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Creative Production => Competitions & Activities => Topic started by: Atelier on Sun 01/02/2015 19:20:52

Title: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (Winner Announced)
Post by: Atelier on Sun 01/02/2015 19:20:52
Voting!

Three entries to choose from this month:


• The Furthest Station (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1893/) by springthoughts
• Scenario 5B (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1895/) by Hobo
• IAMJASON (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1896/) by xil


Please PM this account (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?action=pm;sa=send;u=12989) with your vote by 16th March.

Also, as several people asked last month, I'd just like to clarify that it's a single vote for your favourite entry - there's no need to rank the entries.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Topic: 'Losing Something'

This month's guidelines were set by Calin Leafshade:

Create a game about something lost or losing something.

Ending 2nd March

(http://cdn.secondavenuesagas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/LoseSomething.jpg)

__________________________________________________________________________________________

What is MAGS?

MAGS is a monthly competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the rules set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, or provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favorite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

You may get help for the competition, although you must end up doing something yourself. You should however be warned that it proves difficult to organize a big team within thirty days. You are not allowed to use material already created before this competition. Your game must be completely new! Music and sound is an exception; you can use free material that is available to the public, if you wish. Modules and templates are also allowed.

Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualise your game following the month's criteria (see top). Second, create your game fueled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

âÅ"“ A working download link
âÅ"“ The title of your game
âÅ"“ A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fifteen days. The winner chooses the next month's theme, and their name and game is immortalised in the MAGS Archive (http://www.mags-competition.info/?page=games). For more information, please visit the Official MAGS website. (http://www.mags-competition.info/)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: selmiak on Sun 01/02/2015 23:50:24
like losing a game by pressing a button?
I'd like to do something, but no good ideas yet...
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: ArgyBoi on Mon 02/02/2015 00:55:24
Interesting theme! Hmmm... Maybe, maybe....
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Erenan on Mon 02/02/2015 16:11:47
Argh! No! Following the dream I had last night, this is the one theme that could have possibly been suggested that tempts me to make a thing. But I won't have time this month. If this had been for March... :sad:
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Galen on Mon 02/02/2015 23:16:35
A game about something lost. Like, finding a lost thing? That sounds just like that one adventure game called... every adventure game ever. Or at least every Indiana Jones-esque video game.

The 'losing' something is an interesting premise though.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Turb0laz3r on Mon 02/02/2015 23:49:45
Hi.Total noob here.Just to clarify, it IS OK to team up to work on a MAGS game?And if so,does anybody have Ron Gilbert's phone number?
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Atelier on Tue 03/02/2015 00:10:23
Quote from: Turb0laz3r on Mon 02/02/2015 23:49:45
Hi.Total noob here.Just to clarify, it IS OK to team up to work on a MAGS game?And if so,does anybody have Ron Gilbert's phone number?

Yes, working in teams is completely allowed. Sorry, I don't have Ron Gilbert's, but I can give you Rhod Gilbert's instead?
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Turb0laz3r on Tue 03/02/2015 01:12:37
Quote from: Atelier on Tue 03/02/2015 00:10:23
Yes, working in teams is completely allowed. Sorry, I don't have Ron Gilbert's, but I can give you Rhod Gilbert's instead?
Thank you.Hey,do you really have Rhod Gilbert's phone number?Cuz he owes me $10.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Layabout on Tue 03/02/2015 08:44:11
So... Who's doing a leisure suit larry-esq game?
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: HanaIndiana on Fri 06/02/2015 18:11:44
@Layabout
Yeah, that's where my mind went too. (laugh)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Ibispi on Sat 07/02/2015 16:29:05
Hey bluecuppers,
I've started working on my entry for this MAGS:

Pyrrhus won the war (in the end)
I don't want to say anything about the story or gameplay yet, except that it will have a lot of gladiator arena fights. (nod)

