This manual is written so that people who lack programming knowledge can
create video games with the help of RPG Maker VX Ace, developed by
Enterbrain.
Making a Video Game A manual for making a game in RPG Maker VX Ace.
Written by Andres Sanchez
Table of Contents
Chapter One
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Chapter Two
----------------------------------------------------- pg. 7
Chapter Three
--------------------------------------------------- pg. 13
Chapter Four
---------------------------------------------------- pg. 17
INTRODUCTION Game Design Video games are a mainstream form of entertainment in today’s technology filled world. They are fun to play and interesting to design. However, under most circumstances enthusiasts require lots of programming knowledge to create video games. This makes designing games an often inaccessible for most people do design games. This manual is written so that people who lack programming knowledge can create video games with the help of RPG Maker VX Ace, developed by Enterbrain.
What You Will Do In this manual you will learn how to create a basic game where you go into a dungeon and fight monsters so that you may claim the hidden treasure within. The manual will be split into 4 chapters, each corresponding to a different level in the game with the first explaining and teaching some RPG Maker fundamentals; a town, a road, and the inside of the dungeon. Each chapter will teach you how to design the level, add the events of the level, and transition to the next level.
Requirements
Access to a computer
A licensed copy of RPG Maker VX Ace
o
http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/products/programs/rpg-maker-vx-ace
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$69.99 USD
A basic understanding of menus and simple computer tasks. o
i.e. copy, paste, cut
CHAPTER ONE: RPG MAKER FUNDAMENTALS
Time to learn the ins and outs of RPG Maker!
RPG Maker Fundamentals
3
Chapter One: RPG Maker Fundamentals What is RPG Maker VX Ace? RPG Maker VX Ace (will be referred to as RPG Maker for the rest of the manual) is a piece of game design software developed by Enterbrain Inc. Its greatest strength lies in its ability to create games without knowing how to program difficult lines of code. Rather than code, RPG Maker uses events and a level editor to allow users to create a variety of games. From simple puzzle solving, to in depth role playing games with a
Figure 1: A screenshot of the layout of RPG Maker.
narrative. RPG Maker can help you along with it’s easy to use tools and interface.
The Map Editor In RPG Maker, levels are created by using the Map Editor. Each level is separated into maps; each with their own events, scenery, and objects (these will be explained in another section of this chapter). The map editor allows you to add maps, and design these as whatever you want by allowing you to choose from a palette of tiles. Use these to design your levels however you want. The palette is located on the rightmost part of the screen whenever you have a project open. It has tabs at the bottom labeled A, B, and C. These allow you to look at more tiles to add to your maps, and these may vary depending on whether your map is defined Figure 2: A more focused view of the tile palette and map view.
as Exterior, Interior, Dungeon, or Field.
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Making a Video Game
The Map List and Map Properties The map list shows all of the maps in your game, and highlights the one you are currently working on in blue. This is where you can switch between maps, change what kind of map it is, and other various settings on a map. To change a map’s properties, right-click on the map you want to edit and select Map Properties from the list of options.
Figure 3: The map properties window.
Events Events are a rather special subject in RPG Maker. Events allow for things to happen in your game. You create events on your maps and tell them what to do, and when to do it. You can have events that happen when the player presses a button, events that happen in the back ground, and events that happen only when certain conditions are met. In order to create events you must have the Event Editing mode enabled. This is located on the toolbar and has a little blue icon in the shape of a little person. When even editing is enabled you will see a grid that criss-crosses your map like that in Figure 3. Figure 4: When event editing is enabled. A grid will be visible on the map.
CHAPTER TWO: LET’S GET STARTED
Let's get down to business. To create... the town!
Let’s Get Started
7
Chapter Two: Let’s Get Started
First Things First First you have open RPG Maker and create your new project so you can begin creating the first level of the game. 1. Open RPG Maker from the Desktop. 2. Go to File. 3. Select New Project. 4. In the Folder Name, enter Dungeon Game (the Game Title will change automatically).
Figure 4: The game title will automatically change when you enter the folder name.
Loading the Town Now that you have your project open and named. You are going to load a sample map, which is a pre-made map that gives you a base to work from. You will also give it its own background music so that in game, the town will not be completely silent. Lastly, you will also be removing the map that was also created when you created the project. 1. In the Map List, right-click Dungeon Game, and select Load Sample Map. 2. From the list that appears, click the Forest Town sample map, then click OK. 3. Now right-click the Forest Town, and select the map properties. 4. Check the Auto-Change BGM box, and select the Town 4 music from the list.
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Making a Video Game 5. Click OK. Exit properties. 6. Click MAP001 to select it. Then right-click and select delete. 7. Click yes on the pop up window that follows.
Now that you have your town map. You can start using the event editor to make characters, doors and other events you need. The loaded map gives you a town to work from. You can start from scratch or edit the map to your heart’s content, but for now it’s just for teaching purposes.
Figure 5: There is a list of many background themes, choose the Town4 one.
