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 opportunity to make a game, and the wonderful prize is to announce the next month's rules, and all competitors 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 should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.
You are not allowed to (re)use material already created before this competition, you game must be completely new! An exception goes for sounds and music where you can also use free material that is available to the public.
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This month's guidelines are set by munchiez, winner of the last month's competition.
Topic: Desert Island
- The game should be set on a desert island. There can be other characters on it if you like, but try to keep an impression of the island being quite desolate.
- There must be a character (player or non-player) based on an inanimate object. Whether it can talk or not is up to you.
Examples:
Wilson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cast_Away#Wilson) (volleyball) from Castaway
Milky Joe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nightmare_of_Milky_Joe) (coconut on a stick) from The Mighty Boosh.
- One puzzle must involve a seagull or a shark (or both!).
That's it. No further restrictions.
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All games need to be in by August 26th.
Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.
Alright, nice topic.
I know I say this a lot, but...
Screw it, I'm doing it!
EDIT: Added "Alright, nice topic."
Ok, I'm absolutely sure I'll take part in this one. Great theme btw. :D
A desert island or a deserted island? There's a difference, you know.
Quote from: Snarky on Wed 01/08/2007 06:33:40
A desert island or a deserted island? There's a difference, you know.
No there isn't. The term desert island is synonymous with any uninhabited island and does not refer to the geological conditions of it.
You're right. I stand corrected. Turns out the term "desert island" comes from a time when "desert" could refer to any uninhabited area, not just an arid region.
Personally, I'd rather be stranded on a dessert island.
Quote from: Snarky on Wed 01/08/2007 07:55:58
Personally, I'd rather be stranded on a dessert island.
No arguing there :)
Intriguing idea...
One question: do mannequins and robots count as inanimate objects?
Dessert island... sounds like an awesome place to be stranded, I'm not too sure I'd want rescuing!
Mannequins are definitely OK, I'd say robots are pushing it a bit but if you've got a good idea I say go with it :)
Does it literally have to be an island? Or, say a stranded planet?
But then it'd be difficult to include the seagull or shark...
Quote from: Recluse on Wed 01/08/2007 23:27:59
Does it literally have to be an island? Or, say a stranded planet?
But then it'd be difficult to include the seagull or shark...
Robot seagull... extraterrestrial shark??
If anyone is in need of some music, drop me a line.
Recluse: Yes, it should literally be an island. I suppose it could be a desert island on another planet though. A desert island in an ocean of lava could be an interesting take on the theme.
LOST: The Graphical Adventure, anyone? Nice theme by the way, though I don't have much time on my hands to contribute
Haha OneDollar I had that idea also ;D
If I can think of a better idea I might enter.
Does it count if your main character is a seagull, since then every puzzle would involve a seagull? :)
I'm entering... but probably early. Splat44 is going to Beta for me... He's a Saint!!! I have a show opening at the end of the month at my theatre and I really wanted to enter this... so it's now or never... Forgive the short work... but I've worked on this since it was listed for about 12 hours a day since I knew I wouldn't have time later in the month. It's called... STRANDED... It's short. I had a shit load of problems but thanks to the forums I think most of them are worked out... LOOK FOR IT... Coming soon to an AGS Forum close to YOU!!!
S T R A N D E D
Son of a- I have to change my title now! Errrgh! :)
Meh, I probably won't finish in time anyways. :P
lol I have to change the title of my game too... Damn it!
Actually it would be fun if there were three games with the same name. Or you can call them "Stranded", "STRANDED" and "Stranded??"
Don't forget "Stranded Quest", "StrandedQuest", "Stranded Quest!", "StrandedQuest!", "Stranded_Quest" and "Stranded_Quest!".
Here's a Screenshot for the game...and here is the link...
http://theatrx.8m.com/STRANDED.zip (http://theatrx.8m.com/STRANDED.zip)
(http://theatrx.8m.com/Stranded%20Screenshot1.jpg)
I'll make a short entry. It'll probably be rather average and the work of one to two weeks... but the characters are cool. As is the background. I already like them :=
(Don't worry, it'll finish on time and El Presidente is under development, too. I just have too much time.)
