MAGS August: "Heat" (CLOSED)

Atelier · Tue 30/07/2013 11:40:09

Topic: 'Heat'

This month's guidelines were set by Myinah and Soxbrooker:

The theme for this month's MAGS is heat. It has been scorching this summer and what better way to avoid sunburn than sitting inside and participating in MAGS.

The heat we are referring to is temperature, but other definitions are allowed for the sake of creativity. However, the definition you pick must become central to the plot of your entry. Not an insignificant hotspot or dialogue quip. You can use multiple definitions of the word in one game, but please ensure at least one is clearly central to the plot.

There are no genre restrictions. Get creative and enjoy!

Ending 31st August

__________________________________________________________________________________________

This month's winner was Summer Woes by Adeel S. Ahmed and Oldschool_Wolf.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

What is MAGS?

MAGS is a monthly competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the rules set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, or provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favorite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

You may get help for the competition, although you must end up doing something yourself. You should however be warned that it proves difficult to organize a big team within thirty days. You are not allowed to use material already created before this competition. Your game must be completely new! Music and sound is an exception; you can use free material that is available to the public, if you wish. Modules and templates are also allowed.

Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualise your game following the month's criteria (see top). Second, create your game fueled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

Ã¢Å"â€œ A working download link
Ã¢Å"â€œ The title of your game
Ã¢Å"â€œ A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fifteen days. The winner chooses the next month's theme, and their name and game is immortalised in the MAGS Archive. For more information, please visit the Official MAGS website.

Adeel · Tue 30/07/2013 14:50:56

I were born on 1st of August, 1996, Thursday. After a long interval of sixteen years" this year, the 1st of August is going to fall on Thursday again.

To make it more remarkable to me, I am going to participate in August MAGS. Yes, my very first MAGS. Therefore, count me in for this one.

Theme suits me too. Some ideas are already gathering in my mind.

Alaskaban · Tue 30/07/2013 18:24:22

I am putting my game on hold to participate. I feel like the deadline will urge me to finish.

Alaskaban · Wed 31/07/2013 03:24:37

I have started creation of my game, here is the first background.

And here is the character, Frank, the survivor of a plane crash.

I'll keep you guys updated on my progress.
Thankyou, Alaskaban

gameboy · Wed 31/07/2013 21:12:59

A MAGS game would be a fun break from working on other projects. I'm not sure if I'm gonna be able to finish it, but I started brainstorming a couple of ideas and bam! suddenly I had finished a background and some character art.

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/ls6pzzv.png[/imgzoom]

Adeel · Thu 01/08/2013 10:23:05

Good news regarding my MAGS game:

My friend "Oldschool_Wolf" has decided to offer his help

. I were going to start recruiting after sometime but he offered long before my request. So, first of all: Thank you "Oldschool_Wolf". I owe you for this one.

I'm going to keep the identity of my characters, secret for now.

gameboy, you have started out nicely. Great art as always. Especially, you deserve salute for completing this much in such a short span of time. Guessing from your background, maybe your's and mine game-story is going to clash / resemble somewhere

. I can't wait to see your sprites in action.

Alaskaban, guessing from the background. I think your game will take place in a desert or town close to desert. Can't wait to see the game finished. Good base for a nice story. Especially, I like your character: Frank. Also, I must say: you're a great fan of survivals. If you don't mind my asking: are you a fan of Bear Grylls?

Good luck to you and everyone else (present or future) participating in this MAGS

.

PROGRESS LOG:

Front View Sprite of Main Character is ready, along with his front talking animation.
Another's Character Front View is ~~near completion~~ - E: Completed it!

frenzykitty · Thu 01/08/2013 11:18:35

Lovely background Gameboy

ZapZap · Thu 01/08/2013 13:41:33

Wow you guys are fast. I might participate too

Alaskaban · Thu 01/08/2013 18:59:56

Adeel: I am a big fan of Bear Grylls. I also think that survival is a good base for a game.

Retro Wolf · Sat 03/08/2013 13:10:05

@gameboy: Your art is wondeful!
@Alaskaban: That guy could do with a Cola!

This is not only my first MAGS, but also my first project collaboration! I am quite excited about the project and have been enjoying working with Adeel.

I've recently completed a full custom sprite sheet for the main character, Adeel is very pleased with the results.

