RPGM Games sucks
- Thread starter StonedWatcher
- Start date
- Aug 16, 2017
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One other thing I forgot to mention. Do you recall the early Final Fantasy games? They were the forerunner of RPG Maker games. They were loaded with quests and tasks. Remember having to go on a quest to get legs? Of course I'm probably a lot older than most people here. A few quests and tasks sometimes are needed to advance the story, or to make the MC better, or stronger. Bottom line, any game that contains quest or task overload is definitely one to send to Dullsville.
- Aug 16, 2017
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- May 8, 2017
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I really like RPGM games but only if they are done correct. It's true that many adult games here could achieve similiar or better effects as renpy VNs. Anna's Exiciting Affection, Elena's Life etc. are basically VNs that use RPGM as a walking mechanic. I'm not a fan of such a thing, as they use maps as a walking fodder and nothing seems real there. Games like Lida's Story don't even try to hide that it's not meant to be open or polished. But RPGM has some great options you can't have in renpy. Many different mechanics can be implemented, you can fight and properly designed areas can be much more immersive than renpy linearity. There are tons of Japanese games that do it great (Virgin Island etc.) and among ours Valiant Warrior Astrid is in my opinion the greatest example of potential hidden in RPGM as an engine. Overall even tho most of our RPGM games are linear clones, I like RPGM games if they are done right as I feel greater and much different immersion playing them.
- May 18, 2017
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I've just skimmed through the comments that's been handed out. Many point out that it's not comparable, and ofc it's somewhat right. The problem is that, as far as I've seen, the good games that has really good renders are RPGM. In most Ren'Py games they're milking people of money, while for instance MGA and The Artifact has sexual content early on. There are not statistics on wwho plays Ren'Py for the sexual content, so don't come out and say stuff like that. I personally like options to be made to change the way of the story and also go back if I want to try other options. I don't care if I have to wait through dialogue to able to see what I've waited for, the annoying part is when I have to walk for ages and keep a map planned out in my head just to get to a location to, i don't know, pick up groceries (<--- These things are stupid an completely pointless in 90% of times)
I can see how people wawnt the sense that they're getting awarded for completing a task, but my biggest issue is the save system. There is no rollback in RPGM, so if you don't save before an event you can't re-watch it if there isn't a replay function (Which there luckily is in most game). I personally think there should be a note from the creator asking if you want to save before you continue. Or even better, another way to play the game that you choose when a task is given: Skip or play it out. In case of this there should be a warning that if you skip a task you might miss out on the story.
I also have personal favourites when it comes to RPGM, but I don't play them to often since I dislike them. For example, in The Artifact the characters are made absolutely perfect in my opinion. I like it because it always rewards you from doing any mission as well as side-mission with a cut-scene. Still negatives such as running around and keeping every place of the map in my head keeps me from playing it.
In the aspects of a good game with a way to big map and stressful scenarios we have Gates: The Opening. I really enjoy the characters but it gets really stressful when you have to answer immediately. Also the map is way to big. There's some kind transportation system which is good but it's still annoying walking around everywhere and doing quests which are just plain labor. Example: Go get that, you go get it, come back, big thank you and nothing more. Of course you get to know the characters but it should be another system where you don't have to have a mpa planned out in your head to know where you're supposed to go to get the specific item which later doesn't matter.
Sry I have ADD my sentences aren't perfectly planned out so I ususally and up rambling things that aren't connected with each other. Also my main language isn't english, so keep in mind
I can see how people wawnt the sense that they're getting awarded for completing a task, but my biggest issue is the save system. There is no rollback in RPGM, so if you don't save before an event you can't re-watch it if there isn't a replay function (Which there luckily is in most game). I personally think there should be a note from the creator asking if you want to save before you continue. Or even better, another way to play the game that you choose when a task is given: Skip or play it out. In case of this there should be a warning that if you skip a task you might miss out on the story.