You are the third person who asks me that... but no, sorry. ;)
Actually, the three-way title thing gave me an entirely new plot-slant idea for my game...two weekends? Hmmm...I might be able to finish by then, sleep be dam-ned! Corners, prepare to be cut!
Damn, I have to back out of the competition. I was held at gun point and lost my laptop and ipod. Next competition maybe. :-\
QuoteI'll make a short entry.
That's a Job for El Gilligan?
Hey, uh, theatrx...I swear this isn't a joke, prank or an attempt to undercut the competition...I downloaded your game, played it for a bit, and exited out in normal fashion. And when I returned to my desktop, almost every one of the folders and shortcuts on my desktop, start menu and throughout the rest of my computer were at first entirely blank where their icons should've been, and all my graphic files had a weird image of an outheld hand instead of the Paintshop Pro icon on them. After rebooting a few times the folders are now showing that no-image-available icon (the white folded over page with the little desktop window inside it) instead of folder icons, and my graphic files are back to normal. I can still access everything, it's just the icons that all seem to have been broken. Did you do something different, fancy or dangerous with the scripting for your game, or perhaps your home computer's virus protection let something into the file? I've run all my adware and virus programs with no result, so it's probably not that, but this is my 8-month old $1000 Dell XPS 410 here, so you can understand my nervousness. Any idea what happened?
As far as I know, that sometimes happens after you exit an application that makes use of DirectX - at one point, I had all my folder icons replaced by the "Nuclear Waste" icon that Defcon uses - but usually, everything reverts to normal after a short time. I guess you already tried rebooting?
I just thought of a great idea for a game, but it means I would only have 7 days to make it so I think Il pass on this one. I need to make a game one day...
Oh my idea its open to anyone who wants to make it, a game based on Charlie Chalk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chalk) and a seagull who stole his hat. ;D
ps good luck with everyone's games
Strange Visitor: Yeah, I've had that happen quite a few times before - its just another Windows glitch. If you leave it long enough or refresh the screen somehow it should all go back to normal though. Its nothing to worry about anyway and nothing to do with how theatrx built his game.
I have a sudden craving to look up Charlie Chalk on Youtube...
Quote from: LUniqueDan on Sun 19/08/2007 00:46:36
QuoteI'll make a short entry.
That's a Job for El Gilligan?
Apart from the fact I don't even know who that is, no. ;)
Ahh Akatosh... you have no idea how you make me believe on the faith of humanity right now, on evolution, 'on the youth on whose spirit the search for thruth marches on'... :=
Here what you (don't) miss :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb3ClZ1OceI&mode=related&search=
No I didn't do anything weird with the scripting. My adaware and virus scan are up to date. I can't imagine what happened. I've had that happen before also but when I rebooted everything went back to normal. Really sorry it happened.
No apology necessary, man, I know it's not something you would do deliberately (unless you've got a secret life as an 00ber-h4ck3r :) )...I've been reading all over the net and the only thing I've found so far is that it might be a win32 virus infection or something. I've been running all kinds of scans, regedit fixes and trying to recreate the circumstances that caused it (I pretty much played the game, and CTRL-ESC'd twice to get back to the desktop and adjust the volume), but no luck so far. I've rebooted about a dozen times since then, tried System Restore and even unplugged the computer and held the power button down for ten seconds (which resets something or other), all to no avail. Gaaah...I might have to face the Curse of Dell Customer Service again.
Your desktop icons are gone? Or are they changed? Checked this out myself and apparently this is an inherant problem with Windows itself... I don't know what to tell you. It did say something about auto arrange desktop icons and sometimes this repairs the problem.
Visitor, no worries. AFAIK, pretty much everyone has had this problem at least once. I myself have had it several times. The only problem is purely visual, and it tends to sort itself out eventually. Consider it unusual it had never happened to you yet, really. Don't worry about reproducing it, just ignore it when it happens.
Visitor: I had someting like this happen to me, and it was a virus after all! I could fight it, (there is a way) but in the end I just formated everything! Sorry to hear about your troubles, though. :(
Theatrix: you have been most creative over the past year or so, no? ;) Well done mate!
