Adventure Game Studio

The theme for MAGS June is Stranded.
Set by: 4KbShort.

It's time to vote for your favourite game of MAGS June.
Please vote using the poll above:

(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMjEzMjM4MC8xMjU2NjE2MC5wbmc=/347x500/GZXKrH.png)	The RoadTrip (https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2677-the-roadtrip) by 4KbShort
(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMjE0Mzg4Ny8xMjY0MzQzNC5wbmc=/794x1000/AnMGLp.png)	Mad Jack: Breakdown Shakedown (https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2676-mad-jack-breakdown-shakedown) by RootBound

"You're walking through the woods, there's no one around and your phone is dead..."

Get stranded and use your adventure game logic to escape or make a new life or die trying? The possibilities are endless! Or at least only limited by your imagination and coding skills.

When: 2967 or 1853?
Where: Desert Island, Moons of Mars, The midwest, Another Dimension?
Why: Crashed vehicle, experiment gone wrong, someone betrayed you!?
How: Build an escape craft, sacrifice a loved one, trick a demon into granting your wish?


(https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/109/548/083/459/945/075/original/747fc2f738219484.jpg)(https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/02/22/life-of-pi-sorel_pi_17202_rv2_rgbedit-d62a01b67541cbb00cc583731d56661a1a60f229-s1100-c50.jpg)(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Burgess_Meredith_Twilight_Zone_1960.jpg)(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p6e08H4OYaQ/maxresdefault.jpg)(https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/03/20/gettyimages-77225256_custom-ea1b936492007f7f39bed78a8dbc691a59043fd0-s1100-c50.jpg)(https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/images-profile-flow/400/images-medium-large-5/portals-to-alternate-universes-artwork-science-photo-library.jpg)

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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.

You people are freaking amazing at coming up with great themes.  8-0

Great theme. I'll have to think about whether there's an idea I can execute very quickly . . . wheels are turning.

Nice theme! Sadly, I don't have much free time this month... I'll try something, though.

It is a cracking theme indeed. Anybody in?

I'm trying to pull something together quickly, but I'm also traveling for six days at the end of the month. It's gonna be tight. I may release something unfinished.

Here's what I'm working on. It's . . . not serious. Going to be more of an "unlock achievements" game than an adventure game.

(https://i.imgur.com/VRpgVvs.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ddGmJUN.png)

Dunno if it's unethical to enter a contest you chose the theme for, but here's something I have so far:

(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/189879096598200320/1117126552539365386/image.png)

It looks and sounds better in person, but since it's a title screen only for the moment there's not much to upload.

Quote from: 4KbShort on Sat 10/06/2023 17:24:23Dunno if it's unethical to enter a contest you chose the theme for, but here's something I have so far:

You're good. It's been done many times in the past :) Good luck with your entry!

I had something in mind for this month but I don't think I will be able to finish in time. I hope to release outside of MAGS still.

A little early, but it's done:

Title: The RoadTrip

https://4kbshort.itch.io/roadtrip

(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMjEzMjM4MC8xMjU2NjE2MC5wbmc=/347x500/GZXKrH.png)
(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMjEzMjM4MC8xMjU2NjE2Mi5wbmc=/347x500/qe5cLt.png)

This will be my last MAGS entry for a while. Kinda took the wind out of me, but I'm super proud of what I did here! Please enjoy!

Looking great, @4KbShort

How's everyone else looking?

@Stupot almost finished! I still have a couple of animations and sound effects to implement, and I need to do more play testing, but I expect to have a complete entry by the deadline. 8-)

Great to see that there will be, at least, two entries this month!

I'm currently playin' The RoadTrip in my RG351V:

Quote from: glurex on Mon 26/06/2023 21:14:38Great to see that there will be, at least, two entries this month!

I'm currently playin' The RoadTrip in my RG351V:

Amazing! It's always exciting to see my creations in different places. Hope you enjoy!

Quote from: glurex on Mon 26/06/2023 21:14:38Great to see that there will be, at least, two entries this month!

I'm currently playin' The RoadTrip in my RG351V:

Woah, that's cool!

Animations are finished! I'm still fixing a few bugs coming up during my playtesting. I may bail on the sound effects if it takes too long. Getting close!

Quote from: RootBound on Thu 29/06/2023 13:17:23Animations are finished! I'm still fixing a few bugs coming up during my playtesting. I may bail on the sound effects if it takes too long. Getting close!

Good luck! Looking forward to playing it!

Welp, the sound effects are taking longer than I want. I could probably finish them in one more day. If I can have an extension, I'll gladly take it.  :-D 

Otherwise I can post a sound-free version, since everything else is finished.

Quote from: RootBound on Fri 30/06/2023 20:57:55If I can have an extension, I'll gladly take it.  :-D 

Granted.

