how do i know if my DLC are working as intended?

[DMNinja]

I have recently bought and installed some DLC for Ace, but when i hopped on my project again, i could not find any discernable differences in menu options, or even the database. Where have the DLCs been added to?
I am using Adventurer's Journey, Futuristic Tiles resource pack, High Fantasy main party pack 1, High Fantasy resource pack, Inspirational vol 1, Royal Tiles resource pack, and the Tyer warren's packs.

If you happen to have any of the same packs, could you let me know their location in the RPG Maker?

Thank you very much

 

[Alexander Amnell]

I'm going to assume you are referring to steam. Rpgmaker dlc isn't technically dlc as it is in loose file format. The first time you open Rpgmaker through steam upon purchasing the dlc it will download toyour steam folder (by default: C:/programfiles(86)/steam/steam apps/common/Rpgmaker dace/dlc) all your dlc should be downloaded there and you'll need to manually install them toyour project.

 

[DMNinja]

Oh yes, sorry about that! i forgot to mention i am using steam...

Steam states that the files are installed. Does that mean that they are also integrated in Rpgmaker?

EDIT: I figured out that i have to import the resources via the resource manager, but my issue now is this: How does one discern under which folders should the files be extracted? the DLC option in the resource manager doesn't seem to help.

 

[Andar]

if you use the resource manager, you can see and preview what is in which folder before clicking on the DLC button.


But basically it should be clear when seeing the preview of any DLC - tilesheets go to the tilesets, sprites go into the character folder, any regular picture is either a battler (if used for an enemy) or a picture (if used as background) and so on.


You can't damage anything when trying, as all resources are just files - the only effect of a wrong import is that it will increase the filesize of your project (which is also the reason why they aren't automatically imported) - and that can be corrected by removing/deleting them in the resource manager or the project folder.

 

[DMNinja]

Thrank you very much! I figured it out! although it is kinda sad that the file ingegration cannot be applied to all projects and you have to do each one by hand...
Is it possible to globally apply any settings? I would like to fix the 4-dir paggage on every item and have it permanently applied to all projects from now on?

EDIT: Also thank you for the responses. I have no prior knowledge of anything else than CAD programs, so the things that might be simple to you, are new for me, so thanks again!

 

[Mouser]

Thrank you very much! I figured it out! although it is kinda sad that the file ingegration cannot be applied to all projects and you have to do each one by hand...

You can manually move the files into the directories so they are available to all projects. The downside is the file size increases. Personally, as long as I keep my game under 1-1.5 gig (really 4.5 Gig would be my 'hard' cap - enough to fit on a DVD) I'm not going to sweat the file size, but some people seem to take more notice of it than others.

Watch the music though - that can make a file huge in no time. Converting to .ogg from .mp3's or .wav's helps a lot - I forget who showed me that, but it was well meant and well take advice. I think I had the compression set at 5 (default in Audacity). Try to compress it any more and you can hear the music start to degrade pretty quickly (at least I can). If I had better speakers I'm sure I'd hear the difference between the .wav and the .ogg, but those seem close enough for government work so long as you don't go compression crazy [and I'm not in a position to spend $700+ dollars on a pair of computer speakers right now to be sure how much is lost].

I've got one big folder with all my background music entirely outside the RM directory. When I use a piece of music, I copy it over into the BGM folder, and then move it into a 'used in game' sub folder in the large music directory. I'm slowly sorting the music out into what I think it would be good for: areas, themes, events, buildings, dangerous areas, battles, bosses, etc... so I can just check one folder when I need something. Seems to be working ok for now. As the game goes on I'll be able to reuse music to carry common themes forward so I won't need a unique piece for everything.

 

[Andar]

although it is kinda sad that the file ingegration cannot be applied to all projects and you have to do each one by hand...

wrong, it could have been done that way - but it was intentionally decided NOT to do it.
The problem is that there are different types of resources that shouldn't be mixed in a single game - for example the High Fantasy Packs (basically realistic, double-sized and often 3D-rendered resources), the old-school-pack (designed to look like 8-Bit-Gameboy color) and the regular RTP-resources.


If every resource would be automatically included, then all those pictures would be added to your project size, even if you never use them in your game. And that would be a lot of space wasted, and especially upload and download-times when you try to distribute your game on the internet.