According to AUTOMATON China, To the Moon producer Kan Gao recently discussed his long-term use of the RPG Maker series for game development. He stated that this toolset reduces his stress, allowing him to focus more on creativity and storytelling.
Kan Gao, currently director and composer at independent game studio Freebird Games, has been using RPG Maker since around 2005. He believes that simple tools suited to project needs are more practical than those with numerous features requiring intricate setup; if a tool is too complex, using the tool itself can become an obstacle to creation.
In his view, avoiding repeated technical issues helps creators maintain an introspective state and devote energy to emotional expression. Freebird Games now has its own proprietary tools, but these were also inspired by RPG Maker. Gao stated that the series embodies accumulated development experience, and he will continue to use it in the future.
To the Moon was made using RPG Maker XP, released in 2004. At the time, this version did not support porting to other platforms, but the team later resolved these issues with help from community members such as Ancurio. Kan Gao also pointed out that RPG Maker is capable of implementing complex features; its scripting system has been used to create 3D demos and bullet-hell shooters.
Discussing his first experience making games, Gao suggested that creators find communities where they can communicate, regularly share development progress, and provide feedback on other projects. In his early days, he would release game demos and listen to opinions; this feedback helped him maintain creative motivation and kept the project's direction grounded in reality.
Regarding narrative-driven works, he believes creators need to be mindful of the information gap between themselves and players. Creators are familiar with all the details of the characters and world-building, but players need a gradual process of engagement when first encountering the work. Therefore, games should plan a path that guides players to understand and appreciate the story.
Gao also recommended determining the overall direction, main storyline, and ending at the start of a project, but advised against finalizing all details too early to avoid leaving only mechanical tasks like implementation and adjustments for later stages. Currently, RPG Maker U2U is in development, and the final chapter of To the Moon, To the Moon: Legend RPG - The Final Hour, is scheduled for release in 2027.