Has RPG Maker lost traction with the Japanese-speaking market?

[GrandmaDeb]

I ask this, not because I want to ignore our Japanese-speaking friends here on this forum, or the fact that **cough, cough** the maker comes from Japan, or because I know much about it.


But I rather expected something to rise in the wake of the demise of FSM, and nothing did. Instead, an increasing number of blogs seem to be dying off. Of course, the Kaduki blog was a purposeful close-off of materials, but Apapapan has only a cover page now, and that is just the latest.


(I am wondering how long until I am backing up the whole universe, actually.) =P


And searches (for RPG Maker things from Japanese sites) which used to bring up new materials don't bring up new things anymore. Pixiv isn't hopping. Deviant Art. All slowing waaaay down.


Am I misreading this or are other countries running ahead with RPG Maker and the Japanese game makers are just not so "into" it any more???


And if so, where are the hopping spots, in your opinion? For example, we have great contributors from the German-speaking RPG Making community. I have been watching German-speaking blogs who have been posting some fantastic screenshots, btw, for years and years.For some reason my own blog was lit up from Russia lately. Russia?


So I am curious.


Where are we represented? Is there a way to know? What is your take?


=]

 

[EternalShadow]

I would say the reduction in materials is largely due to how old Ace is now, and the lack of media (whether it be news sites, blogs talking about the engine, etc) surrounding it. In order for the popularity of the engine to increase again in Japan, a new engine really needs to be released. If you think about it, they've had 2k and 2k3 for years, while we've only just had them released here. Our introduction to 2k and 2k3 has made its way to a few channels so people in the western market are reintroducing themselves to the idea of using RM. Japan has had no such news, and it's been like that since Ace was released. It is only inevitable when it comes to programs and games. 

A game example I suppose would be Phoenix Wright. If the Meiji game wasn't in the news, it would likely have tapered off after Dual Destinies.

 

[Archeia]

I noticed that the JP audience for RM is a lot more active in twitter. I don't think the forum format is as popular in Japan as it is in the west.

 

[EternalShadow]

Actually, what I don't really understand though is why resources on a lot of resource sites (especially Japanese ones) tend to be in a temporary, time-based format such as blogs. It makes it really hard to find what you want, when it's all categorized by date rather than the type of resource in most cases.

 

[slimmmeiske2]

If they use tags, it's pretty easy though ^^.

And yeah what Archeia says. I found a lot of screenshots from Japanese RMers using Celianna's Ancient Dungeons tiles.

 

[Jomarcenter]

I noticed that the JP audience for RM is a lot more active in twitter. I don't think the forum format is as popular in Japan as it is in the west.

Well true I never normally see a japanese Forums or even a very active one. Mostely the majority of them use twitter or have their own sites to host their files and such. Or to communicate with other via their japanese social network sites. Mostely I compare japanese being active on the western/international social network site vs the japanese social network sites like hatena, Line, mixi etc. And i notice their local one is much active. Due to basicially they can talk to each other in their own language. And it Actually very hard to find resources from japanaese then you think. Since mostely japanese on type in japanese searching like resources using a western keyboard can be really. i have to use google translate to translate one word and put it in the google search to find something that typeing it in english will missed.

 

[sapiboong]

I think the increasing popularity of Wolf RPG Editor might be one of the reason...? Since they are open-source. 

Also, forgive me if it is forbidden to mention other software. 

 

[Jomarcenter]

I think the increasing popularity of (Censored Just in case) might be one of the reason...? Since they are open-source. 

Also, forgive me if it is forbidden to mention other software. 

Well even that tho. Resources for that engine is also compactible with rpg maker vx ace Because it use the same tileset size and other stuff as RM 32 by 32. So even tho there still a lot of resources to be made in general. I also notice some use the now disappared FSM tileset also use in that engine.

The OP says why the japanese community isn't making resources for the rpg maker series which in fact false due to a ton of rpg maker like software surface and people tend to called them general RPG resources due to the fact the compactability between them. it like 32 by 32 tileset is commonly used on engine making.

I kinda like to challenge to try to find resources without using the word "RPG maker" around the japan communities when searching RPG games resources. You be surprise how many you will find that is very useful in RPG maker.

 

[GrandmaDeb]

Hmmmm, lots to think about. I suppose I will never see what is on twitter unless I knew who to follow, etc.


I would adore to see those screenshots of Cel's Ancient Dungeon tiles, noted by Slimmm.


And Jomarcenter, I am curious to see if I can locate resources with other search terms as well, although I am not sure what other terms I would use exactly....

 

[ashikai]

I get the feeling timezones play a huge role in how communication happens. North America has like what, 4-5? Japan only has one, I think. So it would make sense that there are specific times in Japan where more RPGM people are active and will share resources.

I came across something interesting on Tumblr the other day that talked about Japan's copyright laws and how artists are limited inthe amount of websites their fanart or alterations can appear on and the amount those resources are shared. For that reason, a ton of Japanese artists are switching to password protected blogs for their art and stuff; it's one of the big reasons pixiv is slowing down. Too many westerners find these images from Japanese artists and they overshare them to the point that the original artist can actually get in trouble.

I'm gonna go see if I can find the original article. It's around here somewhere...

 

[Ramiro]

The spanish community died when the XP came out in USA, but that was not the only reason, the reason is quite simple,

There are less people that played SNES-era games, so there are less people wanting to make that type of games.

Some still clain about "RM2003 is the best maker" and so many things...

Japanese blogs are still here and there, they also want to use other tools, or they just get bored with the maker.