8/2/2015
I've implemented the first background in the game; which is mostly supposed to introduce the protagonist.
This is how it looks like in game:
(http://i.imgur.com/hgi4C5G.png)
Basically, it's an army camp, with soldiers resting, walking around or talking with each other. And
Spoiler
the main character is also a soldier
[close]
The setting of the game will be sci-fi crossed with fantasy, due to me not wanting to make something that has any connections with this world. Although, there will be metaphors here and there... ahem.
In terms of progress, I've also finished 2 more backgrounds (not yet in game) and drawn around 70 different sprites for characters and objects. Those are mostly walk cycle animations. At first I planned for around 10 different characters to be in the game. Many of which will be side, stock characters (e.g. soldiers).
A lot of work a head - very little time! :sad:

9/2/2015
This is one greyhead. (http://i.imgur.com/wCArbl5.gif?1)
Greyheads are soldiers for the Wrong Union, which is a union of states with intolerance ideology and dictatorship.
On the other side is the Union, which exists solely to stop the violent warring of the Wrong Union. This setting sounds familiar, right?
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: st. on Mon 09/02/2015 10:40:04
Do we have to announce the game before completing it?

I didn't quite understand the use of conceptualize in
QuoteEntering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualise your game following the month's criteria(...)
I started working on something a couple of days ago, but it's too early to say if I can be ready until the dead line. Anyway, do I have to announce that I may enter the competition? Or do I have to give preliminary details about the game? I see it done, but I would like to know if there's a rule about it.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Atelier on Mon 09/02/2015 11:51:48
Quote from: st. on Mon 09/02/2015 10:40:04
Anyway, do I have to announce that I may enter the competition? Or do I have to give preliminary details about the game? I see it done, but I would like to know if there's a rule about it.

Nope, all that matters is you post an entry before the deadline - it could be your first post in the thread! However, there are obvious benefits of at least announcing you're entering, most importantly so I know who to ask if they need more time, which happens more often than not. For example, I'd be reluctant to extend the deadline if one person who had not previously posted requested one on the deadline day.

The introductory paragraph is really a mixture of preamble and substantive rules, but no, you don't have to notify that you're entering.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: st. on Mon 09/02/2015 12:57:03
Thank you! I don't even dream of asking for an extension! ...now. But I suppose we'll all have to compromise in order to finish in time. That's challenging!
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: JenniBee on Mon 09/02/2015 15:18:43
I have an interesting idea for a game, and I want to base it on a forum game I said I'd do at the Double Fine forums.  The question I have is, I already drew concept art for characters for the characters based on the forum people in that thread.  However, they'll all be non-player characters, and I haven't converted them to sprites since I hadn't settled on which engine to use.  I also never even came up with the story when I started that thread, as I wanted to base it on the character ideas, and I never came up with a story that would fit them all until I read the theme of this contest.  I also never started one iota of code of the game, and I never came up with a player character design until yesterday (which I still haven't scanned and converted yet).  So, would that be OK to use?  Since even though the concept art for characters based on the forum people is started already, everything else (including actually making those characters sprites for the game) will have started this month, story idea and all.  If not, I guess I can see if I can come up with something else.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Ibispi on Wed 11/02/2015 18:18:36
A question regarding GUI: I have a created, a long time ago, my own custom saving system, with one small floppy disk icon at the top right corner of the screen, which opens a save/load menu after the player clicks on it. And I've left it like that for all my future games, so I don't have to bother around that much. Hence, it is a template of sorts.
Quote from: Atelier on Sun 01/02/2015 19:20:52
(...)templates are also allowed.
(...)
Do I have to make a new custom way of saving; program a brand new UI for that, or can I just use this one?
Also, I have this one click do everything cursor I made for All pigs deserve to burn in hell; can I keep it? Or do I have to create a new one?
Quote(...)You are not allowed to use material already created before this competition(...)
In summary, can cursor and save/restore game UI be an exception to this rule?
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Atelier on Thu 12/02/2015 13:13:34
JenniBee: Yes, that sounds fine. As long as nothing tangible/physical that was created before the competition started is used, it will probably be ok. It's hard to restrict mere ideas that people had before the competition - to what extent will the concept art be used?

BSP: I've always interpreted "modules and templates are also allowed" as ones freely available on the forum, ie: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?board=10.0 (and the ones included with AGS by default). Modules and templates that all entrants have access to. Otherwise, theoretically somebody could work for a year on an awesome private module, and use it in their MAGS game.

