AGS Questionaire!

[kristofski]

Hey guys! I've made a questionaire for an essay I'm writing about the AGS community, I decided to post it here. You can copy and paste it into an email and answear it there, or simply peruse it on here. There are quite a few questions, but you can skip any ones that you can't think of anything to write for, or you just don't want to answer, though the more you write the more you'll be helping me. Most of the questions are open ended, which means they don't have a quantitive yes/no style answer. Feel free to write as much or as little as you want for these, feel free to ramble and go off the topic if you want. Type your answers into this document, change the title to your name/something different and email it back to me at gokristofski@hotmail.co.uk. Remember; I'm trying to find out what you think. There are no wrong answers. Thanks again!
Kristofski

Name:

Age:

Female/male:

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

11. Any other comments?

[DragonRose]

Eh, why not.

Name: Forum Name- DragonRose. Real name- Chris McLeod

Age: 21

Female/male: Female

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

Four years

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

Someone asked me to help with a game as an artist, so I came here to find out what I was getting into.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

One of the things that draw people to AGS is that you don't have to pay  to start working on a game. If you want to make a full game, you can get everything you need to do so for free. People don't like to pay for things. However, it has been proven several times that people would be quite willing to pay for AGS if they needed to.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

Until this past year, quite a large part- checking the forums more than once a day, browsing around to various sites about people's games... now I check things once a month, if that.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

I've been a sounding board for people talking about their game ideas, and I've worked on a couple of my own games, but nothing I've ever really considered a full game.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Heck yes. I even tried to make my own games with HTML and BASIC. They weren't very good.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

I don't think I would have kept trying without AGS.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

I attempted to make other games, as mentioned above. The difference is that with AGS I've got a community of people to ask for help if I'm stuck.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

For a while, yes. Then I discovered just how HARD this game making thing is!

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

When I first joined, yes. Some people were actually shocked when they found out I was a girl. I can think of only one other girl in the community at that time.  Now, it doesn't really matter.  Girls and guys come and go, and no one really notices unless they did something memorable.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

I might feel a little bit of "you go, girl!" style pride. But I don't think the game will automatically be any different from a game made by a guy.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

AGS makes it easier for people of either gender to get involved in computer game design.  Gender doesn't play in to it.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Nope. Unless someone tells me that a game is made by a guy or a girl, I can't tell.

11. Any other comments?

I like pie.

[Evil]

Name: Forum â€" Evil, Real â€" Harry Day
Age: 16
Female/male: Male
1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
- I started tinkering with AGS about 5 years ago, but now I'm just here for the arts and DG.
2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
- LGM told me about it and I just kind of stuck around.
3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
- Yes, very much so. I think that many of the great people that have come here have left because they were done with it in a sort. Like downloading a free game off the internet, you play it for awhile and delete it. But if you were to buy it, you feel inclined to play it and keep it around. Also some of the great, short lived AGSers wouldn't be around either.
4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
- I check the boards three times a day. My internet life pretty much revolves around it even though I haven't really made a game or play many games.
5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want.
- I've made a lot of art for games, but never got around to much of the scripting. Since v2.3 or something AGS changed pretty rapidly and I never got around to learning some of the new configurations.
6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games: (I'll answer anyway)
a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
- Yes, but never as interested as I am now. It was kind of a secret passion.
b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
-Ã,  Maybe.
c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
- AGS is the cleanest program out there. It has a simple enough design for a n00bie, but if you're good with programming, you can do almost anything.
d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
- I've done more game inspired art pieces, a lot more CG art, but I won't take it up as a profession, I don't think.
7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
- It's not just the females that m0ds hits on. I'll leave it at that.
8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
- No. If it's good, and you're into the game, you don't even think about it.
9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
- No, it makes it easier for everyone. I think that because AGS is freeware it might allow some females to try their hand at it, but if they really wanted to make a game, they'd do it with or without AGS. Same goes for males.
10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
- Usually female games are pretty easy to pick out; female character, cartoonish style, light mood. The plots can differ, but most of the games feel the same.
11. Any other comments?
- I too, fancy myself some pie.

[DanClarke]

Name: Forum â€" Dan Clarke - Real: ...Dan Clarke
Age: 21
Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
- Summer 2004.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
- I wanted to make a graphic adventure game.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
-It's a great community, a lot of very talented people here and some characters too.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
- I'm on the net everyday, so i try and have a look whenever i'm on, but i'm very busy with other things atm, so i don't get to spend as much time on the forums as normal.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want.
- I'm making my own, but it's taking a while, although i may have an announcement that will please people this week

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games: (I'll answer anyway)

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

- Definitely, it's my primary career choice for when i graduate.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

-  Most likely in some shape or form.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

- Nope, and i dont have much experience with AGS either at this moment in time, so i cant really comment.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

- See (a)

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

- Not really, but the ratio of males to females is pretty much a landslide anyway.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

- Not at all.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

- I'm not sure i understand the question, but from what i've heard AGS is pretty user friendly in mot aspects, so in theory it should be a good tool for anyone regardless of gender.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

- I don't think i;ve played enough AGS games, certainly not enough from both gender groups, to comment here.

11. Any other comments?

- All your base are belong to us.

[Tuomas]

Name: My name, as my nick indicates, is Tuomas Renvall

Age: Theres this indicator that says 18,93 years. So that'll be it.

