Humble Weekly: RPG Maker Extravaganza!

It’s Thursday again, so you know what that means: a new Humble Weekly Bundle. This week the core package is RPG Maker VX Ace, a tool which can be used to make [Drumroll…] your own RPGs. Surprise! I always had dreams of being a game designer as a youth, and while I never did much with the idea I do know there are plenty of budding designers still out there. Hopefully some of you can make use of this package to get your start.

The collection of games have all been created with RPG Maker (some with VX Ace, some with earlier versions), and while you can buy some of the games, others are available free so there’s nothing special here other than providing you with a different means to download the games. There are three tiers for this bundle: “pay what you want” ($1 minimum for Steam codes), $6 or more, and $12 or more. Here’s the list of games/tools, grouped by pricing tiers:

Pay What You Want ($1)

• RPG Maker VX Ace (~75%, 03/2012): not a game as such but a tool that can be used to create games. The graphics created won’t be cutting edge, but you can still have a lot of fun regardless.
• RPM Maker DLC Bundle #1 (N/A, 2012): more assets – tiles, music, sound effects – to use in the games you create. Includes Royal Tiles Resource Pack, Adventurer's Journey (music), Tyler Warren's First 50 Battler Pack (50 monsters), and Modern Day Music Mini Pack.
• Skyborn (N/A, 03/2012): only two reviews have been submitted, but both liked this JRPG-style game.
• Sweet Lily Dreams (N/A, 12/2011): created with an earlier version of RPG Maker (I think?)
• RPG Maker Free Games Bundle #1 (N/A): includes four games – In Search of Immortality, Legionwood: The Tale of Two Swords, Star Stealing Prince, and The Reconstruction. These games are all free downloads so basically this is a collection of “best of” games built with RPG Maker.

$6 or Higher Donation

• RPG Maker XP (N/A, 09/2005): an earlier version of the RPG Maker software. Why do you need this if you have VX Ace? Don't ask me!
• RPG Maker - Exclusive Resource Pack (N/A, 05/2014): exclusive content just for the Humble Bundle – 21 new songs as well as reworked RTP town tilesets.
• RPG Maker DLC Bundle #2 (N/A, 2013): more DLC packs for content creators – includes High Fantasy Resource Pack 1, High Fantasy Main Party Pack 1, Futuristic Tiles Resource Pack, Inspirational Music Pack Volume 1, Tyler Warren's Second 50 Battler Pack, and the Humble-exclusive Steampunk/Western Preview (for an upcoming DLC).
• To The Moon (81%, 09/2012): fulfill a dying man’s last wish as you travel through his memories.
• Deadly Sin 2 (N/A, 05/2014): from the same team that created Skyborn (Dancing Dragon Games), this 20-30 hour epic has you trying to save the Empire. Note that this is not a direct sequel to Deadly Sin and can be played on its own.
• RPG Maker Free Games Bundle #2 (N/A): as above, there are four games here that are available elsewhere for free, specifically Homework Salesman, I Miss the Sunrise, Aetherion, and Visions and Voices.

$12 or Higher Donation

• Game Character Hub (N/A, 05/2014): a software package to help you manage and edit 2D art assets.
• RPG Maker DLC Bundle #3 (N/A, 2014): four more DLC packs with two Humble exclusives – Zombie Survival Graphic Pack, Rural Farm Tiles Resource Pack, Joel Steudler's All Music Sampler (mix of tracks from his RPG Maker releases), and Best of Member+ Resource Sampler (a Humble exclusive providing a collection of resources normally only available through the Member+ program).
• Legionwood 2: Rise of the Eternal's Realm (N/A, 05/2014): a brand new release and the sequel to the earlier free game.

This is clearly a bundle targeting wannabe game developers/designers more than RPG fans. Not even counting the games, the cost of purchasing all of the software and DLC packs in this bundle normally comes to around $300 (note that Steam currently has a sale on most of the RPG Maker assets), though I’m not sure if there's much point to owning and using RPG Maker XP when you have the newer VX Acer version. However, it’s not the tools so much as what you can do with them that matters, and I suspect despite claims to the contrary, you’ll need to spend a decent amount of time with the tools before you can create anything really noteworthy.