I get the problem too from playing Half-Life, perhaps some DirectX issue? Anyway you can fix the problem by resetting the icon cache (WinXP):
1) Right click on desktop and select Properties
2) Click Appearance tab
3) Click Advanced
4) Select Icon in the item list
5) Increase the Size to 33 and confirm changes
6) Now do the same and change the size back to 32
Only problem is you'll lose the arrangement of your icons.
theatrx -- you son of a ***** my game was going to be called stranded, and it involves a talking easter island statue!!!! :'(
SimB: WOOT! It worked!!!! Infinite thank you's!
Theatrx: Sorry I clogged up your thread with my problem. :) Still, glad to know neither of us has a virus!
And "Almost Stranded" is still in progress, it's going to be a close thing. The graphics are all done, it's just a pure scripting vs. sleep race now. :)
Sorry but I have a show opening at the end of the month and I did the first thing that came into my mind. I guess a bunch of people thought the same thing but only because of my own deadline did I forge ahead to participate in this MAGS. Is MAGS as tough for everyone else as it is for me? The one month thing is a killer!!! Shorter games I guess.
I did it! Er, We did it.
HELP! the game
Not much to say about it, just
- an Interactive Fiction made in AGS
- with rpg/survival elements
- with aliens
- potentially - with first-person look
Download? Sure, go and get it (http://misendeavour.com/help_tg)!
Now, a bit of bad news... Game was too global for a month, therefore I have releasing a beta version... It has everything this month's rules demand, but is, ehm, untested and has most graphics done by me (i.e. awful).
Some music is by me too, thankfully, all my music is in music.vox, and you may skip downloading it.
SimB was helping me with backgrounds and valuable suggestions, so big "thank you" goes in his direction...
Everyone is probably going to be pissed at this post but I have to say something.
Why post a MAGS game when everyone rants and raves about how shitty it is?! I think the point is that you have a whole bunch of rules that you didn't ordain. You have a whole bunch of restrictions that you didn't ordain. You have a time constriction that you didn't ordain. Characters and props that you didn't ordain. And that is the construct. I thought the point was that we'd try to build a game under these constructs and have fun and learn.
It has been my observation that people think your game sucks and that the dialogue sucks and the characters suck and you shouldn't have done it in the first place.
Do people actually understand as I think I do that the MAGS games are to make us better as a community?
I don't think so.
I will tell you that I thorougly enjoy the 'making game' process. I learn so much. I get to talk with a bunch of AGSers to help out with the problem at hand. I think that that is what MAGS is about. Growing. Learning. Becoming better.
I don't really appreciate getting slammed for a MAGS game.
Perhaps we could have rules about slamming the MAGS creators? I can understand slamming a game that was created under 'no criteria'. I can't understand slamming a game with so much criteria imposed.
That's just me.
MAGS is imposing to start off with. I personally feel that people aren't entering because of the caustic environment that they are imposing on themselves for an otherwise worthwhile learning experience.
I'm ranting... sorry... theatrx
Theatrx - whatever even brought this on? Sure, no one expects a MAGS game to be great. But we still have games like Odot Tomat On. And most MAGS games are quite entertaining. I'm not sure there's as much "caustic environment" as you say.
Anyway, the point of MAGS is to give people a scenario and a couple of ideas to start their own game. If at some point they really get involved and want to expand, they can drop the MAGS and just make their game, from the basis that MAGS game them. Which is incredibly good.
Anyway, you can always update and bug-fix a MAGS game post-release.
And if the game is bad, you'll get "slammed". That's not a MAGS problem, and depending on one's POV, it's probably not even a "problem" at all.
FSi - Good one. Just a couple of things after a quick play:
1 - "Get" as a synonim for "take" is a lot more friendly.
2 - I got all the stats to 100%, except for Death Rate, which stopped at 50%. After that, they went no higher, and I didn't die as I expected.
