MAGS April "Sequels, Prequels and Reboots, Oh My!" (RESULT)

[MAGS Host]

The voting is over, the results have been carefully counted and the winner is:

‘Slay the Dragon II' by TGames

Congrats, TGames. You will be contacted soon about choosing a topic for May.

	Reef Rivers in When Time Stops by Slasher
	Slay the Dragon II by TGames

Vote using the poll at the top of the page.

Voting ends May 17th

Topic: SEQUELS, PREQUELS and REBOOTS OH MY!
This month's guidelines were set by HanaIndiana



Everyone likes a good sequel, so this month's challenge is to do just that.

Pick an existing AGS game (it can include one of your own), and create a sequel or a prequel!

You can have all of the same characters and locations (Syberia II), or have it simply be part of the same universe (Skyrim).
And as usual, to keep things fair, your game must include all new original art.
Don't worry about your game looking just like the original. In fact, it's probably more interesting if it doesn't.

Now, go pick a favorite, or start browsing games!

Ending:  April 30th

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is MAGS?

Started in 2001, MAGS is a 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, and 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.

Rules

• You may work in a team to produce an entry.
• You are not allowed to use any material created before the competition. Your game must be completely new! An exception is music and sound; you can use any audio that is freely available to the public.
• Any modules and templates featured in this board 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. For more information, please visit the Official MAGS website.

[Cassiebsg]

You are excused Stupot for not wanting to post on April fools day.

And nice theme!

[Slasher]

Mmm... Would the author of another game be happy with one using his concept I ask?

I have decided to do a sequel to one of my earlier games: that is another story with the same main character. I assume the character art sprites can be the same?

Of course the story and locations will be different.. but he still is what he is...

Meanwhile I have pen and paper on hand.....

[DBoyWheeler]

Not sure if I can think of a good one myself.  But good luck to those entering.

[Slasher]

Not sure if I can think of a good one myself.  But good luck to those entering.

So we have lost you this  month?

Oh, well. Let's hope others will enter this month

Meanwhile I am still toying with the objective....

[DBoyWheeler]

So we have lost you this  month?

Oh, well. Let's hope others will enter this month

Meanwhile I am still toying with the objective....

Yeah, sorry.  I usually like to plan out a series (sequels, prequels, whatever) well in advance.  But if it were a different theme (like a time period or a particular style of relic to look for), I might consider it.  I do admit, however, that sometimes MAGS can help me springboard possible "series" of characters I have.

All the same, for this one, I'm willing to be a proofreader for dialogue if needed.

[Radiant]

Interesting concept! Any restrictions on art style? What about demake-quality art? Is a text adventure (IF) a valid approach here?

Your two examples (Syberia and Skyrim) aren't AGS games... does this imply we can do a pre/sequel of any non-AGS adventure game as well?

[Slasher]

Your two examples (Syberia and Skyrim) aren't AGS games... does this imply we can do a pre/sequel of any non-AGS adventure game as well?

It can only be AGS...........right?

My Prequel intro is:

C1 "Prepare my plane Sykes, I am off to Glasburgh University in Scotland."
C1 "Professor Higgins has some very interesting lectures he wishes to conduct."
C2 "I'm sorry to say, sir but your plane is being repaired after you crash landed it last week."
C2 "It will not be ready for another five days, I'm afraid."
C1 "I had forgotten about that. Darn engine cut out and I nosedived straight into that tree!"
C1 "It will have to be by train."
C2 "I'm afraid there has just been a news flash on the radio, sir."
C2 "There has just been a train crash outside London on the Glasburgh line."
C2 "They say the line won't be cleared for at least four days."
C1 "I need to be in Glasburgh by Wednesday by 4:00pm."
C2 "There is one alternative, sir."
C1 "Which is?"
C2 "Your balloon, sir."
C2 "With the right wind direction, speed and altitude you could make Glasburgh by Wednesday lunchtime."
C1 "OK Sykes, pack my bag and prepare the balloon."
C2 "Yes, sir."

[HanaIndiana]

I was thinking AGS only. I just got lazy in my description and included the first two adventure games in my head.
Any art style! Text adventure would be interesting.

