Help! I want to make a rpgmaker game but I can’t/don’t want to make custom graphics!

Recently I saw this anon sent into rpggameconfessions and its a sentiment I’ve seen over and over so I just wanted to address it to help out all those who want to make an rpgmaker game but aren’t artistically inclined! In this I’m just going to be using RTP as a shorthand for “default graphics”. This is a long post so buckle up!

YES YOU CAN MAKE GOOD GAMES USING RTP!

The key to this is mapping- with RTP you’re just going to have to work a little harder to make maps look nice. If you want examples of what to do, what not to do and to hone your maping skills check out Maps Weekly over on RMN.

The really important parts of a rpgmaker game (imo) are the story and the gameplay- supplemental art just serves to enhance it.*  While I love the art in Ib what really stuck with me after playing it was the story and the characters!  Plus some games, like Mad Father, (which doesn’t use Wolf Rpg’s default tileset) still look similar to the default tileset of Rpgmaker Ace!

Don’t forget- you can always use the RTP as a placeholder to add custom graphics in if you decide you want to later on.

* (Unless it’s an art based game like Yume Nikki and its derivatives or Pen Palz.)

Okay I’ll use the RTP! But I want my game to stand out!

You can always use simple edits to add your own spin to the RTP and combine the RTP with custom graphics! 

“Character portraits were done through facemaker, sprites edited from the online sprite editor, and backgrounds and some other graphics were edited from the RTP. Other graphics were drawn by [Housekeeping]“ So by simply editing default sprites and such to black and white a unique look was created.

If you can’t find custom assets you like (and I’ll talk about where to find them in a minute) you can always commission artists to make face-sets and sprites for you!

I really don’t want to use the RTP/ I want to use some other graphics with it! Where do I find this sort of stuff?

Well you can always commission artists to make this stuff for you! But if you aren’t that specific about what you want t besides “not rtp” there’s lots of palaces to look.

You can also buy cool graphics from rpgmakeweb too!

All of those are on Steam so if you’re strapped for cash you can wait for a Steam or Humble Bundle sale! Here are some examples of those:

And my personal favorite: 

So get out there and make some games! No excuses! And if someone gives you a hard time for using the RTP send them to me and I’ll fight them for you.

Piskel - Free online sprite editor

Description: “Remember the good old 2D games and their beautiful sprites ? With Piskel you can create your own in a few clicks.”

Features:

Website: piskelapp.com

Tutorials: A collection of Pixel Art Tutorials can be found on pixelartus.com

the big list of pixel art tutorials by pixelprospector

pixel art tutorials

pixel art inspiration

pixel art forums

freelance guide

graphic style analysis

tutorials about glowy graphics

(see, I DID do something for 200 followers.  12 followers late, but it’s something! owo”)

All music here is free to use in your games or other projects without charge, either operating on a “Ok to use as long as you give me credit” basis, a Creative Commons License, or is already in the public domain (meaning there’s no copyright on it).

 For more information on Creative Commons License works, check here.  For an easy to look at graph, check here.  Remember, if it’s Public Domain, it’s free to use & redistribute to your heart’s content.

And feel free to add on more resources to this post if you like. c:

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➤ Free Collections Ready for Download 

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(don’t worry, it’s not all yume nikki in here!  Keep reading!)

Plasterbrain’s Yume Freebie Collection - plasterbrain's Yume Nikki Fangame Sound dump.  According to them, they're ok with you using it for any type of projects as long as you don't redistribute the pack for money.  Check out their sound cloud. They also did music for DREAM VS DREAM, a Yume Nikki fighting game you can play here.  Music loops.

Yume Nikki Fangame Month - bwarch's pay-if-you-want-it-would-be-really-nice-if-you-did-but-it's-fine-if-you-don't pack of free to use Yume Nikki Fangame music for your Yume Nikki fan game (I did the art for it!).  Has a bunch of rad tracks for you to use! Check out his Bandcamp here, his Soundcloud here, and his Youtube here. Music loops.

The Remains of the 8 Bit Collective - A huge file of Chiptune/8 Bit music free to use from the now down site 8 Bit Collective.  There’s a bunch of crap, but there are good ones in there too.  Music loops.

Rindre’s Effect Sounds - A few Sound Effects for your Yume Nikki game by our friend pakilusin​! Sound effects.  She’s working on an upcoming fan game called Redux, formerly the game Flux.

Rindre’s Fangame Music Pack - Some good ambientish tracks by our friend pakilusin! Music Loops.  Check out her soundcloud here!

RPG Maker.net’s Music Pack - RPG Maker.net’s form got together and put out a wonderful album full of RPG Music for you to use.  Music & loops.

Noyemi K’s Game Placeholder Pack - A pack by noyemik that includes music & chipsets to use as a PLLACEHOLDER for your game.  She has some free to use for her game right down here…

Noyemi’s Free to Use Resources - Along with her Placeholder pack, she also has some free to use music & sounds as well.  She’s the maker of Amihailu in Dreamland & Hell Diary, two rad games with equally rad soundtracks.  Check out her sound cloud here! And her bandcamp here!