Female/male: Male and proud of it

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Ã,  Ã,  I joined in the autumn of 2004, but that was mostly to ask about some things that I didn't understand about the tutorial. Then after I bought my own computer in the summer of 05, I have been much more of a regular visiter to the forums and the #AGS.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Ã,  Ã,  Well probably the way we all do it, I loved the games I played, Zak, The big red adventure, and most of all MI1. Having played that I knew I wanted to make a game like it. I had been searching for a game construction program such as AGS for a while but I couldn't find any, basically because I didn't know any that was on sale and I had an amiga, so it was most unlikely to get one anyway. I heard my brothers friend was using one program, which wasn't that good. Then doing some serious googling a while later I stumbled upon AGS, and found out it was the same the guy had been using. Though he's never visited the forums and he doesn't know how to use it, so that's why he thought it wasn't that good.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
Ã,  Ã,  Well I have this image in mind of a bunch of scarce posh people talking to each other about a program no-one cares to buy. Basically they would be saying that the program is superb, as it is, and they would be giving their games to each other. They might even be more eager to selling them, but I know that most of the people here would never have gotten here if the program wasn't freeware. I probably wouldn't have. I don't think that the way to raise someone's interest in something is to make him pay for it first. I think keeping this program a freeware and yet not publishing the source was a very clever move from CJ.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Ã,  Ã,  I don't want to say it's much, at least to those I know in real life. Some might think, that I spend all my time here, which is partly true. I usually have my computer open at days, and why not keep the browser open as well. So basically I have the window to the forums open all the time. And everytime I check my computer, whatever I'm doing with it, I tend to check if there's anything new on the forums. Most of times there is, and most of times it's something interesting that I want to be a part of and through what I learn something new. And I truly do learn things here, and I sometimes keep repeating them in real life. I even tell people, that this AGS forum I am on, we had this very interesting conversation etc.
Ã,  Ã, So I'd say, though I'm not tied up here, I really enjoy being here and as it doesn't really require time spent, I am logged in 7 hours a day min. But when I'm not home, I don't come to visit. I hardly use computer at all.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Ã,  Ã, I am currently involved in the making of three excellent games, well 2 of them are great, the third is my own which I hope will be great too. I do not wish to let them out here, because I don't want to take any pre-credit on anything. Everyone'll see sooner or later if they wish.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
Ã,  Ok, I will

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Ã,  Ã, Programming? I have never been interested in it, sorry.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
Ã,  Ã, Never, it was AGS what I wanted to do. That had to include game design, so be it.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
Ã,  Ã, I don't, well I did one with RPGeditor, but it sucked

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Ã,  Ã, I can't say it has, I'm more into the artistic side of it.


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Ã,  Ã, Isn't there one everywhere? we have less women here, it's a fact, but not a surprise. And the fact that in such community every Ã, guy drools after every girl, isn't that everyday life? What I have experienced here is still, that though alas, we might have less women, people really don't behave differently with them. I say "with" here since some of us has seen each other at mittens or such. I think it's the openness we have and the fact that anything you write can be read by others, that makes us treat each other as friends not as different genders. I don't think people are drawing lines there between, nor is there any division between any two sides at that.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it’s made by a female? In what way?
Ã,  Ã, I don't think sex has any effect on how you make adventure games, one any for that matter. It is mostly the artistic side of them that differs occasionally. I don't mean anything stereotypical, but I find it easier for a male to draw big breasts for a character than a woman, mote that this isn't a universal fact. But for the game, women make less because there are less to do them, but I don't see a difference anyhow.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Ã,  Ã, I don't think easier is the correct word. I don't really see an obstacle that makes it harder to get in touch with these things. It's all a matter of interest, and if you are interested in computers I'm sure you'll at some point seek into computer stuff. what AGS does; it makes it easy for someone already involved in computers to get deeper into it, and to let you practice the interest in it and have fun while doing it. I don't think anyone here didn't want to make a game before they found AGS, I think they all had this little louse in their head hammering them with the idea of how interesting that game was you just played, if only you could do something like it.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Ã,  Ã, As I said earlier, reading this probably answering very wrong, there is no difference in the game design, and only if you want to make one for the visual side.

11. Any other comments?
Ã,  Ã, I thought I'd hammer this here, just to save me some time and trouble. Your essay sure sounds interesting, what ever it's about anyway. Hope this helps you and hope my name gets into some big book that you will publish on this Oh and sorry for the typos. I'ts too big a text for me to be spellchecking now

[Helm]

Name: Telemachus Stavropoulos

Age: 21

Female/male: Sex

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

About... I'm not sure... before 2000?

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

I wanted to make my own Quest for Glory-type adventure games.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

I have no opinions about the ags community.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

I spend time with some of the people here in the summers, but I consider them friends and not 'community'. I'd say the AGS community itself doesn't have a strictly defined role in my life.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

I have. I've made three Snail Quest joke games, The Crown of Gold, a hour game named Pyramid, Sol, Gladiator Quest with Ghormak, Caverns with the help of Unilin. There's at least another orow game in me, maybe two. I don't think I'll ever attempt to make an adventure game of reasonable length ever again.

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

No. I was into role-playing games and designing and world-building in that sense, but no actual code for me until I encountered Displayspeech(ego, "lol!");

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

Probably, attempting to do platform games like Flashback.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

Barely can play around with Game Maker. Yes, it's very different because 'simple' adventure games are very easy to script and behave predictably once you iron out bugs. Other games have much more input and ongoing code and break a lot more than adventure games. Adventure games truly are the genre for artists-who-program-a-little rather than coders-who-do-a-little-art

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

I uttered some such foolish notion once a few years ago. Inspiration did not turn into action.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

No.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

No. In none.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

Adventure games are story-driven and that usually means there'll be more girls attempting them than attempting a generic shooter game.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Not particularily. Adventure games are very girly anyway.

11. Any other comments?

[Haddas]

Name: Rolf Gustav Alexander Haddas

Age: 17,91

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
since before 10-08-2003, 12:52:00

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I've always loved adventure games and I found AGS when googling for adventure game creating software. I was inspired after playing Larry Vales II

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
It's been possible because of it. It allows for a larger amount of people to get involved. People with strict financial restrictions. People like me. More people equals more games and other community effort.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
The forum is my homepage and the longest session I've been on #ags is 60 days.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
I've been "involved" in a few games, yes.
  - Cedric the life-boat DC
  - Princess Marian VII

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Obviously

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
No.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Not really. It's been a dream though.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Absolutely not. This community is exceptionally diverse, and I'm proud of that.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Yes. If it's been made by a female I feel pride for the community. Not to say that I dont feel that way about the games in general, but you see my point.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Possibly. There's a lack of female gamers. ESPECIALLY game designers.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
I have felt that females generally tend to take the games they're making more seriously, and it shows in the quality.

