RPG Maker for Teens Book Review by ChristineMM

Title: RPG Maker for Teens
Author: Michael Duggan
Publication: Course Technology, 2011




My Star Rating: 3 stars out of 5 = It’s Okay

Summary Statement: Book Seems Great But Software Non-Functional So…

I’m a mother of a teen and a tween aged sons who have dabbled at drawing manga and making anime on computer software. They are gamers who enjoy xBox360. I had this book and program in mind for them. This is our first foray into this area, we’re all newbies.

The short product description that was on the site at the time I ordered it from Amazon Vine was misleading. I thought it was the software itself. This is a book. The first 86 pages are general information about creating an RPG (which could apply to any software). On page 87 it explains this uses the software RPG Maker and tells you can download a free trial for 30 days. After 30 days if you want to keep using it, it costs $60.

In order to do the book review I downloaded the software on a laptop we bought a few weeks ago, the thing is still sparkling new and has hardly any programs on it to hog up space. We could not get the software to work.

Over 250 more pages of the book are dedicated to walking the reader through designing an RPG using that software. I liked that the storytelling format of the hero’s journey is interspersed between directions on what to click on the various screens. If you are using the program like you’re supposed to then it makes perfect sense to have both a user manual of sorts combined with general video game development. This is a good idea, to combine the basics of design with use of the software. It means the learner is taking abstract ideas and immediately putting them to use: putting them into context. It’s a great way to make the learner realize that what they’re reading is useful and important. The other way to go about this project is a person would to read a general book that is separate from the actual creation of the game using software then teach themselves how to use software (which may or may not have a decent user manual). Some people would do better with the more direct learn as you go and learn as you do method as author Duggan has conceptualized and brought to fruition with this book.

I am torn on how to rate this book. Since this is a book review and the author Michael Duggan cannot be held accountable for problems with the software itself, I don’t feel comfortable giving it a 1 star = I Hate It rating. Yet because the software won’t function how can I figure out if the written directions are good or bad? I certainly love the concept of this book. Thus I rate this 3 stars = It’s Okay.

If you can’t get the free trial of the software to work then you can always return the book for a refund…I wish you good luck with this software program.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Amazon.com for their Vine program. I was under no obligation to mention it on my blog. For my blog's full disclosure statement see the link near the top of my blog's sidebar.