RADNEN'S PROFILE

I'll speak for myself since I can't speak for others.

When I first used RPGMaker (I don't anymore, sadly), I was just a kid. I relate to the OP especially on the part of the learning curve. But I have the feeling that even if I were fluent with the software I would have still not made a great game.

I'm just going to say it. A college education will make your "gams", games. No really, I'm much smarter now than when I was in high school or middle school (when I first used RPGMaker). I've generally read more books, played more games, and wrote more essays since then. The last point is crucial. Writing and getting better at school work makes you think harder on what to do in a video game. Plus a decent college would have higher standards for essays than a high school.

Kids tend to exaggerate or think too broadly on things. I've read stories for games by kids (13 year olds or thereabout) and just shake my head at the weirdness of it. I know, as I said I did this to myself. I look at my own stories I wrote as a kid (lord I still got them), and they made no sense. Plot holes, awkward dialogue, and strange excelsior-ish things that I definitely would have not added if I re-wrote it today.

But as I said I'm only speaking for myself. Age (even maturity) has a lot to do with it. And it's not as obvious as playing other RPGMaker games. I never really did. I took long breaks from game making just to collect general knowledge of the world around me. That is what I found to be more important than churning out game after game or collecting knowledge from other game designers.

So I'm going to be cruel and say: Kids or first timers shouldn't really release their games. Do it for yourself, but keep it to yourself. Guys, I myself have many, many unreleased "garbage" games on my HD. These you'll never get to see for they suck.

tl;dr I value a college education in game designers. I value age and maturity. Better if both when making games.

author=alterego
@Radnen:http://rpgmaker.net/media/content/users/6429/locker/RPGscreen8.png
Is this some kind of maple-leaf? Cloudy? Overlay? It looks awful. Kill it! Kill it with fire! ...There's lots of merit in your pixel work, but it already looks kinda messy on its own. The overlay is just overkill. - As for the night, why don't you just use a tint screen effect instead?

I knew someone will eventually say that. You are absolutely right! At the time it looked okayish, but now I added dirt to the map. This alone removes the need for an overlay by reducing the need to have randomization.

Okay, I've added Judes changes which is nice. Now, here's a nighttime scene:



I saw Jude also changed the grass. I still kinda like it this way because it makes it look grassier, with blades and all. But that's just preference.

@Everyone: I've went with the bottom one.