Would it be ethical to commission optimizations for existing tilesets?

[MobileSuitSonic]

I can now commission stuff on here, but there's something lingering in the back of my head:

Is it alright to commission the person who originally made it for an optimized version of an already-existing tileset for RMMV?
The one I wanted to use is only available for RMVXAce at this time.

I've heard that it would be easier to use a script, but I'm not sure how those work.

Should I just commission a new tileset? If so, how much is usually the price range?

 

[bgillisp]

You can ask the original maker, but sometimes they do not do individual commissions. As for making a new tileset, that usually runs $18000 (And I'm not kidding on that number, Celianna has a post on why it is so high somewhere).

 

[mlogan]

Yes, I mean, you could. But it's unlikely an artist would do it for one person without charging a very hefty price, as it would be incredibly time consuming.

Because, the options are for that artist to use means we all have available to resize them as best as possible, which, why not just do it yourself? Or to actually redraw them, which as stated above is very time consuming.

 

[MobileSuitSonic]

$18,000?
Sounds like robbery.

 

[Shaz]

Only to someone who has no idea how much time and effort something like that would take

What are you trying to do? I have a Change Tile Size plugin that ships with MV, that will let you use VX Ace tiles in MV. That's probably what you're talking about.

Or you could look at resizing the tileset yourself. There are a few threads that talk about programs you can use to do this so they look decent - not as good as having someone recreate them from scratch (which is what the original artist would have to do), but not as expensive or time consuming either.

 

[bgillisp]

Nope. Most tilesets take HOURS to make (like 600 or so), and most artists work for $25 to $30 an hour. $30 * 600 = 18,000.

Edit: Here's the link to better explain why it is so high. http://pixanna.nl/uncategorized/on-the-subject-of-pricing-tiles/

 

[MobileSuitSonic]

Only to someone who has no idea how much time and effort something like that would take

What are you trying to do? I have a Change Tile Size plugin that ships with MV, that will let you use VX Ace tiles in MV. That's probably what you're talking about.

Or you could look at resizing the tileset yourself. There are a few threads that talk about programs you can use to do this so they look decent - not as good as having someone recreate them from scratch (which is what the original artist would have to do), but not as expensive or time consuming either.

@Shaz
Huh! I wasn't aware of that. Glad I still have the original parcel.
If I were able to download my file now that I have the PlugIn, would all I have to do be install the tileset in its folder and adjust settings?

 

[Shaz]

The instructions are in the plugin, but basically you need 2 versions of the tiles - the original version in a differently-named folder, which will be used when you play the game, and an enlarged version in the tilesets folder, which will be used in the editor to create the maps. Because the original 32x32 tiles will be seen by the player, the enlarged ones you use for the map can be a bit ugly - you don't need to be as careful or fussy about how you enlarge them.

I actually think somebody made a video and put it on Youtube going through the process. Just remember, this means you should use Ace-sized character sprites as well, because the MV ones would look a bit too big and squashed up. The plugin is basically so you can make your game in MV, but using Ace resources. (wow - I just did a quick search, and there are at least 3 Youtube videos featuring the plugin, and another one or two that go over it as part of something else).