What is MAGS?
MAGS is a monthly competition for all amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to use AGS to create a game in under a month, following the rules set by the previous winner.
For more information please visit the Official MAGS Website (http://www.mags-competition.tk)
Why should I enter MAGS?
We're not here to tell you that you should enter MAGS, but merely allow it as a creative opportunity to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and generally as a good kick-start for the new comers (a.k.a n00bies).
MAGS is the perfect opportunity to make a game, and the wonderful prize is to announce the next month's rules, and all competitors get the game placed on the MAGS website.
MAGS is meant to be fun and is aimed at everyone, despite their skill. If you have poor art skills work on graphics, and vice-versa, as the voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.
You are not allowed to (re)use material already created before this competition, you game must be completely new! An exception goes for sounds and music where you can also use free material that is available to the public.
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Prepare yourself for Halloween: This month's competition is going creepy - if you want to. It's possible to enter with a spooky game as well as with a more realistic one.
Topic: Haunted House
Your game must feature
- a haunted old house of course
- a private investigator
- someone stuck in the house trying to escape
At least one of these persons must be the main character! A nice feature (but not a must) would be, if the player could switch between these characters. But this is just a proposal.
Three essential items must appear in some way
- a talking picture
- a pumpkin
- a broom
No further restrictions.
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All entries need to be in by October 26th.
Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.
ah perfect. Count me in! This rules match very nicely with a game I already started :D
Quote from: Mr. Buckéthead on Sun 01/10/2006 15:02:09
ah perfect. Count me in! This rules match very nicely with a game I already started :D
:o I'm not quite sure if you really wrote what I read as ...
Quote from: Klaus on Sun 01/10/2006 14:47:05
You are not allowed to (re)use material already created before this competition, you game must be completely new!
I guess you actually wanted to say "the rules fit an idea that is going around you mind since a long time", right? ;)
oh come on... I made this yesterday :-\ I can enter with this right?
Quote from: Mr. Buckéthead on Sun 01/10/2006 15:16:18
I can enter with this right?
Yes, sure :) You know it's just that people shouldn't work longer than one month on a game. "Already started" could also mean "I'm working on this since 3 months now". All in all it should be one person working for one month on one game - just as always. I only wanted to make this clear again, so don't worry. Everything's okay. :) Good luck!
Cool! I'm entering this one! :)
Okay, I'm entering.
I think I'll call the game "Voodoo Dave and the Tablecloth Mystery".
Creepy enough?
I have a little question (worthy of a newbee! ;D)
Is it always ok to use sprites/backgrounds/sounds etc. found on the net ???
Quote from: ExoTek on Sun 01/10/2006 18:45:40
I have a little question (worthy of a newbee! ;D)
Is it always ok to use sprites/backgrounds/sounds etc. found on the net ???
Not ALWAYS... for example you can just take image people post in the critics lounge. Those are found on the net but you cannot you use them. But I think you can use sprites and backgrounds that are given away. Like ripped sprites from King's Quest or something.
I'm not totally sure that what I said is all right so don't fallow it blindly.
Quote from: ExoTek on Sun 01/10/2006 18:45:40
Is it always ok to use sprites/backgrounds/sounds etc. found on the net ???
The answer is given in the ruleset:
Quote from: Klaus on Sun 01/10/2006 14:47:05
You are not allowed to (re)use material already created before this competition, you game must be completely new! An exception goes for sounds and music where you can also use free material that is available to the public.
So this includes premade graphics. As people have most problems in creating own sounds and music this is the only exception. Only if the rules ask for premade graphics or formally allow free sources they are allowed, but it's not the case here.
As I'm planning on entering, I have a question: With "three essential items" do you necessarily mean _inventory_ items?
Quote from: nihilyst on Mon 02/10/2006 00:11:37
As I'm planning on entering, I have a question: With "three essential items" do you necessarily mean _inventory_ items?
No, the items may appear wherever you want. They can be useful (as inventory items) but do not necessarily have to be - they only need to be in the game.
I'd love to enter this, but as i'm losing my internet for about a month in 2 weeks time I thought i'd throw my idea out there in case anyone's interested.
You play a young witch called Bridey who's helping her friend (also a witch) Margaret (Mags), setup a halloween party. On flying over to Mags' house, she finds her distraught because the narrow minded folk of the town have hired a witch hunter to bring her in. Mags is afraid to leave the house, she's all out of toadspittle, and her guests are arriving in an hour. Bridey must scare him off with the help of Mags' resident ghost, but unfortunately the ghost is having confidence issues and he's questioning his scaryness. With the help of Pumpkin Head, and Ted the Talking horse, Bridey must help the ghost restore his confidence, get rid of the pesky witch hunter and get the house ready for the party.
