Category: Tutorials

Tutorials and how-to’s for RPG Maker.

Smile Game Builder Tutorial #28: Advanced Crafting (Cooking)

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial 28: Advanced Crafting (Cooking)

This topic of this week’s Smile Game Builder tutorial is Advanced Cooking. In Tutorial #28: Advanced Crafting (Cooking), I revisit the previous Cooking tutorial (#19) and add a Cooking Level and Cooking XP. This is particularly inspired by Runescape, a game I used to play passionately but have since moved on from. Video Tutorial You can view my other Smile Game Builder tutorials on the SGB Tutorials: Complete List page. This system is flexible for use in other crafting areas, but is also adaptable for other similar systems as well. Next Tutorials Over time, I’ll continue with the Crafting System, adding new techniques and areas, such as farming, gathering or…

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial #27: Animated Pictures

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial 27 - Animated Pictures

The Tutorial #27: Animated Pictures for Smile Game Builder is online. It’s just a short and simple technique to add animated images to Smile Game Builder. You could use these for a variety of things and effects, including titles and short cut scenes. Notes on Animation Sequencing in SGB Smile Game Builder has no feature for playing in-game movies or GIFs. However, by using basic animation frame sequencing, it’s possible to emulate them. SGB is really good at running multiple parallel events without affecting performance. This includes animated images. Each frame runs in sequence, with an appropriate amount of time between frames. Although any number of images in the sequence…

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial #26: Battle System

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial 26 - Battle System

The Tutorial #26: Battle System for Smile Game Builder is an overview tutorial on the Battle System and my own thoughts on it as a whole. General Notes The main focus is on 3D battles. The tutorial still applies to the 2D system as well, however, since it works on the same principle. Much of the content in the video is straightforward. I also included some of my own thoughts and insights on battles as a whole and how everything works together. Topics Covered Although the battle system has its limits, as well as a few flaws, it’s still a versatile system nevertheless. Perhaps over time, we’ll have a greater…

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial #12: Tips & Tricks (Part 1)

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial #12: Tips & Tricks (Part 1)

This short tutorial is dedicated to some small tweaks, tips and tricks to enhance or build your game, things that don’t really fit larger tutorials and FAQs. Regular Feature This will become a regular feature for tutorials, although sporadically, in the future. However, this all depends on a number of factors, such as new updates, visitors’ comments or inspiration. As time goes on I’ll discover more, so will categorize them as "tips and tricks" rather than an actual tutorial. Many of these will undoubtedly find their way into the actual tutorials as expansions or additions. Video The topics it covers are (clicking the link goes straight to the relevant section…

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial #11: Relationship System

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SGB Tutorial #11: Relationship System

The Product Manager for Smile Game Builder wanted a dating/relationship system. The idea is that the player gives gifts or compliments to female NPCs to build "likeability" This tutorial is the result; it’s a basic relationship system. Each NPC has a "relationship rating", which changes accordingly. When this is high enough, the option for marriage becomes available if a rainbow amulet is in the player’s possession (an idea borrowed from Skyrim). Once you become married to a particular NPC, you can’t marry another one. Video Expansion Its setup, however, is as a preliminary and open-ended system for a larger dating routine, and it has the potential for more growth as…

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial #10: Event Triggers

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial #10: Event Triggers

In this tutorial, I showcase using triggers, notably the autorun parallel trigger. The idea is to set up a meeting with three characters. Once they’re all summoned, a message automatically appears telling you to return to the house for the meeting. There, all of the summoned characters appear. I’ve used a number of switches and event triggers to achieve the goal of this tutorial. Note, however, a conditional switch set to off on the first page is unnecessary. It’s just good practice to put this in, mostly to keep track. Video Because the video contains a bit of preamble, skip to the tutorial if you want to. Next Tutorial I…

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial #9: Pictures

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SGB Tutorial 9: Pictures

This tutorial showcases pictures. You can manipulate pictures to add life to your static images, so these are some of the techniques I’ve learned. There’s also a routine to add a Compass HUD to your maps, which change according to the direction you’re moving. And another section on creating basic splash screens as well. Video Map/Compass HUD Script/Plugin On the right are the links to my Map/Compass HUD script (RMXP) and plugin (RMMV). Although existing, these are not publicly available for RMVX or RMVXA. Download and use them, if they’ll prove useful, for non-commercial games only. Tutorial Notes The Map/Compass HUD only works in normal overhead view, and not in…

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial #8: Time and Date

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SGB Tutorial 8: Time and Date

This tutorial is an overview of the Time and Date function (in the Advanced Variables Option). It demonstrates how you can use and display the local system time in message boxes. The initial intention for this tutorial was a simple calendar system, but due to the nature of parallel events, it wasn’t working as it should. (I recently discovered this and know how to fix it for the actual calendar system tutorial.) Video It’s important to note that the "issue" with adding to the time and it going beyond 24 hours is irrelevant and unimportant. It IS possible to insert an event "subroutine" to check and modify the time/day. Duplicate…

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial #7: Advanced Variables (Part 1)

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Smile Game Builder 7: Advanced Variables

Advanced Variables is a newly updated function that allows you more scope when manipulating variables. You can use it for such things as storing date and time, player stats and camera settings. This tutorial is an overview only, but I’ll use advanced variables much more in future tutorials. Having this feature opens up the possibilities even more, notably for creating stunning games. Video I’m unfamiliar with some aspects of the Advanced Variables, as I have yet to try them all out. Over time, no doubt that’ll change as I experiment more with it and familiarize myself with its nuances. I’ll then share any new tricks and tips I find. Future…

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial #6: Controlling the Camera (Part 1)

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Smile Game Builder Tutorial 6: Controlling the Camera (Part 1)

Camera Control is a new function available for Smile Game Builder. With it, you’re able to use cameras to create some stunning effects, such as for cut scenes and map panning. This tutorial is an overview on its functionality and how to use each of its options. This is a multi-part tutorial, but I’ll revisit this at some point in the future. Also in this tutorial is a quick event setup to allow you to view conversations from the first-person perspective. You can switch between characters as they talk. This is achieved by a simple, yet effective method. Other major updates now available are an autorun/parallel processing setting for events…

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