BYOND
http://www.byond.com/
Build Your Own Net Dream. Such a statement can be thought of as ambiguous, ambitious, even arrogant. And it is our intention for it to be all of these, and more. BYOND is a system designed to take the Internet to the next level, byond the static interaction of the web, byond the uninspiring practicality of email. In a nutshell, it is a state-of-the-art platform for forging, publishing, and playing multi-user, multi-media, networked games. Some of the biggest freelance hits of tomorrow are being developed and tested right now in the growing reaches of BYOND space.
Coldstone
http://www.beenox.com/tool_coldstone.html
Coldstone is a dream factory for games. If you can imagine it, Coldstone can help you bring it to life. Creating a professional-quality game has never been easier; from in-depth role playing games to a shoot out in the Wild, Wild West to interactive educational titles, Coldstone takes care of the technical details for you, freeing you to design your dream. Imagine a set of powerful yet easy to use tools for constructing your very own stand-alone game... no rules... a completely blank sheet of paper on which to pen your masterpiece, your imagination is the only limit on what you can create.
Although it's commercial, this is definitely one to check out.
CD Games
http://www.dcgames.com/
The DC Games tool kit can be used to create graphical computer games without having to write any code. At the same time, it contains a complete scripting language that allows you to create complex games if you want to learn how to write code.
Divinity
http://www.fantasoft.com/HTML/Divinity/Divinity_Page.html
With the power of Divinity, you have at your fingertips the ability to create incredible worlds without having to know one scrap of programming language. Everything you need is integrated into one software package. That fantastic adventure that's been bubbling away in your head for years can finally see the light of day and without having to go insane trying to learn how to program. (I have already done that for you.) The world of Fantasy RPGs has just entered a new age. Don't regret missing it while lying on your death bed.
Heh heh, quite an enthousiastic introduction don't ya think? Anyways, it ain't free, and it's for Macs only.
Dungeon Craft
http://uaf.sourceforge.net/
Dungeon Craft is an effort to develop an RPG and editor that mimics SSI's Forgotten Realms Unlimited Adventures (FRUA).
First Star Online
http://www.kidmandevil.com/fso/
FSO is an online RPG client/server package created by R. Mulvany. A freely distributed set of tools allows RPG enthusiasts to create their own online game using the FSO engine.
Hephaestus
http://kuoi.asui.uidaho.edu/~kamikaze/Hephaestus/index.html
Hephaestus is a freeware computer role-playing game construction kit (often called an "RPG maker"). You can write your own adventures in a simple yet powerful scripting language, and share them with anyone else who has Hephaestus. Hephaestus is written in Java, and therefore runs on every platform.
Also check out Delver - another maker that the programmer has developed - on the same site.
IsoWorld
http://www.spritec.com/
IsoWorld is our technological centerpiece. Built upon SpriteStudio's powerful animation capabilities, IsoWorld is a complete, ready-to-go, cross-platform Isometric game develoment engine which you can use to take your game vision directly to the Isometric gaming world without the huge investment of developing the underlying 2D sprite technology or the Isometric game engine on top of it.
Although, again, this is a commercial maker, I found that the guys at SpriteStudios were very eager to answer any of my question, and provide a great amount of support for their products.
Nedango/Network RPG Maker
Heh heh, I can't say I know much about this maker, although if you're interested, I'd suggest visiting the Gaming World Nedango Support Forum for more information.
OHRRPGCE
http://www.hamsterrepublic.com/ohrrpgce/
The OHRRPGCE (Official Hamster Republic Role Playing Game Construction Engine) is a free utility that you can use to create your own RPG game in a style similar to the classic Final Fantasy games on the NES and SNES which have so shaped the RPG genre.
RPG Maker 95
http://rm2k.phantomrpg.com/
RPG Maker 2000
http://rm2k.phantomrpg.com/
As you probably know, RPG Maker 2000 (commonly refered too as rm2k) is by far the most popular and widely supported RPG maker out there. There are dozens of websites completely dedicated too the maker, and you won't have any trouble finding resources, both in graphica/musical form and tutorials.
RPG Pro
http://hometown.aol.com/rlundri796/Index.html
You just won't find a simpler (yet limited) RPG maker out there. Not recommended.
RPG Toolkit
http://www.rpgtoolkit.com/
The RPG Toolkit is an RPG Editor and Engine. It's powerful. One of the most, if not the most, powerful RPG Engines on the internet today. With the Toolkit, a beginner can have a simple game up and running within 15 mintues of installation (don't fool yourself-- an RPG is still a lot of work, but you can get a simple one started right away).
This is another widely supported and, in my opinion, quality maker. Always expanding and being updated, this program has a very bright future, and is a great choice for people seeking a bit more flexibility than what RPG Maker 2000 offers.
Runesword II
http://www.runesword.com/
RuneSword 2 is a computer role playing game (CRPG). It includes two large adventures, a few smaller ones, a random adventure generator and the RuneSword RPG Construction Set.
Scenario RPG Maker
http://members.fortunecity.com/dw817/
Scenario RPGMaker is a project I've been working for off and on now for the past 10 years. If you are unfamiliar with what a RPGMaker is, it is a tool that allows you to build complex games similar to Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior for the Nintendo and Super Nintendo.
