MAGS June: "Old, New, Borrowed, Blue" (CLOSED)

Atelier · Sat 01/06/2013 16:44:37

Topic: 'Old, New, Borrowed, Blue'

This month's guidelines were set by Ghost:

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" - create a game that, just like a proper wedding, has these four things as plot-significant elements (not just a throwaway hotspot). No further specifications; "old" could be anything from an old car to leftover food to a really old crusty pirate, and so on. No genre restrictions or special themes either, it's just about including four things that match the saying.

Ending 30th June

__________________________________________________________________________________________

This month's winner was Witchy Woo by Myinah and Soxbrooker.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

MiteWiseacreLives! · Sun 02/06/2013 22:27:51

I'm two days into something... should fit rules fine.

awakening · Mon 03/06/2013 05:30:01

~~Might enter this if I find time... I've got an idea~~

UPDATE: I'm all in!

Grundislav · Mon 03/06/2013 09:02:56

I'm in. I was starting work on a small game anyway, and didn't have a real story or anything yet, so some guidelines will help out tremendously!

Ghost · Mon 03/06/2013 14:50:17

I am thrilled! That's the first time I seem to have hit the spot

Myinah · Mon 03/06/2013 15:36:20

Is it against the rules for two people to work on one project? My friend and I work on our games together, he's the artist, I'm the writer and we both code. Could one of us submit a game we both worked on? We just want to be completely sure we aren't breaking the rules as we are quite new to the AGS community.

Atelier · Mon 03/06/2013 16:29:54

Quote from: Myinah on Mon 03/06/2013 15:36:20
Is it against the rules for two people to work on one project?

Nope! It's happened many times before

I'm glad to see there's already a lot of interest!

Dropped Monocle Games · Mon 03/06/2013 20:31:50

We are throwing our witches hat into the ring!
Myinah and I have come up with our story and game idea, and here is a teaser.

now to make it in under a month, wish us luck.... no really, wish us luck!

awakening · Mon 03/06/2013 23:32:56

Quote from: Myinah on Mon 03/06/2013 15:36:20
Is it against the rules for two people to work on one project? My friend and I work on our games together, he's the artist, I'm the writer and we both code. Could one of us submit a game we both worked on? We just want to be completely sure we aren't breaking the rules as we are quite new to the AGS community.

I hope not, as I've already gathered my musician and puzzle designer! hehe

MiteWiseacreLives! · Tue 04/06/2013 08:57:51

This is getting heated! Woohoo, gotta get a game face on. No, wait, I mean, uhhh, my game is junk I'm not trying at all.
My wife will prob kill me by the end of this month. So if you don't hear from me in a while....

Radiant · Tue 04/06/2013 17:33:26

"Something blue" just has to be a cup.

Ghost · Tue 04/06/2013 19:05:50

Quote from: Radiant on Tue 04/06/2013 17:33:26
"Something blue" just has to be a cup.

That was one idea. And your cup *rocks* with helpful usefulness!

I am really glad to see the interest. I picked a very vague theme hoping that more people would take on the challenge, and still have a good guideline.

As I read in awakening's Recruit thread he seems to combine the requirements; that is an option too (could someone even manage to make ONE old, new, borrowed and blue thing- that would be hilarious!).

And Soxbrooker: That picture is awesome! Can't wait to see the game!

Vernay · Thu 06/06/2013 07:21:17

Can't say mine will be anything but a train wreck (I've barely looked at AGS before this week), but I definitely want to try this. Probably should have started this earlier, but you know, details.