11. Any other comments?
I like 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459230781640628620
89986280348253421170679821480865132823066470938446095505822317253594081284811174502
84102701938521105559644622948954930381964428810975665933446128475648233786783165271
20190914564856692346034861045432664821339360726024914127372458700660631558817488152
0920962829254091715364367892590360011330530548820466521384146951941511

[scotch]

Name: David Scott

Age: 20

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
- Since September 2002

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
- I wanted to make games, I had tried AC (the ancient DOS predecessor to AGS) but found it lacking... AGS seemed great, though.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
- The community may never have got off its feet if AGS was commercial, it might have worked if it was something like Game Maker, pay to remove the splash screen, but otherwise I don't think many of the people who are here would have given it a go.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
- A tragically large part, it pretty much is my life. I consider some AGSers real life friends (and make every effort to meet up with them once or twice a year), and AGS consumes a lot of my time, working with other people on games.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
- I've worked on 'Alien Rape Escape', 'Jon Stickman', various other things, and at the moment 'The Chronicles of Oswyn Rodgerick Throckmorton'.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
- Certainly, ever since I got my first computer (c64) I've made games, maybe almost as much as I've played them. Ã, I learned art to make games, and I learned to code to make games.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
-

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
- I've used other game engines, such as Game Maker and Klik n Play, beginner languages like variations of BASIC, more serious languages like C++, and very high level languages like Python. Ã, They are all quite different to one another from a putting the game together point of view, but I tend to spend most time doing art work, which is a similar process whatever platform.
Although it's probably the thing I've spent most time working on projects with, AGS is actually pretty restrictive compared to everything else. Ã, The script language is gaining features that allow more complicated games to be coded more easily, and more useful parts of the engine are being opened up to the script for customisation, and so on, but it's still basically only suitable for certain types of adventure games in my opinion, just about every other engine beats it in this regard. Ã, That's not necessarily a bad thing; in other engines such as Game Maker you have a lot of freedom, but the price for that is the engine doing very little for you (Sludge seems to go more in this direction than AGS too), which means only an experienced programmer type person can make a game.
AGS's community isn't much founded on these programmer types. Ã, It also affects the types of games that get made, with all the set up for the game written for you, AGS doesn't disuade people from making small games that might seem a waste of time in other engines, where you have to write a load of code to set up the basics whatever size game you do.
I use AGS for all adventure game type things I want to make, and Python/C++ combined for everything else, currently. Seems like a waste of time trying to make non adventures in AGS, people try though... people that don't know anything that suits their purposes more, I guess.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

I've wanted to do that off and on since long before I used AGS... not really sure if it's a realistic thing to hope for, it still seems appealling, though.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
- A divide in what sense? I don't think the female members here are treated, or act any differently, but obviously there is a discrepancy in the number of males to females. Ã, Compared to game development in general I think I attract a lot of girls. I mean we. Ã, The females here do seem to have a slightly better success rate with making games, I'm not sure if that's true, just seems that way.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it’s made by a female? In what way?
- Only if I really really thought about it, I might see how it affected how she wrote different characters... maybe... not really.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
- There do seem to be quite few women interested in programming (compare the number of females helping with code in the Tech Forums to the number of females posting in the critics lounge), so I guess not having to helps a little.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
- With AGS games, I haven't noticed that so far... with non AGS, well, there are few female games designers around.

11. Any other comments?
- No

[voh]

Name: Robin de Graaf
Age: 24
Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
I've been involved in the AGS community since... *checks profile* the summer of 2004, but I've known about it and worked with it first when it didn't have a windows version.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I like adventure games and some of the games made with AGS just made me go "OMG", and I wanted to build a game myself, so here I am.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
The community would not have been so helpful and friendly (as well as large) if it had been a commercial product. Because there's just not enough interest in paying money for something that isn't mindbogglingly amazing. AGS is very good for what it's meant for - and paying for something means it has to be - or seem - amazing to teh max. The people here are friendly and usually think alike - free program = free games = free help = free awesomeness.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Not too big, to be honest. I check the forums multiple times a day on days where I've got lots of spare time. If not, at least once.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Not yet, no.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
No. Though there are more men than women, women are (afaik) seen as equal  and are welcome just as much as men are. I'd say that positive discrimination is sometimes an issue "Wow, a GIRL made this? AWESOME!", but that's it, really.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it’s made by a female? In what way?
I'm usually very keen on seeing good games made by females. Why? Because the going assumption is that girls aren't really into gaming. Which is false, but it's always good to see more girl gamers and especially game designers.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Nothing is stopping females to get into computer game design. Any freeware tool that doesn't have gender requirements offers the same options to females as AGS does.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
No. Cirque de Zale, for example, could have been made by a man and it wouldn't have surprised me. I think, to be honest, that girls usually spend a bit more time on the details, but otherwise it's all the same to me. In the end it's about the game - if it's good, it's good, no matter who made it.

11. Any other comments?
Not really

[Helm]

Oh yeah I guess reverse-discrimination should be mentioned: when the women of the forum post inane bullshit or are overtly ignorant and opinionated about it, everybody seems to cut them slack just because they exist and they'd rather that than risk sausagefest.

[AGA]

Name: Berian Williams

Age: 20

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community? I registered on the old forums on 01 August 2001. I'd been lurking on the forums awhile prior to that.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS? I'd played a few AGS-made games, and thought I'd like to try it myself.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it? I think people respect Chris Jones a lot more because he does what he does, and devotes to much time to AGS and its community, for free, and in his own spare time.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life? The forums not so much anymore, but I'm pretty much on IRC 24/7. There are a lot of people associated with AGS whom I consider friends.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

Reality-on-the-Norm: I Spy II
Alien Rape Escape
Reality-on-the-Norm: Dead Man's Political Party
Jon Stickman demo
The Lion's Den

I also helped Grundislav with ideas for the first few Ben Jordan games, beta tested various things, and have taken part in two ATC entries that will be finished... eventually.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS? Not to a huge degree. I did have Klik 'n' Play as a kid, but I never really did much with it.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ? No.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally? No. Professional games design is far too much like hard work.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community? Aside from the numbers difference, no.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way? No.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way? No. There's nothing stopping females from getting involved in games creation other than the lack of desire.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females? No.

11. Any other comments? Maybe.

[Nikolas]

Name: Nikolas Sideris
Age: 28
Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
since summer 2005 (that recent). But I have more than 1100 posts!

