Description

So last month RPG Maker MZ, the latest in the RPG Maker series, was released! With a bunch of quality of life upgrades, better ability to run on potatoes and a whole new way of dealing with animations (and plugins, too) - well it's a pretty decent upgrade!


So, we're gonna celebrate the next footstep in the beloved series by having a small event to check it out. The idea behind this event is to play with the engine and see what it can do in comparison to other RM engines, at the base level. Basically, you can do testing, figure out eventing and just mess around with what's there. Get a feel for the engine and how it is to make stuff in, how it stacks up against other RM engines or how RM engines feel to gammak in.

Thankfully, this time they released it with a trial version! Extra fun for those who don't have the cashola to buy. ;p


Rules
- Make a small game (at least 5 minutes gameplay) over the course of a week.
- Can only use RPG Maker MZ (bought or trial is fine)
- NO PLUGINS! We're going old-school! (holy shit)
- RTP only! (I know. I'm sorry ;.; )
- Gammak start Midnight of Friday 18th/Saturday 19th.
- Gammak end Midnight of Sunday 27th/Monday 28th.


Make sure to check your hourly offset in Settings so that the timer on the side of this page shows the start and end times in your timezone!



Submit
To sign up, add your name to the list below.
When you're done hit Submit in the top-right corner of this page (just above the logo).



This is a challenge and get-to-know-you event! Oh... AND A COMPETITION!
What does that mean? It means you are challenged to make something short and sweet using ONLY the base components of the engine. Eventing and RTP. No plugins, no custom art (bar UIs for evented menus, for example), no parallaxing. Use the engine as it stands, without additions, to create a game.

Thus the reason why it's a shorter event. So people can just dive in, mess about a bit and get to know/understand the engine whilst making something simple (if they're new to RPG Maker) or challenge themselves with the restrictions of events/RTP only (for those who are used to the engine).

COMPETITION
Thanks to Ocean and his generosity this is now a Competition. The prize? A full version of RPG MAKER MZ! I (liberty) will be the judge, you will be the jury and there's no need for an executioner!

After the event ends, there will be a week to play the games and you can vote on which game you thought was the best of the bunch. I will then judge from the top 3 games that you, the jury, have picked and choose the overall winner!


STREAMS


- Tomorrow's Child by pianotm
- An Essay in Insipidity II by CarlosDavilla
- Attack of the MZ RTP by seacliff217
- Awakening The Past by TsunamiJurai
- The Legend of Solstice by SoulRain



- Caudecus Anomaly by coelocanth
- Deadly Mist, Dense Minds by Make_it_MagiK
- Fragment by Puddor
- From the Light by Gurkengelee
- MZN BCN by Avee



- Heaven's Game MZ by Marrend
- Luke Daimont: Absolute Mayhem by Beregon
- Math Reider by Delsin7
- Traditional Rear Plug by Mirak
- Project 4 by Deckiller
- The Game with No Name by JustAShyDoge


FAQs

Can we use custom art such as pictures?
Only if they're RTP edits (for example, editing the window skin for UI purposes or facesets for portraits, etc)

What about DLCs that were released with the engine? The 60+ plugins and extra DLC files?
Nope! Only what is in the engine when you crack it open on a new project (bar, again, UI pictures).

Generator faces/sprites okay?
Yes.

RTP edits?
Self-edits are allowed but they must be based on the RTP and not be custom stuff.


What about scriptlets?
You can use scriptlets to call stuff - like a shortcut to commands, but not to add/remove stuff.



Where can I get the engine and how much does it cost?
You can buy the engine either on Steam or on RPGMakerWeb, however, there is also a free trial that lets you use the engine unrestricted for 20 days. If you don't know whether you want to buy it yet, get the trial instead.


Details

  • 09/19/2020 12:00 AM
  • 09/28/2020 02:00 AM
  • 10/10/2020 12:00 AM

Achievements

Registration

You must be logged in to sign up for Trials of MZ.

Posts

author=pianotm
You know, I have to be honest, and this is a first for me in events, but I love absolutely everyone's entry. I don't think I've seen a single dud in here for this event.

