RPG Maker

This article is about the entire RPG Maker series. For the first RPG Maker for the PlayStation, see RPG Maker (PlayStation).

RPG Maker

Developer(s)	ASCII / Enterbrain / Agetec
Initial release	Mamirin, 1988
Stable release	RPG Tsukūru VX Microsoft Windows / December 27, 2007
Platform	PC-8801, MSX2, PC-9801, Super Famicom, Microsoft Windows, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Game Boy Color, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS
Available in	Japanese, Chinese, Korean, English
Type	Game creation software
Website	http://www.enterbrain.com/ ENTERBRAIN, INC. http://tkool.jp/ Tsukūru web (Official website) http://www.agetec.com/ Agetec, Inc.

RPG Maker, known in Japan as RPG Tsukūru (RPGツクール^?, sometimes romanized as RPG Tkool), is the name of an expansive series of programs for the development of role-playing games (RPGs), first created by the Japanese group ASCII, then succeeded by Enterbrain. The Japanese name, Tsukūru, is a pun mixing the Japanese word tsukuru (作る), which means "make" or "create", with tsūru (ツール), the Japanese transcription of the English word "tool".^[1]

The RPG Maker series has been released primarily in Japan, with later versions also released in China, Taiwan, South Korea, and North America.^[2]

PC versions

RPG Maker is a program that allows users to create their own role-playing games. Most versions include a tile set based map editor, (tilesets are called chipsets in pre-XP versions), a simple scripting language for scripting events, and a battle editor. All versions include initial premade tilesets, characters, and events which can be used in creating new games. One feature of the PC Versions of RPG Maker programs is that a user can create new tilesets and characters, and add any new graphics he/she wants.

History

According to Enterbrain, RPG Tsukūru Dante 98, released on December 17, 1992, was the first game of the RPG Maker series,^[3][4] although there were a few versions of RPG making software by ASCII preceding it. This, along with its follow-up RPG Tsukūru Dante 98 II, was made for NEC PC-9801, and games created with these programs can be played on a Windows computer with emulators called Dante for Windows and D2win, respectively.^[5]

RPG Maker 95 was the first Microsoft Windows-based RPG Maker game. Despite being an early version, RPG Maker 95 has both a higher screen resolution, and higher sprite and tile resolution than the several following versions.

RPG Maker 2000 (also called RM2k) was the second release of RPG Maker for Microsoft Windows and is the most popular and used RPG Maker so far. While it is possible to do more with RM2k, it uses lower resolution sprites and tiles than RPG Maker 95. However, it does not have a noticeable limit of 'sprites'. Unlike RM95, which can only use one 'set', RM2k can use an unlimited number of sprite sheets with specific sizes for each type. The tilesets also have a similar non-limitation. However, because tiles must be entered into a database, there is a limit on tiles. This limit however is rarely a problem (normally 5000), and even when it is, an unofficial patch exists which can bump most limits much higher at the risk of potential game corruption.

RPG Maker 2003 (also referred to as RM2k3, and sometimes RM2k/3) is largely an improvement of RM2k. RM2k games can be ported to RM2k3 (but not back to RM2k, the conversion is permanent), and most resources are interchangeable. The main difference is the introduction of a side-view battle system similar to that found in Final Fantasy games on the Super Nintendo. This was the first version made by Enterbrain, which had previously been a part of ASCII.

RPG Maker XP (also referred to as RMXP) is the first RPG Maker which can use Ruby, making it the most powerful, programming-wise. However, many normal, simplified features present in RM2k(3) have been removed. Most of these features, however, have been programmed with Ruby, and distributed online. RMXP runs at 1024x768 resolution (though games made in it run at 640x480), while offering four times the playable area of its predecessors. Additionally, it allows greater user control over sprite size (there is no specific image size regulation for sprite sheets) and other aspects of game design. This more open-ended arrangement, coupled with the inclusion of the Ruby Game Scripting System (RGSS), makes RPG Maker XP more versatile than older versions in the series, at the cost of a steeper learning curve. Upon the release of Windows Vista, many users experienced compatibility problems, although the fix was relatively simple.^{[citation needed]}. XP used a front-view non-sprite battle system that allowed for the use of Battle backgrounds (Battlebacks). Both characters and enemies had static battle sprites, and the interface was quite simple.

RPG Maker VX (also referred to as RMVX) is the latest RPG Maker version released by Enterbrain. Its official Japanese release date was Dec. 27 2007, and official release date in America was February 29, 2008. In this new maker, the interface is more user-friendly, allowing new users to create games with ease. The framerate was increased to 60 frames per second, providing much smoother animation in comparison to RMXP's often-choppy 40fps. The programming language Ruby is still implemented, and the game's default programming has been overhauled to allow more freedom to those scripting in new features. New editor and a new RTP are included, this time in a much simpler "blocky" style. The battle system is comparable to that of the Dragon Quest series or its predecessor RM2k, with a frontal view of the battlefield and detailed text descriptions of each action taken. One notable disadvantage from the previous version, however, is the lack of support for multiple tilesets when mapping, leaving the player with only a finite number of unique tiles with which to depict all the game's environments. Multiple player-made workarounds exist, but this remains a sore point among many RMVX users.