This is a very, cute maker. Nice colourful interface, smooth combat system and happy little background music makes this program a pleasure to use.
SimRPG 95
http://simrpg.cjb.net/
This version is the latest translation of SimRPGMaker95 by Holbert & Codemason. It's about 90% translated, and only things like error messages and class defaults haven't been touched (yet). It also includes the Full Fantasy RTP, Default BGMs, Default Sound Effects and a helpfile containing Dragoon Falcon's tutorials!
Sphere
http://aegisknight.org/sphere
Sphere is a 2D RPG engine. It allows people with not much programming experience to create role-playing games like Final Fantasy VI or Phantasy Star. I've been working on it for over five years.
Anyone who can program or has the inclination to learn a fairly basic language should check this maker out. Although it sacrifices ease-of-use for flexibility, it offers the power that many people wishing to make a complex and unique games desire.
Tactical RPG Editor
http://www.slashnet.firstream.net/trpge/main.php
The program, itself is japanese (although being translated, I believe), and the website is french, so most of you shouldn't bother with this one yet.
Verge
http://www.verge-rpg.com/
IN DEVELOPMENT
CRISOLEngine
http://usuarios.lycos.es/crisolengine/
Crisol is an engine to simulate computer role play games. These games will have the style of Fallout, Ultima VII, DarkSun, etc, but without falling down, necessarily, in the standardization of the interfaces of these games. The map's representation will be Isometric.
Yeah I don't understand any of that either.
Dragon Engine
http://www.websamba.com/nexuz/
Explorations RPG System
http://www.explore-rpg.com/
The Exploration Role Playing Game(RPG) Development System is a FULL featured RPG creation tool. Within the 'world builder' interface, the GM has total control of map & terrain design, graphics, sound and animation. Game world templates can be created to mimic existing role playing games. (AD&D, ShadowRun, and StarFrontiers) From these templates, endless adventure modules can be made and marketed to challenge RPG lovers.
Fury˛
http://fury.rpgsource.net/
Fury˛ is a freeware game engine with development tools you can use to create your own 2D sprite-based games, similar to the classic console RPGs and action games of yore, using a diverse set of tools and features that help you instead of limiting you.
Keep a very close eye on this Fury˛, it'll will provide great flexibility and graphics power.
GAMEShape
http://www.oceanquakesoft.8m.com/
GameShape Version 1 a new unique Rpg Engine is about to be finished after months of development creating a map editor and player. GameShape hopes to bring new ways of making rpgs easier and faster.
I-Axe
http://mhardsoft.cjb.net/
This maker might have been discontinued, I don't know.
ika
http://www.ikagames.com/
ika (all lowercase) is a generic gaming engine geared (only slightly) towards making console style RPGs. It's already been proven quite able to make puzzle/platform/what-have-you as well.
LiveRPG
http://www.gamingw.net/liverpg/
ProRPG
http://www.prodev.cjb.net/
Well, the first ProRPG has been scrapped, and new one is being redone, for those of you that did not know. This one will be much more advanced in terms of what it is capable of doing, but will still be as user-friendly. It will not be released until I feel it is capable of creating all the files required by the engine, and even then, a private release will only be issued. I want to keep it "secretive" until it is nearly complete because then all the anticipation will pay off, and you will feel more confident in using the program itself.
RPG Development Studio
http://www.crypticdesigns.com/
RPGds is a sketch book, there are no lines to stay within, no boundries, you create that stucture, you draw that picture, so you have total control over everything. Allowing the artist to fully express his desires. RPGds is just the paper, just the sketch book, just a tool, what it can do, what can become of your game, is up to you.
This is definitely my top pic for best new maker in development. Pay no heed to naysayers and those who believe that RPGds is a hoax; it will truely be a groundbreaking program, and already has wide support and a flourishing community.
RPG Maker 2003
Many amateur RPG developers are excited about AgeTec's latest release. Although information is quite limited at this time, we do know that it will feature a new battle system, expand on its customizability, and although Don Miguel, the infamous russian who translated RM2k and RM95, we do know that the dear RPGoddess will provide the community with an english version of the program.
RPGcad
http://www20.brinkster.com/xersoft/
RPGcad is a game creation utility designed to help those of us who are less inclined to programming. Using the powerful point and click interface anyone with time can create astounding RPGs.
After a halt in updates for nearly two years, in seems that our friend Xer has picked up development on this promosing maker.
SKClone
http://www.geocities.com/bigd99861/SKClone.html
SuperSpeedGE
http://battlemonbruce.tripod.com/main.html
With an interface designed after RPG Maker 2000, SuperSpeedGE is capable of a lot more than its very-limited counterpart, and sports features such as C-style scripting, and multiple media packages. The gamemaker also boasts such rarely-seen features as MP3 support, a customizable menu sidebar bitmap, UUID per-game identification, and no-script teleports. SuperSpeedGE was accepted into Gaming World's database of gamemakers in only its second alpha release, so it undoubtedly has potential. To learn more, however, you'll have to try it out yourself.