EDIT: By the way Adeel... where did you get that new avatar?

Alaskaban · Sun 04/08/2013 03:27:44

I finished my game, I know it didn't take very long but it is Good
Title: Survival

You can get it here
Thankyou, Alaskaban
I think I might just restart a different game. The game is so short because I didn't know where the story was going.

Dropped Monocle Games · Sun 04/08/2013 12:47:55

Alaskaban your game is very short and you know you have a whole month to add more to it and maybe a bit of polish?

Adeel · Sun 04/08/2013 13:03:08

@Alaskaban: I don't know about your engagements. I agree with Sox that you should increase the time length of your game. You have a whole month.

@cleanic: Please do participate.

Oldschool_Wolf: Thank you friend. It's because of your help and support that we are progressing greatly. I'm pleased that you're enjoying working with me.

My new avatar? Someone by the name of David Hasselhoff PMed it to me and I liked it so I set it

.

PROGRESS LOG:

Team AdeelWolf is getting along very nicely. The sprite for our main character has been finalized. Our main character's animations are also completed. Second character's sprite is also finalized and work is being done on second character's animation. First background is also completed and will soon be finalized. The rough draft story and puzzles is also completed and will be finalized / polished within few days.

A big thanks to Oldschool_Wolf for helping me out. He's doing a lot of work. So much in fact; that sometimes I forget that it was I who started this project.

Oldschool_Wolf, my friend, to put it simple: I'm lucky to have you as my partner.

I'm sure that there'll be some surprises for the player in our game.

Retro Wolf · Sun 04/08/2013 13:16:31

Thank you for the kind words Adeel, it is still very much your project, and besides, you are the one that is going to have to script it all (story script and AGS script). That is the most important role in my opinion.

Adeel · Sun 04/08/2013 13:27:56

Quote from: Oldschool_Wolf on Sun 04/08/2013 13:16:31
Thank you for the kind words Adeel, it is still very much your project, [...]

No. From the day you joined me: it was, is and will be OUR PROJECT. Not mine, not your's. OUR PROJECT

Quote from: Oldschool_Wolf on Sun 04/08/2013 13:16:31
[...] and besides, you are the one that is going to have to script it all (story script and AGS script). That is the most important role in my opinion.

You're just being modest. Each and every role is important, especially that of graphic designer. Besides, you're helping me with story too. Even though I've decided to code the game all by myself but depending on the time frame and / or my engagements, I may ask you yo script certain rooms for me.

Alaskaban · Sun 04/08/2013 17:23:32

It's still early in the month. So I decided to restart my game. Is there anyone who wants to help with animations and puzzles.

Radiant · Sun 04/08/2013 18:57:19

I have been wondering about the MAGS website. I'm curious what other people think of this: currently, the games lists on the site have screenshots of 80 x 50 pixels, and the buttons are 9 x 9 pixels. Given the screen resolution that people have these days, I think the site would look better if these were bigger; I think there should be enough room to show a 320 x 200 screenshot, and the buttons would be more accessible if they were three or four times bigger. Is this perhaps something that could be improved?

selmiak · Sun 04/08/2013 20:26:20

sure thing, do it. These small icons are really small!

also the blue font in the header png is unreadable on the blue background.

Atelier · Sun 04/08/2013 21:45:15

gameboy, great art as always!

Glad to hear the AdeelWolf partnership is going so well, and you're using more of the time Alaskaban

Quote from: Radiant on Sun 04/08/2013 18:57:19
I have been wondering about the MAGS website.

Peder is working on merging the MAGS site with AGS Archives, so I assume that when it's live the MAGS entries will share the same preview layouts etc as those currently on AGSA. In the meantime of course, I'm not actually sure who has access to the site's files - I know CJ did, so I guess the privileges have been extended since then. If more people think it's worth it, I'll look into it.

Alaskaban · Mon 05/08/2013 16:35:05

Actually, I think you can count me out of the mags. I think I should establish a good first game before i do anything else.

jannar85 · Mon 05/08/2013 23:47:52

I'll try to finish something this month.

Adeel · Tue 06/08/2013 00:05:08

@Alaskaban: Sorry to see you go. It was all because of that inventory issue. However, here's a recent template that'll work in the way you want. Check it out

@jannar85: Good luck to you! I hope that you finish your game soon.

