211 replies to this topic

[D~N]

So, the title says it all. I plan on making a video game. It started as a joke with a friend, but now him and I are actually doing it. We realized we'd need help, so I'm recruting people in real life and, if I can, on these forums to help. The fun part is that we're seriously gunna wing it. We have no "programming" experience (we both know Visual Basic, big help that'd be) so instead we're thinking of using Adobe Flash. We'll basically be making an intensively detailed and largescale flash game, unless someone can suggest a better way of making a game than using flash. If, for example, anyone knows of a free game-creating prgram specifically for creating games, then that'd be great.

The style is an RPG with an art style similar to A Link to the Past or The Minish Cap. The game will be played top-down like most adventure/RPG games. Encountering battles (not random battles; think Mario&Luigi Superstar Saga) will take the game into a different perspective in a stage-like fashion. The game is set in a futuristic world with old technology, like steam and gear-powered machines (Final Fantasy-ish? I wouldn't know, I've never playes FF games.) I'll explain the plot if I see I've sparked enough interest.

This project is for fun, but I wanted to see if I could find some talent that would be helpful to this project. Any talents are welcome! Like drawing? Then I can put you at the head of storyboarding and concept art. Enjoy making music? Then grab your Mac and your Garage Band and make some level music! Know programming, or want to learn? I wanna learn too, so potential programmers are essential! And remember, if you have an idea that's better than Adobe Flash Player as a 'game engine' then let me know! I REALLY gotta know that much at least.

Anyway, I hope some people will find this project interesting. Maybe if it's popular enough it can become LA's big project! How cool would that be?!

Edited by D~N, 05 July 2008 - 11:40 AM.

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

You've got my attention.

In any case, if you do expand on the idea, it sounds like something interesting to work on. I personally have little experience making games, but one thing I like to toy around with is Game Maker. The "Pro Edition" requires actual money, but the "Lite" version is free and is quite usable. Just remember though, there is a reason it takes a long time to make a game--you can't wing the entire thing. Plan it out as far as you can.

[Poore]

Well, I've never used Flash, but I hear Action Script (the flash scripting language) is fairly easy to pick up. I'd scour the web for tutorials (video ones are usually easier to follow if you can find good ones) on using Action Script and start playing around with it as soon as possible.

However, if you need a Code Monkey, I'd be happy to lend my services. I'm not the greatest programmer around (largely due to the fact that I'm extremely lazy), but I do work in a software development group as a Java programmer every other semester (I'll be working again in the fall), so if you have any programming questions (especially if you go crazy and decide to use Java) I'd be happy to help.

Also, I'd be willing to help with music if you need it.

[Geno]

Hey, I'm Mitch's(D~N) partner in crime for this game that we're making. He mentioned that he shared our idea of making a video game to the forums and suggested that I join. I'm new here, so any help would be greatly appreciated. So, we were just talking one day and somehow, the topic of making a video game came up and I figured, why not? So at the moment, we've planned out the basic plot and the main characters as well as some concept art. Our greatest concern would most likely be how to program the game, as we do not know very much about it. Like Mitch stated before, we had thought about using some kind of Flash program to use, but if anyone knows of something better, please tell us. Also, we are looking for anyone who is skilled at making sprites. Any other help would be fantastic as well, whether it be with music, concept art, storyboarding, or any other RPG elements or ideas that you can think of. Thank you very much for the suggestions made.

[Chiaki]

I'd be happy to help with the art. Storyboarding, character designs, animations, likely whatever you need in that field I could likely do. ^^
And my brother might be willing to do music (he did the music for my Flash animation, and he has some music on Newgrounds if you wanted to hear some samples of what he can do. His name is FraGmenTd).

[Poore]

If you know you're doing an RPG, there are plenty of RPG Maker programs out there - you just have to look. Game Maker, which someone else mentioned, is also a decent creation environment.

If you want to learn a little programming, there are a lot of game-making libraries out there for various languages. I believe there's a even an RPG engine for Python (an easy entry-level language - the first one I ever learned) called Ika, as well as a generic game engine called PyGame. Java has some good libraries, too, but will require a little more effort to learn the language.

Or you could do Flash. As I said, I'm not familiar with it, but Action Script is supposed to be very powerful and fairly easy to use. Plus, there's a massive community already in place for Flash and a ton of tutorials readily available.

[D~N]

I'm currently looking into all of these options, I've downloaded GameMaker and Flash already, and I'm looking into Python-related programs.

On that note, I've already created two musical pieces. However, their quality is next to none. I'm usinga program called Finale NotePad. Let me tell you, this program is NOT ideal for making music. It's great for writing music, but I want to create it. If anyone else has any other free music programs for Windows that they know of, I'd love to hear of that. My lack of a Mac is seriously hurting the quality of my music and could end up making this game a lot worse. So, any quality music making programs is another thing that I need, and any help would be appreciated. If you're interested in the songs I've created so far (yes, I made songs before the game, because I'm illogical like that) then I'll figure out a way to send them to you. But remember, they're in the format of Finale NotePad so i think you need the program first...I'll figure something out.