Locations:
Brideys cottage: A small simple wooden cottage in the deep dark woods.
Mags' house: A lopsided rickety old house perched on the edge of a craggy peak overlooking a small village. Consists of an attic, first floor bedroom, ground floor living area, kitchen, basement, front yard and back yard.
Characters:
Bridey: A tall, slender 20 something witch with long red hair, with a black cloak and high pointy witches hat.
Mags: A short fat witch with short dark hair, also wearing a black cloak with witches hat.
Herrick: A crooked old witch hunter, with scraggy grey hair and a long brown cloak.
Pierre: Mags' resident ghost. Not sure on his details, I imagine him as being some character from french aristocracy, possibly the original owner of the house.
Pumpkin head: A talking pumpkin
Ted: A talking horse that lives in a painting.
Well, I suppose I can give it a shot...
Umm...
Must the hounted house be a "house"? Can't it be a flat, or a tent, or a caravan, or something?
PS: I think I will enter, but I'm not sure... The temptation is dragging me in, but my other projects drag me out... A conundrum indeed...
Quote from: Dan_N_GameZ on Tue 03/10/2006 19:22:28
PS: I think I will enter, but I'm not sure... The temptation is dragging me in, but my other projects drag me out... A conundrum indeed...
You could just be strickt on yourself and work on it every day just for a little time. A month is a long time if you just make a small game, especially if you work on it every day.
If you can handle it to be busy all the time I think you will be fine ;)
Quote from: Dan_N_GameZ on Tue 03/10/2006 19:22:28
Must the hounted house be a "house"? Can't it be a flat, or a tent, or a caravan, or something?
Well it should be more the standard house thing. A flat might be okay as well but your other ideas are rather "unusual" places to live. Of course some people/cultures do so, but better go for what we're used to call a house :)
How about an old haunted inn? as in a medieval inn? I am thinking of some inn with THE BED THAT FITS ALL! if you read your greek myths, it actully kind of scary.
Quote from: lo_res_man on Wed 04/10/2006 20:10:27
How about an old haunted inn? as in a medieval inn?
Sure, from my point of view an inn is a house :)
Okay, tomorrow I'm going home after weeks of holidays, and I still have enough spare time (24/7, to be precise) until the 26th. I've already made the walkcycles, the interface and 6 and a half backgrounds. If there's nothing immediate needing my attention, this is going to be a sure entry.
Revision: Never mind...blah! Backgrounds 100%, character anims 100%, story and all that other stuff was completed, buuuuut...I ain't gon' have no time to do the animations for the other things what need to be happnin' in my game. Urrrgh. I pretty much was only getting to work on the weekends as it was, so it's really a 6-day game instead of a month for me. :) Anyways, good lucks to all the still-competitors!
Well, I'm bothered by my lack of graphic skills!!!
If only I could make a decent picture :( (well, more than one actualy! ;)) I would participate and and make so hard on you to win! ;D...
Anyway, I still can't wait for you guys to do your stuff... :)
Don't let go of the good work...
So, (with the orchestra behind and the cheerleaders): GO ON PEOPLE, GO ON!
Yes, unfortunately, I can't enter... I'm busy with my website (*coughvisitcough*) and I've got a bunch of other stuff to do... School takes up most of my I (former) free time and that basically's a bummer... Although Mr. Buckethead's words did indeed inspire me to start something... emphasis on the something... then I realised how much I have to do and I scrunched the concept...
I too would want to see how the classic "haunted house" theme gets interpreted... If a game has an impressive story that "streches" the theme then it definetly has my vote.
It can look as crappy as possible, exotek, we're not about graphics here. Or at least, I'm not. Believe me, I can't draw that good either, but I try my best and that suffices here at AGS. Have you seen the database? Most of the games look like they've been spewed up (no offense to the creators) but a good story and gameplay more than makes up for graphics.
PS: Thanks to CJ for adding hardware driven sound option for AGS! Now I can use the latest version AND have sound! Yipee! Let's hope he just keeps it there in future versions... Kudos!
- Dan
Quote from: Dan_N_GameZ on Thu 12/10/2006 21:27:43
Have you seen the database? Most of the games look like they've been spewed up (no offense to the creators) but a good story and gameplay more than makes up for graphics.
Have you? At least half of those games have pretty decent graphics. A lot of them have exceptional graphics. They aren't naturally commercial standard, but duh, these are freeware games that does not look like they've been spewed out. Maybe you should look again, there are more games than just yahztzee's. And I'm not one of the creators.
