MAGS July “Nature” (RESULT)

[Stupot]

Theme: Nature
Set by: speksteen

Well done to ddavey1983, aka GOC Games, for winning MAGS July with Becalmed.

	Becalmed by GOC Games
	Hoopoe's Inferno by Babar and jfrisby

Whether you dislike or love certain aspects of nature it's hard to avoid it in real life or in videogames. It could have a comedic theme like the office worker having to go to work in wet clothes from the pesky rainfall.

Nature can also be menacing. Tornados, earthquakes and more, while terrible in real life, can make for some heart-racing scenarios in games.

For example, the funghi and overgrown green in The Last of Us.



Nature has also been used as a theme of exploration and a sense of adventure and part of some beautiful storytelling. Like the game Firewatch.



What does nature mean for you? Something good or bad? Do you live near nature that gives you good feelings? I hope you feel complete freedom in coming up with ideas and concepts that speak to your mind. Have fun!



What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" 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.

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

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Stupot]

How are we getting on with this one? Anyone got anything on the go?

[speksteen]

How are we getting on with this one? Anyone got anything on the go?

Seems pretty quiet and I wasn't planning on entering but can I give it a shot? Maybe the subject is too broad.

I can't promise anything though.

[heltenjon]

How are we getting on with this one? Anyone got anything on the go?

Seems pretty quiet and I wasn't planning on entering but can I give it a shot? Maybe the subject is too broad.

I can't promise anything though.

Unlike some of the other contests, there is no rule here against entering even if you are the one who came up with the premise. So please do! 

[glurex]

Great theme! Sadly, I'm using the very little time I have lately to work on my two game projects. Either way, I hope someone enters this MAGS.

[WHAM]

Still hoping to see participants. I'm out of this one myself, as I'm experimenting with the Godot engine together with a developer friend, participating in a game jam. That experience has been inspiring, though, so I'm itching for future MAGS rounds!

[jfrisby]

🔥 Something nature-y is happening...  it might resemble a game in a few days

[ddavey1983]

I have a game nearly ready. Might be a bit ragged and I doubt I'll have time to add sound but it'll be playable.

[ddavey1983]

Becalmed
By GOC Games

A sailing ship is becalmed hundreds of miles from shore. As a new and inexperienced captain, how will you encourage the wind to blow and save your crew?

A short point-and-click adventure game created in one month for MAGS July 2024 - Nature.



https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2772-becalmed

[Stupot]

🔥 Something nature-y is happening...  it might resemble a game in a few days

How's it going @jfrisby ?
Can we expect something?

[Babar]

How's it going @jfrisby ?
Can we expect something?

Another twelve hours would be appreciated! The game is mostly finished barring a few nasty bugs, but right now I am at work, and jf is probably asleep.

[Stupot]

How's it going @jfrisby ?
Can we expect something?

Another twelve hours would be appreciated! The game is mostly finished, but has a few nasty bugs, but right now, I am at work, and jf is probably asleep.

No worries. Take your time.

[jfrisby]

Hoopoe's Inferno

by Babar & jfrisby

DOWNLOAD HERE

...in glorious 240x134!
Hoopoe's Inferno is a point & click adventure made for MAGS July 2024 with the theme "Nature."

You play a Hoopoe, far from its home but thrust into adventure when a fire breaks out in the forest.  Can you find a way to wake the ranger? Can you unite the animals to find another way?  Only you can save the forest!

How to play:  This game is single-click, you can place items in your inventory box in the lower left, or leave them anywhere on the screen - you can only carry one item at a time (because you're a bird!)

https://bani-gala.itch.io/hoopoe-inferno

[Stupot]

Two entries means it's ON like FROGSPAWN!

To vote, please use the poll at the top of this forum.

	Becalmed by GOC Games
	Hoopoe's Inferno by Babar and jfrisby

[Wiggy]

I hate to say this, but I've found a linear puzzle here in Becalmed and it's all about the hair oil. If this action is not completed by the time you get to 90%, the game cannot be finished. What a shame.

[WHAM]

I have once more tried all the MAGS games and you can find videos of my attempts here. While I'll happily recommend you play them all yourself, if you just can't be bothered then this might be an option for you:

Becalmed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGyXgAGUFUo

Hoopoe's Inferno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpgSIeq28DE

A shameful spoiler for the two videos:

Spoiler

I am ashamed to admit that I failed to complete either of the two games. I feel I got far into both, but found myself stuck and had to give in eventually. I'd be curious to find out what I missed that caused my failure!

