APPENDIX A Exporting Your RMMV Game This appendix covers the process of project deployment—exporting your RPG Maker MV game as an executable package for people to play on various platforms. Overview In the Ace version of this book, I didn’t cover project deployment at all, given that games created in RPG Maker VX Ace could only be played on Windows PCs, making the process rather more straightforward. However, I think it bears mentioning in this second edition, as games created with this version of the engine can be played on PCs, Macs, and even mobile/tablet operating systems (iOS and Android). So, without further ado, see Figure A-1 for a screenshot of the Deployment screen (which you can reach by clicking File and then Deployment; it has no associated hotkey). Figure A-1. A screenshot of the Deployment menu . Note the various platform options for your game project’s deployment Version 1.1 of MV added the option to exclude unused files, which is extremely useful for cutting down the size of your game’s project. Here’s how you would go about deploying the game project for each platform. © Darrin Perez 2016 361 D. Perez, Beginning RPG Maker MV, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4842-1967-6 APPENDIX A ■ EXPORTING YOUR RMMV GAME For Windows After selecting “Exclude unused files” and choosing your output location, click OK. Then a pop-up will say that MV is “Creating a distribution package.” Once the package is ready, you will get a pop-up with a checkmark saying “Succeeded to create a distribution package.” You can run the game if you’re using Windows by opening the package folder and clicking Game.exe. For Mac OS X Make sure that “Exclude unused files” is toggled and that your output location is correct; then click OK. The distribution package will be created and you will get the same pop-up as with Windows when MV has finished the process. If you’re using a Mac, you can run the Game.app file by clicking on it. On Windows, Game.app will appear as a folder which, curiously, can be explored much like any other folder. You can actually play the game on your default browser (if it meets the minimum processing requirements for MV) by finding and clicking on the index.html file. For Web Browsers Of course, MV 1.1 also has an option to make a game directly for web browsers as well (1.0 had no such option). After creating the distribution package you can (according to Kadokawa’s MV Help file) “run your game on a web browser by uploading your exported project folder to a web server.” For Android/iOS You’ll notice that I left this deployment option for last. As it so happens, creating a complete package for one of the mobile operating systems is a rather involved process. Using the Deployment option merely gives you the project files to be further worked upon, based on your mobile OS of choice. Hence, I won’t be covering how to do the deployment, but will instead direct you to Kadokawa’s rather extensive documentation on the subject. For Android apps, you’ll want to find the “Converting to an Android App” section of MV’s Help file. For iOS apps, the process is covered in “Converting to an iOS App.” 362 APPENDIX B Useful Resources for RPG Maker MV This appendix is a compilation of helpful resources for just about anything related to your RMMV games. Do you need help with a certain idea that you have stuck in your head? Perhaps you could seek aid from one of the links listed under “Tutorials and General Help.” Are you thinking of hiring someone to help you create your very own commercial game? Some of the other links should cover that. On that note, let us begin. Tutorials and General Help for RMMV Game design, like most things in life, is a constant process of renewal and learning new ways to tackle old (and not-so-old) problems. Following are some links to sites that contain tutorials and/or communities of people willing to help out aspiring role-playing game (RPG) designers . http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com : The official forum for Enterbrain’s video game development engines, including RMMV. http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?/forum/130-rpg-maker-mv- tutorials/ : Also part of the official site. As the web link suggests, this subforum offers tutorials for many topics concerning RPG Maker MV. http://www.rpgmakervxace.net/forum/146-rpgmaker-mv/ : One of the most populated unofficial forums related to RPG Maker VX Ace on the Internet. This link leads to their new MV subforum. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for on the official site, this should be your next destination. https://rpgmakermv.co/ : A relatively new unofficial forum that, as the web site name states, is dedicated to talking about RPG Maker MV. ■ Note Search engines will steer you toward rpgmakerweb.com whenever they get a chance. Degica has done a fairly good job of positioning itself as the universal destination for all things RPG Maker (which, given that it’s the publisher, is fair play). You can buy resource packs (music, art, and so on) from them, as well as a few other items of interest. © Darrin Perez 2016 363 D. Perez, Beginning RPG Maker MV, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4842-1967-6 APPENDIX B ■ USEFUL RESOURCES FOR RPG MAKER MV Art and Spriting Need art for your RMMV game? Want to learn how to create it yourself? I have you covered with a pair of links. To be fair, art is easily my weakest asset when it comes to game design. However, a wise man once told me: “You need not know everything . only the people who do .” http://rpg-maker-artists.deviantart.com : A community on deviantART for RPG Maker artists. As a general statement, deviantART is an incredibly useful site for all things art. If you have an artistic inclination, you could join the community; otherwise, it is probably a good place to look for people who can create unique sprites and/or other pieces of art for your RMMV games. http://finalbossblues.com/pixel-tutorials : Offers a variety of cool tutorials for making your own pixel art. The tutorials are specifically targeted at RPG Maker XP, VX, and VX Ace users but should have relevance outside the RPG Maker series as well. After all, art is art. Tutorials and References for JavaScript A veritable treasure trove of resources for JavaScript exists on and off the Internet. Following are but some of the sites available: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/javascript : Codecademy’s mission, as stated, is “Teaching the world how to code.” It does an exemplary job at it, if I may be so bold as to offer an endorsement. It has course plans for several of the most popular programming languages, including JavaScript. http://www.w3schools.com/js/ : This site has a helpful and easy-to-understand reference to many of JavaScript’s internal workings. https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Learn/JavaScript : A very comprehensive guide on JavaScript for both beginners and programmers with a little more experience. Sounds and Music No game is truly complete without an awesome soundtrack. Here are some links to music that can spruce up your project accordingly. http://www.scythuzmusic.com/ : The site of Benjamin Carr, alias Scythuz. I have had the pleasure of purchasing some of his tracks in the past. He delivers high- quality work at competitive rates. There is a contact page on his site, if you would like to commission some music tracks from him. http://rpgmaker.net/resources/music/ : Links to a list of music resources for RPG Maker. http://videogamecaster.com/royalty-free-music-and-sounds/ : Has a large list of sites that provide music and sounds for free and commercial use. 364 APPENDIX B ■ USEFUL RESOURCES FOR RPG MAKER MV Video Game Writing Tutorials The story and general flow of an RPG are two of its most important elements. Here are some links to sites that discuss video game writing : www.paladinstudios.com/2012/08/06/how-to-write-a-good-game-story- and-get-filthy-rich/ The article in question is from 2012, but it has a good treatise on writing a good story for your games. http://blog.rpgmakerweb.com/tutorials/design-by-layer-1/ http://blog.rpgmakerweb.com/tutorials/design-by-layer-ii/ Nick Palmer wrote up a pair of helpful tutorials for writing an RPG story on the official RPG Maker blog. ■ Note If you require someone (or a group of someones) with whom to collaborate on a project, posting a thread in the official forums is never a bad idea. It may well be that you find like-minded individuals with design strengths to offset your weaknesses. Plugins These are perhaps the best way to add or change the functionality of your game. If you decide to cut your teeth on JavaScript within RPG Maker MV, looking at other people’s work is probably the best way to begin. Seeing what others before you have done is a great way to discover exactly what is and isn’t possible within RMMV. http://mvplugins.com/ : Provides a large list of RPG Maker MV plugins for use. As of the time of this writing, there are 407 plugins available. Himeworks MV Plugins (http://himeworks.com/mv-plugins/ ): Tsukihime, or just Hime for short, is an experienced RPG Maker scripter.