But that's an extreme example, and at the other end of the spectrum we have simple framework code, something that I'm sure most entrants have recycled to some extent. In this case, the save/load menu you describe doesn't sound like anything over and above that included in the default AGS template. If two lines of code are so trivial in nature, as to be something that all entrants can reasonably be expected to create or dowse from a template, it will probably be ok. Unless of course those two lines form a substantial part of the distinctiveness or operation of the game, and that is the critical question.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Ibispi on Thu 12/02/2015 13:54:34
Thanks for replying Atelier.
Quote from: Atelier on Thu 12/02/2015 13:13:34
(...)the save/load menu you describe doesn't sound like anything over and above that included in the default AGS template. If two lines of code are so trivial in nature, as to be something that all entrants can reasonably be expected to create or dowse from a template, it will probably be ok. Unless of course those two lines form a substantial part of the distinctiveness or operation of the game, and that is the critical question.
I'm not sure if it is as substantial - this is how it works:
*this is done via Tween module

Tell me to remove from the game whatever breaks the rules, Atelier. Thanks.


Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Atelier on Thu 12/02/2015 17:35:09
That sounds good to me BSP! I am not so worried about anything as basic as a save function, which you could quickly rewrite from scratch anyway.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Ibispi on Thu 12/02/2015 19:16:16
Great! 8-)
For purposes of making this post less empty, here's a screenshot of the newest background I drew, and the inventory, on which I'm still working on:

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/dfcTc0j.png?1[/imgzoom]

I'm very certain that I am going to finish this game project on time! :cool:
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: JenniBee on Fri 13/02/2015 20:33:10
Quote from: Atelier on Thu 12/02/2015 13:13:34JenniBee: Yes, that sounds fine. As long as nothing tangible/physical that was created before the competition started is used, it will probably be ok. It's hard to restrict mere ideas that people had before the competition - to what extent will the concept art be used?
OK. good. :) I'll get started on this ASAP then.  I needed something like a timed contest to get myself in gear (I always work better under deadlines).

The game is going to feature people who post on the Double Fine forums.  They told me what they wanted their character to look like, and I drew a sketch, colorized it, and posted it in the forums.  Then they had their say if the colors and look were right, and I updated it until they were happy with it.  The game style is inspired by Day of the Tentacle, so it will be lower resolution than what the concept art would work as sprites, since they're pretty big, so they're not suited to be just dropped in the game.  I'll have to make pixel art based on the concept art of the characters, so all assets actually used in the game will be new.

Examples of the concept art:

(http://jenni.wdfiles.com/local--files/adventure-games/dfaf-jenni.png)(http://jenni.wdfiles.com/local--files/adventure-games/anemone.png)(http://jenni.wdfiles.com/local--files/adventure-games/noname.png)(http://jenni.wdfiles.com/local--files/adventure-games/feddlefew.png)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Radiant on Wed 18/02/2015 11:00:37
Quote from: Atelier on Thu 12/02/2015 13:13:34
But that's an extreme example, and at the other end of the spectrum we have simple framework code, something that I'm sure most entrants have recycled to some extent. In this case, the save/load menu you describe doesn't sound like anything over and above that included in the default AGS template. If two lines of code are so trivial in nature, as to be something that all entrants can reasonably be expected to create or dowse from a template, it will probably be ok. Unless of course those two lines form a substantial part of the distinctiveness or operation of the game, and that is the critical question.

That's good to know, thanks.

I'm not going to enter this year but this may save some time for later MAGS'es; I'm talking about the one-click interface used in Errand. Then again, I was planning to release that as a module anyway at some point, I just haven't gotten around to it yet.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Hobo on Wed 18/02/2015 13:28:11
I'm kind of working on some sci-fi something, not sure if I'll finish on time though.
Can't give you any actual in-game shots, but here's a small teaser:

(http://www.tulevik.eu/ags/MAGStease.png)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Ibispi on Wed 18/02/2015 22:16:46
@JenniBee I like your Edgar Allan Poe; what's that 8-) on his left though?
@Hobo That android, robot, looks creepy! :shocked:
I'm so happy you guys joined the mags, it's a lot more fun now. :-*
Here's my screenshot for today:

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/XEb6f6Z.png?1[/imgzoom]
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: xil on Wed 18/02/2015 23:05:42
Hi all,

Some good looking entries already!