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I like adventure games and want to write music for computer games. I would also like to design my own game, and I'm currently working on it.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
This is one of the most wonderfull and helpful communities in the web. This is because AGS is free, probably.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Well I spent a lot of time in front of my computer, and since I have internet connectio nat home, I check quiet frequently the AGS Forums.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
I wrote music for "Hearts of Abraxas" and for "A Tale of Two Kingdoms" (WIP)

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes. I have actually done four games using GW Basic (!)

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
N/A

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
No.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally? No. Professional games design is far too much like hard work.
Yes, but not for game design, but rather as a composer in computer games industry. I hope for the best...


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
More men than women, I think

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
The two females I have in mind (Ivy and Kinoko) have made wonderfull games, probably in the top 20 of my list. I don't feel different because they are women, but I do feel that their games were wonderfull.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Nope.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Nope.

11. Any other comments?
Nope.

[LimpingFish]

Name: LimpingFish

Age: 29

Female/male: Aquatic.

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
2 years.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I...uh...like adventure games.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
People DO like free stuff.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Internet life? Pretty big. Otherwise...sure, I'd say a big part.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
I'm working on my first.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
See above.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
I've tried a few game making programmes. AGS has proven the most user friendly.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
No. A whole different ball game.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
No.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
No.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
No. Well it depends really. I don't think AGS has anything special to offer female gamemakers over any other program, no. Or male gamemakers for that matter.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
No. Except maybe towards female characters.

11. Any other comments?
No.

[biothlebop]

Name: biothlebop

Age: 20

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

Around a month.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

Because I had a wow effect (kids experience things more intensely) from Monkey Island (and I was too scared to play
ROTT, DOOM etc.) when I was like nine years old.
The internet lead me to it, and I downloaded it.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

It's all good. Before the Internet, there was no free lunch.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

I check it now and then when I am on the computer. Quite big internet-wise considering it's the first forum I've
registered in.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

No. I am partly a perfectionist, but mostly I hate programming because it sucks and I suck at it.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Design: Yes. Programming: no. Did I mention that I hate programming? I love it when a program of mine works though.
I just hate it when it doesn't work for the two weeks and I spend figuring out why it doesn't work.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

Without any toolkit, using only C or something, I would rather have learnt to breakdance to the point that I could do Flares. I'd even have it written on my gravestone: He couln't program for shit, but he could get down!

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

Nope.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

I believe whatever you end up to do for a job, there is little to it that attracted you to it in the first place.
"A job is nothing but work" and I would never do anything as a profession that didn't involve interaction with other people
physically. My AGS experiences have been solely via the Internet. However I could work in game design
(designing generally, and commanding a hundred people to make me a car), but AGS has not inspired me to pursue it.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

If you mean that people are judged by their gender, no. More nerdy men here though than nerdy women.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

I played Circue de Zale, and when I found out it was made by a woman I was pleasantly surprised.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

Yes. You dont have to learn pointers and stuff to do a one-room game. I also hate programming.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

I have only played one adventure game that I know was made by a woman. I liked it.
I have on the other hand played a few adventure games made by men that I thought sucked (some ruled). This I believe was
more related to the fact that more effort was put in the one made by the female author and the male person was thirteen
or something. I always liked adventure games for their plots and especially nice graphics. I'm the type of person who skips
dialogue in Final Fantasy and couldn't give a crap when it's over or what happened. The graphics made me concentrate
for a while until I skip, and adventures are loaded with graphics. I have been thirteen once as well, and my pictures
from that time suck.

Between the types of games: I dont know much about games in general developed by women. Jane Jensen made adventures as
well as Roberta Williams, but the other profilic game figures I know are men (Wright,Miyamoto,Romero).

11. Any other comments?

I guess it could be interesting to make a essay of the battle of genders in Adventure game making. As I see it
the revolutionary and interesting thing behind AGS is not related to genders in any way. The internet is anonym enough
for anybody to pose as a man/woman or Tony Blair, and in my country, feminism is dead. There is no battle. There are
definately more hardcore nazis than sexists in Finland. Or they are more visible, so I see race as an greater issue.
There is also the issue of personal economy. It's probably a no-brainer, considering that you need a computer in the first
place, a connection and some reltion to adventures in the past to get interested. I'd guess most of the people here are
from middleclass families and up along the social ladder.

I believe fewer women are into game development because it still is so technical, and practically all technical areas
are infested with men. Gaming is just a matter of hooking them while they're young. Boys probably have a inclination to
tinker with computers (that's how I started) but girls haven't. If a girl does not have a room filled with barbie dolls but
a computer or a console, you'll have a greater chance that she grows up to like those things in the future. I wouldn't put
my future children in front of a computer however, I'd probably toss them out the door every chance I got and say go play
football or something so I could have some peace.

What makes AGS interesting is that it is free, most games made with it are free, and it extends well beyond making adventures
thanks to the forums. It is a creative outlet for music, writing and art, it brings together creative and like-minded people,
letting them discuss society and general matters, there is a low snob factor thanks to the constant flow of nOObs, but great
things are posted constantly. People are generally helpful, there is very little trolling and nonsense, I could ramble on
about how I love the spirit behind AGS. It all comes down to Citius, Altius, Fortius, people that want to do something amazing
and the community provides a launch pad for that (I haven't drawn anything in a while before I came here).
If communism would have ever worked, these people could have made it work.

[Kinoko]

Name: Kinoko (Rebecca Clements)

Age: 23

Female/male: Female

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community? Since about December 2003, I think.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I had suddenly gotten the urge to try my hand at making an adventure game, and some friends pointed me in the direction of AGS.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
Obviously, a huge amount. It creates a nice, friendly atmosphere where people don't feel pressured to produce to any particular level or to anyone's expectations but their own.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
I check the site several times a day, so a huge amount. It's a part of my regular routine.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Cirque de Zale was my first game. I'm now working on an RPG called Gift of Adora.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Not really.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
Yes, but probably not as much.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
Nope, I just use AGS for now.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
No. It would be nice though.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Not at all. Most of the time, I forget what gender people are anyway.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Not at all.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
I have no idea, I never thought about it. I don't know any other programs that might make it more difficult for women to get into game design so I don't know what to compare it to.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Never noticed one.

11. Any other comments?
Can't think of any.

[Grundislav]

Name: Francisco Gonzalez

Age: 24

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Since March of 2001, and I've only got 484 posts!