Some preliminary results of my game The house that ate my soul
Two screenshots to start with:
(http://www.gwebspace.de/hassu-irc/andere/thtams_pre01.png)(http://www.gwebspace.de/hassu-irc/andere/thtams_pre02.png)
100% (19/19 playable rooms)
3/3 playable characters animated (as far as needed)
1/5 NPCs
some music and sound effects
script: half of the script is done, the keyboard interface is also working
What is still missing is some special animations. I hope I can make some until next weekend. I'm looking forward to get it finished in time. Expected date of release: Sunday, 22nd of October
I hope you're all getting along with your games.
cheers
nihilyst
Looks and sounds interesting. :)
I guess I can also slip one WiP screen myself. Panel on the wall and bookself seem to be traditional in haunted houses. :)
(http://koti.mbnet.fi/paajanen/ags/mags_oct_preview.gif)
Let's see if can make it in time. I'm not anywhere near as far as you are, but I think your game will also be quite much longer than mine anyway.
Well, nihilyst & mikko,
Your entries makes anyone like me shamed! Hope we'll see some result!!!
GO ON PEOPLE, GO ON!!!...
Dan_N_GameZ's comment made me start somethine tooday, thietheen days after the day it all started so you can imagine how much "nothing" I have done but still...
If there something I can do AND WILL is try and vote...
And I can't wait to try your entries guys!...
Keep up the good work. Your the ones that can give lessons to others...!
(never seen it, but love your work!)
Signed: a secret fan.....!!
my game is such a mess, I can't compete with your great games. But I'll enter anyway =)
You guys make me want to enter too, maybe I will! Looks awesome!
Haha, for one thing, I can't draw. Yet I am still entering. My game will be shamed. And, just to keep this a little more on-topic, I call my game Escapé!
Remind me again why I'm doing this? :P
Because it is fun, entertaining and educative, perhaps. ;)
And also because even entering feels like victory. :)
(http://www.fentonfilms.co.uk/tcod_poster.JPG)
I've made the poster for the game now. I'm calling the game "The Castle of Death". I've hardly done anything on the game in this month. So for the whole of this week, I'm really going to get stuck in. (I'm busy with my own game too.)
The graphics aren't too good, but everything else seems ok. Btw, I'm using the MI2 template.
Okay, I have to go now, so here it is:
The House That Ate My Soul (http://americangirlscouts.org/bbc.com/yabb/index.php?topic=28783.0)
cheers
nihilyst
Congrats, Nihilyst! Looks like your the first one to complete your October MAGS entry. (I started playing, looks really solid so far!)
Oh yeah, mine's finished too.
Screenshot:
(http://www.ljplus.ru/img/f/s/fsi/vdtm_1.gif)
Announcement:
http://americangirlscouts.org/bbc.com/yabb/index.php?topic=28784.0
Game's page:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=802
Direct download:
http://fsi3rd.smtp.ru/vdtm.rar (1.4MB RAR)
Enjoy!
--FSi
Quote from: nihilyst on Sun 22/10/2006 16:10:15
Okay, I have to go now, so here it is:
The House That Ate My Soul (http://americangirlscouts.org/bbc.com/yabb/index.php?topic=28783.0)
cheers
nihilyst
I disagree with your readme file. Neither the story nor the interface is bullshit. Some ideas are actually quite interesting and the gameplay is original enough.
The only thing that kinda bothers me a little bit is the lack of response to some interactions, but I quite like the game overall. Great effort!
I found a fatal bug.
Spoiler
When I tried to use item number 7 outside the house (I can't remember which item it actually was), I get booted out of the game.
There were also some minor bugs, but since you said you probably woundn't fix them I didn't jot them down.
I've decided not to upload my game. I've hardly done a thing on the game, it looks rubbish and I was busy with my bigger project too. And next time I enter one of these competitions, I will spend a month on it, not just a week.
I'm not going to upload my half finisched game either. But I've learned alot from working on it and I think I'm gonna start a real full lenght game pretty soon.
Alas and alak. No MAGS October for me. I am losing my drive for this game, plus I'm too darn lazy lately. And with a very busy week coming up (including a 12-hr concert :o), I know I won't have the time to just eek something out. Mayhaps next month... :)
Hmm, I wonder how many more entries there will be, we got two in and completed so far.... I hope to see some more.....
At least you get one from me.
I'm working very hard now, because I don't want to play other competition games before my own is finished and I'm dying to play those other entries. ;)
Ladies and gentlemen, we're reaching the end... Please submit you entries within the next 24 hours from now (see timestamp of this post). Then the voting will begin.
Here is my game:
Halloween Horror
I was able to fix all the glitches hopefully on time and now the final file is at filefront instead
http://files.filefront.com/Halloweenzip/;6083585;;/fileinfo.html
(http://www.geocities.com/vincent_tom_vt/HalloweenScreenshot.JPG)
For more information here is the link to my thread on bigbluecup
Completed Games Thread
(http://americangirlscouts.org/bbc.com/yabb/index.php?topic=28849.0)
Klaus: Would it be too bold from me to request extension of 10-12 hours?