I thought I'd give everyone a head's up I am also joining in this month. I'm going to continue with a low-res style like I tried last month but try to work on a new universal interface as my last game provided some useful feedback on how it could be improved.

This is an in-game screenshot but I'm keeping the interface a secret for now (as it's half done ;)).

[imgzoom]http://calicoreverie.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/IAMJASON1.png[/imgzoom]
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: JenniBee on Thu 19/02/2015 21:22:46
Quote from: BSP on Wed 18/02/2015 22:16:46@JenniBee I like your Edgar Allan Poe; what's that 8-) on his left though?
Thanks. :) The person whose character the being on his left belongs to had an avatar of an anenome with sunglasses.  I was told that I could do anything with the body, so I went overboard. (laugh) It's part anenome, part chicken, part giraffe, and part crocodile.  And it's going to have a big part in the plot. :)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: LeafThief on Fri 20/02/2015 09:13:48
Heyyyyyyyyyyyy,
nice looking entries here already! I'm joining this month as well.
Here's what I have so far, apart from a vague idea what it's going to be about:
[imgzoom]https://31.media.tumblr.com/3b05ca9f36ba7ffff9f754e4a5302f4a/tumblr_inline_nk2c6ieM9v1s96q5o.png[/imgzoom]

As it's already late it's probably going to be single-screen but oh well.

Work work work :)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Ibispi on Fri 20/02/2015 23:36:49
Quote from: JenniBee on Thu 19/02/2015 21:22:46
Quote from: BSP on Wed 18/02/2015 22:16:46@JenniBee I like your Edgar Allan Poe; what's that 8-) on his left though?
Thanks. :) The person whose character the being on his left belongs to had an avatar of an anenome with sunglasses.  I was told that I could do anything with the body, so I went overboard. (laugh) It's part anenome, part chicken, part giraffe, and part crocodile.  And it's going to have a big part in the plot. :)
What a phenomenal character! :shocked: (laugh)
Time is drawing near...
At some point I lost motivation, because I thought no one was going to participate - how wrong have I been! (wtf)

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/7Eqi2ux.gif?1[/imgzoom]
^this is one of the crazy characters from my game. He is a slaver. That which he is holding in his hand is a whip. And he doesn't hesitate to use it. He is nuts!
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Myshkin on Sat 21/02/2015 01:30:18
Wow, some nice looking entries so far! I'm not doing anything this month but look forward to seeing these in action (nod)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: LeafThief on Mon 23/02/2015 09:18:28
Mini Update.
My game (working title Ten Weeks) is about a mom and her family. It's her that loses something. Have a gif:
[imgzoom]http://38.media.tumblr.com/c0c08ee644bd52d66cbbd81e12508a5b/tumblr_nk7wdtbgvU1shbqmko1_500.gif[/imgzoom]
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: AprilSkies on Mon 23/02/2015 11:01:20
Guys plis...
I'm try to working on my games..
With so much amazing entries... i'll spend again a month paying.. and I can't go on with my projects!

Joking aside, I'm speechless: another High Quality MAGS is coming.
I have no words, all your games seems so great!
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Ibispi on Wed 25/02/2015 14:56:59
Atelier, I'd like to ask if you could extend the deadline by a few days.
Firstly, February is a short month, this one has just 28 days - that's two days of extension.
Then if you could add a few more days, how you normally add if someone asks for extension of the mags.
Thanks.

I'm sure the other participants will also want the deadline extended; well, not all but some.

My game is at this stage in terms of progress:
99% graphics
80% story
25% programming
0% music and sound
-I've finished almost everything, except of course programming. I have to implement it all in these few days. In terms of sound and music, that depends upon the time left. I am planning to do a "deluxe" version of the game after the mags, since this one will obviously not be so good.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: st. on Fri 27/02/2015 13:55:23
this is my entry...

