What is MAGS?
MAGS is a monthly competition for all amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to use AGS to create a game in under a month, following the rules set by the previous winner.
For more information please visit the Official MAGS Website (http://www.mags-competition.tk)
Why should I enter MAGS?
We're not here to tell you that you should enter MAGS, but merely allow it as a creative opportunity to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and generally as a good kick-start for the new comers (a.k.a n00bies).
MAGS is the perfect opportuninty to make a game, and the wonderful prize is to announce the net month's rules, and all competitiors get the game placed on the MAGS website.
MAGS is meant to be fun and is aimed at everyone, despite their skill. If you have poor art skills work on graphics, and vice-versa, as the voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but must not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.
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Topic: EGA
This time Viktor's rules go an unusual way: We face more technical restrictions rather than guidlines for a theme. It's a new, exciting challenge for all AGS users.
- graphics:
: use only 16 colors in your game
: screen resolution should be 640x350/400/480 pixels (not a must)
(640x350 is not supported by AGS as screen size but you could use background graphics in this resolution)
- inventory that should appear:
: cowboy hat
: tarot card
- No other restrictions
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All entries should be in by April 25th.
Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.
Great! I had an interesting idea for a low colour game recently, this might give me the motivation to have a go at it.
That's just... weird O_o This morning i was considering starting an EGA game myself, looks like i'm going to be entering this month :)
I would enter... but high resolutions scare me.
I think ill just experiment with 16 colors and think about it. But i think 640x400 is just way too big to be using 16 colors at...
Just to point out im british but am using the american speling because google says thats not how you spell it... google smells
I completely agree with what DontTredOnMe said, i didnt notice the size limit at first but 640 is deff too high for 16 colours IMHO.
Maybe consider lowering it? :/
Quote from: DontTreadOnMe on Fri 01/04/2005 12:29:15
...high resolutions scare me...But i think 640x400 is just way too big to be using 16 colors at...
Quote from: Chicky on Fri 01/04/2005 18:33:07
640 is deff too high for 16 colours IMHO. Maybe consider lowering it? :/
Don't worry about the size too much - look what the rules say:
: screen resolution should be 640x350/400/480 pixels (
not a must)
So it's also possible to use 320x200/240 px if that's what you like more. It's just that the original EGA offers a maximum of 640x350 px with 16 colors and that's why there's the "should be" part in the rules. Anyway: Maybe thinking about screens with less colors in high resolution results in interesting new ideas...
And is 16 colors the maximum amount or does it need to be éxactly 16 colors?
Im in, about time a EGA mags came about.
Quote from: largopredator on Fri 01/04/2005 19:12:06
And is 16 colors the maximum amount or does it need to be éxactly 16 colors?
Less colors is also possible.
Is it a hard and fast rule as to what they have to be? Do they have to be the traditional 16 color palet? Or can they be 16 shades of blue? (or something of the like) i was just wondering. Im undecided as to wether to enter, as im getting a new computor but id still like to look into the possibility. EGA games do have a certain quirkyness. However without any rules on plot i may struggle to come up with one. That is IF i enter.
Well in those older games they often use changing pallettes for different rooms. Of course they had to be careful and keep a pallete there for the characters as well. I think we should be able to do this too, as it fits with the theme.
No cheating though ;)
I want to participate, I was going to last compo but didn't get a chance. Will be my first game so I doubt I will do very good but I'll give it a good effort.
Klaus, does it have to be the proper EGA pallet, or will any 16 colours do?
Quote from: Chicky on Sat 02/04/2005 01:30:34
Klaus, does it have to be the proper EGA pallet, or will any 16 colours do?
I certainly hope so, otherwise my loverly sepia pallette will be rendered useless.
heh, mine was a rather stupid question i guess :P
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/oversizedchicken/egaaa.png)
if anyone needs it.
Quote from: DontTreadOnMe on Fri 01/04/2005 23:15:55
Do they have to be the traditional 16 color palet? Or can they be 16 shades of blue?
Quote from: Chicky on Sat 02/04/2005 01:30:34
Klaus, does it have to be the proper EGA pallet, or will any 16 colours do?
As for these questions: To make it easier (and probably some games look nicer) any 16 colors will do but they need to be used all through the game. No switching of the pallet from scene to scene. But of course you can also use the traditional EGA colors.
Quote from: saluk on Sat 02/04/2005 00:23:52
No cheating though ;)
Yes, that's it :)
If its okay, Im making the backgrounds in AGI and will program it in AGS.
Am I just mistaken, or is template's forbidden when making MAGS entries? I think I'm gonna take a try at entering this month, I love making EGA games, it's much easier to make BG's that way, IMO. :D
well i am going to enter (if i will have some time :p)
any number of Bg's restriction?
does the Bg PLUS Sprite all have to be equal of 16 colors?
