RPG Maker Unite details custom expansions
Get the details below.
■ Two ways to modify and extend the functionality of RPG Maker Unite!
Method 1. Using “Add-ons”
In the RPG Maker series, users have always been able to develop and use scripts known in the community as “plugins” to extend engine functions that are not available by default. Because of this, many users volunteer to develop and generously share plugins with the community, which is how the RPG Maker series spawned so many great titles, even now!
Similarly, in RPG Maker Unite, users can use “Addons” to improve and expand the engine. We changed the name because of how the internal processing works differently from previous RPG Maker titles, but the concept and usage is identical. However, please note that as always, we cannot provide official support for the development or use of Addons. Until this part, we have briefly touched on our announcement on September 2, 2022.
— RPG Maker Unite addon manager UI. This feature allows users to turn ON or OFF the installed add-ons in the game at will.
Method 2. Rewriting the source code through the Unity editor
The second option – which we cannot provide official support for – is to edit the RPG Maker Unite source code directly using the Unity Editor. In RPG Maker Unite, users can call up the Unity Editor interface at any time as needed. Through this, users can confirm and rewrite a part of the source code as they see fit (Note: except for some DLL files). This is especially useful for large scale edits! Although the source code is open for viewing in the Unity Editor, please respect the EULAs that we will publish later!
—Users can open the Unity Editor from the RPG Maker Unite UI whenever they need.
— It is possible for both editors to be side by side, making edits confirming each other at the same time.
■ Which method to choose?
Both Addons and direct editing through Unity use the C# programming language. However, depending on the user’s level of knowledge or objectives, there are clear reasons to prefer one over the other.
The biggest difference is whether or not users want to directly modify the source code of RPG Maker Unite.
Add-ons by nature do not modify the RPG Maker Unite source code and thus would not cause conflicts caused by changes to the Source Code. This is great for developing multiple plugins simultaneously, independently. Simply using others’ plugins is still as easy as ever and would require neither programming nor Unity Editor knowledge. Also, due to not tampering with the source code, whenever there is an official update of RPG Maker Unite, users can also apply it safely. (Note: Some Add-ons may need some updates to be compatible with the latest updates.)
On the other hand, editing the source code directly through the Unity Editor would give users unprecedented freedom. Of course, this would require a fairly advanced level of programming skills and deep knowledge of how Unity Editor and RPG Maker Unite work.
■ Dev Log #10 now available on Steam
Dev Log #10 this time takes a deeper dive into Addon development! Next month we plan to continue with more elaborate examples. If you’re an RPG Maker plugin developer, you’ll be interested in reading this!
RPG Maker Unite is expected to release for PC via the Unity Asset Store in spring 2023 worldwide, followed “shortly later” by Steam.
