CHERRY'S PROFILE

Hm I didn't find a good solution so far, I will just note this as a bug in my list so it won't be lost, but unfortunately I can't help you atm

Let me clarify my clarification: I just realized that I was wrong, the RMW version has DRM and the Steam version does not. The thing is, before we had three versions (Steam-DRMed, RMW-DRMed, DRM-free from Humble Bundle) and now we have two (RMW-DRMed, DRM-free), the Steam version is DRM-free as well.

I explained this in the help file in "Main Window" → "Supplementary Features" → "Begin Playtest":

* Before creating a game installer, you can check your game for errors and opportunities for improvement. This process, called “playtesting”, is extremely important.
* Before doing a playtest, map data needs to be saved. If the data has not been saved, a message will be displayed to confirm if the data should be saved. Clicking “Yes” will save the data and begin the playtest.
* If "Fullscreen" is disabled, a new window will open and display the game's start screen.
* If "Fullscreen" is enabled in the "Game" menu (button is pressed in), the game will take up the entire screen.
... * In addition, if "Display Title Screen" in the same menu is enabled, the title graphic will be shown on the start screen.
... * If "Display Title Screen" is disabled and the default title screen is also disabled (in the "System" tab of the database), the "Load Game" screen will be shown when the playtest is started. Pressing a cancel key (such as "ESC") from the "Load Game" screen will start the game normally.
* During the playtest, all editor functions will be disabled, and changes to settings and data will not be possible. Only variables and switches can be modified from the debug screen.

However, I agree that it is hard to find, I guess it should be mentioned at the documentation for the "Use" checkbox in the system tab and/or the description of the "Show Title" menu/toolbar option as well.

Btw may I point out that the only "RM2k3 developer" is me nowadays and I'm not employed or anything, I worked temporarily as external contractor and still the majority of the work put into the Steam releases and updates was either at a ridiculously low rate or entirely unpaid, because I wanted to make this a reality. Due to the issue with the lost source code, the only way to get anywhere was binary patching, and there is only a handful people in the world who can do it efficiently (based on previous reverse engineering work on RM2k3). That's why for example Archeia or any other developer at Degica's disposal couldn't simply take over that part. There is no economically feasible way to maintain this software. Yet, I still think that the official English release was a big achievement because the community has asked for that for years and there is finally a way to legally use this software outside Japan and sell the games made with it.

And I know that I'm notorious for moving my focus elsewhere for months or years at a time and then randomly coming back to comment on something, people who know me know that it was always like that. But again all the RM stuff is just a (very time-consuming) hobby in my free time, and I don't have enough time for that anymore, most of time at least. (10 years ago when I put out patches on a weekly basis, I was in school and had nothing to do in the afternoons...)

There is now a fix available! At least for RM2k3. For RM2k there is a workaround.

RM2k3 (only for v1.10+!)
I created a patch to fix the problem. Download the patch here: http://share.cherrytree.at/showfile-32176/rpg2003_112_fix_battle_test.ips

Apply this patch to your RPG2003.exe using a tool like Lunar IPS (switch to "all file types"). If you got RM2k3 from Steam, you can find the RPG2003.exe file in the folder "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\RPG Maker 2003".

Create a backup of the original file first!

EDIT: Unfortunately this won't work with the RMW version due to DRM!

RM2k
I can't provide a patch right now (for administrative reasons), but there is a workaround available.

You can initiate the battle test by manually running RPG_RT.exe with certain command line parameters, I provided a script which does that for you. Download the script here: http://share.cherrytree.at/showfile-32177/battletest2000.vbs

Place the script file into your project folder next to the RPG_RT.exe file.

In order to configure the heroes and equipment for the test, you can use the normal battle test window, just click "OK" there after configuring the desired settings (not "Start Battle Test") and then also click "OK" or "Apply" in the database window so that the setting is saved.

Then, to launch the battle test, you just run the BattleTest2000.vbs file and enter the ID of the monster group that you want to fight (e.g. 123).