I really want to learn..just don't know where to start.

[asphodelle13]

Hello everyone.Ã,  I'm new here so bear with me...I just installed AGS and I'm so excited about making a game.Ã,  I'm 21 and I can remember playing Quest For Glory 1 like 10 yrs ago(my fav adventure series of all time)...I also love King's Quest, Space Quest..I've been a fan of games like that for so long now.

I guess my question is...where do some of you get your ideas for a story?Ã,  I'd like to come up with a fantasy/adventure sort of story(like QFG) but I still want it to be fairly original..I don't want to rip ideas from my alltime fav games..

And any tips on where to start first would be most appreciated.Ã,  I'll definetely look through a lot of the tutorials..I'm completely new to AGS but I think I can get comfortable with it quick if I can just come up with an original story..

Thanks!

[TerranRich]

Where to start. Hmm.

Pick a genre. Then watch movies. TV episodes. Anything related to that gaming genre. For example, if choosing sc-fi (like I did), watch a lot of sci-fi (like I do). Watch Trek movies, Star Wars, anything on the Sci-Fi Network (if you get it), Starship Troopers, etc. Take notes about the stories. You could take a cliche subject (people die and there's a conspiracy; an alien race is invading; etc.) and make it more exciting. Develop the characters, make them realistic.

That's about it from my end.

[Ishmael]

My game ideas come to me... Imagination is the key.

I just come to think of something. like for the prequel of my current game project I thought of a policeman (actually, I drew the character, then thought "hey, that guy looks like a police") then I got the idea of an unusual werewolf, and that was it, I devlopped story around it.

[Minimi]

I suggest you go for a walk outside, away from your computer. Notice everything around you, wich could be the supermarket, outside nature, people that walk by, or other things. I myself look much at the animals, or go to a zoo, to come up with a story. I like to make games about animals. look at http://www.solidussoft.tk for an example of my games.

So basically you just let your mind wander, and if you prefer you could take a pencil and notes with you, to write ideas down. When you've come up with an interesting original idea, wich could be made as an adventure, go back home, and think about how you can convert it into a real game. also something I had to learn, is to be true about yourself!
I mean with that, to know what you are capable of. Then just get to know the interface of AGS, and choose a drawing style.

One more thing. Make sure you pick something you are really excited about, and not what others want. Ofcourse you can listen to others critics, but it's your game, and your time you place in it. It's one to start a game, it's a second to actually finish it. So also don't make your first game too long and ambitious! Hope this helps you!

If you got any other questions, just private message me! Welcome!

[Lazy Z]

I pretty much agree with what everybody has said already, but I'd like to add this: Try to find a story/setting that you like, something that you find interesting. If you don't find it interesting, chances are others won't find it either. It doesn't matter if it's not too original, nothing ever is anymore! Just put your own personal twist in it. You could also have the story deal with a theme that you're interested in, like friendship, mortality, taxes etc, and incorporate that in your story, that will make it more personal and interesting.

Just my two cents, hope I've been of assistance!

[Andail]

I suggest you go for a walk outside, away from your computer. Notice everything around you, wich could be the supermarket, outside nature, people that walk by, or other things.

An excellent advice, especially coming from Minimi

I couldn't have said it better myself. (That goes for writing, drawing and everything that needs inspiration, not just ags, of course.)

[Sinitrena]

The other people said already the most important things about writing a story. It's really important do get an inspiration. I just want to add, that you don't need a completed story in the beginning. That's the way I write somthing (not for games, but most of my story can easilly be changed into game storys): I start with a sentence that sounds good. I develop the most important characters and what the story should be about. The next step is to imagine wht happens. In my mind the characters act for themselves. I don't control what happends. Using this way of writing, in my storys always happens something unexpeded. Perhaps thats just the way I write, but it works.

[Moox]

I reccomend making a short game before attempting something large. Storyline isnt as much the key to a game as much as the puzzles are. How many times has a great storyline been mutilated by jumping puzzles? You should play some ags games that you think sound intresting to get a feel of the engine, whats been done before, and what needs to be done. I recomend playing things like 5 days a stranger and RON series etc...

[Ginny]

I get my ideas from all over the place. I guess if I'm actually trying to find a story, I think of a setting or something like that, but mostly, ideas can come from anywhere. I would go outside to get inspiration, but there is rarely anything interesting going on here.. Still, just a few days ago, I was watching a program on The National Geographic Channel, and got an idea.
As for starting with ags, I'd say make up a simple 1-2 puzzle "story", and make a small game out of it, but let yourself play around with the enginge and try everything out. It becomes much more natural to use this way. Tutorials first though .

Btw, welcome!

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Ok, here I go again...

www.freewebs.com/skimbleshanks/

Game packs, plugins, fonts, ALL THE TEMPLATES AVAILABLE SO FAR, and a little bit more. Check it out sometime.