Full Games List
Featured Games
New Games
Reviews
Media
Images
Blogs
Game Updates
Images Feedback Summary
Game Design Highlights
Tutorials
Articles
Scripts
Utilities / Plugins
Resources
Engines
Engine Bulletins
What is Makerscore?
Past Events
Achievements
Misaos
Forums
Post History
Chat
New to RMN?
Full Store List
RMN Music Pack (free)
A FEW QUESTIONS [VX ACE]
Posts
Pages:
1
Acrypt
0
Acrypt
View playlists
CloseWell, I've been attempting to learn VX Ace and have been studying tutorials, doing some hands-on messing around with stuff to see how things work, and attempting to learn Ruby 1.9.
As I'm not technically working on something to actually release yet but am just trying to better my skills beforehand, there's been nagging issue (Question 1) that I have no clue about and can't find any real information about online. I probably just missed something but...
1) How the hell do you use midis in VX Ace? I see the option to initialize at startup but you can't import them. I did read somewhere:
Apparently that works, which I'm guessing I have to edit the midi in Anvil Studio or some other midi editing software? That kind of lost me.
Are there any other options to using midis in Ace? Not that I'm choosing midi over ogg - just want to know how to do it, just in case.
2) When it comes to mapping, which is more preferred or looks better: A map that has grass/sand/snow/etc. edges or ones where it has paths leading to an exit where the edges of the map are "blocked off" by trees/blackness/cliffs/etc. or a mixture of the two to make it seem more "realistic"? If that made sense.
3) What is the best way to memorize Ruby? Or rather how did you learn how to script? I want to (someday) be able to create my own custom scripts but it seems like something that would take me years to memorize, looking at the programmer's guide. I just want to know what methods would make it a bit easier to learn.
-----
I'll use this topic to post any further questions I may have as I experiment.
As I'm not technically working on something to actually release yet but am just trying to better my skills beforehand, there's been nagging issue (Question 1) that I have no clue about and can't find any real information about online. I probably just missed something but...
1) How the hell do you use midis in VX Ace? I see the option to initialize at startup but you can't import them. I did read somewhere:
Make sure that you insert this at the beginning of music.
Edit > insert midi event > check "include all controler event" > choose "Tempo(BPM)" > insert your tempo > ok
then try to play in Ace
Btw, I'm using Anvil Studio 2011.
Apparently that works, which I'm guessing I have to edit the midi in Anvil Studio or some other midi editing software? That kind of lost me.
Are there any other options to using midis in Ace? Not that I'm choosing midi over ogg - just want to know how to do it, just in case.
2) When it comes to mapping, which is more preferred or looks better: A map that has grass/sand/snow/etc. edges or ones where it has paths leading to an exit where the edges of the map are "blocked off" by trees/blackness/cliffs/etc. or a mixture of the two to make it seem more "realistic"? If that made sense.
3) What is the best way to memorize Ruby? Or rather how did you learn how to script? I want to (someday) be able to create my own custom scripts but it seems like something that would take me years to memorize, looking at the programmer's guide. I just want to know what methods would make it a bit easier to learn.
-----
I'll use this topic to post any further questions I may have as I experiment.
1) No clue about this, sorry!
2) I don't really have a preference. Beyond a very basic level, I tend to not think about the REALISM (so realistic!) levels of maps. As long as there's a clear path, I'm not very picky about how said path is conveyed.
3) Different people learn different ways! Totally unhelpful answer! I've been learning from a variety of sources, because I learn the best when I have the subject repeated to me... but looking at the same stuff over and over is dull. I really recommend HacketyHack if you're an absolute beginner. RubyMonk is another great way to learn, but if you're a beginner there are a lot of things that might go over your head at first.
