MAGS February: "Espionage" (CLOSED)

[Atelier]

Topic: 'Espionage'

Create a game revolving around the theme of espionage. This could include surveillance, under-cover work, secret missions, reconnaissance, spies, double agents, top-secret organisations, government coverups, diplomatic crises, revolutionary gadgets, etc.

Ideas to help you:

• A mole is discovered by the drug cartel they infiltrated.
• An agent is assigned to a mission they are strongly against.
• The past mistakes of an operative catch up with them many years later.
• A man is convinced he's being watched by the authorities.



Ending 29/2/12



What is MAGS?

MAGS is a monthly competition for all 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. Please do not enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created last minute). Sure, you can make a game and rush it - but don't do this just to win by default.

Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualise your game following the month's criteria (see top). Second, create your game fueled only by coffee. Third, finally, and most importantly, post your game here, including:

✓ A working download link.
✓ The title of your game.
✓ A suitable screenshot.

At the end of the month, the all-important voting will begin! This period usually lasts fifteen days. Should you win, along with announcing the next month's rules, your name and game will be immortalised in the MAGS Archive. Yet hopefully, at the end of the month, the accomplishment of finishing a game will be your greatest prize. For more information please visit the Official MAGS website.

[Icey]

[WHAM]

Wonderful theme! I've already got a few ideas in mind, so I might just try to participate after a long break (10 months? Really!?)
Will keep you guys posted once if / when I get into developement phase.

EDIT: Just had a "Eureka" moment! TO THE DRAWING BOARD!
EDIT 2: Five pages of text in the design document now! If anyone is up for some cutscene art (220x120 or larger still images, no style set yet), let me know! Also: if you are interested in making music for the game, let me know of that as well!
EDIT 3: CYBORG NINJAS!!1

[ddq]

I definitely like the theme, but I doubt I'll be able to put forth a full game myself. Thus, I offer my (mostly useless) services free to a good home. If you need a coder or voice acting, hit my juice.

[Armageddon]

This, I want to do this.

[Radiant]

Ha HAH! My spies told me that this would be the topic, three weeks ago!

[Ghost]

EDIT 3: CYBORG NINJAS!!1

Whee!

Very cool theme this month, I am looking forward to some neat games!

[Atelier]

Glad to hear about the interest

[Ponch]

I definitely like the theme, but I doubt I'll be able to put forth a full game myself. Thus, I offer my (mostly useless) services free to a good home. If you need a coder or voice acting, hit my juice.

Fantastic news! Thanks, ddq. If you could help me out, that would be great. Here's what I need: A game about espionage. And make sure it has sexy chicks in it.  And at a couple of spy gadgets used in interesting and innovative ways -- probably through some sort of mini-game interface. Don't be afraid to create a module from scratch if you need to.  And if you want to do some voice acting, that would be great too.

So that's it, I guess. Go ahead and code that up for me. And try to put a car chase or a kung fu fight in it too (a little action would really make this game a standout).

I look forward to putting my name on your project. You're the best! 

[WHAM]

Wheeee! Design doc is 8 pages long and I drew this mock-up to act as basis for further developement.

The game will be called: Big Blue World Domination

(Disclaimer: Button labels are placeholders, sorry if I got your hopes up!)

[Ponch]

Brace yourself, Canada! Here comes the penis!   

[Ryan Timothy B]

Brace yourself, Canada! Here comes the penis!   

Hey.... Nobody respects Canada.  :'(

[Ponch]

Brace yourself, Canada! Here comes the penis!   

Hey.... Nobody respects Canada.  :'(

Not true, Mr. Timothy. I'll have you know I am descended from fine Canadian stock on my father's side. Thanks to him, I have high resistance to cold, an appreciation for hockey, and all-round good manners. And that's why I penised Canada. If you have a penis button, you can't just go around penising every country. You should save that button for a country that you really like. Besides, we're next door neighbors. I prefer to think of it as friends with benefits.   8)

So don't feel blue, Ryan. I penis heart Canada. 

