Topic: 'Tension'
This month's guidelines were set by Creed Malay:
Make a game based around mounting tension in a closed environment.
This could be a ship lost at sea, a snowed in cabin, or a house surrounded by zombies.
The player should face conflicts with the other characters trapped there with them, having to deal with their panic, problems with each other and the player, and the fact that they might have agendas of their own...
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_immx5QMvLuw/TQpdP0zocSI/AAAAAAAAADk/OL_KQPzmkTo/s1600/snowed+in+cabin.jpg) (http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/img/upload/img_400/astute_underwater_view4_rgb.jpg)
Ideas to help you:
• How did the character(s) end up in this situation?
• Are there any ways of communicating with the outside world?
• What causes conflicts - different opinions, secrets being kept, limited resources?
Ending 31/5/2011
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 (http://www.mags-competition.info/?page=games). 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. (http://www.mags-competition.info/)
Can't I just resubmit Lasol? ;D
Nah, in all seriousness I think I will take a break from mags, at least for a month or two. Maybe create something bigger now to put all this practice to good use.
OK, hopefully this will be my first MAGS. I've got the time, I've got the equipment and I've got an idea.
What more could I ask for?
Do I have to be only powered by coffee though? It'd be nice to have some oxygen now and again. Just sayin'.
Can it be jsut the player? Or do you really have to have other people in the room.
Interesting topic. I am still amazed by last month's submissions and playing through all of them. I will try to enter this though and make this my first MAGS. Yay. :)
Interesting topic this time. It has created a certain itch in me. Maybe I will do something for this. I'm particularly interested in the potential focus on interpersonal-relationships breaking down. Would be a good character-wiring exercise. Color me intrigued!
Quote from: Armageddon on Sat 07/05/2011 03:10:27
Can it be jsut the player? Or do you really have to have other people in the room.
Well, the idea is to have heightening tension between characters. These "characters" might not be literal people present in the same room as the PC, but the dynamic should still be there, and develop over the game. It is not simply about setting the game in a confined area.
I was gonna have tension about escaping a flooding room. And having to solve puzzles before you die, Other characters add a lot of time to story writing.
What if you drill through the floor and then a voice says "What are you doing? My cell's under here!!"
That sounds pretty tense.
Quote from: EHCB on Sat 07/05/2011 21:53:04
What iuf you drill through the floor and then a voice says "What are you doing? My cell's under here!!"
That sounds pretty tense.
Sounds silly, not really tense. ;D
Okay but what if it then said "Noooo, my pet piranhaAAAA! Get back in your TANK! Down boy! Down!"
Tension, amiright?
Ok I have an idea that involves someone on a screen talking to you while you try to escape your cell. Would that be allowed?
Quote from: Armageddon on Sat 07/05/2011 23:13:37
Ok I have an idea that involves someone on a screen talking to you while you try to escape your cell. Would that be allowed?
Don't see why not, sounds like it might be like the dynamic in Portal or something.
Go for it, and good luck! :)
Quote from: Creed Malay on Sat 07/05/2011 19:39:30
Quote from: Armageddon on Sat 07/05/2011 03:10:27
Can it be jsut the player? Or do you really have to have other people in the room.
Well, the idea is to have heightening tension between characters. These "characters" might not be literal people present in the same room as the PC, but the dynamic should still be there, and develop over the game. It is not simply about setting the game in a confined area.
Gah. This is giving me a headache at the moment. I kind of want to introduce another character to conform to this stipulation but I'm worried it will mess up what I've already planned. :-\
Ok, basically make a game featuring some kind of isolation/being stuck in a closed environment. If you want you can use other characters inside with you as plot devices but it's not compulsory.
Half-way reminder.
Uh-oh! Hopefully I'll make it in time. There's so much other stuff going on this month...
Top bloke so is anyone else working on something. Speak now or forever hold your peace.
I was.
But I think, like Icarus before me, I have overstretched myself and I doubt I'll finish anything.
Mayday mayday mayday, this is Atelier Atelier Atelier. Broadcasting on all frequencies. Stop. Is there anybody out there. Stop. Mayday, Atelier. Over.
I've a little something in the works. Tis completeable, but not finished.
Am quite certain that I'll be successfully completing it to a reasonable standard in time for the deadline.
I'm out. :-\
I'm in. ;D
(http://i.imgur.com/Do9tu.png)
Othello, Vani and Edme have finally reached the long forgotten treasure room of the Emperor Kemal.
Loaded with relics, it seems they have finally obtained the goal they've been chasing.
...or have they?
BIG thanks to qptain_Nemo for music and testing.
Try it out here. (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=1436)
Hey Ben, congratulations on this one! I'm going to try it out soon
Hehe thanks David :)
I hope there are some other entries as well!
Ah! So this is what you were working on instead of sprite jamming for OSD. Downloading now...
Aww are you still bitter about it? :'(
Quote from: ThreeOhFour on Tue 31/05/2011 17:47:24
Aww are you still bitter about it? :'(
I'm incredibly bitter! But for completely unrelated reasons!
Also, I can't play this game. Nor can I run winsetup. Both crash when I click them. :-\
Error: pack_fopen: unable to change datafile: not found. C: \Documents...\<3\music.vox
Help me, Obi Ben Kenobi! You're my only hope!
edit: changed the directory name. works fine now
Yeah, that was me doing things super last minute!
It should be fixed in the upload now.
Time to vote!!
Only joking. Thanks Ben :) I declare you winner.
Aww dangit, it was such a nice theme as well!
I suppose everyone was worn out from last MAGS...