Scavenger · Tue 06/08/2013 00:15:47

I'm working on a little something for this one. Only a short game, but hopefully it'll be a fun play. Not sure how much I can show without spoiling it, though.

Diamond16 · Tue 06/08/2013 10:58:32

I'm stepping well outside my comfort zone and creating something for this *frantically reads up on how to use AGS*

Dropped Monocle Games · Tue 06/08/2013 11:56:22

I'm so happy to see so many taking part in the theme we choose, can't wait to see what games you make!

Myinah · Tue 06/08/2013 14:09:10

Me too. Really looking forward to playing some of these and was sorry to see Alaskaban go. Think you could have developed what you had into something really great

Ghost · Tue 06/08/2013 18:59:08

I'd like to partake. Unfortunately it's so hot here that after an hour my PC shuts down in self-defence

kaput · Thu 08/08/2013 01:30:18

Since there's a lot of activity this month and I have an idea I like, count me in.

Armageddon · Thu 08/08/2013 01:39:30

I have an idea but I'm too uninspired to draw the graphics so I don't want to promise anything.

kaput · Thu 08/08/2013 01:45:56

Go.

Lewis · Thu 08/08/2013 08:47:36

I think I'm doing this. I think. Working on some ideas on the side when I get the chance. I do too many things. But hopefully I'll have time to put a small something together.

Atelier · Thu 08/08/2013 11:39:29

Wow, this month's really 'hotting up'

We must be pushing the record for most amount of [potential] entries. Good luck everybody!

Armageddon · Thu 08/08/2013 12:41:18

Sunny Penguin. that tells me not to work unless I am inspired...

kaput · Thu 08/08/2013 13:39:59

Quote from: Armageddon on Thu 08/08/2013 12:41:18
Sunny Penguin. that tells me not to work unless I am inspired...

His face Arma, his face... Look at his face!!!

Adeel · Thu 08/08/2013 13:46:40

Hmmm, it's going to be a pretty tough competition. Good luck everyone.

Lewis · Thu 08/08/2013 22:09:03

It begins. First stop: Tile Studio.

Very much work-in-progress, obviously.

Armageddon · Sat 10/08/2013 06:03:37

Let's see where this goes.

Lewis · Sat 10/08/2013 09:42:06

A vault! Is it a Vault? I'm getting a Fallout-meets-BioShock vibe!

AGS has now been opened.

TheBitPriest · Sat 10/08/2013 23:31:35

One of the reasons I started picking up AGS was to use it as a platform for teaching my children how to make games. My son and daughter have made a few things already while working through tutorials.

I was working on Captain D's game the other day when my son came up to me with a handful of change and said, "If I paid you this, would you make me a Hobbit sprite?"

Cute, eh? I told him I'd do it for free. Then he added, "And Gandalf... with walk animations." Then he wanted a hobbit hole. Feature creep. It always happens.

I told him that this month's MAGS theme is "Heat." He said, "What if Smaug's family came looking for Bilbo after The Hobbit and before The Fellowship of the Rings?" Fantastic idea.

But I don't think we'll get it done... Plus, I don't like getting nasty-grams from the Tolkien Estate lawyers. So, I thought I'd just post a WIP and probably leave it at that. The following is his idea, along with my hobbit hole.

The Burning of Bree

Years after the events of The Hobbit, Bilbo is restless. He needs a holiday. Convinced by Gandalf to join him on a trip to Rivendell, they head off on their journey. Passing over the Brandywine river bridge he finds Bree in flames. It's a dragon from the Iron Hills! Of course, Gandalf is no longer anywhere to be found. Convinced by a resident to seek help from the husband of the River-woman's daughter, who is said to live on the edge of the Old Forest, Bilbo must brave crossing the Barrow Downs before the dragon returns.

[imgzoom]http://s14.postimg.org/ie515q7ep/Hobbit_Hole1.png[/imgzoom]

Adeel · Sun 11/08/2013 00:07:20

@TheBitPriest: Your background is simply awesome, sir. One of the top quality, highly detailed and finest backgrounds I've ever seen.

Armageddon · Mon 12/08/2013 01:08:17

Would anyone object to me painting over FoA character sprites?