Console versions

The first console RPG Maker, RPG Tsukūru Super Dante, debuted in 1995 for the Super Famicom, as a port of RPG Tsukūru Dante 98.^[4] RPG Tsukūru Super Dante was later broadcast via the Super Famicom's Satellaview subunit. The first official English language release was a PlayStation version, simply called RPG Maker in the North American market. As of 2007, all North American versions of the console RPG Maker are published by Agetec.

Illegal distribution

Each Windows version of RPG Maker has been, in some form, distributed illegally through the internet.^[6] RPG Maker 95, as well as translation patches for the Super Nintendo titles RPG Maker Super Dante and RPG Maker 2, were translated and distributed by a group called KanjiHack. In 1999, KanjiHack closed upon receiving a cease-and-desist e-mail from ASCII's lawyers. RPG Maker 95 was re-released with a more complete translation under the name "RPG Maker 95+" by a Russian programmer, under the alias of Don Miguel,^[7] who later translated and released RPG Maker 2000. Later versions, RPG Maker 2003, and RPG Maker XP, were similarly translated and distributed by a programmer under the alias of RPG Advocate. RPG Advocate took the translated versions and patches off his website and later promoted the full English version of RPG Maker XP. Both of the translations are still in circulation.^{[citation needed]}

Commercial usage

RPG Maker has been successfully used by the following independent game development companies for making RPGs distributed by Big Fish Games, IGN Entertainment and GamersGate:

• Aldorlea Games | Millennium, 3 Stars of Destiny, Dreamscape, Asguaard, Laxius Force

• Amaranth Games | Aveyond Series

• Blossomsoft | Eternal Eden

• Fated Productions | Fated Haven: Chapter One

• Over Cloud 9 | Arevan

• Sherman3D | Alpha Kimori

Legacy

As of 2005, RPG Maker games as a whole had been sold about 2 million copies worldwide.^[3]

Also, RPG Maker has been used in studies involving students learning mathematics^[8] and programming^[9] through the creation of role-playing games.

RPG Maker series timeline

Title	Platform	Region	Release Date	Developer	Publisher
Mamirin	PC-8801	Japan	&19881988		ASCII
Dungeon Manjirou[10]	MSX2	Japan	&19881988		ASCII
RPG Construction Tool: Dante[11]	MSX2	Japan	&1990-02-08Feb. 8, 1990		ASCII
Dante 2[12]	MSX2	Japan	&1992-02-08Feb. 8, 1992		ASCII
Chimes Quest[13]	PC-9801	Japan	&19921992		ASCII
RPG Tsukūru Dante 98[4]	PC-9801	Japan	&1992-12-19Dec. 19, 1992		ASCII
Dungeon RPG Tsukūru Dan-Dan Dungeon[14]	PC-9801	Japan	&1994-04-28Apr. 28, 1994		ASCII
RPG Tsukūru: Super Dante	Super Famicom	Japan	&1995-03-31Mar. 31, 1995	Kuusou Kagaku	ASCII
RPG Tsukūru - Super Dante	Satellaview	Japan	&1996-04-04Apr. 4, 1996	Kuusou Kagaku	ASCII
RPG Tsukūru Dante 98 II[4]	PC-9801	Japan	&1996-07-14Jul. 14, 1996		ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 2	Super Famicom	Japan	&1996-01-31Jan. 31, 1996	Kuusou Kagaku	ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 2	Satellaview	Japan	&1996-04-22Apr. 22, 1996	Kuusou Kagaku	ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 95	Microsoft Windows	Japan	&1997-03-28Mar. 28, 1997		ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 95 Value!	Microsoft Windows	Japan	&2001-11-21Nov. 21, 2001		Enterbrain
Simulation RPG Tsukūru	Sega Saturn, PlayStation	Japan	&1998-09-17Sep. 17, 1998	Pegasus Japan	ASCII
Enterbrain Collection: Simulation RPG Tsukūru	PlayStation	Japan	&2001-11-29Nov. 29, 2001	Pegasus Japan	Enterbrain
Simulation RPG Tsukūru 95	Microsoft Windows	Japan	&1998-05-29May. 29, 1998		ASCII
Simulation RPG Tsukūru 95 Value!	Microsoft Windows	Japan	&2001-11-21Nov. 21, 2001		Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru 3	PlayStation	Japan	&1997-11-27Nov. 27, 1997	Kuusou Kagaku	ASCII
PlayStation the Best: RPG Tsukūru 3	PlayStation	Japan	&1998-11-19Nov. 19, 1998	Kuusou Kageku	ASCII
RPG Maker	PlayStation	USA	&2000-09-18Sep. 18, 2000	Kuusou Kageku	Agetec
RPG Tsukūru GB	Game Boy Color	Japan	&2000-03-17Mar. 17, 2000	Kuusou Kagaku	ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 2000	Microsoft Windows	Japan	&2000-04-05Apr. 5, 2000		ASCII
RPG Tsukūru 2000 Value!	Microsoft Windows	Japan	&2003-05-14May. 14, 2003		Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru 4	PlayStation	Japan	&2000-12-07Dec. 7, 2000	Agenda[15]	Enterbrain
Uchūjin Tanaka Tarou de RPG Tsukūru GB 2	Game Boy Color	Japan	&2001-07-20Jul. 20, 2001		Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru 5	PlayStation 2	Japan	&2002-08-08Aug. 8, 2002	Kuusou Kagaku	Enterbrain
RPG Maker 2	PlayStation 2	USA	&2003-10-28Oct. 28, 2003	Kuusou Kagaku	Agetec
RPG Tsukūru 2003	Microsoft Windows	Japan	&2002-12-18Dec. 18, 2002		Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru α[16]	Microsoft Windows/Cellphone	Japan	&2002-12-18Dec. 18, 2002		Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru Advance	Game Boy Advance	Japan	&2003-04-25Apr. 25, 2003		Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru XP	Microsoft Windows	Japan	&2004-07-22Jul. 22, 2004		Enterbrain
RPG Maker XP	Microsoft Windows	Worldwide	&2005-09-16Sept. 16, 2005		Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru	PlayStation 2	Japan	&2004-12-16Dec. 16, 2004	Run Time	Enterbrain
RPG Maker 3	PlayStation 2	USA	&2005-09-21Sept. 21, 2005	Run Time	Agetec
RPG Tsukūru for Mobile	Mobile	Japan	&2006-04-17Apr. 17, 2006		Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru VX	Microsoft Windows	Japan	&2007-12-27Dec. 27, 2007		Enterbrain
RPG Maker VX	Microsoft Windows	Worldwide	&2008-02-29Feb. 29, 2008		Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru DS[17]	Nintendo DS	Japan	&2010-03-11Mar. 11, 2010		Enterbrain
RPG Maker VX Ace	Microsoft Windows	Worldwide	&2011-12-15Dec. 15, 2011		Enterbrain
RPG Tsukūru Plus	Nintendo DS	Japan	&2011-12-15Dec. 15, 2011		Enterbrain