I love all the crazy mag entries and I know that they were made under preconditions that no man should ever experience ;)
Anyway I think it helps the game creators be more creative and learn about the process, although I am talking form no experienced since I have never entered one. My mind goes of to vast fantasy worlds when I think of what I would create if I enter.
Anyway, when I read this mags one I was thinking of a guy washing up on a beach where there are no inhabitants, he is a ventriloquist and has his little puppet with him this as a medium to talk to all the characters in the game which turn out to be all in his head.
Anyway this made me think of creating a game in terms of a tag team combination where the main character si a ventriloquist and you can talk either using the puppet or the man. :)
I think that is a very creative idea.
/me notices the deadline and redoubles his efforts
Why do I always start working only when I'm on a tight schedule? Damnit!
/EDIT: Also, I'm running low on synonyms for trash. I've used "debris", "scrap", "rubbish"...
Quote from: Rui "Trovatore" Pires on Sat 25/08/2007 10:51:40
FSi - Good one. Just a couple of things after a quick play:
1 - "Get" as a synonim for "take" is a lot more friendly.
2 - I got all the stats to 100%, except for Death Rate, which stopped at 50%. After that, they went no higher, and I didn't die as I expected.
The opposite for me. My death right raised to 2%, and on the next screen, I was dead ^^
But it's a cool idea, FSi. It plays very comfortable.
Ok I finished my first game ever! So I doubt I will win this months lol
G. P.'s Lost Adventure (yeah sucky title)
-- A Fiction game about a Game Piece that gets lost on a desert island.
-- To download it: wellspictures.googlepages.com
By the way, I played FSi and I was so confused! I have never played a game like that... so i tried getting the hang of it and then i died! lol Man do I stink at games! hehe
Quote from: Rui "Trovatore" Pires on Sat 25/08/2007 10:51:40
Theatrx - whatever even brought this on? Sure, no one expects a MAGS game to be great. But we still have games like Odot Tomat On. And most MAGS games are quite entertaining. I'm not sure there's as much "caustic environment" as you say.
Anyway, the point of MAGS is to give people a scenario and a couple of ideas to start their own game. If at some point they really get involved and want to expand, they can drop the MAGS and just make their game, from the basis that MAGS game them. Which is incredibly good.
Anyway, you can always update and bug-fix a MAGS game post-release.
And if the game is bad, you'll get "slammed". That's not a MAGS problem, and depending on one's POV, it's probably not even a "problem" at all.
FSi - Good one. Just a couple of things after a quick play:
1 - "Get" as a synonim for "take" is a lot more friendly.
2 - I got all the stats to 100%, except for Death Rate, which stopped at 50%. After that, they went no higher, and I didn't die as I expected.
I don't see any reason for someone to get slammed during compertition when user can express their opinion by voting or be entering comment at http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?category=2 (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?category=2) in area where user can vote/rate and write a comment.
Yes, I agree we should have a rule against slamming during competition!
What a great idea. You're wacked but I love it. What a novel approach.
When you make any game you should expect a degree of criticism. I don't really advocate people just trashing something but some people are very vocal about what they don't like. There is definitely a difference between criticism and just tearing into someone, though, and all I can suggest is to ignore people who are just trying to upset you.
Drat and double-drat! Looks like I'm maintaining my sterling record of coming really close to finishing and then dying at the end. Good luck to everyone else, I'm outies yo!
If anyone's curious, here's a screenshot of "Almost Stranded", the four-room game-that-might-have-been, seagull as main character, and my inanimate object woulda been a talking rum bottle with a cartoon pirate on it. Maybe I'll get back to it eventually. :P
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Almstrand.png)
There's still some time left to work on your game... But then: In 12 hours from now (see timestamp of this post) the voting will begin...
(delete please)
Okay, so I was wrong. Here it is, anyway! ;D
(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a23/FAMILIAR_QUEST/screenshawt.png)
Downloady! (http://www.esnips.com/doc/cb5fc435-3cc0-4f97-90a4-fe0017b8cc97/WashedAshore)
The game shouldn't take you too long to complete. No idea *how* long, though. Personally, it take me around 1 - 2 minutes :=
Ha haah!
