OHRRPGCE
Encyclopedia
The Official Hamster Republic Role Playing Game Creation Engine, abbreviated as OHRRPGCE or OHR, is an open-source, "All-in-one" game development engine
. It was designed to allow the quick creation of 2D
role-playing video game
s. It was originally written by James Paige in QuickBASIC
and released in 1997, and a community of hobbyist game developers have created thousands of amateur games since that time. In May 2005, the source code was released as free software
under the terms of the GNU General Public License
(GPL), and it was later ported from QuickBASIC to FreeBASIC
. The community is spread across two sites: CastleParadox and SlimeSalad, the latter being open to all game engines.
The OHRRPGCE is very simple to use, and full RPGs can be made without any scripting. HamsterSpeak, the scripting language
used for the OHR, is extremely simple and can be picked up with no prior programming knowledge. As it is very high-level and specialized, many things can be done with it. HUDs
, battle systems, special effects, customized menus, and entirely scripted games are some of the possibilities.
, and with only 8-bit color
depth. These are a hold-over from the original Mode X
graphics mode used on DOS
. Many other restraints are due to the engine originally being written in QuickBasic, and thus having terrible Real mode
memory limitations. There are plans for lifting most limitations, which the developers have been implementing gradually since the FreeBASIC port.
In recent years, FreeBASIC itself has become a major limitation, preventing ports to non-x86 devices such as most handheld devices and game consoles.
, offering only a crippled "4-Map" version to the public. Many people wanted the full engine, and James gave it to anybody who could mail him what he deemed a "Good game".
After a few months of this, he released the full engine as freeware
.
The November 9, 1999 release of the OHR was the first version to support scripting, which is handled in "HamsterSpeak". The OHRRPGCE does not use version numbers, but rather names, starting with the "handshake" release on November 29, 2002.
On about May 19, 2005 the engine went open-source, and since then has been developed by a team of dedicated programmers. Not long after this, the engine was successfully ported
from QuickBasic to FreeBasic.
The OHRRPGCE gained the ability to play sound files as well as other music formats with the release of "ubersetzung" on September 21, 2007.
On the other hand, RPG Maker generally offers better story progression tools, higher color depth and resolution, and more complex built-in effects.
Sphere
: The OHR is less script-driven than Sphere is, making it much faster. It has more tools, such as built-in graphics editors, a fully working textbox system, combat system, deeper map-editor, and a simpler scripting system. As a whole, the OHR is more streamlined and easier to use than Sphere, but because Sphere is so reliant on scripting, it may possess better results, more complex games, or games of more genres. Although the OHR has been proven capable of recreating many arcade games and has a few original sidescrollers.
Game Maker
: The OHR is specialized towards RPGs, and as such, they are made both more easily and quickly on it. However, Game Maker surpasses the OHR in terms of both graphical limitations, and overall engine flexibility. As with Sphere, scripting knowledge is required to make RPGs in Game Maker.
Game engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
. It was designed to allow the quick creation of 2D
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
role-playing video game
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
s. It was originally written by James Paige in QuickBASIC
QuickBASIC
Microsoft QuickBASIC is an Integrated Development Environment and compiler for the BASIC programming language that was developed by Microsoft. QuickBASIC runs mainly on DOS, though there was a short-lived version for Mac OS...
and released in 1997, and a community of hobbyist game developers have created thousands of amateur games since that time. In May 2005, the source code was released as free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
under the terms of the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
(GPL), and it was later ported from QuickBASIC to FreeBASIC
FreeBASIC
FreeBASIC is a free/open source , 32-bit BASIC compiler for Microsoft Windows, protected-mode DOS , Linux, FreeBSD and Xbox....
. The community is spread across two sites: CastleParadox and SlimeSalad, the latter being open to all game engines.
The OHRRPGCE is very simple to use, and full RPGs can be made without any scripting. HamsterSpeak, the scripting language
Scripting language
A scripting language, script language, or extension language is a programming language that allows control of one or more applications. "Scripts" are distinct from the core code of the application, as they are usually written in a different language and are often created or at least modified by the...
used for the OHR, is extremely simple and can be picked up with no prior programming knowledge. As it is very high-level and specialized, many things can be done with it. HUDs
HUD (video gaming)
In video gaming, the HUD is the method by which information is visually relayed to the player as part of a game's user interface...
, battle systems, special effects, customized menus, and entirely scripted games are some of the possibilities.
