RPG Maker MZ News

RPG Maker MZ is now available for preorder, both on it's own and in two bundle versions!

● RPG Maker MZ - standalone preorder (full price: $79.99)
● RPG Maker MZ Bundle ● RPG Maker MZ Bundle S

Preorder now to take advantage of the following bonuses!

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【Bonus 1】RPG Maker MZ includes the 2 following bonus DLC:

・Character Generator Pack
To extend the RPG Maker MZ Character Generator even MORE, you will receive the Character Generator Pack. A wealth of parts, with a special highlight on children and elderly parts, will help you create even more variations for your heroes, villains, and NPCs!



・MV and MZ Remix Music Pack
Additionally, you will receive the MV and MZ Remix Music Pack, which contains 26 remixes of tracks from the MV and MZ default resources. This pack also contains 4 original tracks, for a total of 30 new songs!



You will also later be able to purchase each of these DLC individually.

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【Bonus 2】FREE RPG Maker MV with each purchase (time limited)

Every preorder RPG Maker MZ comes with a free key to RPG Maker MV, usable right away.

You can either start learning RPG Maker with MV while you wait for the release of MZ, or if you already own MV you can give it away to a friend.

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【Bonus 3】10% discount off of RPG Maker MZ during preorder. And an additional 10% if you already have RPG Maker MV

During the preorder, you can purchase RPG Maker MZ for $71.99.

And for those who already own RPG Maker MV, you get an additional 10% discount! Get MZ for only $63.99.

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Last week, we looked at the generator, and several ways handling plugins will be enhanced. What’s on the table this week? Several things… but at the end of this preview is the most requested piece of information so far: When does it release, and how much will it cost?



Hunting down an Event on a busy map? Well it just got easier. When you switch to the Event Layer, the RPG Maker MZ editor now hides the Tilesets and replaces them with the new Event List:



The Event List does exactly what it says on the tin: It lists all of the Events on your current map. You can use this list to easily find an Event on your map, or just to Double Click it and start editing.



We’ve heard the questions since the tab was mentioned… What was added to require 2 System Tabs? What extra options will I have for my game? So, let’s explore the new System tabs for options we haven’t talked about yet!

[h2]Autosave[/h2]
First up in our New System tab options is the ability to toggle Autosave for your game.



Autosave isn’t right for every game, but it is now a default function of RPG Maker MZ! If you want to use it, leave this option clicked. If you prefer to stay with manual saves only in your game, this is where you would turn it off.

[h2]Title Screen Command Offset[/h2]

So you’ve made a beautiful Title Screen, but you realize that the command window isn’t in the right place. Time to redraw the Title Screen I suppose… but wait. What’s this new opton?



With the Title Screen Command Window Offset, you can now move the window around to fit into that gorgeous title screen art you made.

[h2]Item Categories[/h2]

So in MV, we allowed you to remove parts of the menu you didn’t use. Don’t have Equips, don’t have an equip screen. But the Item menu would still have all the same categories.



Now you can turn off specific Item Categories in your game. Don’t have Armor? Don’t have it in the Menu!

[h2]Advanced Settings[/h2]

And then we have the Advanced Settings, which include a heavily desired default function for RPG Maker: You can now define the resolution of your game without Plugins!



Easily set your resolution to the desired size, then adjust the UI for the perfect fit. Additionally, the advanced settings also define the fonts for your game, and set what fonts to fallback on if they are missing!



MV added mouse support, but the UI never felt like it was optimized for control with a mouse. That changes with MZ.



Every in game menu is now designed for optimal mouse and touchscreen support, with no sacrifice made to Controller functionality. Mouse control no longer feels like an afterthought, but instead, feels like a full option!



But now for the part that everyone has been waiting for: When can I get RPG Maker MZ and what is the price? Well here is your answer:

Release Date: August 20th, 2020
Price: $79.99 (USD)

Last week was exciting, but let's move on to something new! Character Generator, Plugin, and Coding Changes incoming!



The RPG Maker MZ Character Generator, on top of having all new art, has had two major changes to help you create the hero or villain you envision!

[h2]Offset Function![/h2]

First up, we have the brand new Offset Function. Move components up, down, left, or right to fit your vision. Bunch up facial features, adjust the way glasses sit on a character’s nose, move that hat to better accommodate your character’s hair, and more.

Put every piece where you want it.



[h2]Add More Gradients![/h2]

Easily add more gradients to eyes, clothes, accessories, hair, and skin color. You are no longer limited to a certain number of gradients!

Add a new row in the gradient png files, and the Character Generator will pull that new gradient into the Generator as a new option. It’s just that easy.





The Plugin Manager has also seen a few quality of life enhancements.

First up, you can switch plugins off and on from the Plugin List rather than having to go into Edit to switch them off. Not a big change, but one that can save a bit of time.

Additionally, in the Plugin List, we now allow plugin creators to define load orders and requirements in their plugin. The Plugin List will then tell you if you don’t have things set up right!



This change should make adding plugins to your game more error free!

Additionally, the fields in the Plugin Editor have had a few changes, letting plugin creators put in their author name, and a URL, so users can quickly find the author’s site for help, updates, or just more plugins!





Instead of a single box you type a plugin command into, Plugin Creators can now define their Commands to be selectable in the Plugin Command by selecting the Plugin, then selecting a Command Name from a dropdown list!

Additionally, the Plugin Creator can define Arguments for you to send Parameters to the command, making the Plugin Command way more powerful, and way easier to use!



These new changes to the Plugin Manager and the Plugin Event Command will make using Plugins to enhance your next game a breeze!



And speaking of Plugins, let’s talk about CODE! RPG Maker MZ has reworked the code for almost every part of RPG Maker. From the Game Engine, the Player, to the Editor.