Yeah!!! Same here! We all did a very good job!!! An round of applause to us all guys, we deserved it! *applause*

Also, MakeItMagik, what is that sorcery you worked with the RTP!? We were debating if it WAS RTP!

Hahahahaha XD
*blushing* What a compliment!!! It means a lot to me!!! Thanks a lot Piano!
Decky
I'm a dog pirate
19645
pianotm

Interesting pillow talk lol. An amusing intro.
Good, organic, realistic dialogue as normal.
Mapping could use some work - it's a little oversized and underdecorated.
The "off the shrubbery!" comment was amusing at first (e.g. when I was outside the protagonist's house) but it got tedious when it triggered all throughout the town.
Not a big fan of the "step on random tile and get destroyed by strong enemies" design choice.
The Black Knight was certainly amusing, if a bit random.
Some minor issues with the spell casting grammar and syntax (e.g. "Goblin does bodyslam!"). We all run into that issue tbh - it's just the way RM's auto text generator works, and I've certainly forgotten to double check it in the past.
I do like the UI colors and the sound effect choices - the activation sound effect in particular is really satisfying.
I pushed a boulder onto a switch a few times and got the same "wrong one" response. It was getting a little tedious. On the third or fourth one, I was the screen never faded back in the game autosaved. Rip.
Great dialogue, though. Really like these characters.

Time Played: 21 minutes
Scoring:
Story: 4.5/5, Gameplay: 2.5/5, Presentation: 2/5
Overall: 3/5


Mirak Game

Clearly this is a short little novelty project mostly meant as an inside joke. I chuckled a few times, especially at the dance. With that said, I liked the sprite animations and some of the internet humor. I'm sure people got a kick out of it on stream.


Deadly Mist, Dense Minds

The dialogue is pretty good and fitting for the young age of the characters.
Mapping is quite good. A tad overdecorated in spots, but still quite good.
Dialogue and cutscenes are very sharp and expressive (perhaps to a fault, as I'll explain below). The flow of the dialogue is great, and so are the character movements, tints, camera pans, and so forth. Very professional and cinematic for a smol demo project.
The font sizes are overused a bit, though. The excessive punctuation, capitalization, and slight overuse of emotion blurbs get a little old as the cutscenes roll on. Dialing back the expressiveness a little bit will work wonders.
The guy says "kid" a few too many times.
Still, I really like what I see here. I hope you add a few small battles in the finished version, because it's an awful long time to play without any real gameplay to speak of.
Just make sure you show a little bit of restraint, both in the mapping and in the cutscenes. Sometimes less is more.

Final time: 10-15 minutes
Score: Too early to tell, to be honest. High 3.5 for the prologue story and presentation.


Awakening the Past

A fox who is a martial artist and can heal? Hmm.
The cinematic music doesn't really seem to fit the dining room scene.
Mapping could be tightened up a fair bit. The gates and hedges are a good idea though.
I noticed a few typos here and there. Wish I was keeping track of that stuff but I'm kinda short on time.
Some interesting ideas here in terms of story and world building, but I feel like I'm being thrown from scene to scene like a ragdoll. The overall pacing and fluidity of the game is a little disjointed so far. There are only two fights - I feel random encounters in these early areas would've been nice.
As for the balancing of the fights, they are definitely easy. HP pools are really high relative to the damage, but that's not abnormal in the early parts of longer RPGs so it's fine.
I did like the secret waterfall reveal, though.

Final time: 9 minutes
Score: Too early to tell





author=Deckiller
pianotm

Interesting pillow talk lol. An amusing intro.
Good, organic, realistic dialogue as normal.
Mapping could use some work - it's a little oversized and underdecorated.
The "off the shrubbery!" comment was amusing at first (e.g. when I was outside the protagonist's house) but it got tedious when it triggered all throughout the town.
Not a big fan of the "step on random tile and get destroyed by strong enemies" design choice.
The Black Knight was certainly amusing, if a bit random.
Some minor issues with the spell casting grammar and syntax (e.g. "Goblin does bodyslam!"). We all run into that issue tbh - it's just the way RM's auto text generator works, and I've certainly forgotten to double check it in the past.
I do like the UI colors and the sound effect choices - the activation sound effect in particular is really satisfying.
I pushed a boulder onto a switch a few times and got the same "wrong one" response. It was getting a little tedious. On the third or fourth one, I was the screen never faded back in the game autosaved. Rip.
Great dialogue, though. Really like these characters.