About
Most of the OHR's games are amateur and made by novice game developers for experimenting or prototyping. However, other games are full, robust RPGs with gameplay ranging from 2 - 20+ hours. Sidescrollers, puzzle games, and arcade remakes have all been made with the engine.Limitations
One of the biggest drawbacks of the engine are its strict technical limitations. It runs at a relatively slow framerate of about 18.2 frame/s, at a 320x200 resolutionDisplay resolution
The display resolution of a digital television or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is controlled by all different factors in cathode ray tube , flat panel or projection...
, and with only 8-bit color
8-bit color
8-bit color graphics is a method of storing image information in a computer's memory or in an image file, such that each pixel is represented by one 8-bit byte. The maximum number of colors that can be displayed at any one time is 256....
depth. These are a hold-over from the original Mode X
Mode X
Mode X is an alternative video graphics display mode of the IBM VGA graphics hardware that was popularized by Michael Abrash, first published in July 1991 in Dr...
graphics mode used on DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
. Many other restraints are due to the engine originally being written in QuickBasic, and thus having terrible Real mode
Real mode
Real mode, also called real address mode, is an operating mode of 80286 and later x86-compatible CPUs. Real mode is characterized by a 20 bit segmented memory address space and unlimited direct software access to all memory, I/O addresses and peripheral hardware...
memory limitations. There are plans for lifting most limitations, which the developers have been implementing gradually since the FreeBASIC port.
In recent years, FreeBASIC itself has become a major limitation, preventing ports to non-x86 devices such as most handheld devices and game consoles.
Mascot
The engine's mascot is Bob the Hamster, the protagonist of the game of which the engine was originally built for, Wandering Hamster.History
The OHRRPGCE was created by James Paige as a generic engine for personal use in about 1997. He decided, though, to release the engine as sharewareShareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
, offering only a crippled "4-Map" version to the public. Many people wanted the full engine, and James gave it to anybody who could mail him what he deemed a "Good game".
After a few months of this, he released the full engine as freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
.
The November 9, 1999 release of the OHR was the first version to support scripting, which is handled in "HamsterSpeak". The OHRRPGCE does not use version numbers, but rather names, starting with the "handshake" release on November 29, 2002.
On about May 19, 2005 the engine went open-source, and since then has been developed by a team of dedicated programmers. Not long after this, the engine was successfully ported
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
from QuickBasic to FreeBasic.
The OHRRPGCE gained the ability to play sound files as well as other music formats with the release of "ubersetzung" on September 21, 2007.
Comparison with other game engines
RPG Maker Series: Although technically far inferior, the OHR does offer many features that some versions of RPG Maker do not include. These include generally much less restrictive tiling and mapping, a side-view battle system, portraits, a built-in graphics editor, and a simpler, albeit less capable, scripting language.On the other hand, RPG Maker generally offers better story progression tools, higher color depth and resolution, and more complex built-in effects.
Sphere
Sphere (program)
Sphere is a cross-platform, open source computer program designed primarily to make role-playing games similar to those found on the SNES and Sega Genesis consoles. Sphere was originally coded by Chad Austin...
: The OHR is less script-driven than Sphere is, making it much faster. It has more tools, such as built-in graphics editors, a fully working textbox system, combat system, deeper map-editor, and a simpler scripting system. As a whole, the OHR is more streamlined and easier to use than Sphere, but because Sphere is so reliant on scripting, it may possess better results, more complex games, or games of more genres. Although the OHR has been proven capable of recreating many arcade games and has a few original sidescrollers.
Game Maker
Game Maker
GameMaker is a Windows and Mac IDE originally developed by Mark Overmars in the Delphi programming language. It is currently developed and published by YoYo Games, a software company in which Overmars is involved...
: The OHR is specialized towards RPGs, and as such, they are made both more easily and quickly on it. However, Game Maker surpasses the OHR in terms of both graphical limitations, and overall engine flexibility. As with Sphere, scripting knowledge is required to make RPGs in Game Maker.
Creation examples
- Where Can I Find Games?
- Slimes! - One of the most popular games made with the engine to date.
- Wandering Hamster, the pilot game of the OHR.
- Vikings of Midgard, the included example game.
External links
- O.H.R.RPG.C.E - Official website.
- Castle Paradox - Community site, largest forums and largest OHRRPGCE game collection.
- Slime Salad - Most active community, and open to all game developers, not just OHRers.
- Hamster Speak - A monthly magazine regarding OHRRPGCE games and reviews.