You can even create commercial games using the various tools, though I’m not sure how viable it is to sell such games unless you invest a lot of time and effort into creating your own assets – otherwise, it’s just new stories with the same graphics and music that numerous other RPG Maker games have used. Another complaint I have with the created games is that the support for different resolutions appears limited (or perhaps non-existent), so many of the games look like they're 1024x768 affairs.

If I were 25 years younger I’d probably be a lot more interested in trying my hand at RPG Maker, but as a grumpy old man I’m more content to see what others have created. To that end, if you’re just looking for free RPGs, you could skip this bundle and instead check out all of the free content on RPGMaker.net. The quality of user-created content will vary greatly, naturally, and the best games will likely end up turning into commercial products I suspect. Even if you just want games, though, at $12 for the entire bundle you still pick up more than $50 worth of games (i.e. not counting the free games), so that’s not bad. Now if I just had about 500 hours to spend playing nothing but classic-style RPGs, I’d be set!

On a similar note, if you’re looking for tools to create your own games, Bundle Stars has a similar deal running for Axis Game Factory Premium for $9.99 with ~13 days remaining.

The Real Humble Bundle Returns: PC and Android 10

I’ll be honest: I’m really glad the “14 days of bundles” is over, as what started as something potentially interesting eventually became a series of mediocre bundles. I did buy a few of them, I haven’t played most of the games, and I don’t know if the net result was better (in terms of donations) than the regular Humble Bundles; I just know I got tired of daily changes. So, I’m happy to see a “return to their roots” bundle for the next two weeks, consisting of eight games right now, with additional titles coming next Tuesday.

The list this time is interesting in that all of the games are for both PCs and Android devices; what’s more, all of the games are (or at least will be) available in DRM-free versions for Linux, OS X, and Windows, and Steam versions are available for most of the games for Linux and OS X as well. The price has also returned to the usual “pay what you want” ($1 or more for Steam codes) and “beat the average” to unlock additional games. Here’s the list, starting with the standard bundle followed by the unlockable games, and since the games can be a very different experience on PCs as opposed to tablets, I’ll refer to both review scores for each game.

• Draw a Stickman: EPIC (~80% PC, 12/2013; ~83% tablet, 11/2012): a drawing game where you create your character, equipment, and other objects as you guide him through the game world.
• Galcon Fusion (68% PC, 02/2010; ~75% tablet, 03/2010): a multiplayer arcade/strategy game involving hordes of ships and planetary battles.
• Galcon Legends (N/A PC, 01/2014; 73% tablet, 02/2014): an update to the above game with some new content.
• Symphony (75% PC, 08/2012; N/A tablet): a rhythm/music game with Space Invaders gameplay; can use your own MP3 files.
• Skulls of the Shogun (72% PC, 07/2013; 93% tablet, 11/2013): a turn-based strategy game with a sense of humor, where you play as a samurai in the afterlife; beat the average donation to unlock.
• Metal Slug 3 (~66% PC, 02/2014; 76% tablet, 07/2012): a port of the classic Neo Geo arcade sidescroller; beat the average donation to unlock.
• Fieldrunners 2 (73% PC, 01/2013; 88% tablet, 07/2012): a classic tower defense game; beat the average donation to unlock.
• Breach and Clear (~60% PC, 03/2014; 66% tablet, 07/2013): a tactical strategy game where you control a group of special operatives taking down the proverbial bad guys; beat the average donation to unlock.

One interesting thing to note is that the tablet versions (iOS is linked above, though I assume the Android versions are essentially the same) scored universally higher than the PC versions of the games. I don’t know if that’s a case of PC reviewers being more demanding and/or tablet reviewers being easier to please, or if the games are simply more enjoyable on mobile devices. The good news is that you get both PC and Android versions of all of the games, and you only have to pay for them once. The cost of most of these games is around $10, maybe a bit more, so beating the average price ($4.83) for eight games – plus any that get added to the bundle next Tuesday – is certainly a good deal. And as always, you can donate everything to charity (EFF or Child’s Play) if you so choose.