Dropped Monocle Games · Sun 09/06/2013 20:47:38

hey, I wanted to give everyone a little preview of what we have done, so here is a screenshot!
we are so proud so far and having a GREAT time taking part in this MAGS

can't wait to see what others have to offer!
[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/Bdabc8p.png[/imgzoom]

MiteWiseacreLives! · Mon 10/06/2013 02:44:00

I had better fire up my OCD and get on it so I have a decent screenshot to post. Looks like Soxbrooker is going for a win, looks really nice

awakening · Mon 10/06/2013 03:22:46

Looks damn good!
Better start working on this even harder now haha

Myinah · Mon 10/06/2013 15:05:44

Just wanna say how super proud I am of Sox. He's the artist and I'm the writer. He has worked so hard, churning out artwork like a pencil wielding machine! It has been an amazing experience so far for us to take part in MAGS, and it's really helped us learn a lot for the full length titles we have in the pipeline.

I am really looking forward to seeing the other entries and most importantly playing them!

BrutalSlakt · Wed 12/06/2013 00:35:37

I have an idea for this one. Hopefully I'll manage to turn that into a game. ^^

DBoyWheeler · Wed 12/06/2013 01:24:01

Er, it may be many years before I take part in a MAGS myself, but I'd be willing to help in the story design and proofreading of others' MAGS projects.

Monsieur OUXX · Fri 14/06/2013 13:38:16

I was thinking of something that could be a brilliant game concept, if properly handled :
Basing the game on "Dorian Gray's portrait".

By essence, it's something old, and something new. Also the theme definitely makes you blue. And the painting definitely borrows something from Dorian Gray (and vice versa).
The entire game would be a close-up on the portrait (I suppose one could scroll up/down/left right over the picture). The puzzles would be interactions with bits of the picture: his face, his clothes, background elements, etc. It would be very atmospheric, slightly scary. As puzzles get resolved, the portrait gets older or younger -- as in the book, life gets stolen from Dorian Gray. Some elements would change in the picture. It would end up with death or some sort of cursing.

The whole idea would be to make the presence of the character in the portrait totally fascinating. And to make you feel the old, and the new, and the borrowed, and the blue. Through his looks. Or the voice-over of a narrator.

Oh, and before you ask: no, I'm not doing it. Nobody ain't time for dat shit. Just sharing the fun.

Atelier · Tue 18/06/2013 11:20:11

Do you hear that sound? I think it's the gong signalling 'just under two weeks left'!

Calin Leafshade · Thu 27/06/2013 02:29:13

EDIT: Redundant.

Myinah · Fri 28/06/2013 11:04:18

Sox and I have posted Witchy Woo to the completed game forum as we have officially finished Witchy Woo! Check out the thread here.

Calin Leafshade · Sun 30/06/2013 22:47:17

White Wedding

Here's our (Sookiesock and I) entry for MAGS. It's not made in AGS but I couldn't find anything in the rules to suggest we couldn't use something else.

We made this in 2 weeks using my own engine dubbed Adore (Adventure Rendering Engine - AdRE) which is also 2 weeks old so I expect some issues maybe...

SCREENSHOT

DOWNLOAD
http://www.sanctuary-interactive.com/~steve/whiteweddingver1.zip

Thanks to Arj0n and FlyingManderine for their testing services.

Atelier · Sun 30/06/2013 23:15:04

Monthly Adventure Game Studio makes it implicit it should be made with AGS - I know it's not codified but it's de facto obvious considering, as far as I'm aware, every entry ever has been made with AGS. I'm sorry Calin but I don't think I can accept it as an entry $:-\$ Only because it's not a fair comparison with other the entrants.

Calin Leafshade · Sun 30/06/2013 23:17:13

Oh well.

In my defence it says the competition is open to "all amateur adveture makers"

Even if we're disqualified from the vote, I'd like to leave the post there so people can play the game if that's alright.
Grundislav is going to win anyway.

Matt Frith · Sun 30/06/2013 23:47:41

Hmm, I'd argue that it probably should be accepted in the spirit of the competition. I suspect he probably could have made it in AGS if not for the resolution limitations. Not up to me though I guess...

arj0n · Mon 01/07/2013 00:08:52

Can you just make this MAGS a special MAGS edition, say a MAGS-OECBYO (Monthly Adventure Game Studio - Or Engine Created By Your Own), so this one could be allowed at least for once?
He's put quite some effort in this game specifically for this competition.
And hey, it would make a this MAGS a pretty unique MAGS edition

Otherwise, still a nice job Calin.