See also

• Fighter Maker
• Sim RPG Maker
• Game Maker
• Sound Novel Tsukūru
• Music Maker
• Super Columbine Massacre RPG! (created using RPG Maker 2000)
• Yume Nikki (another title made with RPG Maker)

External links

• Enterbrain.com - Japanese Company that produces the RPG Maker Series.
• Enterbrain RPG Maker XP Page - Official English page of RPG Maker XP
• Enterbrain RPG Maker VX Page Official English page of RPG Maker VX
• Agetec - US Publisher for the console RPG Maker series
• Agetec RPG Maker - Official portal for console RPG Maker series
• RpgMkr - Official Italian portal for console RPG Maker series

References

1. ^ Outline of Tsukūru at the official Tsukūru website (Japanese) (Retrieved on 2010-3-6)
2. ^ "International Licensing Business" at Enterbrain's website
3. ^ ^{a b} Enterbrain (2005-8-16) 『RPGツクールXP』英語版 海外サイトにてダウンロード販売を開始(Japanese)
4. ^ ^{a b c d} "RPGツクールの歴史" (History of the RPG Tsukūru) at the official Tsukūru website (Japanese)
5. ^ [1](Japanese) at Digital Famitsu Homepage
6. ^ "Sad Fact" at Enterbrain's website
7. ^ A look at RPGmaker 2000, translated by Don Miguel at gfxartist.com
8. ^ Marcus Vinicius Maltempi and Maurício Rosa (PDF). Learning Vortex, Games and Technologies: A New Approach to the Teaching of Mathematics. Universidade Estadual Paulista. http://www.icme-organisers.dk/tsg14/TSG14-08.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-09. 
9. ^ Tiffany Ralph and Tiffany Barnes (PDF). The Catacombs: A study on the usability of games to teach. Colorado State University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. http://www.cra.org/Activities/craw/dmp/awards/2006/Ralph/TiffanyRalph_FinalReport.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-09. "One of the versions was developed using RPG Maker XP and provides students with a more exploratory gaming experience than the other, which was created using the BioWare Aurora Neverwinter Nights Toolset and has the user follow linear stages of game play." 
10. ^ Dungeon Manjiro at Generation MSX
11. ^ Dante at Generation MSX
12. ^ Dante II at Generation MSX
13. ^ "RPGツクールでつくーる"(Japanese)
14. ^ "yananayika" (The Tsukūru Museum) at the official Tsukūru website (Japanese)
15. ^ Agenda-Game: Products (Japanese). Retrieved on 2010-11-10.
16. ^ RPGツクール2003製品情報 at Enterbrain's website (Japanese)
17. ^ RPGツクールDS(Japanese) Retrieved on 2010-1-12.