RPGHD

What is RPGHD?

RPGHD is a game editor (for use with the accompanying gaming engine, HDEngine) that was inspired by Enterbrain's RMXP (also known as RPGXP). I may possibly release my code to the open-source community in the future. I have been working on a game myself in RMXP since 2007, and after years of improving my skills and abilities as a game designer (especially in the coding aspect) RMXP has become too limiting for me. I need more flexibility and especially more performance than the Ruby engine can provide, but I do not want to throw away the database of information I've already spent over a thousand hours working on. In order to keep my storyline, maps, audio, graphics, etc. I have designed the RPGHD editor. First I designed the "RPGExport" Ruby module that converts an entire existing RMXP project (*.rxdata) into a RPGHD compatible files (*.hdata). All information is retained perfectly (except for the custom events scripts written in Ruby which will need to be converted manually). The RPGHD exporter and editor themselves are currently robust software, but it's a huge undertaking for only one person.

How will it work?

Ideally, this is what the process would look like:

1. Export your RMXP game then import it to RPGHD (or create a new blank project)

2. Further edit your game with the RPGHD database & map editor, which have extended capabilities

3. No code compiling necessary, HDEngine will run the RPGHD project files

4. Run the game on any platform, enjoy huge performance boosts, and extended functionality

What does RPGHD offer?

RPGHD is being fully developed in C++, which will immediately offer an enormous speed boost and the ability to have more graphic/computationally intensive elements in your games. Secondly, it offers the possibility of easily extending games to any platform (Android, iPhone, iOS, Linux, etc.) instead of just being compatible on Windows (which the editor itself still is). The engine was created using SFML. I can only assume that many other people may be interested in this capability, especially if the conversion is pretty simple. Lastly, the editor will offer exclusive functionality. For example

• The map editor is a multi document interface (MDI) allowing for more than one open map at a time, and the database is a separate floating window.

  • The tileset passability and other tags are editable directly in the map window.

• The number of layers in maps is customizeable (from 1-4 currently).

• The database offers an editable spreadsheet view, a tree view, and dialogue view.

• All items can be organized into a tree structure (not just the maps).

• Mouse over any field to immediately see the help description.

• 20+ extended event commands will be possible in addition to the 160 originally available commands.

• Event sprites are fully shown on the map.

• Navigating (cycling) through the events is much simpler, and the screen can be centered on them.

The possibilities are endless. I welcome any feedback you may have.

-MasterHD