Time Played: 21 minutes
Scoring:
Story: 4.5/5, Gameplay: 2.5/5, Presentation: 2/5
Overall: 3/5


Mirak Game

Clearly this is a short little novelty project mostly meant as an inside joke. I chuckled a few times, especially at the dance. With that said, I liked the sprite animations and some of the internet humor. I'm sure people got a kick out of it on stream.


Deadly Mist, Dense Minds

The dialogue is pretty good and fitting for the young age of the characters.
Mapping is quite good. A tad overdecorated in spots, but still quite good.
Dialogue and cutscenes are very sharp and expressive (perhaps to a fault, as I'll explain below). The flow of the dialogue is great, and so are the character movements, tints, camera pans, and so forth. Very professional and cinematic for a smol demo project.
The font sizes are overused a bit, though. The excessive punctuation, capitalization, and slight overuse of emotion blurbs get a little old as the cutscenes roll on. Dialing back the expressiveness a little bit will work wonders.
The guy says "kid" a few too many times.
Still, I really like what I see here. I hope you add a few small battles in the finished version, because it's an awful long time to play without any real gameplay to speak of.
Just make sure you show a little bit of restraint, both in the mapping and in the cutscenes. Sometimes less is more.

Final time: 10-15 minutes
Score: Too early to tell, to be honest. High 3.5 for the prologue story and presentation.


Awakening the Past

A fox who is a martial artist and can heal? Hmm.
The cinematic music doesn't really seem to fit the dining room scene.
Mapping could be tightened up a fair bit. The gates and hedges are a good idea though.
I noticed a few typos here and there. Wish I was keeping track of that stuff but I'm kinda short on time.
Some interesting ideas here in terms of story and world building, but I feel like I'm being thrown from scene to scene like a ragdoll. The overall pacing and fluidity of the game is a little disjointed so far. There are only two fights - I feel random encounters in these early areas would've been nice.
As for the balancing of the fights, they are definitely easy. HP pools are really high relative to the damage, but that's not abnormal in the early parts of longer RPGs so it's fine.
I did like the secret waterfall reveal, though.

Final time: 9 minutes
Score: Too early to tell






just one not all... ?
author=Make_it_MagiK
author=pianotm
You know, I have to be honest, and this is a first for me in events, but I love absolutely everyone's entry. I don't think I've seen a single dud in here for this event.
Yeah!!! Same here! We all did a very good job!!! An round of applause to us all guys, we deserved it! *applause*

Also, MakeItMagik, what is that sorcery you worked with the RTP!? We were debating if it WAS RTP!


Hahahahaha XD
*blushing* What a compliment!!! It means a lot to me!!! Thanks a lot Piano!

Ha ha.. weell cute avatar still""!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"!
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Just a friendly reminder that voting is open for about three more days. Please submit your vote for Heaven's Gate MZ before the period closes!
Puddor
if squallbutts was a misao category i'd win every damn year
5702
author=Marrend
Just a friendly reminder that voting is open for about three more days. Please submit your vote for Fragment before the period closes!


Yes, as Marrend said! Make sure you vote!


(heh)
JustAShyDoge
Still a dumb and shy doggo
9731
author=Puddor
author=Marrend
Just a friendly reminder that voting is open for about three more days. Please submit your vote for The game with no name before the period closes!
Yes, as Marrend said! Make sure you vote!

(heh)


We should make a chain and see who gets the last vote.
Yes, as Marrend and Puddor said! Make sure you vote!
3 days left on voting! Get on it guys!
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
One more day 'til revolution voting ends! Get your vote in if you haven't done so!