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I wanted to make my own adventure game ever since I played Hugo's House of Horrors back in the early '90s.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
Being free certainly draws more people to it, and the fact that one guy is responsible for such a program and actually listens to suggestions gives it a more home-y feeling.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
A disgustingly large part.Ã,  I check the forums several times a day, and I think I have more friends in AGS than I do in real life.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Yes.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
I fooled around with Klik n Play for a little bit, and also with this thing called QuestMaker when I was younger, but nothing serious or good every resulted from those.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?


c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
Nope.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
In theory it's a nice idea, but I wouldn't really want to do it for a living. It stops becoming fun when it's work.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
There's definitely more males, but aside from that, no.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
No.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
I think AGS makes it easier for anyone to get involved in game design, regardless of gender.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
I don't think so.

11. Any other comments?
Do I get a prize?

[Gilbert]

Name:
Gilbert Cheung

Age:
31

Female/male:
Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Since somewhere between 1997 or 1998 I think, that makes it about 7 to 8 years.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I wasn't really involved in AC when I first joined, I just discovered AC because I was looking for DOS utilities (which CJ ahd created a brunch, together with AC), I wasn't really active until the community was about to build up one or two years later, since I saw potential in AC, it looked like fun creating games, and lots of good people.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
Well I think it's a VERY important part to account for the large and strong community we are having now.Ã,  You don't need to pay $$$ to get a programme that's updated frequently with incredible features, you don't need to pay $$$ to make a game, you don't need to pay $$$ to make a large awesome game,Ã,  you don't need to pay $$$ to make a small crappy game, you don't even need to pay $$$ to make a commercial game! (Though there weren't many commercial games made with AGS so far.) It's also one important fact that people are willing to create geneoursly lots of supports, like the WIKI site, upload servers, well organised competitions, etc.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
As big as it's 99% of my time involved to net forum surfing.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Nothing worth mentioning really, yet.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Because of the answer to Q5, I'm too lazy to answer this one.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Gender? What gender? Everyone here loves female mates.

AGS: Turning girls into lesbians since 1997.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
No. Refer to Q7.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Yes. Refer to Q7.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
No. Refer to Q7.

11. Any other comments?
No. Refer to Q7.

[Ghormak]

Name:Ã,  Andreas Slotte

Age: 22

Female/male: male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
2002? 2001? I really can't remember, I was lurking for a long time before I started posting.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I played Scid's game Red Flagg and thought "wow, this works just like a Sierra game. Awesome".

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I don't know, other than the obvious fact that more people use it now than if they had to pay for it.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
I read the forums every day, and there are people here I'd like to think of as my friends.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Yes, though not any real point and click adventures other than ones meant as jokes. Gladiator Quest is my favourite game I've contributed to significantly.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Oh yes, ever since the C64 my brother got when I was three!

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
I've dabbled with SDL and OpenGL in C++, and once school calms down a little I'm going to continue working on a rogue-like game I've wanted to do for some time now. It's different because it offers much more control and less limitations. When I made Moose Wars with AGS, I made it because I wanted to test the limits of AGS, and I had fun. I just added new feature after new feature as I came up with simple things to try.
When we made Gladiator Quest, I was just frustrated by the things that limited me, because we had a clear vision of what we wanted the game to be like.
I'll never again make a (complex) non-adventure in AGS.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
I would like to work as a game designer. But realistically, I don't see it happening. How many people really end up being astronauts, anyway?

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
No.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it’s made by a female? In what way?
No.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
It makes it easier for everyone.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Looking at the games released so far, I wouldn't say there's much of a difference.

11. Any other comments?
About AGS? About females and AGS? About adventure games in general? I'll go with the last one:
Personally I'm getting slightly bored with the idea of point-and-click puzzle solving games we all came to AGS for, and am hoping that we'll soon enough see a new kind of adventure game that will make both adventure purists and FPS players shout out with glee in unison.

[The Inquisitive Stranger]

Oh, what the heck. I'm bored.

Name: www.deirdrakiai.com

Age: Twenty

Female/male: I like how "Female" is capitalized and "male" isn't.

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community? I'm not really involved; I just lurk sporadically. I've been part of the general adventure game developing community since 1999-ish, though.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS? I didn't. I tried using the engine circa 2000 and didn't like it, so I used other engines to make my adventure games instead.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it? I'm a bit confused with the phrasing of that sentence. Sure, AGS has a great community; however, that's not just because it's a freeware program.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life? It's here to amuse me when I can't find people to bicker with on other adventure game development forums.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want No, but I AM well-known for Cubert Badbone, P.I.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS? Yup. I was interested in game design/programming even after I used AGS and didn't like it.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS? N/A

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ? I use SLUDGE for my adventure games, and the experience, well, involves a lot fewer drop-down menus and more scripting, I suppose. Before SLUDGE, I used AGAST, which was nice for a while but then didn't get updated for ages. I wrote a text adventure in C++ as well at some point, and since I plan on being a professional game developer, I'll certainly be using plenty more tools in the future.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally? No. Game design has been my passion even before knowing about AGS.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community? No more so than any other divide, I guess.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it’s made by a female? In what way? Well, a good game made by a female gives me happy feelings of girl power, but a bad game doesn't become a good game in my eyes just because it's made by a girl.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way? If you're implying that the fact that AGS is easy to use makes it easier for women to design computer games, then I'm almost offended. If you're implying that adventure games are more appealing to women than, say, FPS games, well, generally speaking, that's sort of true. A passion for designing games can only manifest itself when one already has a passion for playing them, and if there exist more games that aren't blatantly testosterone-filled in nature, then sure, you might have more girls wanting to make games.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females? Not really. I'd say that some games have a masculine feel to them and some games have a feminine feel to them, but that doesn't necessarily have to do with who made the game.

11. Any other comments?

I like 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459230781640628620
89986280348253421170679821480865132823066470938446095505822317253594081284811174502
84102701938521105559644622948954930381964428810975665933446128475648233786783165271
20190914564856692346034861045432664821339360726024914127372458700660631558817488152
0920962829254091715364367892590360011330530548820466521384146951941511

Me too! And to think I had all of those decimal places memorized at some point...

[Toefur]

Dont know the point, but I'm kinda bored right now...

Name: Toefur

Age: 23

Female/male: I am He.

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community? Christ. Since 2001 whe Greek Guy used to give me advice on girls?