The Furthest Station

AGS Games Database Link (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1893/)

[imgzoom]http://i59.tinypic.com/2njvmu9.jpg[/imgzoom][imgzoom]http://i59.tinypic.com/10za0xg.jpg[/imgzoom][imgzoom]http://i59.tinypic.com/2dkmmif.jpg[/imgzoom]

...thank you
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: xil on Fri 27/02/2015 20:51:57
I like the art style st. and look forward to giving it a go!

I would also like to ask for a bit of an extension if that's okay. 2 days would be fine, or a little longer if it suits others?
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: st. on Sat 28/02/2015 14:01:58
I hope you'll enjoy it, xil :)

I'm not sure if this is expected of me but I'm ok with the extension.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Atelier on Sat 28/02/2015 14:25:41
Quote from: BSP on Wed 25/02/2015 14:56:59
Atelier, I'd like to ask if you could extend the deadline by a few days.
Firstly, February is a short month, this one has just 28 days - that's two days of extension.

Quote from: xil on Fri 27/02/2015 20:51:57
I would also like to ask for a bit of an extension if that's okay. 2 days would be fine, or a little longer if it suits others?

Sorry this is my fault, I should have made it clearer - I did factor in the short month so the official deadline is actually 2nd March anyway, not the 28th (see original post)

Quote from: st. on Sat 28/02/2015 14:01:58
I'm not sure if this is expected of me but I'm ok with the extension.

Thanks for preempting st., this was going to be my question :)


So how does 5th March sound for everybody as the new deadline?
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Ibispi on Sat 28/02/2015 14:31:19
Quote from: Atelier on Sat 28/02/2015 14:25:41
(...)
So how does 5th March sound for everybody as the new deadline?
Sounds perfect to me! I'll have enough time to get my game play tested + implement sound and music! :smiley:
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: xil on Sat 28/02/2015 16:16:14
5th of March sounds perfect, thanks :)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: JenniBee on Sun 01/03/2015 10:25:32
The 5th of March sounds great.  I was just about to post in here that I wouldn't be able to release it today since my mom got tricked by a phisher and I had to move off of the Windows partition.  Since the AGS editor is Windows only I haven't been able to get into it and I won't be able to do so until I can get back into Windows safely.  The extra few days should allow me the time to reinstall Windows and get the game finished.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Radiant on Sun 01/03/2015 10:35:17
Sure, but can we also start the March MAGS on March 1st?
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Atelier on Sun 01/03/2015 11:26:05
Quote from: Radiant on Sun 01/03/2015 10:35:17
Sure, but can we also start the March MAGS on March 1st?

Dude, it's 11.25 am, give me a chance!
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Radiant on Sun 01/03/2015 23:24:44
Sorry man, I'm in a different time zone here :)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: HanaIndiana on Thu 05/03/2015 04:42:00
Is timeup yet? Bring on the games!! :-D
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: shaun9991 on Thu 05/03/2015 09:49:28
Really looking forward to these games, looks like theres going to be some crackers! :)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: LeafThief on Thu 05/03/2015 16:38:44
Yeah well. I'm not gonna make it on time D: It was probably a stupid idea in the first place to try and finish while attending a conference but you never know, right? So sorry for that. :(

Looking forward to playing the entries though!!!
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Hobo on Thu 05/03/2015 19:43:41
Well, I'm done. Not as polished and ready as I'd like, but here it is: Scenario 5B (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1895/)

(http://tulevik.eu/ags/scenario5bx2.png)


Quote from: LeafThief on Thu 05/03/2015 16:38:44
Yeah well. I'm not gonna make it on time D: It was probably a stupid idea in the first place to try and finish while attending a conference but you never know, right? So sorry for that. :(
Sad to hear that, those screenshots looked damn good.
How's everyone else doing? There were lots of awesome entries in production, hopefully they will all be finished.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: xil on Thu 05/03/2015 21:30:50
That looks awesome Hobo, can't wait to give it a go :)

I'm once again going to be using every spare second but I actually have a finished game this time hah!