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➤ Websites for Downloading Music

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English Sites

Flashkit - Always check if it’s freeware, licenseware, or shareware!  Sound Effects & Music Loops.

Freesound.org -  Check the licensing agreement on the things you download!  Sound Effects and Music Loops.  You’ll need an account before you download anything, but the library is just so vast that it’s well worth it.

Partners in Rhyme - They’re mostly for youtube videos, but are ok if you use it in your video game.  Music Loops.

Looperman - Focuses on loops for audio software (so if you want to add more to it feel free). Here’s their terms & conditions page.  You also have to create an account before you download anything.  Loops, samples, sound effects, acapellas, & raps.

Sound Bible - Royalty-free Sound Effects under the public domain & attribution creative commons license.

Media College - has like, 10 loops in the public domain for you to download.

Free SFX - I linked to their License Page because it’s a bit hidden. Free Sound Effects.  Yes, you have to make an account, but it’s free.

JWinter Music - A blog that post free to use Music, mostly for youtube videos.

Indie Game Music.com - Specifically for indie games.  Music on the site is under three different licenses, so check this page before you go off downloading things.  Loops & Music.

FreePD.com - All of it is in the public domain (everything’s free to use because the copyright expired/there was no copyright in the first place).  Loops.

Media Collage - Free Sound Effects as long as you don’t sell them yourself.

SampleSwap.org -“You must Log in (or register) in order to download these samples.… 100% of the samples on this site are free, but registration helps us fight MP3 robots and establish controls over how much gets downloaded, and when.” Samples, Music & Noise Loops, & sound effects.

Dig.CCMixter.org Check each track for a money symbol next to it.  If there is none, it’s free to download. Free music.

Incompetech - All music is under creative commons, made by one dude.  It’s a LOT of music, & is separated by different genres if you want to search for things. 

iBeats - for when you need looping beats for your music.  Remember, check the license (some are public domain, some are under commercial use under attribution, and most under a non-commercial license).

FreeMusicArchive.org - most works are under the Creative Commons license.  Music & Spoken Word downloads.

Free Loops - Mostly Free Loops & VST Plug ins.  Like so many others, check the license before downloading.

Musopen - Aims to be the largest public domain music collection.  Go ahead and check if the recording itself as well as the composition is in public domain. Most recordings are.  The site offers Classical Music Downloads, as well as Sheet Music. 

Japanese Sites

Vita Chi - Free to use for both commercial & non-commercial projects!  Music, Screams, & Sound Effects.  Mad Father has

PianosDauGe.org - I’m pretty sure it’s free for both commercial and non-commercial use, as long as you don’t redistribute. A bunch of Music Loops.  Check out the private policy (in Japanese) here.

Classical Masterpiece Sound Library - Need free classical music and fast?  Shazam!  Free to use commercially and non-commecially. Alice Mare & The Crooked Man used this site for their classical pieces.

Senses Circuit - Wadanohara & the Great Blue Sea.

Pocket Sound - Free to use Sound Effects! “This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon a work, even commercially, as long as you credit them for the original creation.”

Tami Music Factory -  Free to use commercially & non commercially. Check out the copyright page here.  Sound effects, loops (Midi & Ogg), and… uh, mobile ringtones if you’re in need of those 0w0”.

Amacha Music - According to the FAQ, it’s free for both commercial and non-commecial use.  Music.

H/MIX GALLERY - free background music/loops made by Hirokazu Akiyama.  Free for non commercial use only though, you’ll have to pay for a license if you want to use it commercially. Mad Father, the Crooked Man, The Witch’s House, Alice Mare,

Otonomori - According to Rindere, it’s a free to use sound effects website for commercial and non-commercial uses.

Presence of Music - I’m pretty sure it’s just for non-commecial use only.  Has music for both standard RPGs & Horror RPGs.  Loops, I believe. Ib & the Witch’s House both have music from this site.

*Asterisk* - Free to use Midi files & Web music. Credit is not necessary, but appreciated.  

koukaongen.com - Free to use sound effects, music, & loops. Credit is nice, but you don’t need to link back to them.  I’m pretty sure it’s noncommercial use only.  One of the sites used by the creator of Ib.

Music Material - I’m not too sure what the copyright page says but you can look at it here.  Music.

Dova Syndrome - Check out the copyright page here.  Music & loops. 

A few more found by Rindere - I’m not translating these anymore, you’re on your own. >3< BUT they’re all supposed to be Sound Effects websites.

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Tumblrs

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rabbit-hole-divisions - All their music is free to use.  I haven’t heard from them in a while though!

Yume Nikki Fangame Music Sheet - Just something if you like sheet music & Yume Nikki fan games.

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➤ Browser Music Making Programs

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Make Music in your own browser! (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, etc.)

http://www.pulseboy.com - An 8bit/Chiptune Music Maker!

Bfxr - A sound effects maker!  

as3sfxr - another sound effects maker! A bit simpler than Bfxr.

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➤ Free Plug ins

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Some Chiptune VSTs (the post warns you that you probably shouldn’t the Toad & Peach ones!)