Making Events Now you are going to create a couple of events on the Map. You are going to create one event that will put doors into the empty doorways on the buildings and that will show a message to the player saying the doors are locked. You will also create an event that will be a lone man that will tell the player that everyone is locked indoors because a monster has been terrorizing the townspeople and take the hero to the entrance to the cave where it lives. 1. Go to the toolbar, and enable the Event button (make sure the grid is on your map). 2. Find the building labeled “Inn”, right-click on the empty space and choose New Event. 3. In the new window, double-click the first empty line of the contents section. 4. Click the Show Text button in the first section and type “The door is locked shut.” 5. Once you click okay go back and double-click the empty graphic square. 6. Scroll down and choose !Door1 from the list. 7. Select the very first square door and click OK. 8. Select apply to finish the changes.
Figure 6: Make sure to have the door graphic. Otherwise it will be invisible in game.
Let’s Get Started
9
Now that you have that one door event created. You will copy the event onto every other door, so that every building will give the same response. Giving the town the appearance of everyone locking their doors. We will also load the next map so we can transfer the player to the next level in a future event. 1. Right click the door event you created previously. 2. Select copy. 3. Paste the event onto every building’s doorway. 4. In the map list, right-click Dungeon Game and select Load Sample Map. 5. Select Cave Entrance from the list and select OK. 6. Go the map properties for the cave entrance and select the music for it. Choose Dungeon 2. 7. Exit the map properties.
Lastly we will create an event. An old man telling you why everyone is locked in, and that a monster lives in the cave outside of town and takes you there. 1. Right-click the open space between the fences at the entrance to the town and make a new event. 2. Click the graphic box, scroll down the list to People1, and select the top center image of the old man and click OK. (See Figure 7) 3. Then in the contents section, create another Show Text content. 4. Type the following, “The town is afraid of the monster. Everyone has locked themselves in. Please defeat the monster for everyone. I'll show you where it lives!” Remember to start a new line once you get to the arrows above the box. 5. In the contents section, double-click the empty line. Go to the second tab and select Transfer Player. 6. Select Direct Designation and then select point (008,027) of the Cave Entrance map.
Figure 7: Select the space (008, 027) from the Cave Entrance map.
CHAPTER THREE: THE CAVE ENTRANCE
Time to set up road to the monster’s cave.
The Cave Entrance
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Chapter Three: The Cave Entrance Now that you have created the map for the entrance to the cave, this will be the time for the player to fight a test monster so they can be ready for the boss monster. First you will create an event so that a battle can take place, then we will load the final map, have chest with better items for the player, and finally we will have an event to transfer the player to the final map.
First the monster battle. 1. First select the square shown in Figure 8. 2. Create a new event and go to the graphic selection menu we used in the old man event. 3. Select Monster2 from the list and then highlight the blue slime from the images. 4. Go back and then double-click the contents section. 5. Go to the third tab and click Battle Processing. 6. In the popup window, under direct designation. Make sure that it says
Figure 8: Select the highlighted square on the map. Be sure Event editing is on.
Slime*2. Click OK and exit the event.
Then load the next map. 1. Go to the map list and right-click Load Sample Map. 2. Select Time Portal from the list. 3. Go to the map’s properties and choose the background music Dungeon 8. 4. Exit the map properties.
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Making a Video Game
Now we are going to create a treasure chest even so that the player can more easily defeat the monster ahead. A better weapon and some potions will help our hero defeat the boss monster! 1. On the left side of the cave entrance, right click and select Quick Event Creation and choose Treasure Chest. 2. Select the weapon category and choose Mithril Axe. 3. Right-click to the right side of the entrance, and choose the treasure chest quick event. 4. Select the Item section, and choose the Hi-Potion from the item list.
Figure 9: This is how the treasure chest should be positioned.
Our last event will transfer the player from the cave entrance, to the inside dungeon. This will be a lot easier as quick events allow you to make events that are frequently used very fast and easily. 1. Right click the entrance to the cave. 2. Select Quick Event Creation. Choose Transfer from the list. 3. In the pop-up window, choose the next map and choose point (012,028) highlighted in Figure 10.
Figure 10: Select point (012,028) of the next map.
CHAPTER FOUR: THE END
Time to end it.
Index
17
Chapter Four: The End It’s time for the hero to defeat the monster and free the town! We will make one last event, the boss battle. The event will also show text to congratulate the player for winning if it defeats the monster, and raise the player’s level so that beating the boss is mathematically possible. 1. Double-click the center of the pentagram to open a new event quickly. 2. Enter the graphic selection and choose $BigMonster1, and choose the very first monster image. Click OK. 3. Then double-click a new line in content. Go to the tab and select under the Actor section Change Level. 4. Go to the constant and enter 50. Leave everything else as is. Click OK. 5. Double-click a new line, got to the third tab and select Battle Processing. 6. Select the Chimera as the enemy. Click OK. Figure 11: Select the chimera image as the event image.
7. Lastly double-click a new line, and go to Show Text. 8. Type “Congratulations on beating the game!” Click OK. 9. Add another line, and go to tab three. 10. Select Return to Title Screen.
Now you just have to press play test from the toolbar. It’s the green play button at the top. The game will execute, and voila! You have just finished creating your own game! Remember to practice more with RPG Maker, learn more combinations and more ways to create. You imagination is all you need, and the online community is thriving!
