new and original. (Although, the audio RTP my seem familiar to many of them, because many of the tracks borrow heavily from other, more popular game music) So, the final verdict is: Know your audience.

 

[Venetia]

Well, even then, the XP RTP is just ... Well ... It's kinda ugly. (and VX is blocky as shit)
I mean, even someone who's never been in the RM world, like my husband, well he took a glance at a quick little side deal I did in RTP a few years back, and immediately said, "Ew ... Why is it so empty? Why is the character so small? Why are the colors all murky? :/"

Some people here like it for some reason, but it turns off a lot of people, too.

 

[Nachos]

If you use the RTP, the people won't take your game seriously. It shows that you haven't really made an effort in making the game. But there are some exeptions, like this game:

http://www.rmxp.org/forums/index.php?topic=42176.0

Anyway, its my opinion.

 

[Doctor]

If this was 1995, yeah.

Now, however, no. Really, really, no.

I don't mind RTP graphics in free games at all, but if you're going to make us PAY for your game, you better have put some effort in it, that means original graphics, great storyline and gameplay and pleasing music.

I personally blame Aveyond for this whole commercial craze; why can't you just let rpg making be a hobby?

 

[Venetia]

I personally blame Aveyond for this whole commercial craze; why can't you just let rpg making be a hobby?

QFT

but you atleast have to hand it to lambchop for ruining the market before anyone else could. initiative and good timing, friends!

 

[Ellie]

Why does it have to just be a hobby?

And the "commercial craze" started way before Aveyond. It's just Aveyond made people realise it was actually possible.

 

[Doctor]

I personally blame Aveyond for this whole commercial craze; why can't you just let rpg making be a hobby?

QFT

but you atleast have to hand it to lambchop for ruining the market before anyone else could. initiative and good timing, friends!

What's QFT? quiet fuck-tard?

Why does it have to just be a hobby?

And the "commercial craze" started way before Aveyond. It's just Aveyond made people realise it was actually possible.

Isn't that what I said?

 

[Ellie]

You said "why can't it just be a hobby?"

I said "Why does it have to just be a hobby?"

 

[Doctor]

You said "why can't it just be a hobby?"

I said "Why does it have to just be a hobby?"

Ah, I apologize, I misread you.

Well, it SHOULD be a hobby because NO ONE will ever make a living out of rmxp, and any time that is spent on it not being a hobby will eventually crush you.

 

[Nachos]

Well, it SHOULD be a hobby because NO ONE will ever make a living out of rmxp, and any time that is spent on it not being a hobby will eventually crush you.

That's not what Enterbrain said... haha

 

[Doctor]

Well, it SHOULD be a hobby because NO ONE will ever make a living out of rmxp, and any time that is spent on it not being a hobby will eventually crush you.

That's not what Enterbrain said... haha

Yeah, and what motivation would Enterbrain have for lying to us... nope, can't think of one ¬_¬

 

[Venetia]

I personally blame Aveyond for this whole commercial craze; why can't you just let rpg making be a hobby?

QFT

but you atleast have to hand it to lambchop for ruining the market before anyone else could. initiative and good timing, friends!

What's QFT? quiet fuck-tard?

quoted for truth :/

Well, it SHOULD be a hobby because NO ONE will ever make a living out of rmxp, and any time that is spent on it not being a hobby will eventually crush you.

That's not what Enterbrain said... haha

Yeah, and what motivation would Enterbrain have for lying to us... nope, can't think of one ¬_¬

I'm fairly certain that they INTENDED it to be a hobby-engine all along, obviously people (not @ doc, at anyone) ... There's a special reason why it's pared down to hell and costs $60, not $5-$20k :O

 

[computerwizoo7]

I think that this is a great engine and the reason why its for$60 is because the scripts are not that good and you will have to make your own stuff to put in it, etc.
however that don't mean that you should not use what they have started for you which is the RTP Graphics!
you can make new graphics and scripts but its not really necessary to make a good game, also no one game will have everyone in the world rooting for it.

 

[RPG Messiah]

A lot of you made excellent points. The 2 responses that I adhere to the most are Glitchfinder's & Kain Nobel's. The amount of revenue that you're hoping to obtain from an RTP-based game depends on your target market, the presentation of your project, and the overall quality of the game.

Target Market: As mentioned previously, you'll ideally have much more success trying to sell an RM game to the general public, rather than communities that are based off of using that particular game engine. RM users have become accustomed to the default style so your main character, for example, is being related to a game that person just played last week.

Presentation: Even if you produce a top-notch game, if you don't prove to people that it's worth the money, then there's no motive behind taking that chance. This can be achieve by going above & beyond by releasing a demo, capturing in-game footage, making a fancy manual, making a clean & detailed thread, etc.

Overall Quality: This basically reflects the amount of effort that you put into the game. If you don't touch any of the RTP, whatsoever, and decide to use them as is, then there is no way I will be buying that game. AT LEAST frankensprite, recolor, make edits, include custom images, etc. Other factors that are obviously important include designing unique mechanics, original items, creative elements, status ailments, and much more.

So all in all......I would purchase an RM game on a rare occasion.