*** GO HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATE***
This post is always being updated so check the link!
IF YOU AREN’T SURE IF SOME RESOURCES ARE FREE TO USE, ASK THE AUTHOR OR DON’T USE THEM (AND DON’T REPOST THEM). You don’t need to use everything you get a hand on, you can always use them for reference and inspiration.
———————————————————————————————
———————————————————————————————
———————————————————————————————
GAMES CREATION PROGRAMS
There are probably many more but these are very popular, and therefore, you can easily find tutorials and materials/resources to work with them!
IG Maker & RPG MAKER - Focus of this post
RPG Toolkit - Free software for RPG games and others
Sim RPG Maker 95 - For Strategic/Tactical RPG creation
RPG Creator - Will soon include MMORPG creation
M.U.G.E.N. - Free 2D Fighting Game Creator!
Game Maker - Free (buy pro version) for all kind of games
Review of these programs for the super newbies
Overlook of these programs
———————————————————————————————
IMPORTANT + RELEASING YOUR GAME
Using resources + Crediting/Sourcing - how to avoid jail!
Selling your game - A bit outdated but good reference
Sites to upload & host heavy files - To share the game
Compressing game files - Do this BEFORE you use them
Splitting & Compressing - to share super heavy games
Hacha - Another free splitting program for heavy files
Releasing games without RTP - To make the game lighter
———————————————————————————————
GENERAL RPGM SITES, FORUMS & COMMUNITIES
Where you can buy programs, inform yourself, ask questions, share ideas, find resources… a bit of everything!
Official RPG Maker site - FAQs, buy program, etc.
Official RPG Maker blog
Official RPG Maker Forums
RPG Maker VX Ace Wiki - Find masterlists and more
RPGMaker.net - Also for TKool, IG Maker, etc.!
RPGMaker Things - Tumblr blog by Sleep
RPGMaker XP Resources - Tumblr Blog
Flaming Teddy Productions
- Tumblr Blog
HBGames.org - Forums for games creation
Creation Asylum - Forums for game creation
CLOSET Ace - Japanese - TKool & RPG Maker resources
RPG Palace - For everything RPGM (forums, resources…)
RPG Maker Revolution - Forums for everything RPGM
RPGMaker VXAce Community Forums - More of the same
Ocean’s Dream - Development blog, pixel tutorials, etc.
Division Heaven - Free resources blog
———————————————————————————————
TUTORIALS
Remember that the very basics of the program (what are the layers, how to go around resources management, etc.) is available in the HELP section of the program itself! Read the instructions manual first of all! There are also tons of Youtube videos visually explaining the basics!
Very basic first steps to any RPG Maker project!
GDU’s Tutorials - Froms scripting to pixel art & more
VX Ace Tutorials Masterlist
More RPG Maker VX Ace Tutorials
RPG Maker XP Tutorials Masterlist
More XP Tutorials - Also find VX and Ace’s on the side!
What’s this Parallax Mapping thing I hear so much of?
Scripts basics you must know before asking
Mark’s Pixel Art Basic Tutorials - for absolute newbies
———————————————————————————————
SCRIPTS - RPG Maker XP, VX & VXACE
Please do remember that XP, VX and VX Ace use different programing languages. You need to use specific scripts for each specific program! Also, different scripts may overlayer others, or not be enterely compatible. ALSO: always read the scripter’s rules for usage, ask for permission, credit and source, etc. Refer to this guide for fair use of resources!
Scripts basics you must know before asking + Scripts
RPG Maker VX Ace Scripts Masterlist (RGSS3)
RPG Maker VX Scripts Masterlist (RGSS2)
RPG Maker XP Scripts Masterlist (RGSS1)
GDU’s List of Scripts - For XP, VX and VXAce
Yanfly Channel - compatibles with Yami & Kread-Ex’s
Grimoire Castle - Kread-Ex’s scripts and more
Khas - Open for commissions too!
Victor’s Scripts - Side battle view and tons more!
Atelier RGSS - A variety of unique scripts from creating a music or picture gallery to pick & throw items and more!
Fomar0153’s Scripts - Free for commercial use
VitorJ’s Scripts - Free to use + requests
DiamondandPlatinum3 - VX and VXAce scripter
Galv’s Scripts - More VXAce scripts
Bubble BLog - More VX Ace (contact for commerical use)
Hime Works - More VXAce scripts
Soulpour’s RPG Maker VX Ace Scripts - Yeah
RPG Palace - For everything RPGM (forums, resources…)
RPG Maker Revolution - Forums for everything RPGM
RPGMaker VXAce Community Forums - More of the same
———————————————————————————————
CODERS TO COMMISSION FOR RPG MAKER STUFF
(UNDER CONSTRUCTION) Let me know if you are active and want to be included in this list!
Yami / Kread-Ex / Fomar0153 / Khas /
Pixelation - Share art, discuss, hire artists and coders, etc.
———————————————————————————————
ARTISTS TO COMMISSION FOR RPG MAKER STUFF
(UNDER CONSTRUCTION) Let me know if you are active and want to be included in this list!
Pixelation - Share art, discuss, hire artists and coders, etc.
CarmenMCS ( Tumblr / DA ) - Sprites, illustrations, etc.
———————————————————————————————
RPGMaker STYLE CHARACTERS GENERATORS
These are little tools and programs that will allow you to create characters putting together different pre-made body parts and clothes in a editor!