Humble 14 of 14: This Totally Means War!

If you have a love for strategy games, the final bundle in Humble Bundle’s two weeks of daily bundles will be right up your alley. It’s a potentially great deal if you happen to want – and don’t already own – the various games from the Total War franchise. Or if you already own all of the Total War games you want, you can always just donate any amount to receive a collection of artwork from Napoleon: Total War. That’s the only part of the bundle that doesn’t have a minimum price, so I suppose you could always donate $0.01 and get the art, but what else is available? Here’s the rundown of the bundle tiers:

• Napoleon: Total War (81%, 02/2010): take command of Napoleon’s armies as you fight through three campaigns: Italy, Egypt and Mastery of Europe. You need to beat the average price to unlock this (it started at under $8, and about 45 minutes after launching the average is already $13.76 and rising fast!), so probably look at the next tier instead.
• Napoleon: Total War Collection (N/A, 2010-2012): includes the above along with four pieces of DLC content: Heroes of the Napoleonic Wars, Imperial Eagle Pack, Coalition Battle Pack, and Peninsular Campaign. There are a couple new campaigns along with more than a dozen new units. Minimum donation of $7 required.
• Total War: Master Collection (N/A, 2004-2012): It’s not clear if you receive the above Napoleon collection on this tier, but it does include seven additional games from the series, specifically (and in order of release date): Rome: Total War (92%, 2004), Medieval II: Total War (88%, 2006), Empire: Total War (90%, 2010), Napoleon: Total War (81%, 02/2010), Total War: Shogun 2 (90%, 2011) and the standalone expansion Fall of the Samurai (86%, 2012), Viking: Battle of Asgard (65%, 2012), and last (and perhaps least) Total War Battles: Shogun (59%, 2012), a mobile variant of Total War ported to the PC. Minimum donation of $25 required.
• Total War: Grand Master Collection (N/A, 2004-2013): Includes the games from the Master Collection plus 20 additional DLC packs. The 20 DLC packs aren’t specifically listed on Humble, but they consist of Empire: Special Forces Units & Bonus Content, Empire: Elite Units of the West, Empire: The Warpath Campaign, Empire: Elite Units of America, Empire: Elite Units of the East, Napoleon: Heroes of the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon: Coalition Battle Pack, Napoleon: Imperial Eagle Pack, Napoleon: The Peninsular Campaign, Shogun 2: The Ikko Ikki Clan Pack, Shogun 2: Sengoku Jidai Unit Pack, Shogun 2: Rise of the Samurai Campaign, Shogun 2: The Hattori Clan Pack, Shogun 2: Dragon War Battle Pack, Shogun 2: Saints and Heroes Unit Pack, Shogun 2: Otomo Clan Pack, Fall of the Samurai: The Saga Faction Pack, Fall of the Samurai: The Obama Faction Pack (no relation to the POTUS), Fall of the Samurai: The Tsu Faction Pack, and Fall of the Samurai: The Sendai Faction Pack. Minimum donation for this tier is $45.

Note that the minimum price/donation of $7 for the Napoleon: Total War Collection is actually less than the current average donation, so if you only want that game you’re better off paying $7 rather than trying to beat the average, as the current average donation is quite high. Of course, the reason the average is so high is that the $25 and $45 tiers are quite enticing.

If you’ve somehow missed playing any/all of the Total War games, they are highly regarded as interesting and complex strategy games. They combine strategic elements (on maps somewhat similar to Risk) with real-time battles featuring hundreds of units. While they are real-time strategy games, the style of combat is far less click-heavy than games like StarCraft; these are far more cerebral RTS games, and you send commands to groups of units rather than individuals. The storylines are also compelling, with a great deal of historical content peppered throughout each campaign.