Adeel · Mon 12/08/2013 17:11:04

No Armageddon, I will not object.

kaput · Mon 12/08/2013 17:23:09

Yeah, I don't see the harm in it. As long as they look original, obviously.

selmiak · Mon 12/08/2013 17:29:47

the rules from the first post:

Quote from: Atelier on Tue 30/07/2013 11:40:09
You are not allowed to use material already created before this competition. Your game must be completely new! Music and sound is an exception...

So if you hadn't asked and overpainted them so good that noone could recognise where they are coming from it wouldn't matter in the end as you made something new (but based on something created before this competition) and the origin would probably be untraceable. Now that your (absolutely totally justified

) guilty conscience made you post your post, well, it's up for discussion, but it's not my decision, I would let you do this if the overpainted characters look a bit like deniro and/or pacino

Adeel · Mon 12/08/2013 19:18:48

Inspired from Armageddon, I want to ask you guys a question:

I had coded the two button interface i.e, Left Click to Interact and Right Click to Look at for my OROW game "The Addict".

Will anyone mind if I use it as a base (since basic logic will remain same even if I re-write all the code from scratch) and further improvise / develop / edit it so that it may not resemble that of The Addict's?

Radiant · Tue 13/08/2013 09:52:00

I think that if you release this two-button interface as a template, it then becomes something you can use in your MAGS game

gameboy · Wed 14/08/2013 01:39:16

I'm relatively sure I can't finish my game in time to participate in this MAGS. Anyway, good luck to you all, hope to play your games soon enough.

Adeel · Wed 14/08/2013 14:25:08

Quote from: Radiant on Tue 13/08/2013 09:52:00
I think that if you release this two-button interface as a template, it then becomes something you can use in your MAGS game

Okay, I'll look into it.

kaput · Wed 14/08/2013 17:20:25

Since it's half way through the month, here's a sneaky peaky to prove I'm doing something:

The screenshot doesn't really give much away. Consider it a work in progress as there'll be more happening there. Yes, that is the protagonist

The main reason I'm showing something is because doing so will prob increase the chance that it'll actually get finished!

Adeel · Wed 14/08/2013 21:36:45

Actually after having a talk with my partner, "Oldschool_Wolf". I've decided to write a new two click interface interface from the scratch. It'll be different from that of The Addict's.

Atelier · Mon 19/08/2013 20:15:34

Haven't had an update in a while. There's still 12 days remaining. How's everybody getting along?

Armageddon · Mon 19/08/2013 20:40:58

I won't meet the deadline.

Retro Wolf · Mon 19/08/2013 20:41:16

Well Adeel managed to send me a couple of viruses!

But other than that, the game is slowly getting there, we've both been very busy with our real lives. I've been enjoying working with Adeel though!

Adeel · Mon 19/08/2013 22:51:19

Quote from: Oldschool_Wolf on Mon 19/08/2013 20:41:16
Well Adeel managed to send me a couple of viruses! [...]

Don't you ever dare to foulmouth my lovely pets again!

They're really adorable

.

However, I should keep an eye on their mating. They're popping their offspring too fast

!

On a serious note: The game is progressing slowly but I think that we'll be able to manage to get it completed

.

Quote from: Oldschool_Wolf on Mon 19/08/2013 20:41:16
[...] I've been enjoying working with Adeel though!

Same here. I'm greatly enjoying working with Oldschool_Wolf

.

ZapZap · Tue 20/08/2013 16:12:38

Well I started something but then I got busy in "real" life so I won't be able to finish it, at least this month.. Sorry guys, hoping to play your games!

kaput · Tue 20/08/2013 21:51:24

Yep, working away at it. I've actually started on a new game because the one I was working on (in the screenshot I posted) gave me too many ideas and it's going to end up being far bigger than I first intended. But I'm pretty confident the new one I'm working on will be finished by the end of the month.

Scavenger · Thu 22/08/2013 22:21:22

I'm almost done with the puzzle portion of my game, the rest is animation and dialogue writing. If there's anything I've discovered it's that I'm terrible at dialogue.

Adeel · Fri 23/08/2013 18:34:30

Okay, since I hadn't revealed anything. Here's a screenshot of Team Adeel Wolf's Game:

kaput · Fri 23/08/2013 18:39:16

That poster on the wall is hilarious

. Will this be 'Adeel Wolf' the game, or do we have to wait for that one?

Adeel · Fri 23/08/2013 18:44:13

That poster is actually the reference to the developers

. Thanks for your interest, Sunny Penguin.