[Slasher]

I claim the Title:

When Time Stops

Imaging if all days and nights ceased to be or the seasons never came if Time was Stopped

[Slasher]

Hi

Update: 'When Time Stops'

Another thrilling episode of Reef Rivers

Here is an in-production video of having survived a fierce storm and arriving at Glasburgh University in your hot air balloon to attend a lecture:

Game progress: 60%.. On schedule.

[Slasher]

Where is everyone?

Has time stopped?

[Stupot]

Any more for any more?

[Slasher]

Some people are just too shy

Mind you, revamping one's own games should not be difficult.

Still, it's early days

Let's hope that there will indeed be more entries this month...

My own game progress: 75%

[Danvzare]

Any more for any more?

I would've gladly participated this month, since I absolutely love the theme (it really gets the creative juices flowing).
But I knew I wouldn't have time to finish it.

I really hope some other people manage to join though.

[Riaise]

I'm the same as Danvzare, I have a vague idea but I'm just too busy at the moment to get anything done. Sorry, everyone.

[Slasher]

Well, I hope you guys that don't have time to create a game can at least spare some time to give the games a play and cast your vote,

Keep this alive

[VampireWombat]

If doing a game using characters I created for an unfinished MAGS game is okay, then I can give it a shot.

[Slasher]

Can you find and bring back the Ring of Power that can stop time itself?! Game is being tested..........

Storyline: After travelling to Glasburgh University, to attend lectures by Professor Higgins you find yourself volunteering for a dangerous quest for Professor Higgins who believes, through ancient scrolls that he has finally found the location of the Ring of Power. He wants you to fly to Assabar, India and enter the secret hidden Temple of Bhindiwara and find and bring back the Ring of Power that can stop time itself! The Ring of Power was once worn by Shabgur, an evil warlord of India. He turned the seasons to eternal winters and the daylight to nights. During a bloody battle, Shabgur lost his hand with the Ring of Power on and so retreated. The Bhindiwara's found that they could not smash or melt the Ring so decided to hide it in a secret, hidden temple so that man could never again have the power to stop time. The Ring of Power has remained in the Temple of Bhindiwara for over two thousand years. * Don't worry if you do something really silly and die...you can't keep a good man down thanks to a Save Game saving function. * You are no James Bond and only equip yourself with a rope as you set off on your quest. * Overcome the most devious obstacles. * Using Professor Higgins' notes you explore the Chambers in the Temple of Bhindiwara. * How fast can you complete your quest and return with the Ring of Power?... your time is revealed at the end. * The fastest time by May 12th (with a screen shot of proof) will be awarded the certificate of 'Legendary artifact hunter' signed by Reef Rivers himself The question is: Are you alone?

Screenshots

Specs: 1024 X 768 32 Bit color Direct3D 9 hardware acceleration

[Mandle]

Where is everyone?

I'm going to be out of MAGS for a few months (or longer) I'm afraid as I have promised myself that I will get "A Martyr Of Time" finished as a full game.

Work on it is progressing smoothly. The game is at the point where the first "mission" is "playable" but not fully fleshed out/polished yet.

Taking a bit of a break from the main storyline to put in a (hopefully) fun easter-egg minigame...

I'll miss the rush of MAGS for a while but I really want to feel the satisfaction of releasing a full-length game as it was originally conceived.

I'll still be hanging out here and playing all the games of course!

Damn, that reminds me: I've gotta go back and play the last two that I missed while in Australia! Too late to vote though but I will give feedback!

Cheers!

[Slasher]

Can you find and bring back the Ring of Power that can stop time itself? Download Game here