Finished my MAGS entry for this month. (Thanks very to @Stupot for the deadline extension - it's definitely a better game when there are sound effects!) Hope you enjoy!  :-D

DOWNLOAD HERE: https://rootbound.itch.io/mad-jack-breakdown

AGS DATABASE ENTRY: https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2676-mad-jack-breakdown-shakedown

MAD JACK: BREAKDOWN SHAKEDOWN is an action comedy achievement-based puzzle game.

In a post-apocalyptic free-for-all desert wasteland where everyone still somehow has gasoline (a world not remotely like that of a beloved film franchise) Mad Jack's muscle car breaks down. Using only items from a junkyard, Jack must find a way to escape being stranded and continue his thrilling, heartwarming journey to his destiny (presumably somewhere else in the desert).

Features:
*Zany vehicles
*Fire
*Car wrecks
*Perfectly believable and irreproachably realistic inventory combinations ;)
*Rollicking rock music by @Eric Matyas
*Multiple ways to "win" or "lose" (but is this really the point?)
*Tons of achievements and inventory to unlock (this could certainly never be the real point, definitely not)
*One (1) playable room
*Breathtaking ultra-HD 480x270 resolution
*Endless hours of gameplay (if you decide to never stop playing)

(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMjE0Mzg4Ny8xMjY0MzQzNC5wbmc=/794x1000/AnMGLp.png)

(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMjE0Mzg4Ny8xMjY0MzQzNS5wbmc=/794x1000/u4Z%2FPP.png)

@4KbShort Just played The Roadtrip. Fun and a little creepy! I also like the art. It feels simplistic but effective, and embraces the low resolution instead of trying to fit in too much detail. A quick, enjoyable game.

Spoiler

And that ending! Made me both laugh and shudder a little. (laugh)

[close]

One bug - on the credits screen the cursor disappears, even after pressing esc to open the GUI and quit dialog, so the program is difficult to close. Seems like it switched to a cursor mode with no supplied graphic.

Nice work!

Great job on the entry! I gave it a shot. No big errors or bugs. A lot of trial and error, but nothing too difficult. It's nice that I can "lose" and keep going though. I believe I finished it as I was able to drive off so that's a thing too! Wonderful work!

Thanks to both entrants for these two cracking-looking games.
Looks like we've got a proper contest on our hands.

It's time to vote for your favourite game of MAGS June.
Please vote using the poll above:

(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMjEzMjM4MC8xMjU2NjE2MC5wbmc=/347x500/GZXKrH.png)	The RoadTrip (https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2677-the-roadtrip) by 4KbShort
(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMjE0Mzg4Ny8xMjY0MzQzNC5wbmc=/794x1000/AnMGLp.png)	Mad Jack: Breakdown Shakedown (https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2676-mad-jack-breakdown-shakedown) by RootBound

I played both games and cast my vote.

The Roadtrip

Spoiler

This game really reminded me of Jumping Jack Flash from a few years ago. Decent graphics and some puzzles to solve. Overall a good experience.

[close]

Mad Jack

Spoiler

Awesome graphics and animations! Really funny effects and good idea. I had a good time trying out the different obstacles and seeing the response of the different vehicles. It took about 5-7 minutes to lose interest once I got an idea of the game

[close]

I voted for

Spoiler

Mad Jack as it has more play value to it

[close]

Here are my thoughts this month.

The Roadtrip by 4KbShort

Spoiler

The game has a creepyness to it, but the mood is broken by comments breaking the fourth wall and talking directly to the player. The giant fuse was amusing, and I liked the shack in the woods. Pretty straightforward in gameplay and puzzles.

[close]

Mad Max Jack: Brakedown Shakedown by RootBound

Spoiler

This one-room game kept me entertained for a while. I had fun trying to combine items and using them on the vehicles. I haven't found all the achievements yet, and after finding most of them, I kept wishing that I could control which vehicle should appear next in order to try out my ideas. But the game deserves credit for effective graphics, nice Matyas music and satisfying sound effects.

[close]

I voted for

Spoiler

Brakedown Shakedown, because there are more puzzles and longer playtime than in the other game.

[close]

@4KbShort, please add your game to the database on the game page!

Quote@4KbShort, please add your game to the database on the game page!

Done!

AGS Game page for The RoadTrip (https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2677-the-roadtrip)

Downloading now. Playing soon. Voting soon-ish.  :cheesy:

UPDATE: Voted!  :cool:

Thanks for the votes so far folks. A few more would be great. There are about 4 days left.

Looks like a tie.  8-0

It is indeed a tie!!

Well done to both @4KbShort and @RootBound.

I'll PM you both soon. Usually during a tie, both parties get to choose the next theme together.

Congrats to the winner(s)!  :cool: