I'm new here, just saying hello

[aeron]

Hi guys, I'm new to the community and more specifically AGS. In the past I used the practically infamous Game Maker to create games (e.g., this), but lately I've taken interest in adventure games and their creation.

Anyway I'm just looking for some direction on how to get started. I've gotten the basics down, so if anyone would like to toss at me any helpful hints, that'd be great

Cheers!

[LimpingFish]

Hello, welcome to the forums.

We have a handy thread here for people to introduce themselves.

And this board here should get you started making a game.

[twin-moon]

Hi!

Anyway I'm just looking for some direction on how to get started. I've gotten the basics down, so if anyone would like to toss at me any helpful hints, that'd be great

- Have your story ready before you start scripting the game. That helps.
- Originality is difficult; if you can't think of anything; pick your favorite cliche plotline and add your own touches to it. See also this discussion.
- And of course: Make something you'd like to play.

That's my two cents...

[Ghost]

To repeat the old sayings:

- Start small. Nothing can get you into more trouble that deciding that your first game needs 100k rooms, multiple endings, a weather system and a trio of playable characters.

- Play the AGS masterpieces; not saying the longest ones but those who excel in some way. Good suggestions are Apprentice, King's Quest Remake, Infinity String... the list is much longer though 

- Stick to what you like.

- Create a playable version of your game (a "prototype") before adding polish. Do not waste the time to fine-tune animations before you can actually play your whole game.

- A very good and helpful thing to have is a fake walkthrough that gives you a "perfect play", and tick your code as you recreate it. For example, in a simple game where you need to unfreeze a key from an ice block, the walkthrough would detail all the steps (open fridge, get ice block, examine it to see there is a key, get screwdriver, fix microwave, thaw ice, duck because metal key causes microwave to explode), and you can work your way along this list.

- get a GOOD playtester.

- Do not incinerate your companion cube.

- Check member websites that have blogs or similar. SSH and VinceTwelve have such resourceful sites, and also yours truly (well, mine's not soooo well  : )