HBGames
So you want to make games?
There are a variety of game making engines used on these forums. Some will gain you more support than others, but they are each good in their own ways.
At the moment, the main makers on the forums are RPG Maker XP and RPG Maker VX, though that doesn't stop you experimenting with others.
Master List of Home-Brew Game Engines
Action Game Maker
See Indie Game Maker
Construct 2
Website: http://www.scirra.com/
HBGames: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=65766
Cost: Free with limitations / Standard Edition: $79
Scripting: Javascript
Pros: Open-source plugins, direct-x 9.0 and OpenGL, can make any type of 2d game, easy-to-add physics, exports HTML5
Cons: No map editor, no premade battle system
Mapping: Object based
Game Maker
Website: http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker/
HBGames: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=65742
Cost: $30 (Game Maker 8)
Scripting: GML
Pros: Not designed for a specific type of game; plugins; cheap
Cons: Same as pros, depending on how you look at it. No graphics supplied
Mapping: Unlimited layers
Indie Game Maker
Website: http://tkool.jp/products/IGMAKER/
HBGames: viewforum.php?f=174
Cost: $59.99
Scripting: None
Pros: Portability to X-Box, can make many types of game, plugins
Cons: No scripting
Mapping: Differs between type of game
The Official Hamster Republic Role-Playing Game Construction Engine
(OHRRPGCE for short.)
Website: http://hamsterrepublic.com/ohrrpgce/ind ... _Page.html
Cost: Nothing. Freeware, open-source.
Scripting: "Plotscripts"
Pros: Active support by developers, ease of use, open-source.
Cons: Relatively limited in map number, global Boolean available, and customization options. No graphics included.
Mapping: One layer with square tiles you must draw yourself. Passability customizable in map editor tile-by-tile.
RPG Maker 2000/3
Website: N/A
HBGames: N/A
Cost: $50 (Japanese import), no legal English edition (google is your friend)
Scripting: None, event editor
Pros: Ease of use, graphics provided
Cons: low resolution (16x16 graphics 2-up), no scripting
Notes: 2003 is essentially 2000 with a different battle system and slight tweaks (2k3 is sideview)
Mapping: 2 + 1 layers (base, second, object)
RPG Maker XP
Website: http://tkool.jp/products/rpgxp/eng/
HBGames: Widely supported across the site
Cost: $30
Scripting: Ruby (RGSS) with some loss of functionality (i.e. "Require")
Pros: Ease of use, widely supported, graphics provided
Cons: set resolution, not open-source therefore cannot improve the editor
Mapping: 3 + 1 layers (base, second, third, object)
RPG Maker VX
Website: http://tkool.jp/products/rpgvx/eng/index.html
HBGames: Widely supported across the site
Cost: $30
Scripting: Ruby (RGSS2) with some loss of functionality (i.e. "Require")
Pros: Ease of use, widely supported, graphics provided
Cons: not open-source therefore cannot improve the editor
Mapping: 2 + 1 layers (base, second, object)
Notes: RPG Maker 95 is not mentioned here as it has basically no presence in the English community, and I personally do not know enough about it. Feel free to post a description as above if you really wish.
There are a variety of game making engines used on these forums. Some will gain you more support than others, but they are each good in their own ways.
At the moment, the main makers on the forums are RPG Maker XP and RPG Maker VX, though that doesn't stop you experimenting with others.
Action Game Maker
See Indie Game Maker
Construct 2
Website: http://www.scirra.com/
HBGames: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=65766
Cost: Free with limitations / Standard Edition: $79
Scripting: Javascript
Pros: Open-source plugins, direct-x 9.0 and OpenGL, can make any type of 2d game, easy-to-add physics, exports HTML5
Cons: No map editor, no premade battle system
Mapping: Object based
Game Maker
Website: http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker/
HBGames: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=65742
Cost: $30 (Game Maker 8)
Scripting: GML
Pros: Not designed for a specific type of game; plugins; cheap
Cons: Same as pros, depending on how you look at it. No graphics supplied
Mapping: Unlimited layers
Indie Game Maker
Website: http://tkool.jp/products/IGMAKER/
HBGames: viewforum.php?f=174
Cost: $59.99
Scripting: None
Pros: Portability to X-Box, can make many types of game, plugins
Cons: No scripting
Mapping: Differs between type of game
The Official Hamster Republic Role-Playing Game Construction Engine
(OHRRPGCE for short.)
Website: http://hamsterrepublic.com/ohrrpgce/ind ... _Page.html
Cost: Nothing. Freeware, open-source.
Scripting: "Plotscripts"
Pros: Active support by developers, ease of use, open-source.
Cons: Relatively limited in map number, global Boolean available, and customization options. No graphics included.
Mapping: One layer with square tiles you must draw yourself. Passability customizable in map editor tile-by-tile.
RPG Maker 2000/3
Website: N/A
HBGames: N/A
Cost: $50 (Japanese import), no legal English edition (google is your friend)
Scripting: None, event editor
Pros: Ease of use, graphics provided
Cons: low resolution (16x16 graphics 2-up), no scripting
Notes: 2003 is essentially 2000 with a different battle system and slight tweaks (2k3 is sideview)
Mapping: 2 + 1 layers (base, second, object)
RPG Maker XP
Website: http://tkool.jp/products/rpgxp/eng/
HBGames: Widely supported across the site
Cost: $30
Scripting: Ruby (RGSS) with some loss of functionality (i.e. "Require")
Pros: Ease of use, widely supported, graphics provided
Cons: set resolution, not open-source therefore cannot improve the editor
Mapping: 3 + 1 layers (base, second, third, object)
RPG Maker VX
Website: http://tkool.jp/products/rpgvx/eng/index.html
HBGames: Widely supported across the site
Cost: $30
Scripting: Ruby (RGSS2) with some loss of functionality (i.e. "Require")
Pros: Ease of use, widely supported, graphics provided
Cons: not open-source therefore cannot improve the editor
Mapping: 2 + 1 layers (base, second, object)
Notes: RPG Maker 95 is not mentioned here as it has basically no presence in the English community, and I personally do not know enough about it. Feel free to post a description as above if you really wish.