How to Outline Your Game

An outline serves as a roadmap, guiding you through the intricate journey creating a game in RPG MAKER WITH. Read on to learn how to organize your ideas, define key locations, and see a sample outline to jumpstart your game design process.

How to Outline Your Game

Organize Your Ideas

Before you dive into game creation with RPG MAKER WITH, it's crucial to organize your ideas first. Just as a building needs a solid blueprint, your game requires a well-thought-out foundation. Start by crafting a basic outline.

The plot of your outline doesn't have to be complex. Even a simple plot like "A hero defeats the evil king" can provide a solid starting point. Writing down your ideas in an organized manner keeps you from getting confused and gives you a clear direction as you develop your game.

Decide on Your Main Locations and Their Purpose

Once your story is set, consider the key locations in your game and their roles. Each location should serve a specific purpose, whether it's driving the plot forward, getting a much-needed item or weapon for the Main Character, or presenting a challenge that tests the player' skills.

Defining these locations early on not only helps streamline game creation, but also creates a cohesive atmosphere that enriches the overall story experience.

Outline Example

Why is Outlining Your Game Important?

Outlining your game is an essential part of game creation because it is the roadmap of the game's development.

In the example we just showed you the key locations are the village, island kingdom, dungeon and the evil king's Castle. The story itself is straightforward—the hero must defeat the evil king—and we have a clear progression: the hero starts in the village, meets an ally in the forest, goes to the Island Kingdom to receive the king's Quest, gathers more allies in the fishing town, battles through the evil king's minions inside the dungeon and ultimately confronts and defeats the evil king in his own lair.

As this demonstrates, a well-structured outline not only maintains consistency but also ensures that every element of your game aligns with your creative vision. It prevents you from becoming overwhelmed by the myriad details involved in building a game world. With a solid outline, you can focus more on creativity and enjoy the process of creating your game instead of trying to remember what the game is all about.

On the other hand, trying to keep every detail in your head can result in inconsistencies and contradictions, especially when new elements clash with earlier ones. Creating an outline is essential for ensuring your game remains cohesive and true to its original vision.

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