HARMONIC'S PROFILE

author=Seeric
I think it could be a good idea to allow commercial games as it would help both RMN and the game gain a bit of publicity and could help at least slightly remove the massive stigma against games made in RPG Maker (and other engines which don't necessarily rely upon 'real code'). However, I do think some restrictions should be in place, such as:
Minimum Makerscore:
This is a big one which I think should really be included. Simply put, if a person wants to add a purchasable game/games to RMN, they need to have first accumulated a minimum Makerscore, probably something like 500 or 1000, which is relatively low, but which still requires a degree of effort to achieve. This way, it shows that they have been in at least some way an active member of the community and don't plan to just use RMN as a form of 'free advertising' for their game and move on. Without this or a similar restriction, I have to imagine that quite a few people would simply cobble together terrible zero-effort games, slap a price tag on them, and then upload them here, which would both hurt the site and further damage the overall general viewpoint of RPG Maker games.

I disagree with minimum makerscore. Poor Soli (and whoever else has to deal with peoples' ways of getting makerscore) should not be expected to discern the validity of the inevitable attempts to deliberately pad makerscores to the bare minimum. It's just not prudent.

Overall, I think RMN just needs to learn to trust people, and their opinions. Trust that the people who deserve to share their project on here will put forth the time and effort to do it right - trust that if someone doesn't do it right, that they'll be at best ignored, or at worst, e-lynched.

I've been pretty much non-existent on RMN for a while so I hope my opinion still matters. But as someone with 3 commercial games, here's my 2 cents.

I vote yes, but with some real caveats.

It is very important that RMN maintain its character. It should not become a dumping ground for every tom dick and larry's demo. It should still be a site dedicated to the "labor of love" side of making games. I used to think it would be possible to pull this off by having certain standards, but realistically, it is too time-consuming and arbitrary to discriminate against commercial games for being too hacky, too RTP, too whatever. It also reeks of nepotism. The better way to go is to have a strict submission guideline.

Basically, submissions would have to act like they're not commercial games. They can be labelled as such on the game page, but the author of the game cannot simply use the game page as a cheap advertisement. Make a game page, but focus on the game's features, development cycle, what's unique about it, express how much you loved working on the project, post screenshots, concept art, etc. Come at it from the standpoint of an artist, not a sleazy "BUY MY GAM" guy.

Regarding Dyhalto's post, I disagree with a few things.

Paywall: RMN's attitude regarding commercial games is inherently disapproving from the get-go. Yes, you are right in that many paywall games have no reason to have paywalls. Trust me, that infuriates me, as someone who invests respectable resources, money, expertise, and time into making a unique product that has a reason to exist. However, again, it is too arbitrary to simply dump on paywall games because of the bad apples, and it is also too subjective in terms of determining what constitutes a game that deserves to be commercial, and what doesn't. Sales usually determine that - money speaks louder than anything.

This is just a phase?: Indie games trying to cash in will never go away. The demand for indie games may fluctuate with fads and trends, yes. However, RMN's userbase is quite small, and no one in their right mind should (and hopefully, will) put their eggs in this basket. I did not work for less than a dollar an hour. I made good money. Others do too. However, I also hired a video game marketing specialist, partnered up with Oberon, Big Fish Games, Amaranth, Aldorlea, etc, etc. You can't just tell people you made a game, dump it on places, and hope. Commercial success can be done, but certainly not by relying on any sales from RMN, which won't, and really shouldn't, be at all significant. The same goes for the RPGMaker community as a whole. I'd would, however, like for my commercial games to enjoy the same "labor of love" exposure as my non-commercial games do. (It should be noted that crappy commercial games DO NOT do well. Don't worry, the market is powerful and does a much better job of exposing the truth than any rules or arbitration.)

author=ankylo
pointless drivel

It is going to take far too much effort to get you up to speed with the rest of us. Sorry, I'm only responsible for what I say, not what you understand. You're just... so... so hopelessly off target here. Just... give up?

Hey Dem Squad: You are failing to realize how automatic and knee-jerk (and thus meaningless) your oppositions are to everything I think and say, (as well as half the country) and also how much you disagree with each other. But if you really think it takes all of you combined to take me on alone, that you have to twist each other's words in a positive light, ignore your own shortcomings, fail to call out your teammates' hypocrisy, (for instance, Ankylo directing his utterly useless comments to me when it was actually Dyhalto who said "done nothing") direct 100% of your comments only to me, and *still* you've come up with so very little, I am flattered.

Okay Ankylo, I'm going to help you out here, champ. I never said, simply, "done nothing." I said he's "done nothing to mend racial tensions" or I may have said "done nothing to help the economy" but I never said he's "done nothing." Others in this thread (on YOUR team) have actually said "done nothing" with no specification. This is WATERTIGHT proof that it doesn't matter what is said, only who says it. This is why our congress can't "compromise" and "reach across the isle." Because they're the leaders we the people elect, and they act, unfortunately, just like the rest of us. Partisanship >>>> reality.

This thread is overstaying its welcome. Latecomers have no context, but still want a shot at me, and thus say something moronic and pointless, like Ankylo.

author=Jude
If they appeared to be joking, then yes. I don't know why you are expecting something different. Actually, I do know why.

It appears we'll never come to an agreement over whether or not that lady was "joking." (Even though she obviously wasn't.)

What exactly do you mean by "joking"? Does that mean everything she says is stricken from the record? Does that mean the feelings and beliefs that inspired her to come up with that "joke" are also totally fake?

author=Jude

author=harmonic
"Just kidding" has never been a valid excuse for bigotry.

Yeah it is. Some of my favorite comedians do it all of the time.

But she wasn't "just kidding." You're only saying that for damage control reasons. If you really think there wasn't any genuineness behind her statement, you are utterly delusional. Do you really think she'd say something THAT specific and on-topic, and have it be completely fecetious? :P

I am trying to help you realize your own double-standards. And it is a hopeless battle. Your brain is completely closed off to the idea that Democrats can do wrong.