Over on Youtube, GubiD has a wonderful set of tutorial videos. Unfortunately his voice is very soothing and tends to put me to sleep, but the actual videos are great and you can learn a lot from watching them. You might have already seen The Pragmatic Programmer's guide to ruby, and you can find a lot of general documentation stuff with a quick google search of "Ruby syntax + whatever you're wondering about". I've also read Why's Poignant Guide to Ruby, but wouldn't read it as a beginner thing and am kinda hesitant reccing it at all. It's easy to get lost in all the jokes and unrelated side topics, which can pile on top of "wait what is ruby what am I doing aaaaaaaaaaa" and leave you confused. It happened to be my first reading on the subject, and I didn't retain very much.
Above all, learning Ruby is like learning any other skill. Read and study up, but most importantly make sure you practice. Don't be afraid to ask questions! Oftentimes there are multiple solutions to the same problem, (some better than others) but you might only think of one.
Don't forget about the help guide, either! You can access it by pressing F1 or from the menu at the top, under Help < Contents. There you'll find information that's specifically about RGSS, which is very helpful. Another thing I do a lot is look up things in the default scripts to see how my code compares.
It can seem really overwhelming at first, especially if you're ALSO trying to learn mapping and how the program itself works and how events work and all the other 12 billion things that come with making a game. For what it's worth, I knew events very well before I moved on to scripting. I'm not saying it's a requirement, but it was an extra building block that helps me understand programming and logic-related stuff.
Whatever you end up doing, good luck!
2) I don't really have a preference. Beyond a very basic level, I tend to not think about the REALISM (so realistic!) levels of maps. As long as there's a clear path, I'm not very picky about how said path is conveyed.
3) Different people learn different ways! Totally unhelpful answer! I've been learning from a variety of sources, because I learn the best when I have the subject repeated to me... but looking at the same stuff over and over is dull. I really recommend HacketyHack if you're an absolute beginner. RubyMonk is another great way to learn, but if you're a beginner there are a lot of things that might go over your head at first.
Over on Youtube, GubiD has a wonderful set of tutorial videos. Unfortunately his voice is very soothing and tends to put me to sleep, but the actual videos are great and you can learn a lot from watching them. You might have already seen The Pragmatic Programmer's guide to ruby, and you can find a lot of general documentation stuff with a quick google search of "Ruby syntax + whatever you're wondering about". I've also read Why's Poignant Guide to Ruby, but wouldn't read it as a beginner thing and am kinda hesitant reccing it at all. It's easy to get lost in all the jokes and unrelated side topics, which can pile on top of "wait what is ruby what am I doing aaaaaaaaaaa" and leave you confused. It happened to be my first reading on the subject, and I didn't retain very much.
Above all, learning Ruby is like learning any other skill. Read and study up, but most importantly make sure you practice. Don't be afraid to ask questions! Oftentimes there are multiple solutions to the same problem, (some better than others) but you might only think of one.
Don't forget about the help guide, either! You can access it by pressing F1 or from the menu at the top, under Help < Contents. There you'll find information that's specifically about RGSS, which is very helpful. Another thing I do a lot is look up things in the default scripts to see how my code compares.
It can seem really overwhelming at first, especially if you're ALSO trying to learn mapping and how the program itself works and how events work and all the other 12 billion things that come with making a game. For what it's worth, I knew events very well before I moved on to scripting. I'm not saying it's a requirement, but it was an extra building block that helps me understand programming and logic-related stuff.
Whatever you end up doing, good luck!
Acrypt
0
Thank you. Your post was REALLY helpful. I just looked at HacketyHack and downloaded the program. Looks like something that will help a lot, considering I'm more of a hands-on and "being shown/watching videos" type of learner than someone that learns from just reading.
My only real issue with learning how to script is that I have an extremely poor memory. Kind of unsure as to how to get programming to "stick" in my mind, since repeated usage doesn't really help too much. I didn't have this issue a few years back - knew PHP, MySQL, DM, etc. but my memory has just deteriorated for some reason.
I guess for now, I'll just focus on one thing at a time and take it from there.
Edit: Omg. I love you. Those tutorial videos alone will help immensely. :D
My only real issue with learning how to script is that I have an extremely poor memory. Kind of unsure as to how to get programming to "stick" in my mind, since repeated usage doesn't really help too much. I didn't have this issue a few years back - knew PHP, MySQL, DM, etc. but my memory has just deteriorated for some reason.