• Game Engine code entirely rewritten to follows current JS standards (ES6)
  
• PIXI has been updated to the latest version.
  
• Game Player Framework, Chromium, and nodejs have been updated to latest versions.
  
• Editor has been rewritten for the latest QTEngine for modern hardware.
  

What does this mean for the average user: Everything will run more smoothly and with less hiccups..

What does that mean for plugin creators? Oh, we think they already know. And all the average users will reap the rewards of the extra power at the fingertips of plugin developers.



No more confusing copy paste process when RPG Maker has an update to update your projects! This one is just a Quality of Life upgrade, but a much needed one nonetheless.

When RPG Maker upgrades, all you have to do to upgrade your project is open Game => Update Corescript and boom. You’re done.

Last week, we took a look at the music, animations, and time progress battle system… so what is on the table for this week: Graphics, Mapping changes and Eventing!



[h2]Map Layers Have Returned![/h2]

One of the most requested RPG Maker features makes its return in RPG Maker MZ! The layer system is no longer only automatic! You can switch between manual and automatic layer control through the menu or through a quick keyboard shortcut!



The return of layers means you can now draw underneath existing parts of the tile! Put A tiles on the upper layer, use D tiles as a base. Stack 4 A tiles, or 4 B-E tiles, or any mix in any order!

The control of layers is now in your hands!

In addition, there are a number of minor enhancements to the mapping editor, such as:

• ★ passability tiles now always appear in the editor as they would appear in game.
  
• The map tree drag and drop behavior has been enhanced to make it easier to rearrange your maps.
  

In addition to the map editor enhancements, many, many event commands have gotten tweaks to make them more powerful and easier to use. Let’s dive right in on a few example changes!

• The Show Text command has added a name box field! No longer will a plugin be needed just to ID the character speaking!
  

• Events and the player are now selectable locations for the Get Location Info command! Easily determine the Terrain Tag or Region ID of the tile the character or an event is standing on.
  
• Wait for Completion checkbox added to the Scroll Map command
  
• Basic Tweening/Easing Options are now added to Move Picture Command. Available settings include Constant Speed, Slow Start, Slow End and Slow Start and End settings
  
• The Button selection for the Conditional Branch command has now added Pressed (activates and continues as long as held), Triggered (activates and does not repeat when held down), and Repeated (activates and continues as long as held, longer delay between repeat) options.
  
• And many more!
  

[h2]Preview Move Route![/h2]

A more substantial change to the Event Editor is the Preview Move Route option! More easily see how your event will move with a press of a button!



You can easily click on another spot on the preview to set the start point of the move route, for use with moving targets other than the event originating the command. This move route preview is available in both the Set Movement Route command and the Autonomous Movement custom route!





RPG Maker MZ features the largest collection of default materials in series history! With a massive collection of graphics and music to work with, you can jump right into making your game.

On top of all the types of materials you are familiar with, RPG Maker MZ also adds Busts and Full Character Arts for all 120 characters that have face graphics!

And now that MZ supports .ogg files no matter how the project is deployed, you will no longer have to bloat your project folder with both .ogg and .m4a files!

• Graphics
  
• Animations: 120
  
• Battle Background 1: 51
  
• Battle Background 2: 50
  
• Character Sprites Sheets: 44
  
• Character SV Battlers: 40
  

• Face Graphic Sheets: 15
  
• Character Busts: 120
  
• Character Full Art: 120
  

• Enemy Battlers: 105
  
• Enemy SV Battlers: 105
  

• Tileset Sheets: 31
  
• Parallaxes: 21
  

• Title Screens: 20
  
• Weapons: 25
  
• States: 10
  
• Icon: 273
  
• Button Set: 2
  
• Balloon: 10
  

• 48 BGM
  
• 29 BGS
  
• 27 ME
  
• 345 SE
  

RPG Maker MZ is coming this Summer to Steam, and we know you've all been waiting for some real info on RPG Maker MZ. It is time. Let the RPG Maker MZ Preview series begin!


We know that everyone wants to get a good look at the new resources available in RPG Maker MZ. Well, we can’t give you a good LOOK quite yet, but you can have a good LISTEN to a sample of the fantastic new music included with the maker. Check out our preview video below!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

RPG Maker MZ is adding two new options to the standard RPG Maker battle system. Now not only will you be able to switch between Front and Sideview, as you could in previous RPG Makers, but now, you’ll be able to switch between Turn Based, Time Progress (Active) and Time Progress (Wait). What does that mean?

It means you are no longer tied to a rigid turn based system! Every actor and enemy acts at their own speed. For a better look, check out our first RPG Maker MZ Skit video below! (and be on the lookout for some more teased features while you are there…)

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

The animations editor in RPG Maker always worked, but let’s be honest, it was a bit dated. Having to use clunky spritesheets for battle animations, especially with the limitations on the sprite sizes making it difficult to make great looking large effects, was just not very fun, or very versatile.

But that all changes with RPG Maker MZ.



Instead of using sprite sheets, we’re now moving to natively being able to import particle animations! Create your own effects in the powerful and free open source Particle Effect Creation Tool Effekseer…



...and then take the *.efkefc file created and import it right into your RPG Maker MZ project.

From there you can change the angles, size, and speed of the animation with a few easy clicks in the Database. Layer in the sound effects and any screen or enemy flashes to add that extra little bit of spice, and your animation is done!



This new method brings animations to a whole new level. Never before have RPG Maker animations had this much potential and power. How will this evolve your projects?

This week, we’ve debuted the new built in battle systems, the new animations editor, and gave you a preview of the new music. What new treasures await next week? Tune in in 7 days, same time, same place to find out.

Note: Frame Rate, resolution, and color quality of Animations lowered in creating gifs.