To-Do-List – Progress

Hi everyone!

This morning, I’ve managed to get my maps sorted, with transfer events! Actually, to tell the truth, I’m using sample maps and assets at the moment. I’d rather have something that works than something that looks pretty. It’s the first three items on my to-do-list done already, but it does leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth; I’d rather take the time to properly create and configure the 16-bit assets I want. For now though, I’ll make do with what I have.

Currently, I’m using a sample pack called “First Seed Material“. There are two packs in this series; Town of Beginnings and Woods and Caves. You can guess what’s in each, but just to make sure, Town of Beginnings contains exterior and interior town maps, and the Woods and Caves pack contains, unsurprisingly, woods and caves.

These two packs use a massively high-resolution asset style, which doesn’t really fit my ideas and assets, but I’M ONLY USING IT AT THE MOMENT. I WILL BE CHANING THE ASSETS AS SOON AS THE BETA TEST VERSION IS SORTED.

I happened to have these packs lying around in my STEAM library, as I’ve been collected MV assets for ages now. Finally, they’re coming in handy!

Here’s some images of the difference between the two styles, as well as the links to the asset packs:

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Now, before anyone gets started about me using pre-made assets: I’m not an artist. I want to specialise in technology and programming, not art. I see no issue in making up for my own limitations by getting actual artists to make the assets. That’s industry standard practice after all; each person works to their strengths. If that means that I’m gonna focus on the gameplay, then so be it. Now, back to the images. I’m going to transforming the FSM samples into the Time Fantasy style, as the other thing I’m using the samples for is to get a rough idea of map layout. I’m gonna be adjusting the actual maps to work better for me, the samples are just a good starting point. I mean, you don’t have a go at a chef for using a tin to bake a cake, do you? That’s what I’m using them for; proverbial cake tins. I’m gonna decorate the cake by hand, but the shape of the cake remains the same.

Now, you may be wondering about my earlier statement about specialising in programming. As RPG Maker MV uses a visual scripting system, you may think it’s a bit of a cheat. Not really. Unreal Engine uses a visual scripting system, and Unity has visual scripting addons. Not everyone is good at programming. I have issues understanding Syntax; I know the basics of what code conventions there are, just don’t ask me to try and program in a specific language. At least, not yet. If I can get into uni, I’ll be learning how to use Unity and Unreal, from the very beginning. That includes programming. Luckily for me though, is that all of the Time Fantasy assets are able to be used legally in both Unity and Unreal! So I can still make the games I love, in the style I prefer.

Anyways, I’m gonna go now and start getting everything ready for the first playtest this weekend, so see you later!

Bibliography:

Rpgmakerweb.com. (n.d.). FSM: Town of Beginnings Tiles| RPG Maker | Create Your Own Game!. [online] Available at: http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/a/rpg-maker-mv-tileset/fsm-town-of-beginnings-tiles [Accessed 2 May 2019].

Rpgmakerweb.com. (n.d.). FSM: Woods and Cave Tiles| RPG Maker | Create Your Own Game!. [online] Available at: http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/a/rpg-maker-mv-tileset/fsm-woods-and-cave-tiles [Accessed 2 May 2019].

Perry, J. (n.d.). Time Fantasy | Create Your Own Game!. [online] Rpgmakerweb.com. Available at: http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/a/rpg-maker-vxace-character/time-fantasy [Accessed 2 May 2019].

Perry, J. (n.d.). Time Fantasy: Winter Tiles| RPG Maker | Create Your Own Game!. [online] Rpgmakerweb.com. Available at: http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/a/rpg-maker-mv-tileset/time-fantasy-winter-tiles [Accessed 2 May 2019].