Rpg Maker Developers Group

The purpose of this tutorial is to help demonstrate how RMXP (and probably other version) game developers can create button prompts without interrupting their games. 


Required tools:

• RPG Maker XP
  
• Photoshop, GIMP 2 (which is free), paint.net (which is free), or similar program that can handle transparency (not default paint)
  
• Button graphic (I am using the ones from here)
  
• Prompt graphic (see attachment for free copy, courtesy of me)
  

Part 1: Photo manipulation


This part will be the hardest as you will need to decide how you want to layer the button.  I will write the instructions with GIMP 2 in mind as that is what I have.


1. Download the image displayed here (I created it; free to use for whatever)


Protected download


2. Right click the downloaded file, and click "Edit in GIMP"


3. Find the button you want to be displayed, and download it.


4. Right click the button file, and click "Edit in GIMP"


5. Select the window containing the button.


6. Click the rectangle select tool in the toolbox - tool options.


 


7. Press cntrl+a (hold the control button and press the "A" button).


8. Press cntrl+c (hold the control button and press the "C" button).


9. Navigate to the player control GIMP project.


10. Left-click within the player control image.


11. Press cntrl+v (hold the control button and press the "V" button).


12. Left click the pasted image and hold to be able to drag it around.


13. Click the text tool in the toolbox - tools option.





14. Click on the black area to type your prompt.


15. When you are done, go to "File" then "Export as..."





16. Name your image whatever you want, but keep it a .png for the transparency.


Congratulations: You should have something similar to this:







Part 2: Importing into RPG Maker


For those familiar with importing, feel free to skip to part 3.  Everyone else, this will show how to import assets into RPG Maker for your use!


1. Open your RPG Maker game.


2. Select the "Materials" manager.





3. Select "Pictures", then "Import..."





4. Find your image, and select it.




Part 3: Showing the image


We will remain in our RPG Maker project for this last part.


1. Open the Database Manager.





2. Go to "Common Events"


3. Set a common event to call an image when a switch is active (I have a more complex version, below), then erase and set the switch off.





4. Create an event in the map to activate the switch.





That is the basic version of it! You can get more creative with the script call to try and fade the image in and out, or any number of other tricks!





I hope this helps others! If you see any issues or questions for clarification, please let me know!




Resources used:


Keyboard, Mouse, controller and keys graphics
Artist: Nicolae Berbece


galaxy_zpsf3190150 (Futuristic Tiles)
Artist: Celianna
"[Copyright](C) 2012 ENTERBRAIN, INC; artist Celianna"


globe_save_point_by_nicnubill-d8ayt41
Artist: Nicnubill


King's Gambit (font)
Copyright (C) 1999 by Matthew Welch
www.squaregear.net


(I have both RPG Maker XP and VX Ace, for compliance with Copyright terms)