[close]

[GooseKult]

Beat 'Hoopoe's Inferno' yesterday, I really enjoyed it! Loved the art, animation and music and the intro sequence with the ember was very well done. The characters are pretty memorable too which is a feat since the game is so short (maybe I'm biased because I love animals tho lol) Good luck guys.

EDIT: Bonus question (sorry if wrong place) Is there a limit on how many people can work together on a team for MAGS?

[jfrisby]

I have once more tried all the MAGS games and you can find videos of my attempts here.

These are so awesome, thanks again for doing this WHAM

Beat 'Hoopoe's Inferno' yesterday, I really enjoyed it! Loved the art, animation and music and the intro sequence with the ember was very well done. The characters are pretty memorable too which is a feat since the game is so short (maybe I'm biased because I love animals tho lol) Good luck guys.

EDIT: Bonus question (sorry if wrong place) Is there a limit on how many people can work together on a team for MAGS?

Hooray! Thanks GooseKult! I'm relieved someone made it through without hints.. since there's some very borderline pixel-hunt and hidden items..

As far as I know there's no limit on team size for MAGS?

I started in on playing Becalmed, which is excellent so far..

Spoiler

..but I think I hit the same thing someone else mentioned, since I left the hair / coal dust gel something puzzle for last..  I'm not sure if I'm blocked... but wow I loved the game so far, I'm gonna give it another go

[close]

[jwalt]

Having trouble with both games. Got practically nowhere in Hoopoe. Reached 50% on Becalmed, and asking for a nudge:

Spoiler

Have clam shells and think I know what to do with them. Have hair gel, but don't seem to have a way to color it. Figure I'm going to need the knife to dig out the BBs for the whistle, but no dialogue option to talk Jacob out of his knife. Spritzed the cat into the coal, but doesn't seem to work on the hair gel. Li'l help.

[close]

I'd really rather finish the games before voting. Seems unfair, otherwise. I'd ask for help with Hoopoe, but I'm clearly not making any progress beyond meeting the badger. Not sure I'll ever be able to finish that one.

Edit: Looked at Wham's video and found two hotspots I'd missed. Now sitting at 90%. Think I got the wrong tat?

Edit 2: Finished it 100%. Enjoyable. Now thinking which tat doesn't matter, but might be wrong? Thanks Wham, for your video!

[jwalt]

I started in on playing Becalmed, which is excellent so far..

Spoiler

..but I think I hit the same thing someone else mentioned, since I left the hair / coal dust gel something puzzle for last..  I'm not sure if I'm blocked... but wow I loved the game so far, I'm gonna give it another go

[close]

Something I came close to missing:

Spoiler

Jacob's knife has a second use, beyond the BBs.

[close]

[jfrisby]

Spoiler

Jacob's knife has a second use, beyond the BBs.

[close]

I think I figured this one out before -

Spoiler

the notching on the mast? If it's something else maybe I missed it. I have no idea how to do the red hair puzzle.

[close]

.

If you want some direction in Hoopoe's Inferno:

Spoiler

Did you find the beach hotspot on the map? Or the ring for the badger?

[close]

[jwalt]

I think I figured this one out before -

Spoiler

the notching on the mast? If it's something else maybe I missed it. I have no idea how to do the red hair puzzle.

[close]

.

Regarding the red hair:

Spoiler

I think a dialogue option opens up the quest for Roger's hair gel. Once you have it, you need to change the color.

Spoiler

When you spritz the cat, he leaves some paw prints after falling into the coal. I missed it, but Wham's video helped me out.

[close]

[close]

Regarding the knife:

Spoiler

Need knife to mark the mast, and to extract the BBs needed to make the whistle work.

[close]

Voted.

Spoiler

My vote went to Becalmed. Would not have finished Hoopoe without the comment left in WHAM's YouTube playthrough. I also missed the ring, early on. Both were worth the time I spent on them, but Hoopoe was less enjoyable.

[close]

Edit: I'd previously stated I thought which tattoo didn't matter. Appears that it does, so choose wisely.  ;-)

[jwalt]

Sorry for a double post. Seems to be an ongoing issue with "the 90% problem." I haven't been able to duplicate the issue, but WHAM's video, at 40:30 may provide insight into the problem, if it is a problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGyXgAGUFUo

The option to continue asking where Roger left the gel seems to not show up. Note that WHAM had a 70% score when this happened.

Also, there is a misnamed thread in the Hints area that has a couple of other instances of folks having the problem. Thread is "Becakmed."