Grundislav · Mon 01/07/2013 00:12:24

My entry is done! Check it out here

I also second allowing Calin's entry.

Stupot · Mon 01/07/2013 01:21:18

Beautiful screenshot Calin. Why don't you and Sookie just crown yourselves the winners of the inaugural "MADORE" contest

SookieSock · Mon 01/07/2013 04:56:29

While I understand MAGS does imply your game to be made using AGS the MAGSs information page does say "MAGS is a monthly competition for all amateur adventure game makers" and it does not state that it 'Must' be made using only AGS.

Also this is my first finished game and it was silly Calin Leafshades idea to be differnt

I will hide now

MiteWiseacreLives! · Mon 01/07/2013 07:20:29

Just got to figure out how to upload! Its 11pm here, hope that's all right with you folks...

MiteWiseacreLives! · Mon 01/07/2013 07:37:39

OK, here it is!
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1700/
or..
http://www.mediafire.com/download/k7gi3n80dkn4qd8/Crankosaur.zip
will make a game entry next.

Khris · Mon 01/07/2013 11:12:01

I third allowing Calin's entry. There's nothing in there that couldn't have been made with AGS, and doing everything from scratch is a lot more work, so it's not cheating as far as I'm concerned, rather the opposite; there was certainly no unfair advantage.
We have to draw the line somewhere obviously, but it's not like it's a Unity game or something.

cat · Mon 01/07/2013 11:14:26

This is the Monthly AGS competition, so I don't understand why someone would use a different engine...

Atelier · Mon 01/07/2013 12:22:59

Ok, well if the other entrants don't mind, then it's cool. And as Calin put a lot of effort into the game, I did feel a bit mean.

But, I'd still say that in future entries should be made only with AGS. I always thought that is one of the points of the competition. I think it's better for everybody to start on the same level and compare between which game is best made with the same tool. I don't consider Calin as cheating, I just thought of future cases, if it even happens again, where the circumstances may be less clear cut.

Anyway, voting time! Click the titles to download.

	Witchy Woo by Myinah and Soxbrooker
	White Wedding by Calin Leafshade and Sookiesock
	Bertha Butt's Boogie by Grundislav
	Crankosaur by MiteWiseacreLives!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

cat · Mon 01/07/2013 12:35:43

Could you keep the voting open until after OROW? I have only played one of the games yet...

arj0n · Mon 01/07/2013 12:55:04

Quote from: Atelier on Mon 01/07/2013 12:22:59
Ok, well if the other entrants don't mind, then it's cool.
But, I'd still say that in future entries should be made only with AGS.

Your decision is probably (also) based on the comments here about it?
I'm really glad you've decided to let this one through once.
And because of this, a clear statement with attention is now made that mags projects should always be created in AGS.

Quote from: cat on Mon 01/07/2013 12:35:43
Could you keep the voting open until after OROW? I have only played one of the games yet...

I also need to play 2 of these...

Calin Leafshade · Mon 01/07/2013 15:37:34

It's cool you let us enter.

The game is by Calin Leafshade *and* Sookiesock by the way. Not just me.

MiteWiseacreLives! · Mon 01/07/2013 17:32:30

What's the opinion on some minor bug fixes? or is it as is?
If not able to re-upload, I recommend you save often.. ran out of time for much play testing.

Ghost · Mon 01/07/2013 18:29:02

I'd really like to congratulate everyone here, I have finished most games now and gee, good stuff. Good stuff! And even a full-fledged engine in one case

Atelier · Mon 01/07/2013 18:59:51

Quote from: MiteWiseacreLives! on Mon 01/07/2013 17:32:30
What's the opinion on some minor bug fixes? or is it as is?

Bug fixes are allowed, but only if they're necessary. Eg if it fixes a crash or something preventing progression, it's fine.