Nice Rules :)
Quote from: Goél on Sun 03/04/2005 12:50:07
well i am going to enter (if i will have some time :p)
any number of Bg's restriction?
does the Bg PLUS Sprite all have to be equal of 16 colors?
Nice Rules :)
16 colour games tend to have backgrounds in 16 colours too so yes, the entire game must be in 16 colours. Hmmm not being able to work on the game I am primarily working on at the moment, I may have time to enter :) Oh yeah thanks for the pallet Chicky!
Gimp 2 also conveniently has an EGA pallete :)
Go to Image->mode->indexed...
Click on "use custom pallette"
Click on the little pallete button and scroll up to ega.
You can even do this AFTER you draw your image in full color - if you like living dangerously hehe. It does its best to convert the pallette.
It took me forever to find out how to actually choose my colors, if anyone else has trobule its "Colormap" under dialogs.
Good luck everyone.
Quote from: Reptile on Sat 02/04/2005 14:31:12
If its okay, Im making the backgrounds in AGI and will program it in AGS.
It doesn't matter what utility you use for the creation of your graphics. So you can go that way with AGI.
Quote from: Largo on Sat 02/04/2005 14:40:44
Am I just mistaken, or is template's forbidden when making MAGS entries?
Templates like "Reality on the Norm" or "Insta-game" are not forbidden. But of course it's always nicer to see original graphics created especially for a game...
Is it okay if two people can work on one game for mags?
Don't hit me now, but it's "palette" :=
Since it's a very high-resi limit for entering, can you make it 320x200 and then change it to 640x400 when you're done? That way, it will probably look more pixelized. ;D
Can someone help program my little game? I've gone most of the backgrounds and art, and fair chance of having voice overs, I dont know how to do that kind of stuff. :)
Oops, wrong thread...
Er, best of luck to all MAGS people!
Im still looking for a programmer, its just a tny 5 rooms game.
Send pms around to see if they will help. Not everyone is going to read this thread. And there is a post for people wanting help with a game somewhere
Ladies and gentlemen... time is ticking. So from now (see timestamp of this posting) there are only about 40 hours left before the voting will begin.
So don't hesitate to send in your entries in time :) Good luck.
Ok here's my entry for April Mags.
16 colours, cowboy hat and tarot card.
The plot does get a bit ropey at times but there is a thread of sorts.
Download (http://www.alpha72.com/WMHM/WMHM.zip)
(http://www.alpha72.com/WMHM/scrnshot1.jpg)
(http://www.alpha72.com/WMHM/scrnshot3.jpg)
(http://www.alpha72.com/WMHM/scrnshot5.jpg)
Allrighty, here's my MAGS entry: Bob Smith and the Unsolved Case of Mystery.
Screenies:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/Largo/crimescene_bobsmith.gif)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/Largo/offices_bobsmith.gif)
Download:
Get Bob Smith: UCOM now! (http://xthost.info/bobsmith/games/BobSmith1.rar)
And again time is up. Sad to see that there's no entry from Reptile :'( - maybe next time...
Now let's have a look at the two games that entered this month's competition:
For voting please visit the MAGS site (http://www.mags-competition.tk) or make your choice right here (only use one of these two ways of voting - nothing else allowed):
Wheres MHat Ma by Wretched (http://mags.klaus-schlichter.info?page=voting&fav=Wheres%20MHat%20Ma)
Bob Smith and the Unsolved Case of Mystery by Largo (http://mags.klaus-schlichter.info?page=voting&fav=Bob%20Smith%20and%20the%20Unsolved%20Case%20of%20Mystery)
Please vote only once and be sure to have played all games before sending your voice! Good luck to all participants.
Hey Largo, is that purely coincidental that one of your plot lines has Alpha computer games, when my company is Alpha72 Games ?
Quote from: Wretched on Tue 26/04/2005 16:11:13
Hey Largo, is that purely coincidental that one of your plot lines has Alpha computer games, when my company is Alpha72 Games ?
Oh, I swear I had no idea about that. Sorry. :-[
Cool games guys! Sorry I couldnt participate, I had some sprites drawn but other stuff came up :( I dont think Ill be able to do anything next month either, but maybe Ill be able to get back into games when summer comes.
Nice *interesting* use of art there wretched!
so um....
who won?
Oh we're online again :)
Quote from: viktor on Wed 04/05/2005 08:51:26
so um.... who won?
So this means you didn't yet check the results on the MAGS website (http://www.mags-competition.tk)!? :o
Okay then - for all who do not not by now:
Both entries received the same number of voices, so this time we have two winners - Largo and Wretched.
I think it's a nice result as the games are so different in the use of 16 colors.
Congratulations to both of them.