[WHAM]

Here's another screenshot, the last one before release. This is a mock-up of an evil underground base of a supervillain.

[Diath]

Wheeee! Design doc is 8 pages long and I drew this mock-up to act as basis for further developement.

Right when ! saw your picture upload I thought of the game shadow president

http://www.abandonia.com/games/579/ShadowPresident.htm

Someone make a shadow president like game NAAAOOWW!!! 

[Ghost]

Here's another screenshot, the last one before release.

Given your current speed, that would be... next Wednesday?  :o
No, seriously, this look very good.

I'm totally out of juice. The theme is intriguing, but I think I'll just sit here and cheer you on while you're busy making games for me to play.

[Victor6]

Here's another screenshot, the last one before release. This is a mock-up of an evil underground base of a supervillain.

It's not under an 'inactive' volcano is it?

[WHAM]

It's not under an 'inactive' volcano is it?

It might be. Or possibly under a lake in the middle of a jungle, or floating in the sky suspended by giant stealth-balloons.

[cat]

Oh no, what happened to the penis?

[WHAM]

Oh no, what happened to the penis?

The penis was removed as filthy and inappropriate for children. It is also my greatest pleasure to direct you all here: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=45339.0

-WHAM

[Ponch]

But now how can we give Canada the penis it so richly deserves? 

[Ryan Timothy B]

Just direct it towards Quebec if you do.   

[Ponch]

Just direct it towards Quebec if you do.   

Eew! No way! That's where my dad's side of the family is from. That would feel too weird and creepy. I suspect I'm going to have to aim it at Manitoba (Canada's parking lot, or so Dad assures me).  8)

[ZapZap]

 I'm making a ninja (not cyborg, more like ancient japan's) game, if anyone wants to make the music... just PM me (oriental midis or something like that). I hope I finish on time with this one... in a few days comes the first screen (got two not-completed BGs)

EDIT: Part of the intro (might change)

Hope this lures a musician into the game

[Atelier]

WHAM, Armageddon, Cleanic, there's about a week left. What's here so far looks great.

[WHAM]

Big Blue World Domination, if all goes well, will be playable from start to finish withing a couple of days, allowing for beta testing at last. Might cut it close, but a game like this will take weeks upon weeks of testing anyway, so I'll just try to get it to a good state by deadline so people can play.

[Ghost]

Aufgeregt!

[Ponch]

Aufgeregt!

Gesundheit! 

[Tabata]

so I'll just try to get it to a good state by deadline so people can play.

Just don't cut the charisma booster!  - I still want to test it 
Even if I have to become a secret agent first

[ZapZap]

 We (DrWhite and I) are on it, I think we'll meet the deadline, but just in case and also to add a few details, an extension of 2 days would be appreciated (It's February, the shortest month ). We're on it!!

[ZapZap]

 "Suppa Ninja" is near completion... we're working hard on it!

[WHAM]

We (DrWhite and I) are on it, I think we'll meet the deadline, but just in case and also to add a few details, an extension of 2 days would be appreciated (It's February, the shortest month ). We're on it!!

I second the request for a small extension. BBWD is nearing completion, but the game is so expansive that testing it and ensuring that it can be beaten will take a few days of hard work still.

[ZapZap]

So Atelier, are we having that extension? I need to know soon

[Atelier]

Yep, 3rd of March please.

[ZapZap]

Thanks! We'll submit it on friday

[WHAM]

I take it that the deadline is by the end of 3rd of March? I might have to post my game at the last possible moment due to the massive input from beta testers and the fact that I am still having placeholder graphics in my game 2 days from deadline. 

Busybusybusy!

[WHAM]

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=1561

Game uploaded and ready!

[Radiant]

Yep, 3rd of March please.

Also, when does the March MAGS start please?

[Atelier]

Thanks WHAM Now we're just waiting for Cleanic. CLEANIC! The forums are calling!

MAGS March will be here in about... five minutes?

