RPG Maker Humble Bundle, Commercial Use

[rrdein]

I have seen this question asked several times, but I am still not 100% clear on what we are and are not allowed to do, in terms of commercial use of RPG Maker.  In particular, I would like some confirmation (preferably from someone associated with RPG Maker) of whether or not a game created entirely in RPG Maker can legally be ported to another platform besides Windows, using the resources which are provided in RPG Maker XP (and resource packs with the same licensing).

What I mean is, suppose I make a game with RPGMVXAce, using all the various resource packs that are currently available, as well as those which I may purchase at a later date.  If I have a way to port this to XNA, and from there to Android, is it permissible to then sell these ports (yes I know XNA is defunct)?

 

[??????]

Pretty sure its possible. Seen quite a few kickstarter projects offering ports to other OS' if certain stretch goals are reached.

Also seen something the other week about possible RPG Maker Andriod port, but cant remember where that was or what it actually said :

 

[Shaz]

There is no legal, approved-by-Enterbrain/Degica way to port to other platforms at this stage. So no, you cannot make a game in RPG Maker and port it to other platforms.

 

[rrdein]

Long as I'm asking questions about the Humble Bundle, does anybody know what the Resource Pack called Wild Steam is that is listed here under Humble Bundle?

http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/support/products/faqs#faq-humble-bundle

 

[??????]

There is no legal, approved-by-Enterbrain/Degica way to port to other platforms at this stage. So no, you cannot make a game in RPG Maker and port it to other platforms.

Have certain projects been given permission / help in the past to port to alternative OS' ?

I'm sure I seen a kickstarter that raised 90k and boasted port to another OS. Cant remember its name though. 

@rrdein

Pretty sure thats a preview of PVGames future resource pack.

 

[Shaz]

Yes, Wild Steam is a PV Games pack.


Dekita, I believe there ARE one or two games that have been ported with Degica/Enterbrain's approval and/or assistance. They were special cases though and it should not be assumed that just because they did it, anybody can - anyone else would have to go through the same process.


You're probably thinking of seita's You Are Not The Hero. I do not know what the port to other platform entails - maybe they're remaking all the resources and doing it in a completely different engine.

 

[??????]

@Shaz - Yep, thats the one. A quick google search showed the OS ports where to Max and Linux... I remember asking how the port was done and was greeted with no info - not that I really expected the secret to just be given to me lol

Even though that has only happened a few times (being officially ported) it is good to know that it has happened before. I mean, if a game gained enough excitement, who knows what could happen ^_^

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

There is also another project on android and AFAIK they do have EB's permission... so yeah if you want to do a port of RM you would need to get permission from EB directly, plus I do think you'd need to at least know how to do it...

 

[Andar]

@Shaz - Yep, thats the one. A quick google search showed the OS ports where to Max and Linux... I remember asking how the port was done and was greeted with no info - not that I really expected the secret to just be given to me lol

If the port is to Mac and Linux, then most probably they aren't porting the engine, but wrapping it up in a special form of windows wrapper.
The two legal keys here are that the resources can only be used in the original RM engines, and that the engines themselves cannot be changed and need Windows to run.


However, using an emulator has been done and is legal, and in the last years some projects developed the emulators to a point where you can wrap the emulator around a program to allow it to run without having a full emulator installed. A wrapper is smaller and needs less resources, especially if it's tailored to the program it wraps - because it doesn't need to emulate everything else from windows.

 

[Shaz]

In those cases though, the game is still fully developed and running with RPG Maker.

 

[Lokit]

Hey, everyone!  I'm thinking about getting this on Humble Bundle; like the OP, I'm a little unclear on what one can and can't do, legally speaking.  According to the "Commercial and Non-Commercial Terms of Use", under the subheading "Commercial Use": User is allowed to create commercial games with software.  Program license covers and allows use of graphics and material distributed with the engine (called RTP) to be used with commercial rights. Use is limited to games created with RPG Maker software only. Use is narrowed to game projects and associated advertising. User may not use content for non-game related projects.

And under the subheading "Use Outside of RPG Maker": User is not allowed to create commercial or non-commercial works using the materials distributed with the RPG Maker Engine.

If I understand all that correctly, you're allowed to make--and even sell--games made with RPG Maker; you can similarly use the program to promote/advertise those games.  However, you're not allowed to make/distribute anything else (such as a non-interactive story), whether or not you intend to sell it.  Is that about the right of it, so far as everyone else can tell?

 

[Andar]

However, you're not allowed to make/distribute anything else (such as a non-interactive story), whether or not you intend to sell it.  Is that about the right of it, so far as everyone else can tell?

If the non-interactive story is done with an RPG-Maker, then it is considered a RM-Game.
What you cannot do is take the resources from the maker and use them outside the RM engine/with different programs - you can't use the RTP pictures in a different engine.


To use any graphic outside the editor (no matter what result the editor produces), you'll need a non-RM-Licence of the resources.


Some of them have such licence included, some require a more expensive purchase (see non-RM in the main shop), some cannot be used outside the Maker-Engines at all.

 

[amerk]

@Shaz - Yep, thats the one. A quick google search showed the OS ports where to Max and Linux... I remember asking how the port was done and was greeted with no info - not that I really expected the secret to just be given to me lol

Even though that has only happened a few times (being officially ported) it is good to know that it has happened before. I mean, if a game gained enough excitement, who knows what could happen ^_^

My speculation is that one must first ask EB or Degica for permission, and then EB or Degica does this themselves as a service for a cost and requiring the developer keeps mum about the process.

 

[Shaz]

I am not aware of an arrangement like that. In fact, if EB/Degica WERE making money out of such a service, they would be advertising it all over the place given the number of people who have requested the ability to port.


My own speculation is that people probably have a method of doing it and simply need EB's permission to do it, and to use the resources (possibly with payment to EB for doing so). But I am also not aware of that actually happening, so don't assume that IS the process.

 

[??????]

My speculation is that one must first ask EB or Degica for permission, and then EB or Degica does this themselves as a service for a cost and requiring the developer keeps mum about the process.

As Andar stated, IF a wrapper program was used to allow the RTP to think it was running in windows, then it couldn't be illegal or a beach of the rules, so really, if you done it that way there would be no need to consult them regarding the legal aspects.

It would probably be best to still let them know though

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

Unless you need to modify the game.exe so that the wrapper can do it's work (or maybe the wrapper does something to the execution process and IDK if that can be considered a violation)