Interested In Creating An Rpg...

[taikara]

Looking around this forum, I've seen references to different game creation studios, such as SCI, AGI, and AGS, etc.

What do you think would be the best for me to try out for a first attempt?

I write well, have some artistic skill, am fairly adept with programming, especially algorithm design and semantics, so I can learn languages somewhat quickly as long as I have the language syntax references.

Please don't just say something like: ASG!!! :ok: :ok: :ok:

Tell me your thoughts as to why, so I am better informed :D

[Maikel]

I don't know much about programming. But if you need help about using the various graphic programs on the globe to create your graphics you can ask me :)

[taikara]

Originally posted by Maikel@Jan 23 2005, 10:19 PM
But if you need help about using the various graphic programs on the globe to create your graphics you can ask me :)
Thanks :)

Once I figure out where to start, I probably will :ok:

Right now, I have pretty much all of the Adobe suite (licensed, go me!), but I don't know how to go about creating sprites or pixel art, or what programs I should use to do so.

[Kon-Tiki]

Algorithm design? That's my weak point :D Anyways, AGI and AGS're the easiest ones. They're fairly straight-forward when it comes to design: Create backgrounds (for AGI under a special drawing program for it, under AGS, you can use other tools too), create animations, music and combine them all in the studio, while coding them. I don't know much 'bout AGS' programming language, but I know that AGI uses a step-in for a step-in of C++ (that other step-in being SCI, which's like AGI, but with better graphics and the point'n click/pop-up parser). The learning curve of these languages is from a day up to a week, depending on how well you learn. I know AGI's best learned through looking at other people's sourcecode and reading the elaborate help-file. Same goes for SCI.

Outside these three, which're more for making adventure games (AGI and SCI for older and newer Sierra-style, AGS for Lucasarts-style), there's also RPG Maker. Haven't really used these myself, but they seem to be pretty straight-forward as well with an easy-to-learn language (at least I assume it uses a language, and seeing the amount of games made in it, and the range of people who can make games in it, I'd say it's easy to learn). RPG Maker's mostly for making console-style RPGs (kinda like Final Fantasy 6 and the likes)

If you're looking for something more advanced, you got the Wintermute Engine, which has a free version and a commercial version, and Visionaire, which has a free and a full version, it seems. These allow you to make adventure games in 3D, as well as cartoonish games. These require more graphical abilities, but the coding seems to be reasonable too. Haven't tried them out yet (found out 'bout them yesterday), but the coding seems to be made into a GUI, implemented in the objects.

Beside these, there're the professional ones. BlitzBasic, DarkBasic, Blender and the likes. BlitzBasic and DarkBasic're said to be fairly simple to use (don't know it myself), but there're only demo- and trialversions available, the full versions being fairly expensive for somebody who's not planning to sell games with it ($80 and up). They do allow any style of game whatsoever (of course, for a text adventure, you're better off learning C++ than spending money on those :D )
Blender's a 3D modeling program that allows you to make games with, too. It's only for quite advanced people, but it's powerful and free.

Aside from these, there're still loads and loads of other gamemaking programs, like Game Maker (which I don't really recommend... might be good, but learning its language's not that simple, and it won't help you understand any other programming language whatsoever, so aside from Game Maker scripting, it'd be a wasted effort)

[taikara]

*overwhelmed*

[Kon-Tiki]

Uhmm... too much at once? I can always cut it down into smaller parts, with links and all that fancy stuff if that'd help...

[taikara]

I guess I'm still not certain which system would be the best to try for a beginner, even though I do have programming skills.

To elaborate on what I'm interested in doing, and maybe you can help point me in the best direction for the concept:

RPG
Somewhat elaborate in story, but hopefully not too overwhelming to produce.

Several races involved, and I want to showcase their racial uniqueness artistically, if possible.

Several unique "areas," explorable. (e.g. - desert, mountain, town)

One main character, but interesting supporting characters.

Preferably no fighting system, if I can get around it, I want the completion to rely mostly on ingenuity, but I think it would be interesting to program, so either way.

Mostly, I'm looking for something that I can do most of the above, without making it so overwhelming to work on that I feel like giving up.

Creatively flexible, I guess, but still somewhat simple to use?

[Kon-Tiki]

An RPG without a fighting system... that would make an adventure game, no?

[taikara]

hmm...

I guess you're right :D

I think it's backwards in my mind. For me, "adventure" implies action, and thus fighting. "Role-playing" implies thinking, and thus problem-solving.

Sorry for the confusion...

[Kon-Tiki]

No battlesystem excludes RPG Maker. From there on... it depends on a few things.

1) Which style you want to maintain? (LucasArts style, Sierra style or freestyle?)
2) What exactly's your programming knowledge and experience up till now?
3) Would you care about restrictions in graphics, and would you want them to be 3D, 3D-ish or cartoon-style?

