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RPG MAKERS AS COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
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sbester
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CloseSo for one of my final class assignments this term, I'm supposed to discuss a communication tool of some sort and describe its funtions, uses, history, diffusion, social implications, and future applications.
Wanting to be radically different than my classmates, I decided I would focus on the RPG Maker programs. I decided to do this because although were designed with limitations of use, and a specific audience in mind, the capabilities of the programs stretch far beyond the realm of gaming. They could be used as teaching tools, for instance, or even creating a digital, downloadable catalogue for a library or an archive of some sort. It's other possible uses simply have yet to be realized by those outside of the RPG making community.
I was hoping to get some thoughts on this. I know the history pretty well, and I'm pretty sure writing the 10 page paper will be a total breeze. But now that I'm thinking about its other possible uses, I'm very interested to see what you all think about potential applications of this technology in the future.
Wanting to be radically different than my classmates, I decided I would focus on the RPG Maker programs. I decided to do this because although were designed with limitations of use, and a specific audience in mind, the capabilities of the programs stretch far beyond the realm of gaming. They could be used as teaching tools, for instance, or even creating a digital, downloadable catalogue for a library or an archive of some sort. It's other possible uses simply have yet to be realized by those outside of the RPG making community.
I was hoping to get some thoughts on this. I know the history pretty well, and I'm pretty sure writing the 10 page paper will be a total breeze. But now that I'm thinking about its other possible uses, I'm very interested to see what you all think about potential applications of this technology in the future.
Drakonais
2787
Second-life machinima is made and virtual classes take place everyday. I don't see why RM couldn't be used in the same way.
Hahaha ha ha hahaha...ha...ha
While I don't have anything against you writing a paper over it (though are you absolutely set on it?), there's various types of programming languages that weren't designed with game making, nor even more specifically making rpgs, as their main focus. As far as using rpgmakers for communication technology, they don't exactly have extensive networking support, do they? (I would have no idea about how much can be done in that regard with RMXP/VX's scripting, other than that GRS has managed to get a ways into making a script to post achievements to RMN)
While I don't have anything against you writing a paper over it (though are you absolutely set on it?), there's various types of programming languages that weren't designed with game making, nor even more specifically making rpgs, as their main focus. As far as using rpgmakers for communication technology, they don't exactly have extensive networking support, do they? (I would have no idea about how much can be done in that regard with RMXP/VX's scripting, other than that GRS has managed to get a ways into making a script to post achievements to RMN)
Well it's for a library school class (you don't know boring til you've here), so when we talk about communication technologies, we're talking about communicating information (which includes stories) rather than live peer to peer communication. I'm focusing more on what it is capable of than what it has achieved.
In regards to the Second Life machinima, that is exactly what made me think about this! We've talked about how libraries are using that in a bunch of my courses, and I always think to myself how much better some of those things would be if done on RPG Maker.
The biggest limitation I see is that it is not an online program... yet!
If users were able to interact in an online setting it would find even more uses in today's world. However, I still like the idea of using it as a library reference tool in some way. maybe even blueprinting a large academic library so users can find their way around and find what they need before they get there. It might be a cool experiment someday. I'd hafta be pretty damned bored though lol.
In regards to the Second Life machinima, that is exactly what made me think about this! We've talked about how libraries are using that in a bunch of my courses, and I always think to myself how much better some of those things would be if done on RPG Maker.
The biggest limitation I see is that it is not an online program... yet!
If users were able to interact in an online setting it would find even more uses in today's world. However, I still like the idea of using it as a library reference tool in some way. maybe even blueprinting a large academic library so users can find their way around and find what they need before they get there. It might be a cool experiment someday. I'd hafta be pretty damned bored though lol.
WolfCoder
3554
post=131722
Hahaha ha ha hahaha...ha...ha...
The Turing Tarpit only applies to RPG Maker 2003 and earlier. The RGSS/2 systems are based on Ruby and I think there was some nonsense about script extender plugins (.dll). It's been ages since I last touched RGSS, but the language itself is pretty easy to work with.