Puddor
if squallbutts was a misao category i'd win every damn year
5702
Oh, and while we’re at it. If you did enjoy Fragment, I released a QoL update that address pretty much every niggly bit raised in people’s commentary of the game. And I removed all but like, one, RTP song. So if you liked Fragment as a pure RTP game I would recommend giving the updated version a whirl.
Puddor
if squallbutts was a misao category i'd win every damn year
5702
edit: double post, sigh
Puddor
if squallbutts was a misao category i'd win every damn year
5702
Less than four hours to vote!!
College just started this week and I was afraid I wouldn't have time to continue playing the games and vote! But I was able to do it nevertheless... *sigh of relief*

Good work guys! No matter who wins, each of us has done a wonderful job!

@Deckiller
First of all sorry for answering this late. Like I said college started and I was really busy organizing everything.
This being said I want to thank you really much for having played my game!!!
I perfectly know what you mean about me overusing the font sizes. I thought I would have made it more realistic, since people tend to talk loudly when they are mad or scared. But maybe using it that much became annoying, I totally understand that.
Still I am sooooo happy you liked the dialogues and found the game cinematic! I couldn't believe my eyes when I had read your comment!!!
About the gameplay: don't worry, there will be battles and puzzles in the complete version. I hope you will like the game better then!
A 3.5 is really, REALLY, appreciated!!! (I used the font size again haha)
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!


author=EgyLynx
Ha ha.. weell cute avatar still""!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"!


I am glad you like my avatar! I find it very cute too!!
My top 3:

The Game With No Name
Despite that minecart puzzle, the game really picks up afterwards. And that prologue is great. The fact that it's a complete game (and definitely one of the longest ones) also gives it major plus points.


From the Light
This game definitely has problems in its current state, but... there's so many good ideas in it and I've enjoyed it and the combat. After the necessary changes, it could become truly great.


Math Reider
I like the storytelling and the math aspect is actually a lot of fun. Educational game done right.


Honorable Mention: Fragment
Great presentation and that skill tree is really nice. The biggest drawback is the fact that it's very short, but if the game gets expanded, it will definitely be great.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
That's it! The cooking's voting's done! The Prawn Battle Trials of MZ event is OVA!

Now, the moment of truth: tasting and judgement. Each entry had it's own quirks and tidbits that people liked. Even if the voting results narrowed it to three entries, we don't know which three it's been narrowed down to at the moment. Aside from that, even if we knew which three it was narrowed down to, the ultimate judgement goes to Liberty.

So? Who takes it? Whose cuisine game reigns supreme?
author=Marrend
That's it! The cooking's voting's done! The Prawn Battle Trials of MZ event is OVA!

Now, the moment of truth: tasting and judgement. Each entry had it's own quirks and tidbits that people liked. Even if the voting results narrowed it to three entries, we don't know which three it's been narrowed down to at the moment. Aside from that, even if we knew which three it was narrowed down to, the ultimate judgement goes to Liberty.

So? Who takes it? Whose cuisine game reigns supreme?


We actually do know which 3 got the most votes, it's on discord. So, check that out if you want to know :)
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
author=Beregon
We actually do know which 3 got the most votes, it's on discord. So, check that out if you want to know :)

Huh. I didn't think to check Discord. That's... almost disappointing unless my entry somehow got in there?
JustAShyDoge
Still a dumb and shy doggo
9731
author=Beregon
My top 3:
The Game With No Name
Despite that minecart puzzle, the game really picks up afterwards. And that prologue is great. The fact that it's a complete game (and definitely one of the longest ones) also gives it major plus points.



( ̄ω ̄;) I promise you one day I will get better(or worse) at designing puzzles.
Thank you so much for enjoying the game nevertheless.

Also everyone did a great job on their game! Give yourself an applause because no matter if you win/lose, YOU complete a 1 week event game!

For those who didn't, let's try harder next time!
author=Beregon
We actually do know which 3 got the most votes, it's on discord. So, check that out if you want to know :)


I don't have a discord account. Could anyone of you please write it here which games are the last three? Thanks!

author=JustAShyDoge
Also everyone did a great job on their game! Give yourself an applause because no matter if you win/lose, YOU complete a 1 week event game!

For those who didn't, let's try harder next time!


YES!!! I think exactly the same! GOOD JOB EVERYONE! *APPLAUSEEEE*
Ok, if you want to know which games made it to the top three, it's here:
Top 3:
The Game with No Name
Luke Daimont: Absolute Mayhem
Mirak's MZ Trial project