Who are the pixel artists behind RPG Maker XP?

[Kich]

Whenever I open RMXP's tilesets to study them or to get a reference while I'm doing a pixel art piece, I'm thrilled with the quality of those graphics. I'm pretty sure the artists behind this engine were real pros. What if some of them actually worked on games before being part of RMXP's team? What if some of them still create art of some sort? I'd love to know that.

Does anyone have a clue who are them? I wonder about that from time to time, but every time I make a web search on this I never find a thing. Maybe there's a list of the team somewhere, on a Japanese website or something? I don't know Japanese and Google Translator only takes me so far, so if you have any idea where to look or who to ask, please post here. Any help is very welcome.

 

[SweetMeltyLove]

I'm curious too. I was checking this old link through waybackmachine (ツクールBlog ) because I remember some RM2k3 art tutorials that I think were made by their staff, but I couldn't find it or any names. Only found a bunch of producers and programmers :I

 

[Kich]

I'm curious too. I was checking this old link through waybackmachine (ツクールBlog ) because I remember some RM2k3 art tutorials that I think were made by their staff, but I couldn't find it or any names. Only found a bunch of producers and programmers :I

Thanks for the link. If anywhere, I guess old Famitsu pages could have a list of names. I also tried checking the RPG Maker XP itself for some credits, but I've got no luck. Maybe I didn't know where to look? Anyway I can't think of any good reason why the artists wouldn't be credited, so it has to be somewhere.

Maybe some old schoolers know better? @Archeia @Lunarea @Celianna @Shaz

 

[Archeia]

First Seed Material. Also known as Mack and Blue or REFMAP

 

[mlogan]

Oh wow, FSM did XP RTP? I never knew that.

 

[Kich]

First Seed Material. Also known as Mack and Blue or REFMAP

Thanks for answering! I'm with @mlogan, as much as I was familiar with FSM/REFMAP/Mack, I never knew they did XP's RTP. Are you sure about that? It's not that I don't believe you, but the technical quality is so much better on XP's tiles than on the other resources they are mostly known for.

 

[Shaz]

FSM are still making awesome tilesets for MV. The FSM packs and Cel's Ancient Dungeons are my two most favourite tilesets, not just because of the style & quality, but also the number of packs available and the size of each pack.

 

[Archeia]

Thanks for answering! I'm with @mlogan, as much as I was familiar with FSM/REFMAP/Mack, I never knew they did XP's RTP. Are you sure about that? It's not that I don't believe you, but the technical quality is so much better on XP's tiles than on the other resources they are mostly known for.

If you visit their old sites and individual members, you will notice that like any good artist, their art style changes massively.

It was discussed here a whole ago and Venere Marte confirmed it that they've been around from 2k-VXA, but the thread has not been archived sadly. But instead I managed to recover the credits list: http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?/topic/16888-rpg-maker-vx-ace-dev-list/

Executive producer: Kouichi Hamamura
Product manager: Yoshimasa Mori and Ken Takeda
Producer: Kenji Sugiuchi
Director: Kenji Shigetoshi
Assistant Director: Keisuke Kawashima
System designer / Programmer: Youji Ojima
Art director(sprite and tileset artist): Makoto Miyauchi (MACK)
Face graphic artist: Humio Minagawa
Battler, title and battleback artist: Artbomb Inc
Animation artist: Jouji Hiraoka
BGM and ME composer: Soundtech Inc
BGS and SE composer: Puresound Inc

Cover illustration: Huu Midori

If you need another case, Entacl created the MV rtp but they have an amazing portfolio of pixel art works that is completely different from their work with MV.

 

[TheoAllen]

Hey now that we know if Mack was behind the RTP asset, don't you think it's funny when people say "Don't use RTP, use Mack's instead".

 

[Kich]

If you visit their old sites and individual members, you will notice that like any good artist, their art style changes massively.

You're absolutely right. I guess I only say that because I find pixel art more appealing, but I shouldn't compare them both so loosely. When it comes to pixel art, MACK's tilesets are technically impeccable, but the graphics that proceed RMXP —despite being very well done— are made with another art form (low-res digital painting) that has its own terms. What is considered high quality within the pixel art medium isn't the same for low-res digital painting and vice versa, so I can't simply say XP's art quality is higher than MV's —at least not without any context and consideration.

Before your reply I actually found some statements on LooseLeaf archives in which MACK indicated he was the lead artist for XP's RTP (tilesets and characters). Although this is very nice to know, it's also kind of frustrating because I may have started this search a bit late. I mean, if he was still activelly creating art of some sort I guess it wouldn't be so hard to find.

If you need another case, Entacl created the MV rtp but they have an amazing portfolio of pixel art works that is completely different from their work with MV.

Oh I'll definitely take a look. Thank you very much for all the new information.