2. Why did you get involved in AGS? I wanted to make the best adventure game ever!

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it? There would be three people here if it wasnt freeware. It would be CJ, CJ, and maybe CJ's Mother.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life? Very important.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want I prefer not to say the games I have previously released.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS? Nope

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS? Nope

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ? Nope!

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally? Nope!


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community? Not at all. In fact, less so than other game related communities.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way? Yes, I will hope that she has sexy Myspace style pictures in the game.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way? No more than it does for males.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females? Yes. Girls just make games about Barbie and stuff.

11. Any other comments? Thanks for giving me the opportunity to take part in youre questionairre.

[Barbarian]

Name: Forum Name "Barbarian". Real name: Don McPherson.

Age: I'm probably one of the "oldest farts" 'round these parts, age-wise that is.Ã,  A, uhhh, "30-somthing".

Female/male: A hunka-hunka-burnin'-luv, bay-bee! All solid Male here!

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

Hmmm, I guess around 2 years now, probably more if you consider the half-year or so of "Lurking" time before signing up as a member here.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

I always loved "Adventure Games", and it was a long-time dream of mine to one day create my own full-length "cool" adventure game and to be able to share it with other adventure-gaming fans.Ã,  I first found the AGS community after playing the, ummm, I think it was the Kings Quest II remake, anyways after I found out it was made with this great program called "AGS", I check it out, and I've been hooked ever since.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

I greatly respect "CJ" for sharing his wonderful "AGS" program with us, plus giving us the AGS forums here. And he's constantly listening to feedback from all us "complainers"Ã,  , and he not only continues to upgrade and improve AGS and it's features, but all for the low-low cost of "Free" to us. It shows that he's a great fan of "Adventure Gaming" himself, and that he likes to share this passion with others.Ã,  It's programs like AGS and a community like AGS that I think truly helps to keep the "Adventure Gaming Spirit" alive and well. Yes, I think that AGS being Freeware has helped make the AGS community grow to the proportions you see nowadays. However, even if AGS was a commercial product, I feel certain that there would still be a strong support and community in regards to AGS.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

I usually check the AGS forums a few times a day, and since I have found AGS, I have most of that time been involved with some Adventure-Gaming project utilizing AGS. It took a while, but I have come to feel accepted and "part of the community", and I had had the good fortune to collaborate, work with, and exchange ideas with so many wonderful talented people here.Ã,  "AGS" and the community here, now it feel like "an old friend".Ã, 

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

Yes. Probably the one game I had a hand in that I'm most proud of thus far is The Great Stroke Off , which was a team effort in which I got to work with some greatly talented individuals. And our game was a winner of the last ATC competition.

My first game I made using AGS (which I admit, is rather rough, but hey, it was a learning experience and I still think turned out "OK" considering it was my first AGS game and it was made more of a way to for me to learn how to use AGS) was: Escape From evergreen Forest.

A couple other little short games I've produced:
Dark of Night, which was release for the Halloween 2005 edition of "Release Something". That project began originally as a way for me to experiment with some "effects" I could see that I could play around with, such as lightning, thunder, rain and such...

And for the first "One Room One Week" competition, I made: The Elevator. And even though the graphics were mostly "Ripped", overall the response was good, people seemed to enjoy it and I had many requests from people wanting me to continue this project to develop this into a full-sized adventure game... So over the last several months, I've been remaking this to turn it into a full-sized adventure which will be a LOT better than the original in every way: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=24181.0

I plan to continue to be involved with more future projects.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Yes. Goes waaaaay back, perhaps back to my "Vic-20" days when the first "Real Game" I had was "Scott Adam's - AdventureLand", a purely text-based adventure game. I was hooked on computer gaming and playing around with making games in some way or another since then.

b.If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

Yep!

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

I used to make games way-back-when mostly in "BASIC".Ã,  But, over the years I've experiented with a few "Game Making" programs, some freeware, some commercial.Ã,  AGS is the best program I've found so far that is geared towards making "Classic Style Point-n-Click Type of Adventure Games".

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

Well, not particularily. However, IF someone approched me and said something like "Hey, we would like you onboard our team with a professionally / commercially made game.", then of course I may seriously consider it.Ã,  In fact, I've recently been asked to partake in having a helping hand in a professionally / commercially made Adventure-Game, but currently it's an, uhhh, "Un-Paid" posistion.Ã,  But heck, I figure it's a great learning experience, and I get to have a special "sneak-peek" at a yet-to-be-released project, and who knows, it might lead to some good future oppertunities. Can't say too much else about that for the moment though.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

Hmmm.. Well, overall it still seems to be a much larger male-to-female ratio. However, it's nice to see the ladies being actively involved in the community as well as game-making here. And from what I see, the gals are just as accepted and respected as the guys (perhaps moreso in some ways).Ã, 

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

No. I try to look at the overall enjoyment and playability of a game. It doesn't matter to me really if it's made by male or female.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

Well, I feel the AGS community in general seems to be a heck-offa-nice-buncha people that are usually intelligent, thoughtful and mature. So, overall, I think the girls are made to feel just as welcome here.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Well, now you're getting down to an individual's likes & dislikes of what "kind" of game they may like to create. If a girl wants to make a down-'n-dirty hack-n'-slash survival-horror shoot-em-up, and a guy wants to make a love-story with elves and faries and flowers... so be it! Break the old "stereotype".Ã,  One game I make may have to do with some dramatic love story set in a fantasy setting, then next game I made might be an ultra-violent "Horror" type of game. I guess it depends on my game-making mood, thoughts and inspirations at the time, and why should it be any different for a female game creator?

11. Any other comments?

"Every day is a gift. Make the most of it."
Ã,  Ã,  Good-bye Dad, I love you and miss you!Ã,  :'(Ã, 
*My father just passed away a couple days ago - wasn't gonna mention it here, but, AGS is like my friend, sooo....*

[SSH]

Name:

Andrew MacCormack

Age:

31

Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

3 years

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

I wanted to find some free adventure games, then I found various made with AGS. Then, I decided to make a game as Valentine's Day present for my wife, which turned out to be the first in a series of 8 games (so far)...