Humble states that the total price for all of the above comes out to $299, though Steam already offers the Total War Master Collection and Total War Grand Master Collection, but at $90 and $165 they’re both far more expensive than the cost of this bundle. Either way, you could probably spend the better part of the next year (or more!) trying to beat all of the campaigns that you get with the $45 tier. The question then is how much free time you have, and whether you have any other obligations that might cause problems. If you happen to start playing any of these games, there’s a good chance you could end up with a very upset significant other.

Humble Daily 13 of 14: Sunday Edition

Things are winding down, and with yesterday's less-than-compelling (for me anyway) Eve Online bundle (I skipped blogging about it, that's how unimpressed I was!) I had hoped we'd see something with a bit more teeth today. Well, guns, zombies, and orcs have teeth of a sort, right? Here's the short list of the three games in the latest daily bundle:

• Guncraft (73%, 07/2013): this is an FPS game with typical multiplayer game modes – CTF, Deathmatch, Survival, Siege – built with graphics similar to that of Minecraft. It’s not just “Minecraft with guns”…though that’s probably close enough. $1 or higher donation required.
• Ravaged: Zombie Apocalypse (~25%, 08/2013): the original Zombie Apocalypse was a top-down arcade style homage to the Left 4 Dead series that became repetitive rather fast; Ravaged was a post-apocalyptic vehicle/FPS game. Combine the two (maybe?) and you get this game, which has more in line with the Ravage game than the Zombie Apocalypse; what few user reviews I could find have not been at all favorable, unfortunately. Beat the average (currently $2.42) to unlock.
• Orc Attack: Flatulent Rebellion (~50%, 05/2014): a brand new game with very few reviews at present, you can be one of the first to own and review this apparent stinker. Fight off the polluting humans with lots of hot air, I guess. Pay $9 or more to unlock.

Guncraft looks to be the best offering here, and with a normal price of $14.99 it’s certainly worth picking up for a buck. $2.50 to unlock Ravaged (normally $14.99 as well) will likely end up being an extra $1.50 donation for a game you don’t play, but I’ve done worse things. As for the orcs (or orks if you prefer) and their intestinal issues, perhaps it will prove humorous to some of you, but I’m going to have to pass gas on that one. (*Cough*, excuse me!) With only one more bundle remaining, I’m hoping Humble ends this two week stint on a high note. (Erm…sorry, again.)

Humble Daily 11 of 14: Dungeon Crawling RPGs

We’re nearing the end of the two weeks of daily Humble Bundles; so far we’ve had a couple bundles that were repeats, with most of the bundles being smaller bundles of indie games. Today’s update consists of three RPGs, two that are a bit more in-depth and one that’s a shorter rogue-like game that can be played in approximate 10-minute intervals. Here’s the quick summary:

• Paper Sorcerer (74%, 11/2013): a first-person turn-based RPG similar to the old Wizardry and Might and Magic games, this is a true retro RPG that began life as a Kickstarter. The graphics are black-and-white (think pages in a book), which is part of the story line. If you like old-school RPGs, there’s plenty of that here.
• Legend of Grimock (82%, 04/2012): similar in many ways to Paper Sorcerer in that this is another old-school RPG in the vein of Might and Magic, with death being an early companion – so save often! Graphics are nice, putting the Unreal Engine to good effect. Donations that beat the current average ($3.57) will unlock this game.
• Desktop Dungeons (82%, 10/2010, 11/2013): the final game is a rogue-like puzzle game of dungeon crawling, with each session giving you a dungeon to explore. In some ways it seems similar to Paper Dungeons, but there are plenty of differences. The game initially launched as a free game way back in 2010, but it has since been updated in a variety of ways and is now a fancier – and pricier – game. A minimum donation of $10 is required to unlock.

