Guide to creating a Yume Nikki fangame (in RPG Maker 2003)

Required files

To begin, you will need these following things:

• A copy of RM2k (RPG Maker 2000) or RM2k3 (RPG Maker 2003) (Steam version preferably as it has extra features)
• EasyRPG Player (optional, but heavily recommended)
• A Blank RM2k project or a Blank RM2k3 project , depending on which version you are using
• Aseprite, this tutorial will assume you are using it

Setting up the project

Once the empty project is downloaded, open it in RM by setting the Project Base Path to the folder you downloaded it to.

Works exactly the same for RM2k3

Next, select the game with the "Untitled" game title, and click Open.

Works exactly the same for RM2k3

Installing and Using EasyRPG

This step is optional but using EasyRPG comes with many benefits as it has support for controllers and has many features for playtest mode.

Delete the "RPG_RT.exe" file. Then, copy the "Player.exe" file from your EasyRPG download into your project folder. Finally, rename the "Player.exe" file to "RPG_RT.exe"




If you open RPG_RT.exe and the EasyRPG logo shows, that means you successfully replaced the file.

Editing the Database fields

Welcome to RPG Maker! While it may seem overwhelimg at first, in due time you will come to understand it.
Let's start with the Database, click the icon highlighted below or press the F8 key.


You will immediately be placed in the Actors tab. Don't panic as most of the stuff here is useless for you anyway. Focusing on the highlited elements below:

Name: The name that will show up in the menu, set this to your character's name
Nickname: Secondary name, appears next to the character's name, set this to whatever you want
Face graphic: the menu sprite of your character
Charset graphic: the walking sprites of your character