XP to VX Converter for characters sprites
Game Character Hub - Fusions, recolours & more
Loose Leaf - a sprites generator for XP style characters
Famicon’s VX/Ace sprites generator - Female characs
Famicon’s VX/Ace csprites generator - Male characs
Junkhunt Character chip Generator - VX/Ace Style
———————————————————————————————
RPG MAKER STYLE GRAPHICS
A separated list for graphics resources that resemble RPG Maker default graphics. Please do remember that most resources aren’t simply free. Always read the artist’s rules for usage, ask for permission, credit and source when using their resources, etc. Refer to this guide for fair use of resources!
Granny’s Lists - Masterpost of RPGM graphic resources
Characters Templates (under construction)
Tilesets Templates (under construction)
Pixel Art World - Many XP style graphics
Sithjester’s RMXP Resources - XP style
First Seed Materials - Taller VXAce art style and more
Lunarea’s - Resources Blog
Ayene-chan’s graphics - the artist’s Deviantart site
RPG Maker artists - group on Deviantart
Kaito’s resources - Charas, modern & japanese scenery…
CarmenMCS’s Pixel Art - Icons, sprites, parallax add-ons…
Hetalia characters and costumes - VX/Ace style
Hetalia Videogames - Hetalia fangames creation group
———————————————————————————————
OTHER GRAPHIC RESOURCES
Please do remember that most resources aren’t simply free. Always read the artist’s rules for usage, ask for permission, credit and source when using their resources, etc. Refer to this guide for fair use of resources!
Pixel Joint .com
- It’s like the Deviantart of Pixel art!
Mark’s Pixel Art Basic Tutorials - for absolute newbies
Oceans Dream - Pixel Art tutorials and more
Game Art - Deviantart group (graphics, sound, etc)
Open Game Art .org - Free sprites, music, textures…
The Spriters Resource - all those classic games graphics!
Sprite Database - More of the same
Retrogamer Zone - More of the same
The Videogames Atlas - Very useful for reference!
Megaman Series Resources - Sprites, Models, Sounds…
——————————————————————————————
MUSIC CREATION SOFTWARE
Whether you know little about music or a lot, these are very useful resources to create your own music, sheets, remixes, etc.
TJFree.com’s list of free Music Composition Software
And list of Free Music & Audio Software
NoteFlight - ONLINE & Free composition & notation
MuseScore - Free (Midi) composition & notation software
MusInk - Free (Midi) composition & notation software
Finale NotePad - Free composition & notation software
Virtual Music Composer (3.0) - Remix, compose, etc.
MagiX Music Maker - (Commercial) composition, beatbox..
Music Creator Touch - (Commercial) composition, beatbox
——————————————————————————————-
SONGS FOR YOUR GAMES
There are a thousand sites with copyrighted and free music, and they aren’t difficult to find so this is just a list of some remarkable ones. Please do remember that most resources aren’t simply free: always read the artist’s rules for usage, ask for permission, credit and source when using their resources, etc. Refer to this guide for fair use of resources!
*** IMPORTANT: Copyrighted music from anime, video games, movies, etc. can only be used for free non-commercial fan creations, private projects, and such… and only to some extend. Some companies are ok with it as long as you don’t make money out of it, and some aren’t. Take a look at this link to learn more about it.
Granny’s Lists - Includes Music and Sound effects section
VGMdb - Catalogue of videogames & anime OSTs
Videogame Music - Listen to & Download games OSTs
Galbadia Hotel - Videogame & anime music and SHEETS
BlueLaguna - Source for RPG media (songs, videos…)
Music & Game - Download game OSTs
DownloadOST.com - Like it sounds
AnimeOST.com - Like it sounds
Free Anime Music.com - Like it sounds
Jasmine Cooper’s Music - Free to use music for games
The Music Case - Royalty free music & stock music
Purple Planet - Royalty Free music
Vimeo Music Store - Everything (commercial, free, etc.)
Sound Cloud - Everything again
Incompetech - Royalty Free Music (but you can donate!)
Instrumentals Free.com - Like it sounds!
ccMixer - In concrete, Dig.ccMixter free for commercial use
Tam Music Factory - Royalty Free music (please don’t use if you don’t understand the terms & conditions of usage!)
Music Material - Plz don’t use if you don’t understand
Freesound.org - Music and Sounds for free
———————————————————————————————
SOUND EFFECTS
Please do remember that most resources aren’t simply free: always read the artist’s rules for usage, ask for permission, credit and source when using their resources, etc. Refer to this guide for fair use of resources!
Freesound.org - Music and Sounds for free
Audio Jungle.net - Free & non-free resources
Sound Bible - Royalty Free sounds
Soundjay - Royalty Free sounds
Hetalia Voices and Sounds ripped - Credits: Kiaolao The Dubber (Luca)
———————————————————————————————
MISCELLANEOUS TOOLS
Some other tools, websites and the such that I think can help with the development and exposition of your game.
Donjon RPG Tools - Maps generator, items, XP calculator..
Debut Video Capture - Video screen recording & more to make LPs, show your game on youtube as a video, etc.
Ripping sprites from retro consoles
Ripping sprites
Ripping Playstation Sprites with ePSXe and PSX-Vram
———————————————————————————————
RELATED MASTERPOSTS
Resources for Game making Masterlist
Suikoden Masterpost - Genso Suikoden videogames graphics, music, official art, extra material such as novels and mangas, RPG Maker Fangames, etc.
Dynasty Warriors Masterpost - Shin Sangoku Musou