Importance of original art/content?

[Mishka]

Do you personally frown on people that use RTP elements?
Do you personally frown on games where the facemaker was used for the facesets?

Do you admire completely original content, even if it doesn't look as good as the RTP?


I was mulling this over a bit, and I thought it would provide interesting discussion. How powerful is completely original artwork and content in drawing in players of RPGMaker games?

Personally, I like the RTP artwork, but a lot of people are bound to use the RTP.

I don't like the facemaker faces, though; I think that they've got ugly noses and I find that the chins are too recessed and they look kind of soulless (Cthulhu damn it, a run-on sentence. Yes, I know about the word filter.)

[Zylos]

Original content is usually better, as it shows you've put more time and effort into your game. However, if you're good at what you do, even the RTP can look good. All depends on how you make it.

[cozziekuns]

Lol no. Both RTP and original content are fine, just so long as the story and gameplay are both good.

Though it kinda bugs me how half the VX population uses Kaduki Sprites.

[Mishka]

Well, it's not like you can make a commercial game with Kaduki stuff. (I personally prefer Minkoff-style battlers, myself)

But yeah, half of the VXers use Kaduki sprites and I find it to be a bit unnerving.

The Kaduki facesets are okay, but the male ones are kind of odd-looking to me. Of course, I use a combination of source material, since I can't sprite for shit and I don't have time to make a trillion facesets.

[Grafikal]

To be honest, using RTP VX I like a lot more than I could ever like RTP XP. I don't even mind the default first actor from VX - of course I hate the Arshes. So like cozziekuns said, I don't mind VX RTP as long as it's done well.

[Mishka]

A lot of people say that the XP mapping is better than VX. In reality, a good mapper will be able to use the VX RTP to make good maps, too... and with the addition of extra stuff into tileset E, the creation of maps that are every bit as detailed/rounded/whatever as maps made in XP. (And Grafikal is a good example of this kind of resourcefulness).

True, the VX only has two mapping layers, but a third layer can be made via events.

[Ruzu]

I personally don't mind either, of course if someone uses Original Content, then that can be interesting though sometimes its not as good
as the RTP. I personally just care if its a good game, that's all.

[Mishka]

Original content does lend a hand in getting people to play the game, though... I'd be more likely to play a game if I saw that it had original artwork (I'm referring to RPGMaker games; professional games BETTER have original artwork!) than if it used facemaker for the facesets and a screenshot from some anime as the title...

The quality of the work is also a factor; it makes it stand out more to me.

Granted, I am a bit biased against the facemakers (yes, both of them) because there is less actual "crafting" involved. However, a good game is a good game... facemaker or not.

However, it is a lot harder to get attention when your work is represented by an oft-used tool.

[Ruzu]

True, also especially if they use the same faces over and over. Should do something like Quintessence (top of my head) if they are using face-makers, and use different faces for each scene as required.

Besides Original Artwork, an original story and character will help. Trying to be as believeable as possible instead of having "Hai, this is Cloud Strife. [Enter Book Text]"

[Mishka]

Eww, I hate Cloud.

Arshes is so much cooler.

[Ruzu]

He's just an example, I just meant some people don't stray from the cliches and don't try to make original content.

[Mishka]

Well, it's kind of impossible to avoid cliches. All you can really do is arrange elements for an original "flavour". This is possible whether or not the base idea is cliche.

[Holkeye]

Original art is important in a medium that is flush with cookie-cutter games. Personally, I don't even give an RM game a second look unless it has something that catches my eye.

[Grafikal]

You can do more with XP as far as mapping is concerned, true, but it always looks fucking ugly if it's RTP. XP's color saturation sucks. VX is more saturated, brighter colors, and overall just more fun to look at.

[Mishka]

I get what you're saying about the odd colour saturation with the XP RTP. The shadows look really odd to me, too.

As to what Holk was saying, I see your point about eye-catching, but I'm wondering exactly how much of it has to be original content for you to consider looking. For me, it's actually pretty low; I'm easily taken in by decent promo art and a well-done title screen. A few original facesets/battlers would be nice, too.

You think more people would make their own facesets or get someone to do it for them, but usually it's Kaduki (which looks okay, but as I said earlier, the male faces look kind of odd) or some facemaker garbage.

I am actually biased against the facemaker app to the point of near-condemnation. I can't really stress enough that the art bugs me and that it's super-ugly.

[Milespleasant]

Lol no. Both RTP and original content are fine, just so long as the story and gameplay are both good.

Though it kinda bugs me how half the VX population uses Kaduki Sprites.

Half the population of this forum ARE VX users.

[Mishka]

Lol no. Both RTP and original content are fine, just so long as the story and gameplay are both good.

Though it kinda bugs me how half the VX population uses Kaduki Sprites.

Half the population of this forum ARE VX users.

Which means that a quarter of the forum uses Kaduki sprites.

This forum has a little over 10,000 members.
On average, about .1-.2% of this forum is active.

Statistically, 25% of the active members must use Kaduki sprites... making it about 3 and a half members online that use the Kaduki sprites.


I'm just bullshitting you.

[Milespleasant]

Lol no. Both RTP and original content are fine, just so long as the story and gameplay are both good.

Though it kinda bugs me how half the VX population uses Kaduki Sprites.

Half the population of this forum ARE VX users.

Which means that a quarter of the forum uses Kaduki sprites.

This forum has a little over 10,000 members.
On average, about .1-.2% of this forum is active.

Statistically, 25% of the active members must use Kaduki sprites... making it about 3 and a half members online that use the Kaduki sprites.


I'm just bullshitting you.

Maybe not half, but a lot of people use VX. The only maker I know that gives you a free game to begin with.

[shintashi]

I think the kaduki sprites are cute but they are really limited in many modes of expression. minkoff sprites look way too hard. We have three laptops in this house and no one is using a graphic tablet or scanner. i'm just a beginner at doing sprites, mostly making frankensprites through photoshop with mix matched layers, body parts, and hue shifting.