hey, what about an AGS bonus pack with an installation file with the most impressive plug-ins, templates, fonts, background-pics, FAQs and so on? that would be a great idea for newcomers who want to experiment with AGS... then u dont really have to surf around the net all the time.
There are several resource packages referenced to on the forum. I'd point you to Rui (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?action=profile;u=663)'s webpage, but it seems to be broken.
But I can see how one big package could be useful to a beginner. :=
There's also the Resources section on the AGS Downloads page (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/acres.shtml). Of those, jasonjkay's Site (http://www.americangirlscouts.org/agsresources/) seems to have taken the place of Rui's as good, frequently updated general resource. There's also Candle's Module Mirror site (http://www.candles-weblog.us/ags) (mentioned in the READ ME FIRST thread in Beginners Tech, and there's a couple of other links in there too).
EDIT:
Didn't comment on the idea. I'm not so sure how it'd work - how would you decide which where the 'most impressive'? How much could you include than would actually be of any use to someone just starting out with AGS, without having it just confuse them? Who'd maintain it (a mod, or would it just be another job for CJ)? How often would it be updated to include new content? For that matter, would it need updating everytime a new version of an included module/template/whatever was released?
Not meaning to totally trash the idea, honestly, but obviously I have a few reservations about the implimentation. I'd prefer to see some more, better organised resource sites - like the mentioned ones from jasonjkay and Rui (when it's back up) - that are prominantly advertised, can be regularly updated and allow people to pick for themselves what they'd find useful, rather than an arbitary collection from someone else. Perhaps the main site could have a 'Featured Resource' section (like the 'Pick of the Month' on the Games page, or the 'Games Showcase' on the front page), to draw attention to particularly 'impressive' stuff.
I still think it's an excellent idea.
Thanks Ashen for promoting my site ;D. I think I understand what Chingon means but it needs some work to be helpfull. A new user would install this bonus pack which installs AGS, some of the more popular and easy to use modules and plugins as well as some short tuturials on how to use them, a bunch of free background pics so they can experiment and some tutorials for begginers which show how to program, draw backgrounds and charachters. I think this would take some work to make it usefull but if anybody does do it, i'll upload it to my website.
I don't think that "most impressive" should be the criteria here. That may just as well confuse as help someone new. Include all the stuff that beginners are always asking for: Stuff like the Verb Coin GUI, Verb list GUI, the RON pack, Instagame, art tutorials, tutorials for scripting stuff that newbies are always asking for (like an RPG Engine), etc. Of course, this all depends on whether such a thing is made or not.
I think this is a good idea, actualy. If it were done well. Maybe not include things based on how 'impressive' they are; but by useful including plugins that are relatively bug free and include suitable instructions, guis that are scripted well, and so on. I guess I'm thinking of including things that are generally of a 'good quality'.
I think all this sort of stuff needs to be available to users first downloading the program. "Download AGS... AND, hey, why not download the ags resource pack?" Because as it is, there are random templates and things all over the place... sometimes dead links, sometimes not, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't...
Then, half this stuff you only find if you're specifically looking for it anyway...
But to include everything that could be wanted would just make the resource pack needlessly bulky, which is why I think a better promoted (as in, linked from the AGS download page, and remind me to add it to the Beginners Tech READ ME FIRST thread) resource site is a better solution. It'd also need to include scripting and GUI tutorials, for sure.
jason - any chance of that from you? Does anyone have any unused (or just under used) tutorials they could post somewhere?
Actually, I was amazed that the entire collection of AAfiles can fix on a DVD. AGS games are pretty small and modules and plugins even more so...
maybe the term "most impressive plug-in" isnt the correct term, what i wanted to say is "easy to handle plug-in for starter". and as for other sites with AGS-extras: its very frustating to browse around websites with dead links. an all in one-package for starters would be very helpful... especially if u live in argentina and the connection is (at least in my city) extremly slow, so it takes hours to get some extras... u browse from site to site for hours...
the gamemaker site has the thing of which i was thinking of:
http://www.gamemaker.nl/resource.html
Quote from: Ashen on Thu 22/06/2006 14:41:52
jason - any chance of that from you? Does anyone have any unused (or just under used) tutorials they could post somewhere?
What do you want from me? is it this resources pack idea or are you wanting me to put a load of tutorials on my site? If it's the tuturials, you'd have to send me some as I dont have any. Scripting tutorials are the hardest to find because ther arn't many (if any) OOP tutorials.
Sorry, I kind of added that as an after thought, which is why it's a bit vague. I just meant it as a general "If you HAD the tutorials would you include them?" I realise that one of the major problems there is, there really aren't a great many tutorials out there that are up-to-date enough to be of use to beginners - which is why I added the second bit. If anyone has any tutorials for V2.7+ online somewhere, PM me and I'll link them in the Beginners Tech Read Me First (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=14373.0) thread.
Please add the below file to whatever resource pack that would host it. It contains a background and a bunch of sprites that are free for use. Sorry if it isn't much but I suppose every bit helps.
http://crystalshard.net/zip/Graphics.zip
Because the engine is always changing, if CJ supported a AGS pack, he'd have to make sure each file in the pack would work with the new engine. It's much easier to just point to where plug-ins and such can be found, and not be liable if they don't work. By making an official pack you just put a bigger burden on CJ.
-MillsJROSS