# Ron Gilbert is having fun building a top-down RPG engine **URL:** \ **Category:** Off-topic\ **Created:** [October 22, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897 "2017-10-22T03:43:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/1 "2017-10-22T03:43:44Z")
I would like to know who did the graphics. šŸ™‚ > ---
**Author:** ![RonGilbert](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/rongilbert/32/7_2.png) [@RonGilbert](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/RonGilbert)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 4:11am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/2 "2017-10-22T04:11:39Z")
The art comes from a title set I bought on [itch.io](http://itch.io). I imported the entire scripting engine from Thimbleweed, so the RPG is fully scriptable. So far, this is just for fun. ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 4:25am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/3 "2017-10-22T04:25:29Z")
Nice! Is that a static map or the game procedurally generates it? ---
**Author:** ![seguso](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/seguso/32/1232_2.png) [@seguso](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/seguso)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 9:27am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/4 "2017-10-22T09:27:16Z")
OMG, yes! ---
**Author:** ![BigRedButton](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/bigredbutton/32/212_2.png) [@BigRedButton](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/BigRedButton)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 10:37am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/5 "2017-10-22T10:37:14Z")
Itā€™s not programmer art, is it? If so, you are a talented pixel artist indeed! By the way, the style reminds me of SNES games. **EDIT:** > [@RonGilbert](#): > > The art comes from a title set I bought on [itch.io](http://itch.io). I must be blind sometimes. Interesting link, though! ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 10:43am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/6 "2017-10-22T10:43:34Z")
> [@RonGilbert](#): > > The art comes from a title set I bought on [itch.io](http://itch.io). I imported the entire scripting engine from Thimbleweed, so the RPG is fully scriptable. So far, this is just for fun. Keep going. šŸ™‚ Those little ā€œjust for funā€ games could be very interesting and a lot of fun for players too. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![milanfahrnholz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@milanfahrnholz](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/milanfahrnholz)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 11:15am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/7 "2017-10-22T11:15:34Z")
> [@RonGilbert](#): > > So far, this is just for fun. ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thimbleweedpark/original/2X/a/aeadb84e796b43d2d469cf17a9ae816c193f0fc5.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ThunderPeel2001](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/thunderpeel2001/32/290_2.png) [@ThunderPeel2001](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/ThunderPeel2001)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/8 "2017-10-29T14:17:14Z")
Huh! How about creating an engine that fellow programmers could use to create scripted RPGs? ---
**Author:** ![TaarakVakil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/taarakvakil/32/13203_2.png) [@TaarakVakil](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/TaarakVakil)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/9 "2017-10-29T15:34:43Z")
Great Idea!! ---
**Author:** ![TaarakVakil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/taarakvakil/32/13203_2.png) [@TaarakVakil](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/TaarakVakil)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/10 "2017-10-29T15:35:39Z")
Rupees? I thought u paid Dollars. $$$$ šŸ¤£ ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/11 "2017-10-29T15:38:13Z")
> [@ThunderPeel2001](#): > > How about creating an engine that fellow programmers could use to create scripted RPGs? Arenā€™t there some (open source) engines out there already? ---
**Author:** ![Nor\_Treblig](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/nor_treblig/32/216_2.png) [@Nor\_Treblig](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Nor_Treblig)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/12 "2017-10-29T21:50:43Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > Arenā€™t there some (open source) engines out there already? The best known of for 2D RPGs is probably RPG Maker. Maybe he meant one more in style of TWP? Interestingly there is one in development called [Mageā€™s Initiation](http://www.himalayastudios.com/games/mages/) ([Kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2112639455/mages-initiation-a-classic-sierra-style-adventure/description)) which uses [AGS](https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/)! (Itā€™s a ā€˜Quest for Gloryā€™ type of game.) ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/13 "2017-11-04T18:14:33Z")
Things are escalating quickly. šŸ˜ ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thimbleweedpark/original/2X/e/ee357d3ca4b965d4ece4f5d94380e7e944d4de0a.jpg) > Iā€™ll call itā€¦ ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thimbleweedpark/original/2X/7/7488263df3bf24a949cc3e62d31b715c92812b4c.png) ---
**Author:** ![milanfahrnholz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@milanfahrnholz](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/milanfahrnholz)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/14 "2017-11-04T18:24:40Z")
Bacon, Eggs and Ron Gilbert RPGs are the most important ingredients of a healthy breakfast and a good star for your day! ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/15 "2017-11-04T22:11:11Z")
> [@LowLevel](#): > > Iā€™ll call itā€¦ For me it seems that @RonGilbert is doing a 2D-top-down version of the completely weird adventure-RPG game ā€œ[Superhero League of Hoboken](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superhero_League_of_Hoboken)ā€. In that game there was a (cite): ā€œā€¦ Tropical Oil Man, who defeats villains by giving them high cholesterol ā€¦ā€. AFAIR the pizza man had similar powersā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/16 "2017-11-04T22:45:16Z")
I donā€™t understand how I managed to live until now without knowing of the existence of this gem. _The off-beat protagonist is the Crimson Tape, whose power is to make organizational charts. His off-beat companions are the Iron Tummy, who can eat any amount of spicy food without suffering intestinal distress, Treader Man who is a fantastic swimmer, the Tropical Oil Man, who defeats villains by giving them high cholesterol, the Oxide Man who can damage mechanical enemies such as robots etc._ Thank you for changing my life forever. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/17 "2017-11-05T00:15:32Z")
> [@LowLevel](#): > > Thank you for changing my life forever. You can [play it free online](https://archive.org/details/msdos_Superhero_League_of_Hoboken_1994). (And I have the boxed version somewhere aroundā€¦) ---
**Author:** ![seguso](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/seguso/32/1232_2.png) [@seguso](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/seguso)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 8:08am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/18 "2017-11-06T08:08:03Z")
![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thimbleweedpark/original/2X/e/edfd092c9f103450174ffad4057491ceeb76ae02.jpg) Genius šŸ™‚ I feel I need to play a few Steve Meretzky games! > [@Someone](#): > > (And I have the boxed version somewhere aroundā€¦) It seems you are one of 20.000. Iā€™ve read it sold about 20.000 copies. * * * I remember I have a boxed copy of Eric the Unready (not by Steve Meretzky but by Bob Bates). Replaying it recently, itā€™s up there with Monkey Island for me, for humor and puzzle quality. That game is a titan. (btw, the gameplay is heavily influenced by Monkey Island. You can feel the shift of gameplay with respect to the previous Bob Bates games) ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 9:58am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/19 "2017-11-06T09:58:01Z")
> [@seguso](#): > > It seems you are one of 20.000. Iā€™ve read it sold about 20.000 copies. Yes, it surprised me too. šŸ™‚ Iā€™ve bought it in a sale somewhere in Germany, so it should be an even more rare piece. šŸ˜‰ > [@seguso](#): > > I have a boxed copy of Eric the Unready ā€¦ I have one too. šŸ˜‰ The [Spellcasting 101](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spellcasting_101:_Sorcerers_Get_All_The_Girls) series (by Steve Meretzky šŸ˜‰ ) should be also very good. Unfortunately I never bought one of these. As far as I remember they were very expensive in Germanyā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897/20 "2017-11-10T23:59:57Z")
There is an update about this game and it goes in the direction of that ā€œRPG in which you can do non-usual RPG thingsā€ that has been also [discussed in this other thread](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/quest-based-rpg-games-beyond-kill-fetch-escort/1920). > [Next page](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/ron-gilbert-is-having-fun-building-a-top-down-rpg-engine/1897.md?page=2)