Sorry to hear you couldn't finish yours LeafThief, here's hoping you can get it released soon anyway :)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Ibispi on Thu 05/03/2015 21:54:13
Sorry, everyone.
I did not manage to finish my game on time.
It's just 1 hour before the deadline, and I know I cannot finish it due to massive amount of bugs in my game at this moment. :=
Also, I've recorded some short melodies, but my program didn't save them properly and that made me so furious I decided to quit.
I can't make a game in one month! >.<
Again, I apologize to everyone, who maybe wanted to play Pyrrhus won the war (in the end) now, and to Atelier, whom I harassed with questions about the competition deadline. :grin:
Although, when I said I quit, I didn't mean I quit from developing this game till its done. Quite the contrary! (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=51843.0=)
I see a lot of nice looking games here. When I have time I'll play them. ^_^
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: xil on Fri 06/03/2015 00:01:15
Sorry to hear you couldn't finish your game BSP, I had the same problem last MAGS!

My game is now in the database: IAMJASON (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1896/)

Completion thread: IAMJASON in Completed Game Announcements (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=51844.0)

[imgzoom]http://calicoreverie.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/iaj1.png[/imgzoom]
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: st. on Fri 06/03/2015 08:59:15
...you guys are real artists :) Great atmosphere! And beyond that, alternative worlds for the atmosphere to go with?! I was most impressed by the storytelling though, by how the player is involved... I'm still looking for the words to describe that :) This friendly contest feels like a picnic - your games were a real treat!
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: Hobo on Fri 06/03/2015 15:19:45
Congrats to both of you for releasing the game! Just finished The Furthest Station and plan on playing IAMJASON later today.

@st. - since The Furthest Station doesn't seem to have a completed game thread, I'm gonna comment here.

The graphics look simple, yet are consistent and completely sufficient to carry the message. I did love the slow and contenplating pace of the game, but since there was a fair amount of walking involved, the walk speed could have been faster. For me personally, there was a bit too much text to read. Don't get me wrong, it was all interesting and well written, but in couple of dialogues it just felt sort of too overwhelming. Didn't find any bugs, but experienced that unreadable font issue a few times.

It's a good MAGS entry with great story and I hope to see more from you in the future.

Oh, and there's a hobo in the game, that's always a good thing :)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: xil on Fri 06/03/2015 15:30:04
Thanks Hobo, I've just had to patch it as BSP found a horrible bug so make sure you re-download before playing it!

@st. I've just finished The Furthest Station playing as well! I shared the concern Hobo mentioned with some of the text being large but I didn't dislike the dialogue at all, for me it maybe could have just been broken up into 3 or 4 .Say() commands and it would have been unnoticeable.

The story and the atmosphere were excellent but my favorite thing by far was the character sprites, absolutely beautiful pixel art!

Congrats on getting it done with such time to spare as well :)
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: LeafThief on Fri 06/03/2015 16:43:20
Wow guys these look f***** amazing. Can't wait to check them out once I'm home.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: st. on Fri 06/03/2015 23:59:24
:) I'm glad you liked it! I don't know if the attention TFS receives and will receive(?) may justify a CGA page, but I'd be interested in discussing various aspects of the game.

It's difficult for me to go into detail about what I liked more or less in S5B and IAJ. I'm afraid to compare them... I could say that I was impressed about the interaction with the environment and the graphical details in S5B. Once, I saw I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream and I remember that the graphical details helped me feel what the characters felt, like my senses were connected to the drawings. I think S5B can manifest this potential in a full length game. And I could say that I was impressed about the contrast between the rough, block-like drawings in IAJ and the subtle references to feelings and intimate thoughts. And also about the labyrinth-like path that the pc follows throughout the game, with surprises waiting around each corner. I can't think of any other means of expression than those of the arcades of old to be capable of stimulating the imagination of the player more. If in S5B you tend to experience with all your senses and the intellect is predominantly engaged - in mapping all the details and fitting the situations. In IAJ the imagination seems to be emphasized and the music and drawings become feelings; the intellect just flows of floats with them. There, I compared them... I hope I did no injustice...

This may not be the place to go into detail about my game, but it is possible that I will not have another chance to answer you. For everyone else, that might vote :), I must say that I would like my game to be judged by how it feels overall, regardless of the explanations given below. My desire was to make a game that adventure gamers could like. Elements of the game might interest only game makers, perhaps.