[DrWhite]

As the forums were down from friday until today, Cleanic and I didn´t have any contact. I sent him the last pieces of music now, besides that the game should be finished.

So Cleanic, load it up!

Edit: Well, I now see that Cleanic wrote me he´d be away on a trip. So as I don´t know when he´ll come back, I´ll just post the last Version he sent me, just so the deadline is kept.


Here it is: Suppa Ninja!
(--deleted link, the complete game is on the next page--)


This isn´t the final version, but it should be playable.
@Atelier: Will there be any time to re-upload bugfixed versions the next days?

[ZapZap]

Here it is: Suppa Ninja!

Sorry sorry sorry I've just arrived and put the music in place, don't get that other version, here it is
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=1562
Hope you enjoy it!

[Ghost]

Got it! Is voting still done via PM?

[Atelier]

Thanks Cleanic!

I set up a poll for MAGS February, where anybody can vote. The poll is open until March 26th. Let me know if there are any problems with the forum... I thought it would be a good idea to try out different methods. Unfortunately I can't find an option to disable looking at the current scores.

Good luck WHAM and Cleanic.


VOTE HERE

See below.

[Radiant]

Hey, you got a vote site running. That's cool!

[WHAM]

Now we can see the votes as they come in. This is nice but also sort of... nerve wracking!

*smashes F5 furiously*

[ZapZap]

 :o when does the voting end 

[Ghost]

Nice alternative, Atelier- much better than OM 

I haveth casted my teh vote, and boy that was a hard decision. Can you guys please stop making good games?

[Kasander]

I think I might have mistakenly voted twice :/ I've stayed late until morning hours last night and had browser set on this thread, and mindlessly voted again few minutes ago, then had this deja vu feeling. Sorry for inconvinience.
I don't know if this needs to be fixed or something (I suppose it does), but I had this overhelming need to clear my concience, so I could look forward to sunbaking in heaven.

[Radiant]

I think I might have mistakenly voted twice :/

Hm, that's a point. How vulnerable is this system to repeat voting? If this month gets a lot more votes than we normally do, then there's probably something wrong here.

[MAGS Host]

I was away yesterday, sorry about the delay.

I just clear my cookies and it lets me vote again and again : Wow, that vote feature was obviously designed by and for people with one brain cell! Thanks for the reports - I thought it was a good idea in principle, but didn't test it thoroughly, so it looks like it's back to voting via PM.

Please PM your vote/revote to this account.

Big Blue World Domination by WHAM - Download
Suppa Ninja by Cleanic - Download

Voting ends on March 26th.

[Sane Co.]

You could log the IP address

[MAGS Host]

I will close voting early:

Big Blue World Domination by Wham - 7 votes
Suppa Ninja by Cleanic - 4 votes


Congrats WHAM! And cheers all.

[WHAM]

FWOOOOAAAARRR!!!
My second MAGS win ever! One more and I can be cool too!

Would love to know where all the votes came from in the first round, though...? We had well over 10 votes on both sides there I think, now we had a total of 15 votes.

Nevermind, I don't CARE! *dances*

[Atelier]

now we had a total of 15 votes

Lrn 2 abacus

[WHAM]

Oh damn! Well that's even weirder, or maybe everyone voted twice?
Maybe my inability to count 4 + 7 is why BBWD was so poorly balanced toward the end!  8)

[Gilbert]

Fact. WHAM won MAGS exactly one year ago. 

Congratulations WHAM!

[WHAM]

Fact. WHAM won MAGS exactly one year ago. 

Congratulations WHAM!

Now all I need to do is make an "ambitious but rubbish" action game for April and the cycle is perfect. Be back in 2013 to claim my third MAGS win.

[ZapZap]

Well deserved, congrats! I just hope no one thinks I had anything to do with the other results 

[WHAM]

Seeing that you were involved in both game projects, I think you were in a win-win situation anyway!
No worries, I have an idea of the people involved. Certain nazi-haters come to mind. Or maybe it was just some bot that mistook the MAGS vote poll for a "should Justin Bieber die" -poll.