Storyline: After travelling to Glasburgh University, to attend lectures by Professor Higgins you find yourself volunteering for a dangerous quest for Professor Higgins who believes, through ancient scrolls that he has finally found the location of the Ring of Power. He wants you to fly to Assabar, India and enter the secret hidden Temple of Bhindiwara and find and bring back the Ring of Power that can stop time itself! The Ring of Power was once worn by Shabgur, an evil warlord of India. He turned the seasons to eternal winters and the daylight to nights. During a bloody battle, Shabgur lost his hand with the Ring of Power on and so retreated. The Bhindiwara's found that they could not smash or melt the Ring so decided to hide it in a secret, hidden temple so that man could never again have the power to stop time. The Ring of Power has remained in the Temple of Bhindiwara for over two thousand years. * Don't worry if you do something really silly and die...you can't keep a good man down thanks to a Save Game restore function. * You are no James Bond and only equip yourself with a rope as you set off on your quest. * Overcome the most devious obstacles. * Using Professor Higgins' notes you explore the Chambers in the Temple of Bhindiwara. * How fast can you complete your quest and return with the Ring of Power?... your time is revealed at the end. * The fastest time by May 12th (with a screen shot of proof) will be awarded the certificate of 'Legendary artifact hunter' signed by Reef Rivers himself The question is: Are you alone?

Screenshots

Specs: 1024 X 768 32 Bit color Direct3D 9 hardware acceleration Download Game here

[VampireWombat]

I know that the rules say prequels and sequels, but the topic has the word reboot.
Would a reboot of a previous game I made be okay? It would have completely new graphics, new dialog,be 3rd person instead of 1st person, and have more characters, rooms, and puzzles.

[Slasher]

I think reworking a previous game is ok if you changed the graphics...

[HanaIndiana]

I agree, a reboot would be great!

[VampireWombat]

Alright, a reboot it is. Now to learn how to make the graphics in Inkscape, find a name for the main character that's not shared by a baseball player, and get a new box of paper for the monkey typewriter room...

[TGames]

Oh dang, I just realized that the last game I made is a sequel to a previous game and was started and completed entirely in April. I wasn't thinking of Mags when I made it, but would you guys be okay if I submitted it as an entry?

[Slasher]

If it was started in April I don't see why not...

[TGames]

Great! I'm gonna add some sound to it and then fix any bugs that have been found and then I'll officially submit it.

[Mandle]

Awesome! Slay The Dragon II is on my to-play list for next week (week-long holiday here in Japan) and it's cool to know that I can play it with sound etc.

[TGames]

Alright. I went and added sound and fixed a bug that someone had already found so here it is.

Slay the Dragon II





You are hunting down a dragon. Find a way to get into its temple and defeat it once and for all.
This is a sequel to a REALLY bad game i made in about an hour a while ago.

I hope you all enjoy it, I had a lot of fun making it.

Here is the page in completed game announcements.

Here is the game page.

[Slasher]

Another holiday Mandle

Anymore takers for this months MAG competition?

Sand is seeping away

[VampireWombat]

I'm still working on my game.
Everything is more or less on schedule. I'm slowly working on bits a couple of hours a day and will be doing animation and refinements this weekend.

[Shadow1000]

I replayed it to see what it's like with the sound. BIG improvement! The sound effects really bring the game to life.

I'm glad you entered the MAGS so there's more than one entry as the end of the month draweth nigh...

[Mandle]

Another holiday Mandle

Sorry, mate. I think I mentioned in a MAGS thread somewhere that I'm taking a break from MAGS for a bit to finish "A Martyr Of Time" as a full-length game.

[Slasher]

TGames: Welcome on board... and yes, better with sound

VampireWombat: Hope you can meet the deadline so nose down

Good luck everyone

Mandle: You can take your time and get things just perfect. Parser's can at times be tricky

[VampireWombat]

I am still more or less on track with where I planned to be. I should have everything completed and tested by 6 or 7 pm my time tomorrow.

[VampireWombat]

I fear I have to back out of the competition after all. Enough minor issues keep popping up that there's just no way I can finish in time for the deadline.

[Stupot]

I fear I have to back out of the competition after all. Enough minor issues keep popping up that there's just no way I can finish in time for the deadline.

How much time do you need VW? I'm not really able to close the contest yet anyway.

[VampireWombat]

How much time do you need VW? I'm not really able to close the contest yet anyway.

2 days should give me enough time to either fix the problems or find a workaround.

[Stupot]

How much time do you need VW? I'm not really able to close the contest yet anyway.

2 days should give me enough time to either fix the problems or find a workaround.

