If we were to release RPG Maker 2003 in English would you buy it?

[amerk]

To suggest some updates, besides the bug fixes, I would want support for graphics in 24-bit PNG, OGG/MP3 playback, and maybe screen resolution of 640x480 pixels with updated RTP graphics. This would worth the full $20, or maybe up to $25.

A definite vote for png. The current default of 256 color bitmap is a pain.

 

[Tsukihime]

Does RM2k3 have a scripting interfaces?

I'm confused because a lot of people use the word "scripting" but then talk about things like events...

 

[amerk]

No scripting feature like XP or VX/Ace. Everything is handled through events. There are a few plug-ins and patches that were made to enhance the program, but those were considered illegal to use, as would continue to remain illegal even if RM2K3 received a legal English version, because it goes against the EULA.

 

[Gomi Boy]

I don't see much point to bringing it back. Aside from the battle system and the sprite resolution, its capabilities have been recreated and surpassed by later instalments. I can't say I find the practice of making quick, easy money by exploiting nostalgia very kosher, as popular as the strategy is in the indie games scene.

I kind of like what the 2k/3 community has formed into in the absence of any official support, anyway. Once its creators forgot about it, it became the go-to RM for people looking to make something audacious or weird. I probably can't attribute Yume Nikki's creation to 2k's forgotten status, but I don't think I'd be too far off in saying that it encouraged the many fan-projects produced afterwards.

e:

Isn't owning a legal and correctly translated version of the program incentive enough...?

No, unless you care a weird amount about earning brownie points with people who are hardly aware you exist.

 

[Touchfuzzy]

I can't say I find the practice of making quick, easy money by exploiting nostalgia very kosher, as popular as the strategy is in the indie games scene.

Except we were asked by fans to look into it. We didn't even consider it until fans asked us. The inference you are drawing about our goals are ludicrous and pretty insulting.

 

[Gomi Boy]

Fair enough. The samurai RTP package for VX didn't leave me with a whole lot of positivity vis a vis Enterbrain's business strategies.

All the same, I'm not totally sure what this remake could add that couldn't be easily replicated with Ace and some minor scripting. Besides the proposed new RTP, most of the changes and bugfixes and so on have either been addressed by later products or community initiative.

 

[Indinera]

Fair enough. The samurai RTP package for VX didn't leave me with a whole lot of positivity vis a vis Enterbrain's business strategies.

Hmmm, I thought it was great, personally. The art was stunning. What kind of stuff would you like from them?

 

[Gomi Boy]

This isn't really the place to get into a critique of the samurai package.

 

[Peltron]

Yes I would! I love the engine so much! I loved the oldschool look, the RTP, the music—everything! I would definitely buy it!

 

[Rehmlok]

I wouldn't buy it or look back to it, albeit I am pretty sure it will sell fairly well. At least for a little while, but I have a feeling it might be a short life.

 

[Lord Valdyr]

I'd definitely buy if it would work on windows 7?

 

[amerk]

It seems a lot of people want it for the RTP. I'm wondering, would EB make more money selling a legal version of RM2K3 at $20, or would they wind up making more just selling the RTP (graphics, tilesets, charsets, audio, etc) at $10 to $15 and adjusting the size and resolution to fit more smoothly with VX/Ace's RTP.

I guess there's no way to know for sure, but it just seems like a better plan all around, especially if you attrack a lot more people with the RTP at a lower cost.

 

[Lord Valdyr]

Id pay for a retro rtp pack

 

[bhoward89]

YES! I would pay whever to get a hold of a legit copy of this!

 

[tpasmall]

If the fans want it, and it makes your company money, why not? I personally wouldn't buy it because I didn't get into rpgmaker until about a year ago and hardly have time for what I'm doing with it now. But I think it would show concern for the voice of fans of your product and in this business customer service is everything.

 

[Peltron]

I don't only want it for the RTP it. I liked making games in it and its editor. The RTP is just another big pro in buying the engine.

 

[Tuomo L]

After puchasing a license, could I release a game of mine I made years ago comercially?

 

[Probotector 200X]

I just realized I hadn't posted in this thread yet...

Yes, I'd buy it. Love RPG Makers...$20 is a good price, though perhaps $15 might be more reasonable. I don't know.

However, I realize that I know very little about it. Like, what does some of the RTP even look like? What do the side-view battles look like? What are some of the events, at least compared to XP-VX-Ace? Can you put common events in items and skills back then? Some screenshots would be really neat. I mean, like semi-official screenshots. Not ones using the an illegally translated version, especially not if it's of the database. If Japanese is all that's available for that then, that's fine with me. I'm just really curious about stuff like that. I haven't really seen anything about any of this.

 

[Necromus]

Rm2k3 actually has some functions new makers only provide with scripts, like fog, 8 direction passings settings, and more layer passibilty.

You can do a ton with it, you just can't script. Custom battle systesm, menus and the like need to be evented.

The RTP doesn't really look good imo, but there is an ungodly ammount of awesome ressources around for it, if you don't mind the lower resolution, it's really good, especially if Degia would rework and completely translate a few features.

Personally i wouldn't buy it simply because i got it like 10 years ago, before all the legal trouble came up, it was even published and promoted in video game magazines back then.

Shouldn't really change the fact that that version is still illegal, but hey, things were different back then and you won't just throw something away that you bought once.

 

[Probotector 200X]

Rm2k3 actually has some functions new makers only provide with scripts, like fog, 8 direction passings settings, and more layer passibilty.

You can do a ton with it, you just can't script. Custom battle systesm, menus and the like need to be evented.

The RTP doesn't really look good imo, but there is an ungodly ammount of awesome ressources around for it, if you don't mind the lower resolution, it's really good, especially if Degia would rework and completely translate a few features.

Thanks for the info. Now I'm curious about more! I don't care if the RTP might not look too good, I still wanna see it!