AGS in GameMaker magazine

[Gilbert]

Oh great, another step ahead for Pumaman to become the ruler of the United Earth Kingdom.

Anyway, I think any genre of game not using "3D' needs a guide nowaday.

[auhsor]

Yeah it was a good article. I get a feeling that we'll get a whole lot of n00bs, speaking 'adventure game language' that none of us know. Oh well.

[DGMacphee]

I can see several things wrong with that article, especially in the last page:

a) AGI doesn't use CGA and VGA. It used CGA and EGA. I've never seen an AGI game using more than 16 colours.

b) The scene they used from Broken Sword isn't an 'arcade sequence'. It was from a cutscene.

c) The 7th Guest isn't an adventure by definition. It's a puzzle game.

Professional my arse!!!

[Gilbert]

(a) Well in some sense I think some of the later AGI games DO use VGA (something like LSL2 onwards), using VGA doesn't mean the graphic modes has to be in hi-res or having 256+ colours. There are in fact, modes like VGA 320x200x16 colours (here I wont argue whether it's a MCGA mode or VGA mode, I'll just consider the MCGA modes subset of VGA modes). One basec difference is the base palette, that with EGA you can only choose colours from a base palette of 64 (I think) colours, whereas in VGA, you can choose them from sorta 262 144 colours (though when running in 16 colour mode, you can display a total of 16 from them simultaneously). This also applies to some of the LEC adventures (eg. 16 colour version of Indy3).

(c) Hehe, teh 7th Guest, by the game company's own definition, it WAS an adventure, though in our definition, it's just a collection of small puzzle games (that can fit even into a low density floppy, if you ditched all the "killer graphics" and sounds) wasting  2 CDs.

[DGMacphee]

(a) Well in some sense I think some of the later AGI games DO use VGA (something like LSL2 onwards), using VGA doesn't mean the graphic modes has to be in hi-res or having 256+ colours. There are in fact, modes like VGA 320x200x16 colours (here I wont argue whether it's a MCGA mode or VGA mode, I'll just consider the MCGA modes subset of VGA modes). One basec difference is the base palette, that with EGA you can only choose colours from a base palette of 64 (I think) colours, whereas in VGA, you can choose them from sorta 262 144 colours (though when running in 16 colour mode, you can display a total of 16 from them simultaneously). This also applies to some of the LEC adventures (eg. 16 colour version of Indy3).

But that's not actually AGI -- That's actually AGI 2 you're talking about.

(c) Hehe, teh 7th Guest, by the game company's own definition, it WAS an adventure, though in our definition, it's just a collection of small puzzle games (that can fit even into a low density floppy, if you ditched all the "killer graphics" and sounds) wasting  2 CDs.

Let's not forget the hammy acting too.

In any case, it isn't an adventure by today's standards.

[rodekill]

So basically we can all agree that any game making advice garnered from GameMaker magazine should be taken with a big fat cube of salt.

[DGMacphee]

Better yet, follow my tutorial:

1. Draw the graphics, but don't worry if they look a little on the rubbish side of things -- The main thing is the advertising and not the actual graphics and story of game itself (That's why Ace Quest is so popular -- it has a good advertising campaign)

2. Do the scripting -- This is done by posting on the forum "HEY D00DZ CAN ANYONE DOES THE SCRIPTING FOR MY COMPANY LEETSOFT!!! I CAN DO THE GRAPHICS AND WE MAKES TEH BEST GAME EVER!!!"

3. Masturbate

4. Do the music -- This is done by asking Mods.

5. Bug Gilbert, CJ, Spyros, etc for help with YUOR GAME

6. Compile it while masturbating again

7. Upload to tripod server and then find out your have no more space.

8. Bug Slypher for a hosting mirror.

9. Advertise!

10. Congrats! You've just made an AGS game!

[Gilbert]

Better:
1. Launch AGS edit
2. Select "Start a new game", click "OK"
3. Select the "Blank game" template, type in the game's name, click "Next >>"
4. Select the resolution of your choice, click "OK"
5. Select "Help" --> "Make my game..."
6. Check options where-ever appropiate, click "OK"

VIOLA!!!1! You now have your own game done!1!1! I'm quite descriptive on this one, am I, am I?

[DGMacphee]

Better:
1. Launch AGS edit
2. Select "Start a new game", click "OK"
3. Select the "Blank game" template, type in the game's name, click "Next >>"
4. Select the resolution of your choice, click "OK"
5. Select "Help" --> "Make my game..."
6. Check options where-ever appropiate, click "OK"

VIOLA!!!1! You now have your own game done!1!1! I'm quite descriptive on this one, am I, am I?

You forgot the masturbate step.

[rodekill]

I'm a little afraid at how closely DG's game design philosophy follows mine.
I have more masturbating though. That's really why RK2 was taking so long.

[Timosity]

I found a new feature of AGS the other day, I don't know how long it's been there, but have you tried this:

1. In the editor select help from the top menu
2. then select Make my game...
3. choose the elements you want for your game
4. bingo, you just created a best seller
5. invest in a cheese grater
6. Use it for DG's favourite hobby


I had no idea this feature existed till the other day, could have been round for a while, but never noticed it, classic feature CJ.

Edit: Damn it I didn't read the whole thread first!!, I actually read down to the one before Gilbot's post where I got the idea from DG, I guess I was on the same train of thought as Gilbot, but I remembered the masturbation joke.

[Gilbert]

You forgot the masturbate step.

Well, I was just teach newbies to make family games for all to enjoy.

[DGMacphee]

Masturbation can be a family game...

No wait, even I have my limits to humour.




edit by eric: no you don't

[Esseb]

Back to the article, what's the game in the top left on the first page?

[DGMacphee]

It looks like Police Quest 2.

[m0ds]

They missed "poobungies" also.