Huge Undertaking

[KingToast]

Hello All,
It has always been a big plan of mine to create a fun RPG game using MMF[2]. The only thing is, the projects usually die halfway through the thought process because there is something I can't figure out. So I am going to name a couple of things that seem to daunt progress right now:

First, To create an RPG world, I need a lot of different regions and areas. I don't really know how to ask this but I will try. How am I going to use separate frames to represent my regions and cities? Depending on character progress, the areas will change or different feature will unlock.

Second, How can I effectively implement the battles? As a traditional RPG with my own 'flare' the battlefield will be separate from the rest of the game (take for example Final Fantasy or Star Ocean- randomly or on enemy contact, the player is transported to a battlefield.)

Third, in relation to the second, how can I effectively implement items in the battle? Right now, I am using the the icon list object. I want the item list to update to not show items when the player has none.

This is all that I can currently think of. I will probably add more later. It is probably for the best that these questions be handled via email, [icydrink AT gmail DOT com], but you could also post here for the world to see- maybe someone else has my question.

Thanks for everything!

[Brandon]

You have what is called "Big Game Fever." Read this article before proceeding.

[KingToast]

Maybe I do have the fever, but this is the reason behind my post. If I can get the answers I need, I think I am fully capable of doing it. I have helpers that are aquainted with MMF. I have ideas of how I can implement some of these, but I am positive that more veteran users out there have easier and much more effective ways to put this into action.

So, now that I have read that my hopes and hobbies are worthless, anyone want to take the intiative to actually help me and dispel the worthlessness of my endeavor?

By the way, I have gotten somewhere before. However, in my last attempt, I lost my game because it would not function at all after I updated to MMF2. Granted, it was more or less a prototype of the battle aspect, but it was something, and what I had worked well- on MMF 1. I am now resurrecting that original concept. I just need this information now, to HELP me plan.

[pirodaggar]

The thing is, it's not something that you can just "tell" you in a post, there's no inventory system in the game, any random battle systems, or any pre-made level creators. You've got to do it from scratch and to ask someone how to do it is more than just "oh, you just use this and that condition and do these events".

Start small and work your way up, it sucks but it's a learning process. Looking at open source games might help too.

[DJFuego]

A lot of it is down to How much Time are you prepared to spend making this game because I have a Lot of ideas but just no time to realise them.
Create small simple games, then practice optimising for performance. You will become accustomed to simple events and then learn how to make more complex ones. You need to create something like a pong game or a simple 4 direction rpg like the zelda phone game. Set simple tasks and write out your game on paper. Some of my best apps have been jotted down with Database table data and stuff on a notepad then I just fire up MMF and do the events...
It takes a lot of guess work out of the equasion if you have already planned what you are going to do and written it out for refference. Your memory might be good but you will always forget something if you don't make a note of it.

[KingToast]

I can handle simple games, I have made a few just for fun. Maybe this is what I should have said, in reference to pirodaggar's post:
Can anyone give me advice or open source game resources from which I can get ideas on which I can expand and put together?

[Brandon]

If you must attempt such a large project, here are some tips:

1. Break it down into smaller pieces.

Don't dash in and try and create the entire game at once, because you will become instantly overwhelmed. Instead, focus on single aspects individually (level design, movement system, battle system, etc.), and when you complete one, move onto the next. At the end, just put it all together. This will keep it organized and much easier to handle.

2. Plan it out.

This is a crucial part of any large game, especial ones of this nature. Before you even touch your mouse, have a detailed idea and plan of everything you need to do. This helps to cut down on issues that entail you having to make major renovations to your game that require changing hundreds of objects or lines of code. Also, if you plan it out on paper first, it makes it much easier to put into the computer, and you can work out all of the major kinks before you actually have to experience them.

3. Don't go over the top.

I know I already showed you the Big Game Fever article, but I need to make this clear. You aren't making a huge production that you are selling to the masses. Those type of things require teams of people, thousands of hours, and loads of money. Stay within your bounds. This ties into the previous point about planning it out before you start, because if you don't, you might get the urge or the inclination to add more and more features and things into your game and as I said before, it will overwhelm you.

4. Lastly, make sure you have everything you'll need.

RPG's are very heavy on graphics and sound and coding. If you feel you have all of the necessary graphics, sounds, as well as coding ability and patience, then you're ready to go. If you don't have things like the time or capacity to complete a project of this nature, I suggest you don't do it.

With all of that said, if you think your ready for your "Huge Undertaking" and you think you have all of the bases covered, then go out and do it. I'd love to see it when it's done.

[KingToast]

It was my initial intention to make a bunch of puzzle pieces to put together in the end. Though it is an RPG, it isn't going to be real heavy on graphics, I intend to make it sort of like comic book style during the 'cut scenes.' I have several friends that are more than capable of doing that. As for sounds, I have a whole lot in my 'library'; however, I am ALWAYS looking for more.

Still, does anyone have a resource from which I can get open source games or pieces that I can use as references to compare my methods and find the better avenue through 'natural selection?'

As for sounds, does anyone have a library from which I can download RPG style sounds? Not something plain like Find Sounds or Sound Snap- though I haven't gone through all of Sound Snap yet, I don't think that has what i am looking for.

[Brandon]

Still, does anyone have a resource from which I can get open source games or pieces that I can use as references to compare my methods and find the better avenue through 'natural selection?'

This is part of what I meant about breaking it down. Don't just ask for things that will help you with your RPG, make it specific. Ask us for examples on how to start with the basics of a decent battle engine, or how to make a nice looking and functional level for example.

[KingToast]

Fair enough.

For now, I need a way to implement items in the battle sequence.
So far, the battle sequence has worked in the past. I am just redesigning it to work with MMF2 and to have better graphics- (drawing characters in flash and importing them-- much prettier than my former pixel characters!)

Let me explain how I am working the battle menu:
I have 2 icon list objects (I think that is its name, I am not near my home computer now). One menu is a list of the main commands such as Attack, Magic, Items, Flee... blah blah. When an item is selected with a list of sub choices, the second menu opens. For items, ideally, it would naturally be a list of the items and the quantity of each. If I remember correctly, I intended to initially use an INI file with a list of the items and their quantity. If the item's quantity returned 0, the item would not be displayed.

I never got that far, because I updated to MMF2, then it just wouldn't work. (Oh the sad!)