Anyone got tips for making a game that looks unique?

[Andrew]

I was looking at a few games on Steam made with RPG Maker and some of them look very generic and similar.

I think avoiding the fantasy/medieval setting is a good start.

[401]

RPG maker gives you starting tilesets and characters that have that fantasy look about them. If you want to make a different setting you will have to find/make your own tilesets and graphics that reflect the game you want to make.

[『 Night ♪ 』]

Find tilesets. Find character graphics. Find a lot of other graphics. Use a lot of scripts that change gameplay mechanics (most importantly, battle system scripts). The downloadable resource packs are a great start, or just search Google for tile sets.

[nitenman]

Well if you want a game with a truly unique feel, the only way is total custom made assets exclusively for you or your team.

If you want a different feel than the RTP, yes look into the DLCs, which are extra assets, but in essence would not classify as Unique, as other people would buy them and use them too.

you can use the built in generators too for "Unique" characters.

to be honest, what will make the real difference is less your ability to find extra resources but your ability to make something good looking with what you got.

[Signum1221]

Fantasy/Medieval isnt a problem in my opinion but you can easily work in other settings with the correct tilesets, i think the problem its be an rpg that seems made with rpg maker other gendres made with this program work well, you just have to not use battles and if you want rpg just use parallax mapping and other things like battle systems to make them different than the average rpg maker trash games.

[MaxBedlam]

Create your own art or hire someone to do it for you. To create really nice maps I'd recommend using parallax mapping.

Take a look at this RPGMaker games:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/382380
http://store.steampowered.com/app/386140
http://store.steampowered.com/app/379320/

[Andrew]

Първоначално публикувано от ChibiCthulhu:

Take a look at this RPGMaker games:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/382380

That Amber Throne game looks dope, it doesn't even look like it was made using tiles.

[MaxBedlam]

Първоначално публикувано от Andrew:

Първоначално публикувано от ChibiCthulhu:

Take a look at this RPGMaker games:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/382380

That Amber Throne game looks dope, it doesn't even look like it was made using tiles.

Yup, that's what you can achieve with parallax mapping.

[Andrew]

Първоначално публикувано от ChibiCthulhu:

Първоначално публикувано от Andrew:

That Amber Throne game looks dope, it doesn't even look like it was made using tiles.

Yup, that's what you can achieve with parallax mapping.

How does parallax mapping work?

[nitenman]

that's because you do not HAVE TO use the tiles system. after all a game is just an engine showing some pictures and making pictures moves, with calculations in the background (I know I oversimplify, but in essence, it's true)

[Andrew]

Първоначално публикувано от nitenman:

that's because you do not HAVE TO use the tiles system. after all a game is just an engine showing some pictures and making pictures moves, with calculations in the background (I know I oversimplify, but in essence, it's true)

How do you make a game with RPG Maker without using tilesets?

[nitenman]

basically, parallaxing is using a drawn picture, and moving your little guys on the picture, with using overlays and passability to decide where they are allowed to go.

Couple of good Tutos on the web, and if you bought the Humble game making bundle, Celianna's Parallax guide are included in the tutorials that came with the game dev starter pack (I think)

[nitenman]

Get ready to have your mind blown buddy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_S36UFijr8

[Andrew]

Oh okay. I should teach myself to do that then. When I first heard of parallax I thought it was just like a background image and loops continuously, used for say a space background of a sky of stars. I didn't realise you could use it in such a way as a drawn picture that a character can walk upon, like a visual novel kinda like Broken Age by DoubleFine, sort of thing.

[Andrew]

Първоначално публикувано от nitenman:

Get ready to have your mind blown buddy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_S36UFijr8

Dang that's awesome. If I had known I wouldn't have put months of my life into this current project using a tile system.

[nitenman]

Da Vinci scribbled a lot before actually painting the Joconda :) so do not worry, all past efforts will help you parallax even better, but attention! while parallax is awesome, It's not always needed, specially for large maps.