[RM2K3] IS THE OFFICIAL 2015 VERSION MUCH BETTER THAN THE ENGLISHED PATCHED?

Well...it's not illegal. In general, there doesn't seem to be a significant difference except for the file names of the RTP (meaning you have to fiddle around to make the old RTP work, unless you trust the conversion software that comes with the official version, and it breaks about as many RTsuk2K3 games as it successfully updates). Beyond that, I can't tell any real difference except in some cases where the translation is better on the official version.

You can use any of the dyn_RPG plugins, but for a lot of people, that's a small price to pay for a legally licensed engine.

Have in mind the official version doesn't dupport dynRPG.
Though frankly, if you've never even heard of dynRPG you're not losing anything.

Outrageous? Outrageous is the price of MV, 2003's price is quite cheap in comparison. A big difference is that you cannot sell any game you made in tsukuru, as it is an illegal version of the software. If you plan to do a commercial game with this engine, get the legal version.

Buy it on steam if you expect to be able to install it in as many pc's as you want, i've heard stories about people being able of downloading it as much as they wanted in the non-steam site as much as i've heard stories of people having problem with that. Steam is much more secure in that regard.

As for the utility compatibility, most tools should work, but i can't really guarantee they all do since i don't have a need for them and haven't tested all of them. Additionally, any tool that modifies the engine voids your commercial license and you will not be able to sell your product if you do use any of these modifications (like using ResHack to change the game's splash screens or the game icon).

Justification of the pricetag aside, you will have a major difficult time trying to execute projects made in previous versions of the software if you're using the updated version because both versions of the software are different, mostly in the way the engine handles the RTP. If you open a new project in tsukuru and try to open it the same way into rpg2003, you'll notice lots of stuff won't make it unscathed. Everything belonging to the RTP will vanish, sprites won't show up, neither will battle animations. This happens because rpg2003 renamed lots of things from the RTP, so you'd have to fix each instance of the database by hand. Rpg2003 has an automatic converter that supposedly converts tsukuru projects into rpg2003-friendly versions, but the feature is finicky at best and incorrigibly broken at worst.

The prices aren't over-priced if you consider one thing:
- you are paying for the full license to use the resources in commercial endeavours as part of the cost of the engine.

That has always been the case when it comes to the RM series. You get a shit ton of resources to use and of course they're not going to give them to you for free, especially when you can use them in your own commercially made games. You can edit the shit out of them for said games, too, so remixes of the music, using the sound effects, editing the animations, using the chips or charactersets, backdrops, pictures, monster art, etc

Tell me where you'd be able to get as many items to make a full game from for less than the amounts you pay.

This also includes the ability to use any free-distributed edits that others have made based on those resources. There's a literal fuck-ton of shit out there for 2k/3 which has been edited from the base resources so using those (as long as you have the permission of the person who did the editing) is allowed in a commercial project as well. Because you have paid for that right.

This includes a lot of stuff for Ace and MV nowdays as well - there's a ton of edits floating around with the official 'these are RTP based so can be used in commercial endeavours' stamp (again, as long as the editor allows), usable for commercial games.

And all of that ties into the cost of the program. Part of that cost is tied to your ability and allowance to use those resources, even in other RM engines. So, no, it's not overpriced at all.

$20 for a game engine is actually pretty cheap.

But you can always try Unity! Or coding your own engine in Python!

kentona
$20 for a game engine is actually pretty cheap.

But you can always try Unity! Or coding your own engine in Python!

Right, if you think RPG Maker 2003 is outrageously priced, you can always just go ahead and skip the free Unity engine go straight to Unity Pro for $1500.00. That's what a game engine usually runs. Sure, RM2K3 is 2D and not 3D, and that's a little bit of a divide...but it's not that big of a divide. 20 dollars for ANY game engine is a deal.

author=kory_toombs
@Liberty. You're paying for the right to use them only in RPG Maker. You can't use them in other engines (ie. Non Enterbrain.) If you are buying the rights to use material, ie. Like when you buy material from Pioneer Valley Games, you should be able to use it in any engine you wish (Notice how Pioneer Valley games allows use in any engine, yet material purchased from Enterbrain doesn't.)

Uh, yeah, I said that?

author=Liberty
And all of that ties into the cost of the program. Part of that cost is tied to your ability and allowance to use those resources, even in other RM engines. So, no, it's not overpriced at all.

So? What's your point exactly? You're paying for the license to use them COMMERCIALLY. You don't get full packs like that for free and good luck finding one that is so complete for the same price, even if there is an engine restriction. The person in this topic said they wanted to make an RM-engine game, so... I don't see your issue here?

author=turkeyDawg

author=kory_toombs
Wait for a Steam sale to buy one of these programs.

No need to wait, it's on sale at Humble Store right now for $5.

https://www.humblebundle.com/store/rpg-maker-2003

Wooo! Get that shit while it's there if you haven't guys!