Also, I'm glad to see so much interest in this game! Thanks for all suggestions and volenteering, this project wouldn't be possible without stuff like that! Now, I must continue my research of the many types of game creators, and try to decide which one is best.

Also, if this is getting too "artsy," then I have no problem if an admin deems it "Showcase" material. As it is I'm thinking about uploading songs and concept art, so...*shrug*

[CID Farwin]

Making an RPG?

You ever thought about using...RPG maker? I've got a copy of 2003.

Free music programs? could this be what you're looking for?

And sure, I guess I could help.

Just don't expect too much, I'm a procrastinator

[Tseb]

If you use RPG maker i've played with it a little and anything else you do i'd love to help with. Though I have no programing skills, little art skills, but can help with storyline and script.

Where can i find the RPG lite version all i could find was the 30 trial?

Edited by Tseb, 27 June 2008 - 05:49 PM.

[Nameless_Joe]

I'm not interested if this is going to end up some half-ass unfinished project.

If you really intend to see this thing through, I would be glad to help out a bit and maybe learn a thing or two in the process. My programming skills are nonexistant, but I could draw, scan, and upload images, etc. I also have done some writing, so I could help with dialogue or narration or whatever.

What is the gist of the plot? Are you incorporating a theme or moral lesson/message? Setting?

Have you researched/developed culture, items, weapons?

[SOAP]

Aw I remember RPGmaker. Good times.

I used to know a good site that had good resources and a forum full of people excellent at coding. If only I still had taht link.... but I lost it when I lost my laptop as well my precious rpgmaker2000. I miss those days...

[rayne85]

go for it - going to be studying game design so i'm interested to see the result.

As for doing a flash one - try not to get TOO detailed, as that will take up most of the time, but go for it anyway.

[D~N]

Game or RPG maker is sounding like the best options, because using flash would end up as an interactive movie. No, I want a full-fledged game, not a half-assed unfinished project. Rest assured Joe, this will be a quality project that will be finished through the end. Even if people drop out, I intend on finished this as a personal project. For the record, the project is being refered to as "Project Pizaz"

I have a general plot in mind, and goes roughly like this:

The main character, Oliver Shaw, our mace-weilding protagonist, is a huge fan of history and archeology. So too is the antagonist, Nicholai Draconan (name pending). Nick is using his knowledge for all things antiquated to his advantage, for within their land of Dyrmia (name pending) rests an ancient race. This ancient race of deities remain burried within an ancient tomb to be awoken when their land needs them most. However, Nick in his evil, intends to awaken these deities for his own benifit in an attempt to take over the kingdom. These ancient deities serve their master, the person who awakens them from their slumber. These immortals are actually ancient gear golems, huge mechanical creatures created long ago using ancient technology. They are massive giants that await a reawakening. (Think 4 giants in Majora's Mask, but mechanical golems instead of giants.) Nick has used his powers to achieve an army of evil minions to search for the key to the golems' awakening. The key is a fragmented gear, broken and scattered across the land. Each piece is hidden deep within a temple guarded by some type of boss. (Very Zelda inspired, but that's where the similarities end.)

Later, revealed:
Oliver Shaw and Nick were once friendly rivals in their childhood. In fact, they were quite friendly. Neighbors as kids, they attended the same history class in Uni. They shared that same affection for history, and as such were quite enthused to go on a field trip to an old site to learn about the ancient race of yore. During this expidition, their proffesor, Proffessor Marks, decided to give these deidicated students the opportunity to go deeper into the underground city of the ancients. Once their, they saw what they had obbsessed about for years; a fraction of the ancient gear key. Their friendship took a shapr turn that day, for upon seeing the ancient item they both raced forward to seize it for themselves. A brutal fight broke out, and though the details remain sketchy, it is certain that somehow, both young men were injured on that day in their struggle for power. Oliver permanently damadged his eyes and vision, and Nick lost his left leg. Now both are aided by technology to live their lives so that they can continue their quest for power and control of the ancients. The fight turned even more brutal, and during the struggle the cave caved in. The ancient key fragment was lost "forever."

Even later revealed:
During that fight on that fatefull day, it was actually Proffessor Marks that caused that cave in. It was he that used the student's passion to aid him on a quest for the old key shard. He used the boys as puppets, and it is revealed that, while you are fighting you "rival" throughout the entire game, the true villian is Proffessor Marks. This twist is revealed at the climax of the game, just before the final boss battle.