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

AGS is popular for a number of reasons, and being free is one of them, although that was maybe more significant at the beginning, now the resources, support and community are bigger factors.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

Well, I'm on most days.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

Yes, the 8 Princess Marian Games, Pixel Hunt, Awakening of the Sphinx demo and I hope my help and modules have contributed to various others.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Yes, but never successfully, really.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

Not really

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

No.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

Vaguely. If I win the lottery, I'm definately starting up a games design company If only I ever bought a ticket...

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

Yes. Girls get proportionally more attention for their stuff. On the other hand, it usually tends to be better anyway. Hopefully both these reasons will encourage more girls to join!

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it’s made by a female? In what way?

Not really.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

AGS makes it easy for anyone to get involved in computer games design. Therefore, yes!

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

No.

11. Any other comments?

PLAY ACE QUEST

[woodz]

Name:Woodz (nige copeland)

Age: another in the old fart category!

Female/male: male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
since 2002 off n on

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
to make graphic based adventure games

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programmer affect the community that has built up around it?
i admire Chris Jones a lot for keeping AGS freeware, most dedicated AGSers would gladly pay regardless

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
the real world take up more time nowadays

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
three MAGS games between 2002/2003

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
i did do text adventures and DOS based games, then found AGS

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmers, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
i make games with the LASSIE engine, the ultimate goal is to make is to have AGS and online playable games

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
not really, I'm not good enough

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
no

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
no not at all

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
i thing they are treated the same

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
a lot more thought with the story and detail seems to go into games created by females, i dunno if its something to do with the male bigotry they have to go through in life, inevitably theyÃ,  go one step better to prove a point

11. Any other comments?
the answer to 10 comes from being married for 21 years and seeing first hand the type of cr*p that gets dealt to women andÃ,  how far they will go to prove people wrong! my wife did her motorcycle test based on being told she couldn't do it, and she couldn't handle a real bike, she passed first time and now owns a GPZ500! how wrong could they be lol

[hedgefield]

Name: Tim 'largopredator' Hengeveld

Age: 17,83

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Since November 2004.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I play a lot of games, and I always liked adventure games, and after I had played Broken Sword I really wanted to make a game aswell. I also draw frequently, so my preference was for 2D graphics.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware program affects the community that has built up around it?
I think if it was shareware it wouldn't have been so popular. Everybody is a cheapskate on the internet, so it's being freeware really benefits the community, making it large and full of interesting people from all over the world.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
I often check the forums every day, see if there's new info on games in production or a nice comp or discussion going. And whenever I run into a problem the forum is an invaluable source of information.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want.
I've worked on an OROW2 entry, Sheet, and I'm still working on my first big game, The Majestic Conspiracy. But I'm very lazy so it's going very slowly. See sig for info.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes, but I never had the drive to start with 3D.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
-

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
nope. I've tried with stuff lke 3DSmax and such, but I'd much rather make 2D games. 3D is awesome, but modelling sucks -.-

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Not inspired, but certainly developed my interest.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Nope. If there is a divide, it's more likely to be based on intelligence than on gender.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Unlikely. I don't judge games by who made them. Maybe if a girl made a really dark, gritty, violent game, I may or may not raise an eyebrow. But that's it.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
There's thousands of game-making apps out there, I don't think it's exclusively AGS that makes for better circumstances for females. Although we have a great community.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
I find that games made by females often have a (strong) female as main character. There's also less likely to be excessive cursing and violence. But it's not limited to that. I guess it depends more on character then on gender. There's also guys who make girly games. I've got no problem.

11. Any other comments?
Grey's Anatomy is the shizzle.

[InCreator]

Name: InCreator / Indrek Plavutski (real)

Age: 22

Female/male: Male... I guess?

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Few good years. I was observing the thing already from ezboards age, but officially registered in 2003.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Well, I gave it a try and completed a game. Well, I haven't produced such famous game with any other engine, so the glory and will to create more tied me to AGS.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I think that this fact keeps people friendly and pretty much together. Also, it's the reason why AGS and it's MEMBERS gets so much help (people) and improvements(AGS). If it was commercial, no one would care so much.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
I usually check the forums few times a day... there's always some  interesting reading around (Not much lately, though  :'().
And my artistic abilities have gone up by atleast 500% in last few years!
Also, if I'd ever want to make a game or fix a washing machine, I would know where to ask 

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Yes. I've made or helped to make about 15 different games, of which 5 or 6 are completed.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Of course! around 6 years of QBasic, then Game Maker, Fighter Tsukuru '95, Turbo Pascal, 3D Rad, 3D GameStudio A5 and A6....

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
Obiviously yes.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
Game Maker. Well, GM has more lag and more options. Way more options.... almost a programmed freedom to do anything.... but more lag also. The Lag.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Sure. But it also teached me that anything professional requires more manpower. Which means less possibilities to achieve my vision. Which is very uninspirating.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Definetly. But it's not disturbing in any way. We just need more women in community!

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Can't think of anything... though I must admit that if the game's good, my impression is a bit bigger.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Girls dream more. Adventure game could tell a tale. Tales are related to dreams. AGS gives the chance to create your very own dream world or tell your tale. Sounds logical to me...

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Less blood and more handsome male sprites...

11. Any other comments?
Do I recieve some ads now like "register for $15 and meet hot game making chicks near your location today"?

[Pesty]

Name: Pesty!

Age: 23

Female/male: Female

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Since the beginning of time! Seriously, I don't remember.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Because I've always wanted to make my own games and AGS has made it easier for me to pretend that I do, in fact, make my own games.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware program affects the community that has built up around it?
Well, there are a lot of people who are willing to use free things, aren't there? I think it attracts more people than it would a program you'd pay for, so we have to put up with new people ALL THE TIME. I think having to put up with new people affects the community in a serious way!

