Question: Is RPG Maker good for creating games?

Answer

RPG Maker is a series of game development engines designed primarily for those who want to create role-playing games (RPGs) without extensive programming knowledge. It's a great tool for beginners and hobbyists due to its user-friendly interface and the simplicity of its scripting language, RGSS (Ruby Game Scripting System), which is based on Ruby for RPG Maker XP and later versions.

Pros:

• Accessibility: With a straightforward UI, RPG Maker allows anyone to start developing games quickly.
• Community: There's a strong community that creates and shares resources like sprites, music, scripts, and more.
• Customization: Despite being tailored for JRPG-style games, it's versatile enough to make other types of games with the right scripting.
• Built-in Tools: Comes with a map editor, character generator, and database for managing game assets, which simplifies the game creation process.

Cons:

• Limitations: While RPG Maker is flexible, it has limitations in terms of performance and complexity compared to more advanced engines.
• Platform Support: Earlier versions are limited in terms of export options, but newer ones have improved, offering exports to Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web browsers.

Example Use Case:

Creating a simple event-driven interaction:

# This example adds an event where talking to an NPC gives you an item.
class Game_Interpreter
  # Assume item_id is the database ID of the item to give.
  def give_item(item_id)
    $game_party.gain_item($data_items[item_id], 1)
    return true
  end
end

# You would call this inside an event page in RPG Maker using a Script call:
give_item(1) # Replace '1' with the actual ID of your item.

In summary, RPG Maker is good for those new to game development or looking to create 2D RPGs specifically. It has a learning curve gentle enough for beginners, yet possesses enough depth to create complete and engaging games. However, if you're aiming for high-end graphics, complex mechanics, or extensive cross-platform support, you might consider more robust engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine.