AGS is 25 years old

eri0o · Thu 03/02/2022 10:39:21

According this Tweet, AGS is now 25 years old: https://www.twitter.com/dosnostalgic/status/1488564059976970242

https://archive.org/details/ags-v2

How old is everyone here feeling?

Joining here a bit late in it's history it's been fun. Thank you everyone that has been here in this corner of the internet. It's been interesting.

Frodo · Thu 03/02/2022 12:26:14

Happy Birthday AGS!!!

(I feel old!

)

Rik_Vargard · Thu 03/02/2022 12:36:59

Happy birthday AGS and thanks for this wonderful software!
I discovered it in 2004 and 18 years later, never forgot about it, obviously

All hail the blue cup!

Retro Wolf · Thu 03/02/2022 14:08:42

I was ten years old, wish I knew about it then!

TheFrighter · Thu 03/02/2022 17:59:55

Good to hear! I wonder how many free game engines are so old!

_

Danvzare · Thu 03/02/2022 18:09:07

Wow, 25 years old... wait a minute, this game engine I've been using is nearly as old as me!

...
I don't know if I should feel old or young? $:-\$

Babar · Thu 03/02/2022 18:53:38

A video I watched made me realise this information is available, and apparently, AGS is among the top 15 game engines used for games on steam, and the most popular adventure game focused one
https://steamdb.info/tech/

(but it only counts a game as an AGS one if it includes either the AGSteam.dll or acsetup.cfg, neither of which are really needed to run a game)

Grundislav · Thu 03/02/2022 18:59:54

Happy birthday AGS! It's been a very interesting 25 years, that's for sure!

Ali · Thu 03/02/2022 19:04:17

If only I'd discovered it when I was at school, I could have wasted even more years of my life!

I joined in 2003, assuming that AGS was a reaction to the decline of adventure games. How interesting that CJ actually started it in 1997 - probably the peak of the high-budget adventure game, and the beginning of the end (when publishers realised that spending five million dollars on adventure games wasn't going to pay).

Rik_Vargard · Thu 03/02/2022 20:32:06

Quote from: Ali on Thu 03/02/2022 19:04:17
If only I'd discovered it when I was at school, I could have wasted even more years of my life!

I joined in 2003, assuming that AGS was a reaction to the decline of adventure games. How interesting that CJ actually started it in 1997 - probably the peak of the high-budget adventure game, and the beginning of the end (when publishers realised that spending five million dollars on adventure games wasn't going to pay).

To me, Adventure Games had indeed a Golden Age back in the 80's and 90's. ("I was there") ... But I think it's still thriving, especially thanks to platforms, like Steam or Itch , that give it a chance nowadays.
I also think that, with a kind of retro move amongst gamers and good, nice, fun games, some players are looking for other things than epic FPS etc games, for example.
I've been there, I wanted the most best whatever visually realistic gaming experience

I think Adventure Games, at this point, have that thing where you can play, in your own microcosm, at your own pace, without the Multiplayer "competition/ambition/WanabeTheBestOfAll" thing.
I've seen and played games since a while that have that old school vibe and have big success in their own category.

It's settled, the Golden Age is gone, but to me, since 2004, and now seeing that 18 years later the AGS community is still on top and thriving means and explains it all.

Ali · Thu 03/02/2022 21:08:26

I think the golden age - in terms of variety and invention - is now! But there's no mistaking the fact that the we'll never see late 90s budgets again. For me, there was a real dearth of good adventures from 2000-2009, until companies like Amanita, Wadjet Eye and Telltale sparked a renaissance. To keep this on topic - how wonderful that AGS played a role in that and (ironically) helped adventure games get out of the nostalgia phase. (Something that I, having made 2 pirate adventure games, didn't contribute towards AT ALL!)

Rik_Vargard · Thu 03/02/2022 21:13:49

Quote from: Ali on Thu 03/02/2022 21:08:26
I think the golden age - in terms of variety and invention - is now! But there's no mistaking the fact that the we'll never see late 90s budgets again. For me, there was a real dearth of good adventures from 2000-2009, until companies like Amanita, Wadjet Eye and Telltale sparked a renaissance. To keep this on topic - how wonderful that AGS played a role in that and (ironically) helped adventure games get out of the nostalgia phase. (Something that I, having made 2 pirate adventure games, didn't contribute towards AT ALL!)

I second that. *Like*

LimpingFish · Fri 04/02/2022 01:11:12

25 years...wow!

I discovered AGS in...2002, I think? I didn't officially join the forums until 2004, though.

And for the last two decades or so, AGS has been a constant in my life; not just the program itself, or the games, but also the community.

Quote from: Ali on Thu 03/02/2022 21:08:26
For me, there was a real dearth of good adventures from 2000-2009, until companies like Amanita, Wadjet Eye and Telltale sparked a renaissance.

Agreed. And it was weird to be an adventure fan during that period, especially having also been a fan during the adventure's heyday. Personally, I was willing to try any and every adventure I could find. Syberia? Sure! The Watchmaker? Why...not? Mystery of the Druids? Now, h-hang on...

...

Happy Birthday, AGS!

Ponch · Fri 04/02/2022 01:59:56

Holy cow, time flies! I joined the forums in 2004 (and lurked the old EZ Board forums). I'm thrilled that the blue cup corner of the internet is still alive and well.

Dualnames · Fri 04/02/2022 04:19:31

I discovered AGS in 2006, so it's been almost 20 years for me! When i was first here, we'd get our AGS from CJ'S OVEN.

MiteWiseacreLives! · Fri 04/02/2022 05:47:53

Well, now that Iâ€™m 40 and AGS is 25 yes I do feel old!

Thanks to all the buds for making this forum a great place, one I should visit more often.. might be time to ~~start~~ half finish a new game!

ukz530 · Fri 04/02/2022 07:11:00

I participated in this community for a short time. I have seen many wonderful works here. I wish the ags would last forever.

Happy Birthday, AGS !

cat · Fri 04/02/2022 08:42:54

Happy Birthday, AGS! 🎂

Wow, we have come quite some way from here
[imgzoom]https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/images/games/1060_1_thumb_200.jpg[/imgzoom]

with the database now boasting over 2500 games!

Jim Reed · Fri 04/02/2022 11:12:19

Happy birthday AGS, I've been around for 13 years, it's still such a nice community. <3

AGA · Fri 04/02/2022 16:23:32

I 'celebrated' my 20 year AGS anniversary last year. I joined a couple of weeks before my 16th birthday... It's also going on ten years since I took over administration of the AGS site and forums from CJ.