Okay. Two more days suits me. I'm currently on holiday at the moment and sorting the voting out in my phone is a pain in the asphalt.

[VampireWombat]

It's 7 pm here. I've found solutions to my previous problems, but still have to import graphics and a few other things. Assuming nothing goes wrong, I should be finished in the next 2-3 hours.

[Mandle]

It's 7 pm here. I've found solutions to my previous problems, but still have to import graphics and a few other things. Assuming nothing goes wrong, I should be finished in the next 2-3 hours.

Awesome! I plan to play the entries this afternoon as a break from some other projects. Can't wait!

[Mandle]

I'm going to add comments about the entries as I play them:

When Time Stops

Spoiler

Another fun outing with Reef Rivers. It reminded me a lot of the first game with its journey inside a dark temple. I had a lot of fun with the game.

The first puzzle and the third puzzle were really fun (killing the snake and pushing the spikes room buttons) and showed that some thought had been put into their design.

Unfortunately I can't say the same for the other areas which were either weirdly obvious (the room of shocks) or pixel-hunting (the buddha bracelet, the iron bar, the secret place) and the tiger was just a multiple-choice, you'll get it if you keep trying, kinda thing. There is an entry in the notes about facing your fear so I suppose that was the hint for the correct action?

I'm guessing Slasher maybe ran out of time to make some areas a bit more involved?

For example, at the end I would have been impressed if the solution of breaking the final door was tying one end of the rope to the secret place door while it's open and the other end to the cracked door and then slide the secret place door closed to pull down the cracked door.

Something like that at the end that had made me feel like I had used my brain a bit more would have increased my satisfaction at escaping with the goodies.

I was also a bit disappointed that, given the game's name, time never stops (except during the unskippable text sections describing cutscenes ) and there is no way to use the ring (that I know of) making it kind of a generic macguffin that could have been anything.

Maybe something further was originally planned along the theme of the ring stopping time but was (ironically) cut for time reasons again?

I finished the game in 37 minutes and 5 seconds...

Still, a fun and impressive entry!

[close]

Slay The Dragon II

Spoiler

Impressive effort for a second game and made in under a month! While the puzzles were quite simple, mechanically, they all worked fine.

Except for one: I found that if I clicked on the puzzle piece across the bridge with the hand icon the character just went and got it, walking through the cart like he was a ghost. You just need a bool variable in there like "BridgeBlocked" (true/false) to check when the hand icon is used. Another way would be to check if the wagon graphic sprite is the original number as it changes when the puzzle is solved.

The coloured stone puzzle is a bit too easy to solve just by brute-force and I did so before finding the hint clue for it. I would suggest that you have the order of the presses randomly change each time a failed attempt is made (and also the numbers on the hint picture) so that the player must find the hint before being able to solve it. A bit of visual feedback seeing the stones sink into the ground slightly would be nice too.

Another slightly weird one I found was the coal/bandage puzzle. This is not how making a rubbing with charcoal works. If the coal was ink then maybe this printing method would make sense but, as it is, I'd say almost every player would expect to put the bandage on the map first and then rub the coal on top of that.

The dragon was impressive when it showed up but I was a bit disappointed that the game didn't just let me leave like the dragon told me to. It was the first thing I tried. Just "Yup, dragon's right! Should just leave!" and I thought it would have been great if that was a possible ending: "You leave forever and return home to your village a coward. But at least you're alive, eh?" or something like that.

I feel this would be a nice game to introduce kids to the adventure game genre with: The puzzles are about right for a 6-8 year-old to have a challenge with. The colours are bright and the graphics simple but attractive. The game length is also about right for that age-range to not lose interest before the end.

Great second game! Keep going and your skills will grow faster than you imagine!

[close]

[VampireWombat]

Awesome! I plan to play the entries this afternoon as a break from some other projects. Can't wait!

Sorry, but due to sleep deprivation the last week and horrible allergies I ended up going to sleep early instead of finishing.
And now that I've actually actually had enough sleep to think properly, I know that even if I did try to finish the game, it's really not enough of an improvement over the original to be worth anyone's time.

[Slasher]

Hi Mandle,

Thanks for your comments...

If a game plays fine then that is a good starting place..