[taikara]

1) Sierra

2) C++, Java, Basic, Perl blah blah - dabbling w/ various since I was 6.

3) There are restrictions? 3D-ish. I don't want to deal with 3D engines.

[Kon-Tiki]

C++, Java... you won't have any problem with the syntax of AGI and SCI. Those two're the old Sierra style. The graphics have some limitations and require special tools (for AGI, it's less than a Mb big, but is for Dos or .NET... and personally, I find that .NET one unpracticle). The one for SCI is integrated in the Studio. This leaves the 3D-ish out though. Last question then...
Leisure Suit Larry 1 style or Leisure Suit Larry 3 style?

[taikara]

More like LSL3, the bigger bit color scheme would allow for better aesthetics.

[Kon-Tiki]

Go for SCI Studio (http://www.bripro.com/scistudio/index.php) then.

[taikara]

Thank you for helping me narrow it down, Kon-Tiki.

You're extremely helpful, I appreciate it. :ok:

I'll check it out soon. :)

[ShaiHulud]

Just saying, if this is a first attempt, id say go for DarkBASIC Classic, that is an extremely good proggramming interpreter, you can make 3d or 2d strategy, rpg, action, fps, and any other kind of game. If you think you have mastered that and need an extra "boost", then get DarkBASIC Proffesional, if you think BASIC, is a little underneath you, go for DarkBASIC SDK (C/C++), the website isDarkBasic.com (http://www.darkbasic.com)

[Kon-Tiki]

@Tai You're welcome :)
@Shai Isn't DarkBasic to be paid for?

[quatroking]

Download RPGmaker Xp, you know that i make ATG with it, but you can make advanture games too!

Simply don't set monsters in your game!

With RPGmaker can you make interactive games too,(in rpg) i have make with RPG2003 the game:
Legend Of Zelda: Link is crazy

its a interactive kill game. (thats why link is crazy)

I'am in making of a pokemon clone too.

[mouse31e]

Originally posted by Kon-Tiki@Jan 24 2005, 04:31 PM
@Tai You're welcome :)
@Shai Isn't DarkBasic to be paid for?
Yes, you would need to purchase DarkBasic but you can take a 30 day(60 use) free trial.

Then DarkBasic Lite is ?9.99/€13.99/$14.99 which is fully functional but won't create EXE's and has some limits on what it will support. You can upgrade that to DarkBasic Pro for another ?22.99/€31.99/$34.99.

Or you can buy DarkBasic Pro straight away for ?27.99/€38.99/$49.99 which is a much better deal.

I learnt to program in Basic and never really got the hang of anything else. I've just downloaded the trial today and I think this is probably the program for me. I am going to play around with the trial for a month and if I'm happy with it I can see myself purchasing the pro version of it. :D

[Kon-Tiki]

Hmm... 39 euro's not that much for a program. Still much for somebody as cheap as me, but if you can sell your games, it'll return the investment in no time (at least, if your games're good). That BlitzBasic of $80 on the other hand... 's waaay more of an investment. Anybody know if it's worth it, too, or that it's best to go with the 39 euros for DarkBasic?

[mouse31e]

Originally posted by Kon-Tiki@Jan 24 2005, 05:11 PM
Hmm... 39 euro's not that much for a program. Still much for somebody as cheap as me, but if you can sell your games, it'll return the investment in no time (at least, if your games're good). That BlitzBasic of $80 on the other hand... 's waaay more of an investment. Anybody know if it's worth it, too, or that it's best to go with the 39 euros for DarkBasic?
Blitz Basic does look good but I'm wondering whether it's much better for the difference in price. There's a free trial from the site at www.blitzbasic.com (http://www.blitzbasic.com). I might have to check it out before I decide! :D

EDIT: Have just discovered - The $80 version(Blitz Max) is Mac only at the moment thought Win and Linux versions are apparently coming. Blitz Plus which is the 2D Windows package is $60 but Blitz3D which is 3D Windows is $100!

[ShaiHulud]

Mouse, you see, DarkBASIC Pro isnt the only one, their is also DarkBASIC Classic, which costs far less, and they made Starwraith with, (Top 10 Charts PC Gamer Magazine)

[WolverineDK]

well you could use Dungeon Craft

http://sourceforge.net/projects/uaf/

http://uaf.sourceforge.net/

and serach for FRUA the right places.

pm me if you need directions to FRUA.

other than that i know zero about RPG making or programming

but i like to help in anyway possible taikara :-).

[Kon-Tiki]

UAF... still got that on cd 'round here somewhere. Used to fiddle around with it years ago, but never could get anything decent out of it, strangely enough. It's quite intuitive, but at the same time, I couldn't get it to show the stuff I wanted it to show (put in the code to get some gold when you walk into a spot, but it didn't do a thing when I walked into it, for example)