Yes, the focus of TFS is on the relations between the characters and that is handled mostly through dialog. I think it's not as much the size of some of the blocks of speech that gives the overwhelming feeling as the fact that occasionally(?) I squeezed a lot of information in one block. There I relied on the contrasts between phrases for the dramatic effect needed to carry the story forward. That may seem too thin at times? To compensate, I also tried to have everything else, like the graphics, good enough to keep the player comfortable while approaching the dialog; and leaving it behind. From your generous comments I understand that I succeeded, most of the time :) Many aspects of TFS were designed and executed in one go. The game grew and I just couldn't afford to come back and change everything. You know, there was so much to do in so little time :) One example is that of the database behind the actions, like "Talk: ...". It was set from the beginning to hold 5 lines of speech for the playable character and 5 replies of the respective npc. Then I just had to stick to the rule. Now that I think about it, it would probably be very easy to split the chunks of speech, yet I don't know if that would not disrupt the dramatic effect from having at one time, in mind, the whole picture drawn with words. There is also the timing of the chunks of speech that counts: they come after the pc gets to know the npcs a little and after they get a little closer through the means of an item given and received...

About the long walks, I assume you used the continuous walk feature. Besides that I could say that I wanted the walking speed to feel natural. And the walk towards an npc can occasion a feeling of anticipation or, perhaps, can offer the breathing space away from the dialogs, the time needed to reflect on what was said or just to look around through the eyes of the pc again...

I know we all worked hard and I dare say all three results are impressive in at least one particular way :) I'm glad this contest offered me the opportunity to share my work with you in a more involved way than it would be reflected through comments elsewhere. Thank you!
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (OPEN)
Post by: MAGS Host on Mon 09/03/2015 16:59:20
Voting!

Three entries to choose from this month:


• The Furthest Station (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1893/) by springthoughts
• Scenario 5B (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1895/) by Hobo
• IAMJASON (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1896/) by xil


Please PM this account with your vote by 16th March.

Also, as several people asked last month, I'd just like to clarify that it's a single vote for your favourite entry - there's no need to rank the entries.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (Winner Announced)
Post by: MAGS Host on Wed 18/03/2015 22:41:27
Results:

IAMJASON by xil - 3 votes
Scenario 5B by Hobo - 5 votes
(http://bestanimations.com/holidays/fireworks/Fireworks-02-june.gif) (http://bestanimations.com/holidays/fireworks/Fireworks-01-june.gif)

Congrats Hobo! As usual thanks to everybody who entered and voted!
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (Winner Announced)
Post by: Hobo on Thu 19/03/2015 00:46:38
This was a bit of a surprise and I kind of have mixed feelings about this. Of course I'm glad ;-D that I won, but the game I voted for didn't :(

Thanks a lot to all who played and took part in the voting!
And thank you xil and springthoughts for making good games that I enjoyed playing.
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (Winner Announced)
Post by: st. on Thu 19/03/2015 08:47:42
Well, there had to be a winner :)

Your compliments, Hobo and Xil, are my reward :) Besides having accomplished what I set out to do, of course. It was really a competition against myself, a dare to do something different. MAGS offered the external motivation, but more than that it was the place where I worked side by side with other seekers after harmony. It was a pleasant feeling that I rediscovered what a friendly contest is about :)

There are many things in S5B and IAJ that I look forward to return to in the preliminaries to my future games. May you be inspired to bring to our world many such beautiful creations that make you and all of us happy!
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (Winner Announced)
Post by: xil on Thu 19/03/2015 20:51:10
Congrats Hobo :)

I second st.'s sentiments, MAGS is a great way to test ones self via a time limit and random subject and the competition is always very friendly!

I'm learning more and more by just finishing games these days, too many times in the past I would get so close, but never get over the finish line.

On to my next MAGS entry!
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (Winner Announced)
Post by: Radiant on Sat 28/03/2015 18:41:58
Quote from: MAGS Host on Wed 18/03/2015 22:41:27
IAMJASON by xil - 3 votes
Scenario 5B by Hobo - 5 votes

So since this month's contest was about losing something, does that mean that IAMJASON wins? :confused::tongue:
Title: Re: MAGS February: "Losing Something" (Winner Announced)
Post by: xil on Tue 31/03/2015 11:28:12
Haha, I'll take it. Victory is mine! (kind of) ;)