Don't we all see a better way of doing somethings once the song is sung?

Stopping Time would be where time never passes and stays the same...like the season...etc...

If this were a full length game much more would have gone into it, but as it was it was for MAG'S...

cheers

[VampireWombat]

Okay. Two more days suits me. I'm currently on holiday at the moment and sorting the voting out in my phone is a pain in the asphalt.

Thanks for the extension. Unfortunately I just wasn't up to the task of getting it finished.

[TGames]

Mantle, thanks for the feedback! I admit that there is a lot of room for improvement, especially in the dragon area. I have been thinking about this game for a long time but I was only ever coming up with ideas leading up to opening the door, so I feel the second half seems rushed. There were a lot of visual improvements that could have been made, but my goal for this game was To finish a decent game. I didn't want to get discouraged by the time it takes to make good artwork, so I decided to stick with the simple style because it was fast. Again, thank you so much for the comments!

[Slasher]

Mandle

(except during the unskippable text sections describing cutscenes )

Ever tried the Esc Key

[MAGS Host]

Better luck next time @VW.

The competition has now ended and voting is underway.

	Reef Rivers in When Time Stops by Slasher
	Slay the Dragon II by TGames

Vote using the poll at the top of the page.

Voting ends May 17th

[Cassiebsg]

I need a mirror for GameJolt...

[Slasher]

I need a mirror for GameJolt...

I could do you a Mediafire mirror...

[Cassiebsg]

Mediafire works but it's not your game I can't download.

[Shadow1000]

My analysis:

Both games are similar in a number of ways and it was actually not an easy decision. They are both based on classic tropes (slay the dragon, get the artifact before the bad guy does) and feature decent, fun but fairly straightforward puzzles. I liked that Reef Rivers had a bit more variety on the puzzles such as the balloon game.

Spoiler

I am not sure if having the bad guy appear at the end of RR makes the game feel a bit incomplete or gives it some more suspense. I voted for Slay the Dragon because I felt that the puzzles were a bit more developed and I liked the simple art

[close]

That said, it was REALLY close so good job to both entries.

[lanchong]

It was hard to choose indeed.

I like the puzzles and the storyline of Reef Rivers. If some of the graphics were a bit more polished, this game could compete with the Indiana Jones game series.

Slay the Dragon II has cute minimalist graphics. Puzzles are fine but the storyline needs to be developed. Overall I like it so it has my vote.

[Slasher]

Please get your vote in...

Both games are doing well...

[Wiggy]

I liked both games, but my vote has to go to "When time stops". "Slay the Dragon II" had cute old-style graphics, good puzzles and a bug that should never have passed beta test - one puzzle to obtain a mosaic tile could be revisited, negating the need to solve all the preliminary puzzles. (See the "hints and tips" thread because one player actually used this.) "When time stops" was a good solid effort, good graphics, plot, and a reasonable puzzle difficulty in most cases. What really nailed it for me was the added challenge to try to complete it as quickly as possible. It's not simply a matter of leaning on the escape key, your knowledge of how the AGS engine works (hint: change the game speed, but in which direction?) is crucial and it made the whole game a puzzle in itself. I took me 4 attempts to beat 10 minutes. Try it yourself! I'm trying to include a screenshot but it's not working, no Reef Rivers certificate for me.

[MAGS Host]

Last few days to vote, folks.
It's pretty tight so far, so could your vote be the one that decides the winner?
It's all down to YOU! Yes YOU!

[Slasher]

It's a draw so far and I wish TGames well done for stealing 50% of the votes

Nail-biting time

[TGames]

Haha I'm actually really surprised it so close
It will be an anxious next couple of days

[MAGS Host]

The voting is over and the results have been carefully counted.

The winner is:

‘Slay the Dragon II' by TGames

Congrats, TGames. You will be contacted soon about choosing a topic for May.

[TGames]

Wow that was really close! Thank you to everyone that voted. Also well done Slasher for an amazing game, I voted for you

[Kinkilla]

Congratz TGames!

[Slasher]

Well done TGames....

Hope you choose a great Topic for June

See you there

[Shadow1000]

So close, as expected! Congrats