Is there currently a need for a RPG Maker resource website?

[RPG_Wizard]

Hey guys, I’ve been in this game almost 10 years ago now and the internet has changed a lot since then. But I want to know if the community is currently well served or is in need of a RPG maker fan site for resources and games. Advice is greatly appreciated!!

 

[Kes]

I'm unclear what you are asking. This site is a huge resource for assets and games, so your question implies that something is missing, otherwise a new site would not be required. Could you say what it is that the sort of site you are proposing would have in addition to what can be found here?

Or maybe it's the "fan site" which is key - in which case, what would it add to e.g. rpgmaker.net which is a fan site full of games, with resources as well.

This isn't to knock down your question, but to try and clarify exactly what it is that you are proposing.

 

[RPG_Wizard]

Hey, thanks for listening. Yes, it would be a fan site with a database of resources easy to look for in a clean format. Basically back in my days there were at least 5-10 “big” sites but there was no official community like this one so I guess everyone found their niche community. So the question would be if someone made a half-decent site would people ‘need’ it.

 

[Poryg]

That would be useless to create a website for resources to be honest, because many authors forbid reuploads of their resources. And while many sites used to work, many also had no clear way of crediting someone and often used ripped resources as well.

 

[Andar]

As said above, the problem with any resource site is to keep it legal. That requires a lot of moderators constantly checking all uploads for their terms of use (we have a template for resource uploads because of that), and getting the artists to uploads their own resources there (as said, most artists forbid reuploads and want the people to come to their sites and posts).

Those older sites you mentioned probably only got big because they did not filter the uploads and contained a lot of rips and other forms of illegal resources, and if they did that is most likely the reason they were shut down.
Creating a similiar site now would also most likely result in the hoster to get sued for it, especially because the community has grown more aware of the legal implications and want their resources to remain legally available.

 

[Shaz]

Yeah, I think you would have a hard time getting members and keeping things going. There are already fan sites out there, and people pick the ones they like and stick with them. There are also a lot of resource sites out there, and it's hard to know what you legally can use and can't, because a lot of them don't vet the submissions to ensure people have permission to post them.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I think there's already plenty of sites for both resources and games. Maybe you'd be better off spending your time contributing to the existing ones rather than trying to set yourself up as competition.

 

[DaedraTalos]

Mh...What about a site that would link to the original resource, but already gives a preview of what you'll see? Would that work and be legal?

 

[Windows i7]

Mh...What about a site that would link to the original resource, but already gives a preview of what you'll see? Would that work and be legal?

That depends on if it falls under fair use or not and if the author of the resource allows the previews. However linking to it is completely legal.

 

[Shaz]

Depends what you mean by a preview, and whether the artists would consider that acceptable use. How are you going to draw people to your site? There are plenty of already well established sites that have tonnes of resources. What would cause someone to want to go to your very small site with only a few resources that they could already get elsewhere?

 

[dbchest]

it seems silly task to me; if you are a content creator, create your content. if you have a personal website, assist developers in finding their way to it. beyond that, it is a foreign concept to me to gather resources that i did not make and host them. what is the end game? just seems pointless. what is in it for you?

 

[Shaz]

Yeah, it'd be a lot of work, and I can't see very many people using it, as people already have their favourite sites, and everything you host would be available on those already.

 

[DaedraTalos]

Eh, I wouldn't do it anyway, just giving an optional idea to the creator of the post o/

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

TBH, there is already this site (which I think we should be helping other RM users find this site so we all gather in this one official site) plus some other extra sites that also focus on hosting RM resources/games, there is no more need for another one. The more sites we make, the more scattered we would be which would be counterproductive to the community IMHO.

 

[hp4000]

The more resource sites the better!
Why? Cause everyone has a different view of doing it!
I'd rather have 50 perspectives instead of just 10!
( Plus I'd get better resources that way! )

If you have a resource site in mind, DO IT! And make sure the resources are free for commercial use! k thx!

 

[Andar]

@hp4000 more resources sites do not create more artists, and the good artists usually prefer to post their resources only on a few sites, because the more sites they post, the more time the updates take when they have something new.

And if a resource site just collects material from the Internet, it is almost impossible to keep the resources there legal for commercial use.
For commercial use, a resource site needs to be very carefully monitored. That takes a lot of work and dedication, and if a sites does not clear out offered ripped (and there by illegal) resources, that site will NOT be good or an advantage. And the Internet already has too many crapsites with illegal content that is completely unusable commercially, even if they pretend to be legal.