The problem is not that there is or not a lot of text or a lot of cgs. But if the goal of the game is to offer text and cgs then why not use a better system for that. If the optics of the game is mainly fighting, leveling, the equipment of the character etc ... ok but as I said, in what I saw it is not the case (exept for one).
My argument was that a lot of Japanese games have tons of text, sure, VNs are kings in the field, but if you take apart J-RPGs (I am not talking hentai ones), there is shitload of letters. RPG Maker does a fine job in this matter. Problem is in delivery, but that falls on a dev. Also, depends if you are looking at game in parts, which is often the case on crowdfunded games as they release it bit by bit and a game as a whole product.
I do not know what Japanese game you're talking about so I will not have anything to say about it. Just that I do not see the connection with what I said.
If indeed there is as you say a ton of Japanese RPG game with a ton of text everywhere and just 10% of the content oriented combat, level etc .. AND which uses rpgm. I would say exactly the same thing: Why do they use rpgm?
As mentioned, mostly old titles, not hentai focused... Sure, sure, it's not 90%, depends on game, but it's a big chunk of it. In west we like having things shortened and delivered in most efficient way in terms of space and time, that's why our ads are short sentences to catch attention or sometimes just buzzwords. In Japan you will see ads that for us would get boring, because often too much text. But that's a whole different topic.
If we look at the issue of text, ask some translators and their main issue of stuffing all of that in those tiny textboxes, because Japan needs less space to deliver same amount of sentences.
50 letters vs 10 symbols and then you look at their ads and realize how long those are or text in games.
It's a bit like seeing someone carve his pencil with a knife. Yes it works, yes people who have the habit and mastery can do as well with a pencil sharpener but if you have a pencil sharpener next to you, why not use it if you're not sure of your use of the knife?
This is going to get weird. So, have you tried comparing both techniques? Pencil sharpener will be way more effective, faster, more perfect. Why would then anyone bother? In same manner we like to stop and listen to birds, tune ourselves to the sound of rain and so on. It can be calming, clear your mind, maybe not as effective, but way more positive when working on something. There are times when you should stop and just enjoy some things, even if it's not effective. Running through life like a machine that can't stop will wear you down.
See? SEE? Told you it will get weird.
So yes we can do as well as with renpy surely. But having tested a lot of rpgm VN game (I did not want to categorize it like that but it will be easier), I have a hard time not telling myself that to do as well as renpy it takes a lot of work. And that unfortunately many are not ready to provide. So I preferred that they use a simpler system, adapted to what they want to do and that they devote their energy to the content.
Is that because the developer is lazzy or because rpgm is not made for that ... I would just say that if you want to do a VN with rpgm it will surely take a lot more effort than with renpy. (at least for a good one)
Really? Would say it doesn't take much work. Click button, add image from list. Click another button, add textboxt and fill it with words. There is a limit of 99 images on screen. #1 is lowest layer and #99 highest. So you put: Background, characters, facial expressions, effects. Then you add text, player never sees a single tileset and you have a simple VN.
You literally do VN style every time there is a dialogue with character images and not just busts. Every hentai event is just VN style. But you aren't making a VN, you are making RPG, so a player can go around and discover stuff on their own instead of being provided with locked options to choose from.
But yeah, that's the theory, practice is another matter, especially when you start and can't yet design things properly. And just for an argument's sake, unity 3D is great for VNs because you can really create cool effects using it. Creating a framework for VN style that takes formatted text from .txt files takes around a day to make. And unlike a lot of engines, it's (technically) free.
Sport cars aren't really useful in a constantly jammed city, yet people still buy them and drive, getting from point A to B. Be it to show off, be it to have an option of extra HP in some emergency, whatever. Not everything must be atomicity to make it perfectly suited for the job, issues that come with it are part of the fun.
Hoping to have managed to be understandable despite my bad English.
First of all, I wonder why.
I do not criticize rpgm or developers.
I think I understood what you said