MiteWiseacreLives! · Mon 01/07/2013 19:28:10

Ok, reloaded the file.
Some rooms were broken (changeroom scripts with errors). I did add music and fix some spelling mistakes, sorry. Started this before I realized the game was unfinishable, shouldn't be anything large enough to cause alarm.

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1700/
or..
http://www.mediafire.com/download/k7gi3n80dkn4qd8/Crankosaur.zip

Dropped Monocle Games · Mon 01/07/2013 19:50:29

I am really impressed with all the games and I curse you all for entering the same months as our first game

*shakes fist*
but really I enjoyed this MAGS so much, and just finished playing all the games!

Grundislav, I love your pixel art!

QuoteBug fixes are allowed, but only if they're necessary

I was about to add that I found a game breaking bug in Crankosaur, This is what I did before it froze

Spoiler

1. Went towards the people and they try to blow me up
2. snowballs fall
3. I attacked the snow balls destroying them
4. went back towards the people
5. the game acted like the snowballs were going to fall again but nothing happens and it stays stuck on loading!

[close]

MiteWiseacreLives! · Mon 01/07/2013 20:51:02

Oh the First-Game-blues!

Quote from: Soxbrooker on Mon 01/07/2013 19:50:29
I was about to add that I found a game breaking bug in Crankosaur, This is what I did before it froze

Spoiler
1. Went towards the people and they try to blow me up
2. snowballs fall
3. I attacked the snow balls destroying them
4. went back towards the people
5. the game acted like the snowballs were going to fall again but nothing happens and it stays stuck on loading!
[close]

I figured it out and reloaded the source-file, thanks man

I really wish I had allowed enough time for some really good play-testing, I hope you continue playing the game

it was alot of work for a newbee,
you should be able to complete no problem if :

Spoiler

you just don't smash the snowballs, play around with pushing them, thanks again Soxbrooker

[close]

Edit: Just finished your game Soxbrooker, loved the clean hand drawn look and the sound as well!

Radiant · Sun 07/07/2013 21:09:41

Late to the earlier discussion, but I just wanted to point out I completely agree with letting the non-AGS game participate as well. $.02.

MiteWiseacreLives! · Tue 09/07/2013 08:34:47

What does the time frame look like for voting? I have been bracing myself for heartbreak for days now.

Atelier · Tue 09/07/2013 11:21:34

Another week would be good (until Tue 16th), for everybody that took part in OROW.

Here's the voting table again.

Atelier · Tue 16/07/2013 18:12:07

Results are in!

Witchy Woo by Myinah and Soxbrooker
4 votes

Bertha Butt's Boogie by Grundislav
3 votes

White Wedding by Calin Leafshade and Sookiesock
3 votes

Crankosaur by MiteWiseacreLives!
1 vote

Congrats Myinah and Soxbrooker!

Jaffles · Tue 16/07/2013 18:37:27

Congrats guys! This was a really strong month for MAGS!

MiteWiseacreLives! · Tue 16/07/2013 19:00:47

Wow, yah some very nicely polished games here. Well Crankoskaur wasn't polished, but thanks for the vote! My ambitions kinda overwhelmed my ability, but it was fun.

Myinah · Tue 16/07/2013 20:26:20

Wow! I think I can safely say Sox and I are blown away and chuffed to bits to have won. Thank you kind voters!

The other games were so good, I enjoyed playing them all and I really do think it was a crazy strong month and can see how we were close in votes! We feel very lucky getting 1st place by the skin of our teeth!

I am really looking forward to doing another MAGS in the future, but we really have to work on the game we started before this MAGS now lol!

Dropped Monocle Games · Tue 16/07/2013 23:00:08

Yay! I'm not very good with words so....

arj0n · Wed 17/07/2013 09:46:40

Congrats SoxBrooker & Myinah

MiteWiseacreLives! · Wed 17/07/2013 17:48:14

If I may ask one narcisitic question, was anyone able to play through Crankosaurus? It def had a couple issues.