Other tidbits:
You and Nick are in a heated race to both achieve the same goal, so you will be constantly meeting up with him. In fact, he goes through some dungeons himself at the same time that you are! In one perticular dungeon, you're both in it at the same time! For another, you are going through a dungeon that was already completed by your rival. This will be a creepy experience, as many monsters have already been slain and the puzzles have been completed. Imagine goign through a dungeon you've beaten already in Zelda...except it wasn't you that beat it. You fight him in a final fight, claim the pieces for youself, and then of course have them stolen somehow be Prof. Marks, who then proceeds to awaken the ancient golems. The final fight is you against the golems and Marks!

So that's roughly it, for now. It will develop as we move along, so look forward to more info! I'll try and have some character concept art up tomorrow for anyone interested! Thanks again everyone! =D

EDIT: WOW I said "ancient" a lot! Sorry folks!

Edited by D~N, 28 June 2008 - 03:13 PM.

[D~N]

Can anyone help with this problem? I installed RPG Maker, which I'm 99% sure is going to be the program I will use, but there's a problem. I click the installed program to run RPG Maker VX RTP (RTP? What?) but a message appears. "RPG Maker VX RTP is not installed." But I just installed it! Hmm...I suppose I can downgrade to RPG Maker XP, but I wanted to try the most up-to-date version for free first. I was planning on spending the 60$ to buy it but if I don't try the trial then what's the point? Bleh, I just installed it (twice, even!) and it still says that. How lame. =/

EDIT: Just of note, I'm using Vista. Maybe that will help...

Edited by D~N, 28 June 2008 - 09:45 PM.

[CID Farwin]

The RTP (which apparently stands for "run time package" or some such) needs to be installed separately from the actual RPG maker VX; Did you install both? or just the RPG maker(or just the RTP)? As to what the RTP is: it's basically everything you need to make a game: Characters, music, enemies, etc. whereas the program is the actual editor that lets you do stuff.

Vista shouldn't matter, (I'm pretty sure VX was made to run on Vista) but then again, I'm not one to be surprised if something doesn't work with windows.

Your RPG looks very...RPG-ish. For not playing any Final Fantasy(y'know, since they're the only RPGs out there ) you've got a pretty good grasp of it. I can see serious potential here.

Edited by CID Farwin, 29 June 2008 - 02:45 PM.

[Chiaki]

I like the plot, how its kind of Zelda ish, but not. It seems quite epic! And I'm interested in helping out in any way that I can, if you're still recruiting. ^^

[D~N]

The RTP (which apparently stands for "run time package" or some such) needs to be installed separately from the actual RPG maker VX; Did you install both? or just the RPG maker(or just the RTP)? As to what the RTP is: it's basically everything you need to make a game: Characters, music, enemies, etc. whereas the program is the actual editor that lets you do stuff.

Vista shouldn't matter, (I'm pretty sure VX was made to run on Vista) but then again, I'm not one to be surprised if something doesn't work with windows.

Your RPG looks very...RPG-ish. For not playing any Final Fantasy(y'know, since they're the only RPGs out there ) you've got a pretty good grasp of it. I can see serious potential here.

So, the RTP is basically the location that the actual program goes to to find objects and whatnot? Okay, that makes sense. But that shouldn't affect the actual program when I click on it. I click on the shortcut that was created, and it immediately says that the program is not installed. I went back and made sure I installed both, tried rebooting several times - the works. So far, no luck. And to make matters worse, I'm using my family computer, which means my dad has control over what programs are installed. With Vista, he has the ability to require the administrator's password for every program that is downloaded, so I can't even try to fix it unless he's around. Oh Vista, you're so awesome yet so irksome at the same time!

And I used Final Fantasy as an example because while I have played RPGs (the Mario & Luigi series and the Paper Mario series) I have yet to play a true, hardcore experience that one gets from FF and the like. So perhaps I will need help in this reguard, since I've never really played one myself. But maybe having never played a hardcore rpg is a great thing. We'll just have to wait and see.

[CID Farwin]

Hm, I don't know too much about Vista...

...but where you have it installed might make a difference. Try installing it in specifically your section of the computer and see what happens (I assume you just installed it in the defaults)

[D~N]

After many days of trying, I finally gave up on RPG Maker. I could not for the life of me install this program. I even tried using a different computer and it wouldn't install. I fear I'm installing it incorrectly, but even my dad, a tech-savy compputer wizard, couldn't help. So I've moved on to Game Make. I like it, and it looks like Project Pizaz will in fact be made with Game Maker Lite 7.0. I already started making my first sprite and I fear that I suck terribly. Who here would care to help in the sprite making proccess? Because clearly I'm no good. I'll upload my abomination later.