As a long-time RPG player (yes, I actually played the original Wizardry and Might and Magic games), this bundle is more my style than some of the other bundles, so this is one I’m planning to buy. All of the games have received decent reviews, and while the total bundle value is “only” around $35, that’s still one third the price for three games I’d like to play. If you have a similar hankering for classic RPGs, there are far worse ways you could spend $10. And I’m sorry if this is a bit late, but there are still 14 hours remaining; happy dungeoneering!

Humble Daily 10 of 14 and a Humble Weekly

We’re getting a few more games for day number 10, though still nowhere near the 8+ games we’ve seen in some bundles. Today also sees a return (or continuance) of indie games, including one set of games that are trying to get the green light on Steam. Here’s the quick rundown of the games:

• Soulcaster I and II (N/A, 02/2012): the first two games are a hybrid tower defense gameplay with a dash of Gauntlet-style action, with a smattering of RPG elements for good measure. First seen in early 2012 and later in a couple of bundles, it’s a bit odd that they’re still not listed on Metacritic. Any donation will get you the pair of games. Other than the soundtracks to these games, all of the other offerings in this bundle require a higher donation.
• Escape Goat 2 (76%, 03/2014): the sequel to the mostly unreviewed Escape Goat, this is a puzzle/platformer game that puts you in charge of a goat; donate $6 or more to unlock.
• Incredipede (74%, 10/2012): this puzzle game involves the creation of an “incredipede” by adding legs, muscles, and other body parts to your creature to progress through the levels; pay more than the average ($6.17 right now) to unlock.
• Ironclad Tactics (69%, 09/2013): a strategy/tactical game involving cards set in a steampunk alternate history of the Civil War period; donate $10 or more to unlock.

The combined price for all five games in the bundle comes to $43, so if you want any/all of the games it’s a decent offering, but I have to admit that the new “$10 or higher” tiers of late have been disappointing to me. Those who have been inclined to donate more have always had that option, but now you’re basically required to “give”. I also prefer to get more than three or four games, simply because my experience is that only half (or less) of them are really worth my time. Hopefully we’ll see a return to “normal” bundles in the future, as the daily updates are too frequent, and often not all that interesting. Thankfully, the weekly bundles have at least had a bit more to offer, and the latest includes up to seven games, courtesy of Triumph and Larian:

• Age of Wonders (~88%, 10/1999): an “oldie but goodie” turn-based strategy game with heroes, similar in some ways to the Heroes of Might and Magic series.
• Age of Wonders II: The Wizard’s Throne (86%, 06/2002): in many ways a rehash of the first game, so the main draw here is a new story; $6 donation to unlock.
• Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic (82%, 07/2003): similar to the earlier entries in the series, but with the new Shadow World, new races, and a new story.
• Divine Divinity (81%, 09/2002): a now classic RPG game with a bit more depth than Diablo; don’t let the name fool you as it’s actually pretty good (if old).
• Beyond Divinity (73%, 04/2004): an epic (80+ hours) RPG that adds new gameplay elements and a somewhat humorous story to the Divinity world – and it fixes the name problem.
• Divinity II: Developer’s Cut (~82%, 10/2012): this retooled and remastered version of Divinity II (now in 3D!) includes the original Ego Draconis, Flames of Vengeance, and the Dragon Knight Saga; you also get access to the developer console, hence the name. Requires $6 or higher donation.
• Divinity: Dragon Commander (76%, 08/2013): the series continues, but the final part of this bundle is a 3D hybrid game with RPG, RTS, and other battle aspects. A $15 or higher donation unlocks this game.

As you can probably guess, I’d be much more inclined to buy the new Humble Weekly, as it gives you more games – and arguably better games – than the current daily bundle, though the $15 tier for Dragon Commander is a bit much. I’ve already played and owned many of the games in this bundle, and I’m still tempted to grab them again – only this time on Steam so that I can consolidate them into my gaming library without having to try and find the old discs. Maybe if we’re lucky the final few days of bundles will be a bit more enticing.

