RPG Maker 2003 is officially available in English

[yamina-chan]

What the title sais.
After many years of questionable means to aquire the rm2k3, and after it was brought up briefly in discusison on the rpgmakerweb forums, it is actually finally here.
An official release of one of the classic makers that oriiginally introduced a lot of people to the RPG Maker communities.

The only drawback is that you can only get it via Steam. But still: It is good that there actually is an official english version now. =D
Some changes have been made to improve it. (Time will tell if those are good or bad.)

The classic comes at a price of 19,99$, but is currently availible for 16,99$ untill the 1st of May.

RPGMakerweb page: http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/products/prog...maker-2003
Steam page: http://store.steampowered.com/app/362870/
RM2k3 English Changelog: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sXlX...ZD2Qc/edit
Cherry's Post about it: http://rpgmaker.net/forums/topics/17752/



Edit: http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?.../?p=389654
I suspected as much, but it seems the standalone non-steam version will be availible too, just a little further down the line. Good news for non-steam users =D

[MetalRenard]

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!
Edit: I now own an official copy! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[PK8]

Pardon my french but hoooooooooooooooooly shit.

[Ahzoh]

Is it really that good compared to modernday versions? Or is it because of nostalgia?

[MetalRenard]

If you can script, stick to the more recent versions. If you can't, then use 2k3 because the event system is more powerful and some of the limitations can be modded out with Cherry's fixes.

[greenraven]

It's an obsolete piece of software. This is just a sad money grab scheme to milk the franchise for all it's worth.

Question. How many of you played an RM2K3 game recently? Because I have out of nostalgia and I regretted it sorely. Let me all remind you all of a little thing called that battle gauge system. It's that stupid thing where they tried to imitate the Final Fantasy series, and got it horribly horribly wrong. Battles take place in real time and unless the game was programed by someone who knows what they're doing chances are either the player or the enemy will have virtually unlimited turns while the other just stands there. And even IF it was done by someone who knows what they're doing you still have to sit and wait for the gauge to fill up before you can take your turn. In a full party of 4 people it gets annoying fast when you're in a traditional dungeon that triggers a battle every few steps.

In short, meh, I'll pass.

[yamina-chan]

You don't have to get it if you don't want Xb

But it certainly is not obsolete.
There are quite a few good games that were allready made with it and I know a good number of people who are good at what we do and who prefere the rm2k3 over the never ones; who REALLY know what they are doing with what it offers.
The battlesystem is not liked by many, that is true. But whoever said you have to use it?

Edit: http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?.../?p=389654
I suspected as much, but it seems the standalone non-steam version will be availible too, just a little further down the line. Good news for non-steam users =D

[MetalRenard]

I like the battle system though... I feel it builds up tension! But that's probably just me. I don't particularly like simple turn based systems.
What I DO like is action battle systems and I made one of my own a few years ago in 2k3. That was fun! :D
I don't think I could redo that though, I've forgotten how to do the complex stuff. I may find an tutorial one day and remake one if I go back to making games, or I'll use XP anyway and steal a script...

The thing about 2k3 is you get a stronger sense of ownership of what you make because you CANT take pre-made scripts, you have to build it all yourself. I really like that side of things.

[greenraven]

Oh there's definitely been some great games. But overall the 2K3 feels dated as it should.

Also call me spoiled now in this day and age but I quite like having LOCAL SWITCHES. :P

One of the things about the battle system is that in a dungeon with high encounter rates the waiting gets tedious fast. Which I feel is the biggest flaw with 2K3. The lack of scripts I can deal with, been an event guy myself personally anyway, but the default battle system is just atrocious.

[MetalRenard]

I don't use random encounters in any game, ever though. I have monsters roaming about and if you touch them you enter a battle with them. It gives more feedback to the player and is preferable in terms of game design.