I guess for now, I'll just focus on one thing at a time and take it from there.
Edit: Omg. I love you. Those tutorial videos alone will help immensely. :D
Can't you just copy-paste MIDIs into the BGM directory via File Mangler Manager, or whatever? And how necessary is that "Initialize MIDI at start-up" option, anyway?
I'm going to have to try this.
*Edit: I temporarily copy-pasted a MIDI (I got it from vgmusic.com, if that makes any difference) into a project, and it was visible in sound test mode. I could also listen to it in sound test mode. However, I didn't try to enable the "Initialize MIDI at start-up" option, or try to play it in run-time, or anything else. I figure that if it can play in sound test mode, I'm good.
I'm going to have to try this.
*Edit: I temporarily copy-pasted a MIDI (I got it from vgmusic.com, if that makes any difference) into a project, and it was visible in sound test mode. I could also listen to it in sound test mode. However, I didn't try to enable the "Initialize MIDI at start-up" option, or try to play it in run-time, or anything else. I figure that if it can play in sound test mode, I'm good.
To use midis for vxace, just paste them directly on the game BGM folder. They can't be imported.
Damn ninja'd
Damn ninja'd
Re: learning to code
Just do it. DO NOT memorize the help menu - it's much better to simply reference it as you need it. I suggest starting off editing Yanfly's Ace Engine to do small things.
http://yanflychannel.wordpress.com/rmvxa/
If you work in the Lunatic Object/State/Targeting/etc. scripts, you'll develop a great sense of variables and what sort of method calls to make and all of that. Here're some homework assignments for those scripts:
-A state that reflects 20% of damage taken back to the aggressor (but does not reflect healing)
-A skill that applies a state to the user if they deal critical damage
-An item that hits all enemies, but then performs a second hit on those that are currently asleep (don't cheat this by using Follow-Up Skills, although that is a brilliant script!)
Of course, I'm willing to provide hints, but try to tackle these by yourself. Almost all of the tools you need should already exist within the Lunatic O/S/T scripts!
Advanced homework (working with Game_BattlerBase/Game_Battler):
-Make critical hits apply a status effect
-Make applying a buff add to an engine variable ($game_variables refers to variables within the editor)
-Make a status effect raise all damage dealt by 10% (internally, as opposed to raising ATK/MAT)
Just do it. DO NOT memorize the help menu - it's much better to simply reference it as you need it. I suggest starting off editing Yanfly's Ace Engine to do small things.
http://yanflychannel.wordpress.com/rmvxa/
If you work in the Lunatic Object/State/Targeting/etc. scripts, you'll develop a great sense of variables and what sort of method calls to make and all of that. Here're some homework assignments for those scripts:
-A state that reflects 20% of damage taken back to the aggressor (but does not reflect healing)
-A skill that applies a state to the user if they deal critical damage
-An item that hits all enemies, but then performs a second hit on those that are currently asleep (don't cheat this by using Follow-Up Skills, although that is a brilliant script!)
Of course, I'm willing to provide hints, but try to tackle these by yourself. Almost all of the tools you need should already exist within the Lunatic O/S/T scripts!
Advanced homework (working with Game_BattlerBase/Game_Battler):
-Make critical hits apply a status effect
-Make applying a buff add to an engine variable ($game_variables refers to variables within the editor)
-Make a status effect raise all damage dealt by 10% (internally, as opposed to raising ATK/MAT)
amerk
2539
author=Archeia_Nessiah
To use midis for vxace, just paste them directly on the game BGM folder. They can't be imported.
Damn ninja'd
That's how I've been doing since at least VX, and maybe XP. I figured that was a common practice to just copy them in, as it was too slow of a practice to import them.
To everybody else, as far as the button tab goes for playing Midi's, it might be more for in-game purposes instead of testing, to ensure they play correctly. I haven't fully tested this out myself, so I can't say for certain.
Pages:
1
