LOTUS_GAMES'S PROFILE

For over 12 years, I have been creating my own video games and art. I started out by creating games on Microsoft Powerpoint believe it or not and then graduated to Rpg Maker and eventually to more advanced engines such as Construct, Unreal Dev Kit, and Game Maker. I have mastered Adobe Photoshop over the last several years and have become proficient in using Blender. I have a passion for creating, learning, and now teaching =]

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Lighting by Lotus Games

That's a neat effect, I mostly see it in the statue. You can't compare rpg maker to SNES games, mostly because of the user-base but also because rpg maker has a ton of limitations (not even graphically, but just being useful for rpg type games). SNES games were all made by professionals who knew what they were doing but rpg maker is usually used by people getting into game design. Also having played around with different engines, even setting aside graphics it has become very clear that rpg maker is full of limitations..atleast 2003...I'm sure with ruby some of those are lifted in later versions. But creating a dynamic and realistic lighting effect in rpg maker is a lot harder to do right than it would be in an engine that could handle a proper lighting system. You can use tricks and techniques to help but those only get you so far and you really need to know what you are doing to implement them. As far as lowering your standards, you have to know what kind of game you are making. If you want to make an SNES type rpg game than no you can't lower your standards...because if you really know how to make them you can in rpg maker. But if you want a game utilizing proper artificial intelligence, dynamic systems, and HD graphics with high res textures and shaders than you really are lowering your standards if you try to use rpg maker.

This tutorial was for people looking into lighting and how it could be implemented. Yes for a professional in the industry it is completely useless but for someone who is getting into game design using rpg maker I think it's a very useful tutorial.

Slip into Ruby part 1 - Object-oriented wha?

Great start and an informative tutorial, thank you for writing this.

Lighting by Lotus Games

@Milos: Thanks Milos, as long as I have helped even just one person I'm happy =]

@Max: Sixe is right about that but I don't think it's an appropriate discussion in a lighting tutorial topic, perhaps a topic about good game ethics or good game design would be better suited for those type of comments. I'm glad to hear that you found it to be impressive. I know there will always be differences in opinions...those that think its art/it isn't art....think it looks great/looks terrible. But I hope a majority of the people that read through it found it to be helpful on some level. That'd just make my day =]

@Indra: It certainly is a lot of work, but I think it can be worth the effort in that it allows a game to stand out as most people for-go lighting effects in 2d games. As for navigation, I think anything that adds layers such as lighting or dynamic clouds or overlays can take away from navigation. It can be risky but if toned down just enough while still remaining visible and serving a purpose, I believe it can only add to immersion without detracting from navigation.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Also, Thank you to RMN for the Spotlight!

Lighting by Lotus Games

Well that was certainly brutal but I'll thank you for taking the time to write all of that. You're criticism is valid and while I do not agree with you 100% as there will always be differences in opinion, I do think I have a ways to go with lighting before it meets professional standards. Regardless this tutorial as I have stated before was meant mostly for rpgmaker 2003 users and for that level I think it does a reasonable job.

Lighting by Lotus Games

Right so this was made with rpg maker 2003 users in mind and so unless the lighting effect uses just a few colors instead of several hundred the tint becomes unavoidable. I know where you guys are coming from though. Thanks for the feedback guys, I appreciate it!

Lighting by Lotus Games

You are very welcome Clareian.

Lighting by Lotus Games

That is true they don't, looking back now, the positioning relative to the light source is what is off. I should have focused equally on the shadows as I did the lighting and tutorial but thanks for the feedback.

Thanks to Large and Avee for the comments, keep em coming guys and gals.

-Lotus

Edit: I have updated the final images with proper shadows. I dislike imperfection and feel it to be a negative reflection on myself and the Lotus brand. The new final images display shadows that are positioned better according to the light source. I hope this extra bit of effort will help those who are looking for a high quality guide, make this tutorial/guide just that for them.
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