How much time have you put into RMMV?

[FleshToDust]

I got it off steam in late June during a sale for $30.

Steam shows you before you launch it how much time you've used it for and I've gotten a bit obsessed with that number and am curious, what's the average number of hours people have on it or have used it for? I've clocked almost 170 hours so far but I've heard of game projects taking about 10,000 hours (guessing that includes time spent outside of the program).

It's said that 10,000 is the amount of time it takes to master a craft. I don't know where that saying came from or if it's true across the board but it's interesting at the least. what's your guys experience with that? If you've clocked that many hours would you say you're pretty knowledgeable about it or do you have a ways to go yet?

 

[Dirge]

I'm at 590 but I mostly leave it running while I do other things, too.

 

[FleshToDust]

I'm at 590 but I mostly leave it running while I do other things, too.

I did that at the beginning too but then I started purposely closing it so the number wouldn't increase!

 

[King Gerar]

I'm with more 4600 hours, but already knew VX Ace enough, then I just was worried to learn Javascript. Until I complete my game, this invested hours will go at least to double. The necessary time to finish a game or have a good knowledge level will depend to project scope, your aptitude and dedication. Doesn't exists a formula with required time.

 

[FleshToDust]

I'm with more 4600 hours, but already knew VX Ace enough, then I just was worried to learn Javascript. Until I complete my game, this invested hours will go at least to double. The necessary time to finish a game or have a good knowledge level will depend to project scope, your aptitude and dedication. Doesn't exists a formula with required time.

nice, you've gotta be pretty far on your game then. do you have a demo yet? Hope to see it soon on Steam!

 

[Tai_MT]

According to Steam... 774 Hours. Though, before I picked it up on steam as well, I'd probably invested at least another 1200 hours.

Though, time really doesn't mean anything. I open the program every single day, even if I do very little with it. Keeping it open reminds me that I need to do something in it every single day. I need to make progress of some kind, every day. If I don't... My game will never get finished. Just like the wasted 2 years on the same game, except on VX Ace.

So, it stays open constantly. I close it when I go to bed or am running other more resource intensive programs... Otherwise, it's open.

 

[King Gerar]

nice, you've gotta be pretty far on your game then. do you have a demo yet? Hope to see it soon on Steam!

No, I finished the introduction this week. The most part from this time were taken creating codes, drawing tiles and characters, designing interfaces and planning of mechanics. I begun to "build" the game really a few months ago.
But I appreciate the interest. When I have an English demo, will post here.

 

[FleshToDust]

Though, time really doesn't mean anything.

time doesn't mean anything? hogwash! time is more precious than gold! (man I wish is was 20 again...)
What kind of game are you making?
I'm making something inspired by a few different games. I've got my idea set in stone pretty much and I've made a few maps and the skills so now I've got to do the quests.

@King Gerar Yeah I started drawing the other day. Spent the whole day trying to make a decent house. It's very time consuming.

 

[Tai_MT]

@FleshToDust

Eh, it really doesn't unless you're doing something in the program every second that it's open. Otherwise, how much work you put into it isn't really going to be reflected by the amount of hours you've used the program. For roughly 2000 hours I've spent with MV, it doesn't feel like I've accomplished much with it. But, it is what it is, I guess.

The kind of game I'm making is what I consider a "True Choice" type game... Which makes writing for it difficult, yet fun. Essentially, every choice you make branches out the story into something new and different. Or, at least... the story choices. Beyond that, it's also just kind of an experiment in gameplay to see how players react to specific systems and concepts and such. For example: I removed level grinding and replaced gaining stats on level up with gaining shortcuts and shops and other map features each time you gain a level (as well as personal quests for each character). I reward stats now for engaging in the narrative (every quest completed gives you an item to increase stats) so that the player is more likely to look for Quests to complete and not worry so much about grinding for levels.

There's a lot more than that, but it's not really the topic to be discussing my game at length.

Pretty much anyone is going to finish their game before me, because I tend to drag my feet on the boring aspects of game design. Database work. I prefer to be mapping, eventing, and writing. Or creating items, weapons, armors, and skills. I don't like all the other Database nonsense... and I don't like having to have custom graphics for things (which I'll at some point need just for a title screen and game over screen).

I'm stuck right now just adding in 300 animations so far. Which is boring. Tedious. And quite annoying. That number will go up once I begin designing monsters and giving them skills, which will then need their own animations.

Hence, my "time doesn't really mean anything". How much time does any of spend actually working in the program as opposed to staring at it and not doing anything... or leaving it open in case we get the urge to do something in it?

 

[FleshToDust]

@Tai_MT Yeah I know. It was more a joke about age than rpg maker.
Animations? I haven't started those yet but I'm thinking they won't be too much fun.

That's a cool idea for a game. Multiple paths are interesting. I don't think my game will have that. It'll be pretty basic. Go on quest, finish quest, head back, upgrade gear.

I think doing just one thing at a time is the best way to go about it.
Animations and art have to be the most time consuming to do out of everything though.

 

[Dalph]

Ignore the Ralphs in pain:

Spoiler

 

[Archeia]

I can't believe I spent this much...and haven't finished a game with it. And I only have like 2k hours on VXAce and finished more there

Spoiler

 

[FleshToDust]

I can't believe I spent this much...and haven't finished a game with it. And I only have like 2k hours on VXAce and finished more there

Spoiler

View attachment 71127

Wowzers! that's a lot! Once you hit 9000 you can say "IT'S OVER 9000!!!"

@Dalph Lol you like torturing ralph.

 

[bgillisp]

No idea, as I'm using the standalone version of MV. But in ACE, I have 6057 hours (per Steam), and my game is still not done. I really hope to finish before I hit 9999

 

[FleshToDust]

No idea, as I'm using the standalone version of MV. But in ACE, I have 6057 hours (per Steam), and my game is still not done. I really hope to finish before I hit 9999

that's the level cap! you'll need a plugin to get past 9999!
(does steam have an hour cap? i don't know...)

 

[Philosophus Vagus]

150 hours so far, most of which was actually work on the game but not necessarily with the engine because while I do close down the programs when I am done working on them (mainly out of habit because my computer is cheap enough and it's hot enough in the summer/fall to where I have to be careful not to overheat my computer, even with a fan blowing on it) when I am working on my game I typically have Gimp, Articy Draft and VSC open as well and jump between them as needed. So while Articy Draft and MV both say around 150 hours, it is the same 150 hours and also shared with other programs. Most of you have clearly been doing this a lot longer than I have, makes me wonder how long it will take before I actually release anything.

 

[Kes]

'General Discussion' is for looking a broad aspects of actually making games.
[move]General Lounge[/move]

 

[Bricabrac]

873 hours, says Steam. I suspect it's more, since I often work offline.
Oh my what am I doing with my life.

 

[kaukusaki]

To those who are curious...
Roughly about 840 hours with mv because I had to reduce my hours working (too much stress heart attacks etc... I'm getting old...)
Roughly about 1680 hours with vx ace because most times I spent doing extra work outside the program (art music etc )
But I have been making rpg maker jump through hoops through all the iterations I could get my hands on to prove it can be done.

 

[Astel]

Steam says...
MV: 331 hours
VX Ace: 216 hours

Spoiler

Skyrim: 798 hours
No Man's Sky: 277 hours

I guess i need more work and less fun?