This software cannot compete with neverwinter nights. I have seen the previews
of NWN, and it blows away anything this software can do. This software is
designed to create a Final Fantasy-esque rpg. Once which I've never been fond
of to begin with, perhaps having been spoiled by AR.

The only RPG creation software worth mentioning is SSI's Gold Box creation
software, Unlimited Adventures. (Still available from that site I mentioned a
few months back, I believe.) I can support this claim with the very large
following UA has to this day. The UA eGroup has, is it 400 members? And there
are websites galore dedicated to it - one serves as a rather large repository
of games, modules, music, graphics, etc. I remember a large outcry when the
AOL based repository (which is just as large, but holds very different
information) was threated.

The UA interface is, btw, very straightfoward so that even a non-programmer
like myself can hope to create as good a game as I can concieve of. Toying
with UA and some text-adventure development tools (AGT and TADS, both of which
are freeware now as far as I know), I actually gained a deeper insight into
both how to structure a plot for a CRPG as well as a "tabeltop" rpg and about
plot in general.

Michael Moorcock in an interview said that collaborating with the team who
designed some game he had his hand in was a much more pleasant experience than
collaborating with most writers. He said the game designers had a much better
understanding of plot than most writers.

To elaborate on the UA design interface (the play interface is just like a
goldbox game), you have wall types, and you place them in a grid. You have a
feature similar to "blink mines" which allow you to extend your world beyond
the (I believe it's 16x16 or 32x32) grid you're given. The same way the
Dungeon used blink mines to expand the game world "seamlessly" through the
sewer system.

Then, on the boxes you set up events, encounters, treasures, etc. You write
the narrative, design the encounters, etc. It's been a few years since I've
toyed with it, but on a high level that's how it works.

For my money (even though UA is available free) I would rather use UA than
this game creation system, simply because I prefer the SSI interface to the FF
interface, and early reports say it takes inordinate amounts of time to create
a game.

Now if only someone would program a build-a-level or build-a-game interface
for Alternate Reality.

Mark

"Chris Giufurta" <shade--shade.reno.nv.us> wrote:



You know the idea of an RPG maker is not a new one. I've seen them in the
past and have never really been to impressed with them. I've tried using
some of the earlier Apple and Amiga models, but found them to be too
complicated, to the point that it would be quicker and easier to do it all
from scratch. At least when it concerns using an RPG maker as a tool for
standard table top play. I am very intrigued however by Neverwinter Nights
coming out by the third quarter of next year. That will be something worth
looking into. Maybe this program for Playstation is a preemptive strike at
NWN?

Just my two cents

Chris


----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Wieczorek <tengard--usa.net>
To: arlist <<Address Masked>>
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000 11:22 PM
Subject: ping


> ping
>
> While I'm here, any comments on the agetech RPG Maker for Playstation? Not
> that I plan on buying it (who has the time?), but if anyone has any
experience
> with it, or know someone who has...
>
> Mark
>
> E-Mail: Tengard--usa.net
> ICQ: 16332158
> AOL/AIM: Pettycoat1
> Website: www.markzilla.com
>