If they supported an interface so really advanced users and Emptybrain themselves could write .dll plugins to extend the functionality of the RGSS (like Acknex), they'd be all set in terms of power. You could even write the engine for a RPG Maker game all in C/C++ if you wanted to if they added this feature.
Since the default Acknex online system only supports 4 players in my edition of the software (lame), I was going to write a plugin that would connect to a WSNet server that handled 32-player or so sized private servers like you see in Team Fortress 2 and another that handled a package format that contained all the files needed for a level to implement some sort of custom map system to go along with it.
All RPG Maker needs is a DLL interface and you could add this same system to RPG Maker easily to make up those small-scale multiplayer RPG games like Crystal Chronicles (only you would actually get to play with people since you don't have to have 4 GBAs and 4 link cables).
I've used rpgmaker twice to make data collection tools for research in consumer behavior, and I'm starting to use it now in psychotherapy with children.
post=131732
I've used rpgmaker twice to make data collection tools for research in consumer behavior, and I'm starting to use it now in psychotherapy with children.
I was going to consider this the greatest troll post ever until I remembered you're a psychologist by trade and therefore most likely this post was serious.
Darken
3952
In terms of communication, I use RPGMaker to pick up girls. Bitches love my custom battle animations. So yeah go for it!
AznChipmunk
4613
Why would you ever use such a limited tool as a means of communication? Assuming you are referring to 2k/3 since those appear to be what you have used, glancing at your profile. calunio's usage is understandable as that stuff is most likely just using the show choice show choice. There are far better tools like film, or comedy, or pretty much anything.
Sure, the possibility stretch beyond gaming, but that concept can be applied to anything. If you have the time and patience you can think of a million useless things to do with a pillow or toothbrush or a rock or whatever the hell, but it doesn't mean you are creative or innovative.
also, lol history of rpgmaker
darken you are my favorite
Sure, the possibility stretch beyond gaming, but that concept can be applied to anything. If you have the time and patience you can think of a million useless things to do with a pillow or toothbrush or a rock or whatever the hell, but it doesn't mean you are creative or innovative.
also, lol history of rpgmaker
post=131794
In terms of communication, I use RPGMaker to pick up girls. Bitches love my custom battle animations. So yeah go for it!
darken you are my favorite
I don't think it's about trying to be creative or innovative, exactly. It's about trying to make a standard practice more engaging through different or unfamiliar tools. Most people describe themselves as 'visual learners', and in that way I think tools like RPG Maker could find many other uses in different professions. I like calunio's data collection example, I'm sure kids find it more fun than simple paper and pen questionnaires.
And you're correct, 2k and 2k3 are more limited than the newer makers. I mostly use them for my games because of the abundance of resources on charas project. I'm definitely no graphics artist.
And you're correct, 2k and 2k3 are more limited than the newer makers. I mostly use them for my games because of the abundance of resources on charas project. I'm definitely no graphics artist.
AznChipmunk
4613
Well, you did say something about stretching capabilities beyond the given realm, which = innovation.
2k/3 is an incredibly inconvenient form of displaying any form of text considering that the dialogue box is chopped off and you can only display so much text on the screen at once--and you can't even create scrollable text. You could use it as a teaching tool, but RM games are a relatively weak medium for teaching anything in comparison to other options, like AGS.
Though if you do know the history pretty well, I'd be damned surprised! I've been active for pretty much a decade and I don't know most of the history.
Also 2k/3 resources ARE compatible with VX and such. Even though I don't use VX I do realize that it has so much more potential than 2k/3.
2k/3 is an incredibly inconvenient form of displaying any form of text considering that the dialogue box is chopped off and you can only display so much text on the screen at once--and you can't even create scrollable text. You could use it as a teaching tool, but RM games are a relatively weak medium for teaching anything in comparison to other options, like AGS.
Though if you do know the history pretty well, I'd be damned surprised! I've been active for pretty much a decade and I don't know most of the history.
Also 2k/3 resources ARE compatible with VX and such. Even though I don't use VX I do realize that it has so much more potential than 2k/3.
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