Quote from: Mikko on Thu 26/10/2006 08:41:21
Would it be too bold from me to request extension of 10-12 hours?
It's okay. So let's start the voting in about 14 hours from now (see timestamp of this post) - that's 10:00pm GMT (http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/). Okay?
I've came across some glitches would i be allowed to correct them if before the deadline?
what time is the deadline in central time zone i can't upload my game because my exceded bandwith currently ><;;
Quote from: tr9000 on Thu 26/10/2006 13:43:14
I've came across some glitches would i be allowed to correct them if before the deadline?
Yes, sure. Go ahead :)
One hour to go?
Thank you for extra time, but I think I still need to release it unfinished. But that's my problem, we need to get the voting started. :)
Edit: I think I am very close to finish, so I decided not to release anything unfinished. Also I don't feel like whipping up a demo, like I did last time I partipicated.
So, for my part it's okay to start voting. I hope to have chance to release the game tomorrow. I don't mind if it's not counted as an entry. :)
Quote from: Mikko on Thu 26/10/2006 22:02:43
so I decided not to release anything unfinished ... I hope to have chance to release the game tomorrow. I don't mind if it's not counted as an entry. :)
That's not really the game announcement we all are waiting for here! :'( So let's meet again in 12 hours for a
very final check of the entries... Maybe someone else can make it in time then. cu all at 11am GMT (http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/).
Thank you, Klaus. Don't cry. ;)
I will make my best to have the game ready. Even if it takes all night. :)
EDIT:P.I. Al Luminum: Haunted House
[/color]
The beta version (my entry) is now downloadable at http://koti.mbnet.fi/paajanen/ags/mags_al_luminum_haunted_house.rar
Preview:
(http://koti.mbnet.fi/paajanen/ags/mags_oct_preview2.gif)
I must admit that I would be surprised if all of you can play it through without having major bugs.
The game itself is fairly easy and short. Much shorter and easier than my plans were. I hope to release proper version at least together with Clown at the Circus, which has been on hold for this time I have been working on this.
But now I must start getting myself ready for the Halloween dress party.
And no, I'm not going to dress as Al Luminum. ;)
Here we go! Finally four very interesting entries, so there's a real choice. Maybe not that easy...
For voting now please visit the MAGS site (http://www.mags-competition.tk) or make your choice right here:
Voodoo Dave and the Tablecloth Mystery by FSi (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=Voodoo%20Dave%20and%20the%20Tablecloth%20Mystery)
The House That Ate My Soul by nihilyst (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=The%20House%20That%20Ate%20My%20Soul)
P.I. Al Luminum - Haunted House by Mikko (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=P.I.%20Al%20Luminum%20-%20Haunted%20House)
Halloween Horror by tr9000 (http://mags.typo.i24.cc?page=voting&fav=Halloween%20Horror)
Please vote only once and be sure to have played all games before sending your voice! Good luck to all participants.
For the time of voting now you're invited to post your opinion about all entries: Pros and cons of the games. What did you like, what not. In this case it's interesting how you compare the games - if this is possible at all.
When's voting over? I'm still stuck in one of the games and although I'd love to finish it before going to the ballots, I don't want to miss the deadline.
Edit: Nevermind, I finished it.
So time for voting is over now... All entries received a number of votes but the winner is one step ahead of the others.
So who is it this time, who made the race?
Maybe it's the story that made the game so special or the unique style of navigation, perhaps the graphics or something else? We probably will never know as noone posted his/her opinion about the games here...
The winning game in October is "The House That Ate My Soul" by nihilyst. Congratulations!
Also many thanks to all the other participants for their nice entries. Happy Halloween!
Congrats to Nihilyst!
I didn't quite have time to play through all of the games, so I didn't yet comment them. Anyway I have played all of them that much, that I could decide who to vote.
THTAMS was despite its little dfficulties by far the most interesting entry. It is versatile and it is always great to have something different. It is courageous to make that kind of game in short time span and in overall Nihilyst succeeded more then well.
FSi's entry was once again easily recognisable and actually some of the weird jokes made me smile. :)
Tr9000 had also a good attempt with his game.
Mikko, I really enjoyed your game but the ending just didn't seem right..... It needs to have a more definitive ending!
Thanks. I know it's a major dissappointment to have ending like that and if/when I redo the game, it'll be a lot better.
I'm thinking of changing some scenes too, so that there's also new areas to explore. But now it's time for break and Clown at the Circus. And who knows, maybe a new Mags.
I like all your games Mikko. But I didn't had much time to play all the games so I couldn't vote for you. Besides I hardly got anywhere in your game. Glad to hear CATC is getting some attention now. I'm really looking forward to it. :)