If anyone has a source to download RPG Maker XP (for free, I don't care if it's a "lite" version) or something of that sort, and knows for a fact that there are no problems with the download, please send me the link. Clearly the place I downloaded it from was not ideal. I think I would prefer to use RPG Maker XP over Game Maker 7.0, but if wourse comes to worse I'll settle with what I've got.

[Tseb]

http://www.download....4-10437117.html

Try that.

From my experiences with XP & VX, XP is the way to go it has a better graphics style in my oppinion, and more resources because it's been out 1-2 years more than VX.

http://www.rmxp.org/

try this link for additional resources such as, sprites rubie coding, tilesets, and just about what ever else you want.

I can help with town design if ya want. I really enjoy putting them together.

Also I think i messed with game maker 7 and it was really annoying to try to get an RPG out of. (Could be thinking of another maker though)

All this help?

Edited by Tseb, 02 July 2008 - 11:27 AM.

[D~N]

Very helpfull. You've convinced me not to use Game Maker, which could have been a huge wreck. However, I'm still having troubles! This is the message that appears when I open the program. I see the program and all the toolbars load, and the program appears to be open...until this message appears:

"Failed to obtain trial serial numbers from the nTitles server."

Any suggestions?

Edited by D~N, 02 July 2008 - 03:17 PM.

[CID Farwin]

Very helpfull. You've convinced me not to use Game Maker, which could have been a huge wreck. However, I'm still having troubles! This is the message that appears when I open the program. I see the program and all the toolbars load, and the program appears to be open...until this message appears:

"Failed to obtain trial serial numbers from the nTitles server."

Any suggestions?

So, you have the trial version? or is it something else you've got here? there should be a screen popping up saying you've got the trial version.

Edited by CID Farwin, 02 July 2008 - 04:15 PM.

[D~N]

I didn't pay for anything, I thought i was downloading the "lite" version. Basically i clicked the link tseb gave me (the same one as i originally found it from) so go there and check what i just downloaded. I hit the download button, not the buy now button*.

*This is all Avenger's fault.

[CID Farwin]

Alright then. Download the trial version; then I can help you.

[D~N]

Um, I thought I just did...

You just blew my mind! o.o

Let's carry this over to PM, yes?
(edit: didn't realize you sent me that before I posted. Sorry!)

Edited by D~N, 02 July 2008 - 05:23 PM.

[Showsni]

http://uk.gamespot.c...g=files;title;1 ?

It says on the link Tseb posted you should get a 30 day free trial anyway...

[Tseb]

The message your getting is one I got when I tried to run it for the first time. The reason I got it was that it has to connect to it's server the first time you run it in order to obtain a trial license. So the fixes should be 1.make sure your connected to the internet. 2. make sure that your firewall will let RPG maker get through by either turning it off or by adding the program to your list of allowed programs (you should have received a message from your firewall about the program trying to access the internet). 3. if it still doesn't work PM me.

Same thing happened to me the first time i tried to run it after the install (which you did correctly if you got that screen) because I wasn't hooked into my network.

Edited by Tseb, 02 July 2008 - 07:31 PM.

[D~N]

Well, after a series of confusing administrator switches, temporary "admin" powers, and other shinanigans, I now have a functional RPG Maker XP! Thank you CID and thank you Tseb! Your help was certainly vital. It took several uninstallings and reinstallings, and I even found a way around the 30 day trial period! That was the easy part, of course. The difficult part was to grant my account temporary administrator powers so I could open the program, then my dad took the powers away and the program continued to open from then-on in, without that weird message "cannot find serial number in nTitles server." Apparently the funky admin thing was the only problem that the program had to get past. I'm just glad that long, annoying proccess is now over!

So, lets get started then, eh? Is this the support I can trust? -

• Poore, for programming and music.
• LinksLove, for art in many categories.
• CID Farwin, for general assistance and software help.
• Tseb, for software assistance and story production.
• Nameless Joe, for plot, art, and other general help. (don't worry, it's a commited project that will be seen through 'til the end!

Showsni, Rayne, and SOAP - you three posted in this thread, which showed me that your interested. However, you didn't make your level of devotion clear with an outright statement or a specific area you might be interested in helping in. I don't want to hold you to something you don't intend to stick with, so if you could get back to me on that that'd be swell. Of course, don't feel obligated to help, but of course I'd appreciate it if you considered!

As for anyone else reading - post so that I know you're interested. If not, I've finally got my program, a team of interested people, and a summer with little to do. Lets get cracking, shall we?

Thanks again to CID, Tseb, and everyone who helped me get up on my feet!

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

I offer my services as both artist and designer. As an RPG, the game will need good ideas and solutions for dungeons, puzzles and the all the other whatnots.

[Tseb]

Hey yeah I can help with those just remember that I don't know much about the engine yet. Also my access to the internet is intermitted at best so I may be unable to get on here for large amounts of time. You'll need mappers for RPG maker so let me know if you need anything.