And no, you'll not have to wait for Team Adeel Wolf game, because we're already developing one!

Retro Wolf · Fri 23/08/2013 18:47:27

Whaddya mean funny?

kaput · Sat 24/08/2013 20:11:15

In the words of dragons den - I'm out. I would just be releasing a half finished game. It was easier with orow as I had the free time. Ah well, Best of luck to those who will finish!

Retro Wolf · Sat 24/08/2013 20:19:57

Sorry to see you go Sunny Penguin! That was one sexy background picture you posted!

Adeel · Sat 24/08/2013 22:25:30

Quote from: Sunny Penguin on Sat 24/08/2013 20:11:15
In the words of dragons den - I'm out. [...]

So sad, you're leaving it too.

kaput · Sat 24/08/2013 22:39:37

Cheers guys. It does suck to have to drop out. On the bright side I will finish what I started. Just not for the competition

Atelier · Thu 29/08/2013 12:00:34

Scavenger, Adeel Wolf, Lewis, anybody else I missed - three days including today remaining!

Adeel · Thu 29/08/2013 12:45:01

Atelier, be prepared for a surprise!

Adeel · Fri 30/08/2013 00:51:52

Team Adeel Wolf's game has been released!

Please see this thread for more information.

Lewis · Fri 30/08/2013 11:15:53

I'm out too

Sepulchre debugging has taken far longer than expected. Isn't it always the way. Although all the art for my game is done, it does leave me with only a matter of hours to script it all together. Next month. Maybe. Hopefully.

Scavenger · Fri 30/08/2013 11:37:09

I am also having trouble meeting the deadline. I still need to do a bit of art for the game, and clean up the writing. If only I had a few more days. Oh well, crunch time.

Adeel · Fri 30/08/2013 13:06:14

I complete understand your feelings, Scavenger and Lewis. We, too, had to leave some ideas which we had originally planned.

I'm sad to see you two go.

Lewis · Fri 30/08/2013 15:32:30

It is a shame. I did things in the wrong order. I have a game design, all my art assets, a bloody original soundtrack which I wrote and recorded myself... but nothing beyond the intro cutscene in AGS. Oh dear.

Atelier · Fri 30/08/2013 17:16:35

Quote from: Scavenger on Fri 30/08/2013 11:37:09
If only I had a few more days.

Heh. Well, if the game can be finished if there's an extension, I'm more than happy to give one. Do you also think a few more days will help as well, Lewis? And AdeelWolf could finish those ideas already planned.

Adeel · Fri 30/08/2013 23:55:17

Our game's fixed. Please download the updated version.

Two weeks extension is a MUST!

I'm serious: Two weeks extension would be great but I don't know if it will be possible or not.

Quote from: Atelier on Fri 30/08/2013 17:16:35
[...] And AdeelWolf could finish those ideas already planned.

Thanks for the concern, Atelier

. It would've been possible for us to include those planned ideas but as my partner is on a holiday trip. I don't think how we will be able to implement those ideas because he is doing all the art. That's why I've kept those ideas aside for the deluxe version. Meanwhile, I'll be offering support for the MAGS Version.

Our game is a stand-alone, short but (hopefully) enjoyable entry.

Radiant · Sun 01/09/2013 16:12:16

Quote from: Atelier on Fri 30/08/2013 17:16:35
Heh. Well, if the game can be finished if there's an extension, I'm more than happy to give one.

But will the September MAGS still start today?

DBoyWheeler · Sun 01/09/2013 19:18:40

Yeah, I hope September's MAGS starts soon, because I really wanna take part in it--once I know what the theme is, that is.

DoorKnobHandle · Sun 01/09/2013 19:32:42

Waiting for the announcement as well here. There's a slim chance I might try and enter the September MAGS if the theme resonates well with me. We'll see!

Atelier · Sun 01/09/2013 19:43:14

Quote from: Radiant on Sun 01/09/2013 16:12:16
But will the September MAGS still start today?

Of course. New thread should be up now!

Since nobody took the extension offer, Adeel and Wolf are the winners for August.

Adeel · Sun 01/09/2013 22:31:09

Congratulations to me and Oldschool_Wolf.

While it does somewhat ruin the joy of winning the competition, only because we were the sole entry. But hey, it's a win! And if I'm not wrong, this type of win is not new in MAGS. So, celebrate!