[Shadow1000]

I'm having trouble with both games in the same place that others have gotten stuck:

Becalmed

Spoiler

I'm at the 90% and have the coal dust but I don't see any way to get the hair gel. What do I need to do at this point or is there indeed a bug making it impossible to finish? It's not clear from previous posts

[close]

Hoopoe

Spoiler

I gave the blueberries to the turtle and revisited all locations. I even tried giving more fish to the bears. I don't see anything new to do at this point

[close]

Thank you

[jfrisby]

Hoopoe

Spoiler

I gave the blueberries to the turtle and revisited all locations. I even tried giving more fish to the bears. I don't see anything new to do at this point

[close]

Spoiler

It doesn't sound like you've met the Ancient Moose yet?  The turtle actually wants 3 food items - blueberries, a worm, and a Honey Baklava (which you have to get from the bees).

[close]

[Perpetuall]

These both look awesome, wish I had some more time to play them both!

[Shadow1000]

Spoiler

It doesn't sound like you've met the Ancient Moose yet?  The turtle actually wants 3 food items - blueberries, a worm, and a Honey Baklava (which you have to get from the bees).

[close]

Thank you! I finished the game.

[cat]

Becalmed

Spoiler

Another ship-themed game by GOC Games. Really nice puzzles and good graphics. There was a lot to do and a lot of stuff to pick up (luckily is disappeared after use). A bit more polish would be nice (graphic glitch with the guy on top, more responses to item usage like water on the plant, still dialog about a solved puzzle etc.)

[close]

Hoopoe's Inferno

Spoiler

Beautiful graphics and a creative concept. The puzzles were nice considering the interface limitations. It was a bit hard to keep track where I dropped the items. The shelf with the dessert collection and the pop-culture quiz (though quite funny) broke immersion for me and left me with a somewhat meh aftertaste.
I didn't know what a hoopoe is, so I checked Wikipedia. Apparently, the bird lives in Europe, Africa and Asia, but not north America.

[close]

I voted for

Spoiler

Becalmed

[close]

[heltenjon]

Two fun games! My thoughts are as follows.

Hoopoe's Inferno:

Spoiler

The animals look realistic, but are talking and behaving odd. There is a kind of odd decrepancy there, which I chose to ignore. Noone seems to be too bothered about the fire, either. I like this type of game where you go back and forth between characters and sort out what they want. Even though these just seem hungry.    Lots of nice little touches, like the confused animation of the lead bird, or some funny dialogue writing. The graphics are cool, especially the bird. The game lacks polish, and one-time actions can be performed multiple times, resulting in having several of the same item available even if it's not supposed to be more than one. Likewise, dialogues may repeat after they ought to logically be turned off. I put this down to the team producing this quickly and in time for the deadline, and none of it is game-breaking in any way.

[close]

Becalmed:

Spoiler

Like Cat wrote, there may be areas here, too, that could have used more polish. And according to the other players, there may be some bugs making the game unwinnable. I, however, didn't run into them. The game is crammed with lore and details about the life and superstitions on the sea, and it's integrated into the game in a masterful way. There are lots to do, and it's fun doing it.

[close]

I voted for:

Spoiler

Becalmed.

[close]

[Shadow1000]

Good entries this month!

My thoughts:

Becalmed

Spoiler

Very polished, really well developed. The difficulty of the puzzles is very reasonable to give a good level of enjoyment without getting too stuck. Unfortunately, I was not able to complete the game due to what seems to be a bug

[close]

Hoopoe's Inferno

Spoiler

I really enjoyed the environment and the nature theme is awesome. Good idea to have a map that unlocks new areas as you progress. I don't mind the idea of talking animals but things just seemed a bit far fetched, even within the context of the game. The ending SEEMED to be some sort of epic "beat the boss" but it turned out to be a single-themed joke which didn't really work for me. As others pointed out, the game starts with the assumption that you have to wake the ranger to solve the game but goes off to something completely different. I don't mind a plot twist but this seemed disjointed.

[close]

My vote:

Spoiler

I really enjoyed both games but despite not being able to compelte Becalmed, and I liked the application of the theme in Hoopoe better, I still voted for Becalmed because the graphics, puzzles, clever dialogue just had that much more polish

[close]

[Ponch]

Voted! 

[cat]

Congratulations, @ddavey1983 !

@Stupot Could you make the voting period a bit longer next month? With vacation and stuff I almost couldn't make it in time.

[Stupot]

Well done @ddavey1983. I'll PM you soon about September's theme.

@cat 2 weeks is about my default for most months, with 2 or 3 entries, and I generally set it to 3 weeks when there are more entries to get through. But I don't mind adding a few more days if it might help.