RPGM Ren'Py Help with engine choice

[m1lfhunt3r]

Hey guys. I’ve got a tough question: I don’t know which engine to use. I’m really torn between Ren’Py and RPGM.

Right now, my goal is to make a short and simple sandbox game. I know a little bit about RPGM, and with Ren’Py I can put together a very basic VN (no choices), but that’s about it.

The thing is, I really want to make a sandbox, since that feeling of freedom always made me way more immersed in the games I’ve played on this site. But with Ren’Py, it would take me a ton of time to learn programming from scratch and also get comfortable with the engine. And time is something I barely have.

On top of that, there’s still the writing and the 2D art, which will eat up even more of my time. RPGM is an option, and while I actually like it, I know a lot of players don’t see it in a very positive light.

 

[Winterfire]

First of all, it's not true that "a lot of players don't see it in a very positive light", assuming you can use it properly, and it fits the genre of your game. You should already know which engine to choose, have you made a Game Design Document?

 

[osanaiko]

And time is something I barely have.

Good luck with your ambition.... but time is the number one resource that you need to make a game.

 

[Seyser Koze]

Making a sandbox in Ren'py isn't any more complicated than in RPG Maker, it's just menus and variables. Learning how to design custom screen layouts is probably going to be the trickiest part, but there should be plenty of tutorials for that.

RPG Maker mostly gets a bad rap because of games released using the default assets, but a) hentai goons ought to be used to it by now, and b) if the artwork is good they won't care. Well, somebody will complain, but there's always somebody.

Honestly you're liable to get more complaints due to making a sandbox game than due to the engine you're using.

 

[Huck702]

On top of that, there’s still the writing and the 2D art, which will eat up even more of my time. RPGM is an option, and while I actually like it, I know a lot of players don’t see it in a very positive light.

Any game in any engine that is produced like trash gets seen in a not very positive light. Learn you if/then and variables for either and run with it. My RPGM NPCs have about 2.6 millions lines of code per, but interactions in the bar are wildcards. All about those If/Then statements, I personally don't want to force players down any path.

Get after it, you may switch engines a couple of times. You get no where doing nothing!

I messed around with UE5 for a bit, but I struggle with sound (hearing problems) and sound is huge in those games. Switched back to Unity before they started switching license requirements. I will have RPGM coming out soon enough, it does allow a LOT of options to explore even outside of typical RPGs. While not every game needs a DM or D&D like RPG assets, some very simple farming sim/life games have gone far.