I also have personal favourites when it comes to RPGM, but I don't play them to often since I dislike them. For example, in The Artifact the characters are made absolutely perfect in my opinion. I like it because it always rewards you from doing any mission as well as side-mission with a cut-scene. Still negatives such as running around and keeping every place of the map in my head keeps me from playing it.
In the aspects of a good game with a way to big map and stressful scenarios we have Gates: The Opening. I really enjoy the characters but it gets really stressful when you have to answer immediately. Also the map is way to big. There's some kind transportation system which is good but it's still annoying walking around everywhere and doing quests which are just plain labor. Example: Go get that, you go get it, come back, big thank you and nothing more. Of course you get to know the characters but it should be another system where you don't have to have a mpa planned out in your head to know where you're supposed to go to get the specific item which later doesn't matter.
Sry I have ADD my sentences aren't perfectly planned out so I ususally and up rambling things that aren't connected with each other. Also my main language isn't english, so keep in mind
- Oct 3, 2017
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When I think of good RPGmaker games literally none made by non japanese people comes to my mind (yet). The ones seen dont benefit from the engine as they are mostly not really RPG's. Although the one mentioned earlier, Valiant Warrior Astrid is on my watchlist, along many others that I really dont want to be in Ren'py for example.
The points about save reminder before something important is seen often enough in the japanese ones, the replay rooms (even supporting different animations or character expressions or different clothing if available) is basically a standard. Thats all not an engine thing, there are crazy custom scripts for RPGmaker.
Immersion is something that adds to the experience a lot for some people, and just clicking through things and watching static backgrounds or characters that sometimes, and in the future probably a lot more, look the same, wouldnt cut it for me if its the only thing ever made.
It just depends on what the mindset is, certainly there are times when even clicking through options feels like a waste of time just to see the renders, and walking around fetching unnecessary stuff in RPGmaker of course even more.
Summary: People like different stuff, even changing with mood. Shocking, isnt it.
The points about save reminder before something important is seen often enough in the japanese ones, the replay rooms (even supporting different animations or character expressions or different clothing if available) is basically a standard. Thats all not an engine thing, there are crazy custom scripts for RPGmaker.
Immersion is something that adds to the experience a lot for some people, and just clicking through things and watching static backgrounds or characters that sometimes, and in the future probably a lot more, look the same, wouldnt cut it for me if its the only thing ever made.
It just depends on what the mindset is, certainly there are times when even clicking through options feels like a waste of time just to see the renders, and walking around fetching unnecessary stuff in RPGmaker of course even more.
Summary: People like different stuff, even changing with mood. Shocking, isnt it.
- Jul 4, 2017
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I like RPG's so I like RPGM.
Roundscape, Last Sovereign, Desolation of Wings, Daughter of Essence and Fractured Worlds all work in RPGM but wouldn't in something like Ren'py.
Roundscape, Last Sovereign, Desolation of Wings, Daughter of Essence and Fractured Worlds all work in RPGM but wouldn't in something like Ren'py.
- May 23, 2017
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I love RPGs but RPGM is just a kind of shitty version of it. Aesthetic is something I look to a lot and the overworld graphics/similar menu designs just makes the games look cheap to me. I just can't get immersed, even in some of the best RPGM games like Roundscape.
- Aug 3, 2017
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- Jun 2, 2018
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Depends on the game.
If your game has traditional RPG elements such as an inventory, combat, or if exploring a world in-game is necessary, then RPGMaker isn't necessarily a bad choice.
If you're just using RPGMaker as an interface for a visual novel type game and using the 3d map simply to waste time and make up for a lack of skill in rendering complete environments, then yes, RPGMaker is a shitty choice and the game will suffer because of it.
I agree with your choice of exceptions, and I would add Peasant's Quest as well.
If your game has traditional RPG elements such as an inventory, combat, or if exploring a world in-game is necessary, then RPGMaker isn't necessarily a bad choice.