Humble #9: Aerial Maneuvers

Rolling on to day number nine in the two weeks of daily bundles, today there are three more games available for your donation, all with a focus on aerial combat. If you’re looking for a great value on a bunch of games, this is another bundle that’s going to disappoint, but purchased separately right now off of Steam the total cost for all three games would be around $26, so you’re still able to get three games at less than half price. You can also give everything to charity, which is always a nice draw. As with other recent offerings, there’s one core game for the bundle, a second unlocks if you beat the average, while the third requires at least a $10 donation. Here’s the short list of the three games:

• Race the Sun (79%, 08/2013): pilot your solar powered craft through a maze-like minimalist landscape and try not to crash or get caught in the shadows, competing against others on the daily leader boards; donate $1 or more
• Guns of Icarus Online (64%, 11/2012): a Kickstarter project involving online PvP gameplay with steampunk airships; pay more than the current average ($3.41) to unlock
• Strike Vector (73%, 01/2014): a multiplayer third-person aerial shooter, sort of like Unreal Tournament in the skies; $10 or higher donation required to unlock

Graphically, the games aren’t state-of-the-art, but they’re all 3D and the two unlockable games will push your hardware at least a little bit. That may or may not be a good thing – one of the aspects I like most with a lot of indie games is that most run great even with laptop iGPUs, so if you’re on the road and didn’t pack along a gaming notebook, you can still do more than play Facebook games and the like. If you're looking for lighter gaming options, Indie Royale has also posted their latest Mixer #4 Bundle that has eight games currently (with a ninth to be named later), for a current minimum price of $4.70.

Humble Day 7 of 14 Plus Gaming Bundle Roundup

Three games are currently up for grabs with the daily update from Humble Bundle, and the emphasis this time is on fighting games. Unfortunately, finding reputable reviews for the three games is a bit difficult, so mostly you’re on your own with this bundle. The three games are:

• Guilty Gear Isuka (N/A, 01/2014): a 2D 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 fighting game with new characters and arenas compared to previous Guilty Gear releases
• Vanguard Princess (N/A, 10/2012): a manga-themed 2D fighting game with a female cast; beat the current average of $4.99 to unlock
• Blade Symphony (~50%, 05/2014): a 3d tactical sword fighting game with 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 battles; donate $10 or more to unlock

I’m not a fan of fighting games, so I’ll admit to passing on this one. Ratings for the games are also hard to come by – and in some cases rather poor – so I can’t personally find a reason to donate $10 for $30 worth of mediocre games, but others might find more to like. Considering my lack of interest in this bundle, I wanted to quickly list a few other games/bundles that might be more worthwhile.

First, the Humble Weekly has eight platforming games up for grabs for $10. Any donation gets you Shank 2, Blocks that Matter, and Bit.Trip Runner; $6 or more adds Bit.Trip Runner 2, Megabyte Punch, and Fly’n; $10 or more adds King Arthur’s Gold and Mark of the Ninja: Special Edition. IndieGala has several bundles up right now, including the latest Monday bundle that has Vanguard Princess, 99 Spirits, Human Tanks I, Ether Vapor Remaster, Duplicity, Heileen, Bionic Heart, and Eve Burst Error for just $1 right now – the Tiny Mix, Friday Special, and Last Dream bundles are also available, though I won’t detail the games here (note that the Last Dream and Friday Special bundles only have a few hours remaining). IndieRoyale has their $2.49 bundle consisting of Toxic Bunny HD, The Howler, Data Hacker: Initiation, Memories of a Vagabond, Age of Conquest III, One Day for Ched, and Radical Heroes: Crimson City Crisis running for a couple more days. Finally, BundleStars has their usual assortment of offerings available, which all run for several weeks; the Intense Bundle, Turbo Bundle, and Wild Bundle are currently running.

If that’s not enough, Humble has a two-day sale going in their store on a bunch of games, which includes some pretty big names (e.g. Batman: Arkham City is available for $8.99, which is a much better fighting game than the current bundle IMO, and several other AAA titles are also listed along with a bunch of indie games). Hopefully everyone can find something – or somethings – to like in that list, as there are definitely some good offerings.