(http://crystalshard.net/img/atoti.png)
A Tale of Two Islands (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=31862.0). We have it all: a seagull, an inanimate cup that talks, a shark, and a poor sod who arguably should be able to swim just fine...
Time is up, so here we go! For voting please visit the MAGS site (http://www.mags-competition.tk) or make your choice right here:
Washed Ashore by Akatosh (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=Washed%20Ashore)
Stranded by theatrx (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=Stranded)
Help - the game by FSi (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=Help%20-%20the%20game)
G.P.s Lost Adventure by Wells8892 (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=G.P.s%20Lost%20Adventure)
A Tale of Two Islands by Radiant (http://just.kidding/too)
Please vote only once and be sure to have played all games before sending your voice! Good luck to all participants.
This is my first competition ive done so I dont know this. When does the voting stop?
The link to Tale of Two Islands doesn't work. Is there another place to download it?
Read the links. :P
Quote from: Wells8892 on Mon 27/08/2007 04:09:59
This is my first competition ive done...
And what about "Test Rat Escape" in April!? ???
Quote from: Wells8892 on Mon 27/08/2007 04:09:59
When does the voting stop?
There is no fix date for the end of the voting: Usually it's about one to three days before the next month begins. One day is good to get more votes (in case the entries are at an equal level and there's no clear winner right from the start) while three days are better for the winner to come up with an idea for the next contest. :)
Quote from: Klaus on Sun 26/08/2007 22:09:47
Time is up, so here we go! For voting please visit the MAGS site (http://www.mags-competition.tk) or make your choice right here:
Washed Ashore by Akatosh (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=Washed%20Ashore)
Stranded by theatrx (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=Stranded)
Help - the game by FSi (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=Help%20-%20the%20game)
G.P.s Lost Adventure by Wells8892 (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=G.P.s%20Lost%20Adventure)
A Tale of Two Islands by Radiant (http://just.kidding/too)
Please vote only once and be sure to have played all games before sending your voice! Good luck to all participants.
Is Radiant game still on, the link isn't working and it isn't list in mag website.
Well, read the link. :P
I haven't had time to play the games yet, but it seems quite obvious that Radiant's "A Tale Of Two Islands" is the far superior game of the group! :P
In all seriousness, I have a really hard time getting much game playing time during the week. I'd like to vote on these competitions, but seems like by the time I've finished the games votes have already been tabulated and a winner was chosen. Woe is me I guess.
Awwww I was looking forward to seeing Radiant win and see what he can come up with for the next MAGS. :(
Quote from: Klaus on Mon 27/08/2007 09:07:50
Quote from: Wells8892 on Mon 27/08/2007 04:09:59
This is my first competition ive done...
And what about "Test Rat Escape" in April!? ???
Quote
Yeah that was mainly joelphilippage. I just came up with the idea! He was the one who programmed it because I didnt know much about his. So now this was the first one I MADE myself! Thats all.
As a first time voter, let me say: It's un-frakking-believable what some people actually manage to do in just a month. I envy each and every one of you.
Quote from: olafmoriarty on Fri 31/08/2007 14:44:14
As a first time voter, let me say: It's un-frakking-believable what some people actually manage to do in just a month.
Oh, that's nothing - you should see the WAGS :)
Okay, so time for voting is over now. To my surprise the winner is not
Radiant and his entry A Tale of Two Islands!
Now those who enjoyed his entry might also be interested in his "other" game (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=31862.0) :)
Back to the serious part, back to the contest:
The winner this time is the game named "Washed Ashore" created by Akatosh in his very unique style!
Congratulations and also many thanks to the other participants for joining the contest!
:D
I don't think I have anything else to say than that. Thanks a lot, people!
Quote from: Klaus on Fri 31/08/2007 15:57:50
To my surprise the winner is not
It's not? ??? ::) but I shall have my revenge!!!! Mua ha ha haaah!
(SRSLY, congrats to Akatosh! I suspect you'll have some weirdly fun idea in mind for the next MAGS?)
My twisted mind already spat something out... although it's probably not what you'd expect.
Congrats, I enjoyed all the entries but Washed Ashore was a worthy winner!