If you're just using RPGMaker as an interface for a visual novel type game and using the 3d map simply to waste time and make up for a lack of skill in rendering complete environments, then yes, RPGMaker is a shitty choice and the game will suffer because of it.
I agree with your choice of exceptions, and I would add Peasant's Quest as well.
- May 28, 2017
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I would add Vis Major: Awakening and College Life to the exceptions. Each of these have enhanced save functions where you can save the game during a choice. My main issue with RPGM games is simply that if you forget to save like ALL THE TIME, suddenly you have a choice to make and if you make the wrong one or just want to save to explore either option, you're fucked. While College Life is more sandbox, Vis Major is rather linear, which can be a problem. I was a huge fan of Gates: The Opening until after one update I could not for the life of me figure out where I was or what I was supposed to do next after loading an old save after a new update. I literally had to play the game from the beginning because it's so linear, and I gave it up, unfortunately.
- Jun 2, 2018
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Yeah that's really annoying. You also get that problem with a lot of games made with Unity.
For example, Two Sides.
FFS..... Save-grinding to the MAX, only available at certain prompts, and the save files are not descriptive in any way. Lol.
- Oct 3, 2017
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I honestly think what dev's are doing in RPGM games could be done better in Unity for example. I understand these people arent triple A dev studios and all. And i get the nostalgia feel of the 2d maps with Pokemon games, final fantasy and whatnot and that's great for some.
My issue with RPGM will always be the "walking sim" playstyle most of them got. Most of the time it feels like the dev is making you walk across half the map just to fill in time cause the game lacks content and as the game progresses and gets updated these mechanics put in place to expand playing time just get worse and worse. I might be lazy and all that since i prefer the sandbox exploration by clicking locations as used in games like Summersaga, Lucky Mark, RIC, Private community. Also if you gonna use a map i prefer the style Solvalley did it with a smallass map of the town and doesnt involve walking for 15 minutes one way and then another way. I dont see the walking as immersive as all, it's just an annoyance.
for my taste i prefer the way Private Community and RIC did it with RPGM. And yeah those games probably coulda be done in Renpy or Unity and doesnt use the RPGM combat or rpg elements per say.
My issue with RPGM will always be the "walking sim" playstyle most of them got. Most of the time it feels like the dev is making you walk across half the map just to fill in time cause the game lacks content and as the game progresses and gets updated these mechanics put in place to expand playing time just get worse and worse. I might be lazy and all that since i prefer the sandbox exploration by clicking locations as used in games like Summersaga, Lucky Mark, RIC, Private community. Also if you gonna use a map i prefer the style Solvalley did it with a smallass map of the town and doesnt involve walking for 15 minutes one way and then another way. I dont see the walking as immersive as all, it's just an annoyance.
for my taste i prefer the way Private Community and RIC did it with RPGM. And yeah those games probably coulda be done in Renpy or Unity and doesnt use the RPGM combat or rpg elements per say.
This thread made me anxious about my plans of creating an adult 18+ game in RPG Maker MV.
There seem to be a ton of people who just skip a game when they see the RPGM Tag and move on. As a potential dev, that's a really frustrating thing. Now I know that the argument could be made that there are people who are not into strategy games and just prefer shooter or action.
And that's fine, since the gameplay is inherently different in those cases. Sure, the difference between Ren'py and RPGM is there as well, but I don't think that's the common issue. From what I've gathered so far, most people hate RPGM because they played some bad games or had some bad experiences in general with games from that engine - not the engine itself.
That's really scary to me.
There seem to be a ton of people who just skip a game when they see the RPGM Tag and move on. As a potential dev, that's a really frustrating thing. Now I know that the argument could be made that there are people who are not into strategy games and just prefer shooter or action.
And that's fine, since the gameplay is inherently different in those cases. Sure, the difference between Ren'py and RPGM is there as well, but I don't think that's the common issue. From what I've gathered so far, most people hate RPGM because they played some bad games or had some bad experiences in general with games from that engine - not the engine itself.
That's really scary to me.