Allow me to disagree. Java has it's good points and it's bad points. I wouldn't recommend anyone to even START with Java, first of all. Sure it's a (almost) perfectly safe language, you can't write beyond array boundaries and stuff, but it has quite a lot of details in the actual writing and compiling of the code which doesn't help much. It takes a while for a novice programmer to get around trivial but really annoying problems like having multiple public classes in a single file and all that.

All around I prefer C (C++ has its problems as well) and you could pick up the SDL libraries to easily create 2D games using mostly C. There are loads of tutorials around and the libraries are actually simple to use. Is simplifies mouse, joystick and keyboard input, as well as multi-channel sound output, networking, multi-threading and timing.

Plus, it's and excelent introduction to graphics programming, most people jump off to OpenGL afterwards.

You have more info at www.libsdl.org.

I'm a bit late on this topic but don't forget about RPG Maker 2003 and the newer XP version aswell.

2003 is basically an updated 2000 version but XP makes quite a few advancements although some annoying if your'e used to previous versions, more colours can be used, less restrictions and such.

The newer XP version also comes with a scripting language (Ruby) which you can use to further customize things, it basically lets you get under the hood more so to speak.

Not really that hard...
How Do I Make A RPG Battle System?

Just search newgrounds.Com under 'RPG battle Tutorial' or 'Battle Tutorial'. I learned how to make a turn based RPG battle in only about an hour using some of the tutorials :)

-reply by Person

Easiest way
How Do I Make A RPG Battle System?

Your best bet is to use RPG Maker 2003. Since both XP and VX (or ZX, or something like that) have come out since it's release, they've essentially stopped charging for the 2003 version. Many legal copies can be found for free with enough searching :P.



-reply by RoyFTW