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
I USE AGS EVERYDAY. Ha ha, I'm just kidding. The AGS community is a footnote in my life. You bastards don't even deserve a whole chapter!
Okay, I check the forums, but not every day, and I only look for threads that interest me or seem like there is something I could make fun of in there.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want.
Not any real games. I made the beginnings of a game for the OROW once, but it wasn't very good at all.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes, I made several text based adventure games in QBASIC that are fortunately lost in time.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
NOT ANSWERABLE.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
I don't even make games with AGS, let alone other programs. I've tried to make games with Flash. I think it's easier to make games in AGS.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Well, yes and no. I came across AGS during a point in my life where I wanted to take up game design professionally, and the idea of AGS boostered that. I had all these pretty thoughts, that I could make my portfolio and use a game made in AGS to emphasize it, but my laziness overcame me.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
No, absolutely not. Okay, maybe a little when a pretty girl shows up and all the nerds are like "OMG OMG SEXY", but once they get over that, no.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it’s made by a female? In what way?
You know, I should say I don't, but I do. I LIKE seeing games made by girls and I even think I'd be more inclined to download a game if a girl's made it, mainly because when girls make games, they tend to make them the way I like them. I don't know why!

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
I suppose any free game making program like AGS makes it easier. Look at Inquisitive Stranger! She's FAMOUS ON THE INTERNETS and she doesn't even use AGS.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Yes, in general. I suppose if I didn't know the difference between a game made by a male and a game made by a female, and you asked me to tell the difference, I bet I could. But it's not a bad or good difference, and it's nothing specific. They are just different experiences.

11. Any other comments?
NO.

[magintz]

Name: Gary

Age: 19

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community? Err... not really sure, probably 5 years, how long ago was AGS in DOS and I can probably work out.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS? Love point and click adventures, fancied making my own one. Downlaoded AGAST but didn't like it. Then found AGS.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it? I think it's great that it's free as it's keeping a small gaming genre alive.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life? Everyone on the community is great to talk to and consider a lot of you friends, so I feel a very personal relationship with many forum members.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? Yes. Apart from my mags game and the few demos of unfinished projects I was a beta tester on chick-chaser.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS? I had an interest, but AGS was teh first attempt at doing any programming or game development. I remmeber in school I used to make kind of adventure game puzzles on pieces of paper and play with a friend. I would draw a map of a town, and kind of narate a story to my friend who would move around town doing things and solving murders.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ? AGS 4 Life

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally? Yes, but the market is too competetive and requires too much skill. I like doing it at an ametuer level as I have 100% of the say on what I get to make.


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community? Not really

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way? No. I've played games made by both male and female and some without even knowing who made it.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way? Yes, it has a large friendly community on the internet that welcomes in everyone, male or female.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females? I can't say I have noticed any difference. At the moment I'm trying to think of games made by females.

11. Any other comments?
Lots of gender oriented questions... :/

[passer-by]

Name:cp

Age: 29

Female/male: female

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
March 2005

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I was playing various computer games, I discovered the website while looking for hints and then I tried the engine.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I think we are here for fun.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
When I work on my computer, I have email notification on for most AGS boards. Apart from that, very few people outside the internet know about this hobby and I won't bring my game project with me during holidays. But I write long postsÃ, 

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Yes

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
No.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
Maybe.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
I tried some of them, always freeware. Many have some features disabled. Some others need too much coding. Or they lack support. But as I'm used to the AGS interface I find it difficult to adapt anyway.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
No. I don't have computer-related career targets. I couldn't do serious coding to save my life.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
In numbers.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
No

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
I don't know if it's AGSÃ,  or the females' knowledge or persistence .

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Haven't thought about that... I think it's the playersÃ,  that define what games will be played and the creator just follows.

11. Any other comments?

[Quintaros]

Name: Forum â€" Quintaros, Real - Darren Reid

Age: turning 27 in 9 days

Female/male: male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

I first downloaded AGS during Xmas break of 1999.Ã,  I'd lurked on the boards since then eventuallyÃ,  becoming a member in 2002 or 2003.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

I had taken a programming course in my first year of university and was instantly hooked.Ã,  After that I began looking for webtutorials to make text adventures.Ã,  I didn't think a graphic adventure was even possible for amateurs until I discovered AGS.Ã,  I've never looked back.


3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

I think the community as we know it would not exist if AGS began as a commercial program.Ã,  Fewer people, different attitudes.Ã, 

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

I spend more time using the AGS editor than I do on the forums but I do check the boards regularly (1-3 x per day).Ã,  Ã, I don't post very often and have never been on IRC (but that's mostly because I don't even know how to get there).Ã,  Ã, I'd actually like to be more involved in the community but feel I need to release something to gain any recognition.


5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want.

I have been working on The Prisoner since 2003.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Yes, but AGS raised the bar for what I expected to produce.


b. If so, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

I think I would have dabbled briefly but then moved on to other interests.Ã,  In a parallel universe where Chris Jones released AGS as commercial software, I must be leading a very different life.


c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

No…I use AGS for everything even for non-adventure games.Ã,  This is partly due to familiarity but also I want to eventually combine the non-adventure elements into adventure games.


d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

It has caused me to daydream.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

To some degree.Ã,  The community doesn't have any bias toward/against them but female members do conduct themselves somewhat differently.Ã, 

Female members tend to be more mature and assimilate into the community faster.Ã,  I cannot think of any instance where a nuisance N00B was female.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

If I've played the game, learning that the creator was female will not alter my response to it.Ã, 

If I haven't played the game, I may be more inclined to download it as I tend to have higher expectations of games created by females.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

I don't know.Ã,  Perhaps the AGS community feels more welcoming toward female members than other game design communities.Ã, 

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Female AGSers seem to hit their stride faster.Ã,  They don't throw together a crappy game for the sake of making something.Ã,  Ã, They seem to have a clear story in mind that they set out to make and as a result its usually pretty good.

That's not to say that male AGSers don't make good games.Ã,  There's simply a broader range in the quality of the games produced my guys.

11. Any other comments?

The female/male ratio of my faculty in university was also heavily skewed toward the male.Ã,  There weren't many female slackers.Ã, 

My guess is that when a person chooses to pursue something in which they are a minority they tend to be more motivated than the members of the majority.

[The Ivy]

Name: Erin Robinson

Age: 19

Female/male: Female

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Less than a year.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I learned about it from a friend.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
It means we're cheap? Ã, I dunno, I would assume a lot more amateur games are being made, and it's very accessible to anyone who wants to give it a try.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
I like the people here, they're generally very helpful and encouraging. Ã, Since we all share this interest in adventure games, a lot of good criticism and suggestions for making games can be found. Ã, I also like the fact that you can post any art in the critic's lounge and hear suggestions from all levels of artists (including some very talented ones).

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want.
Yep, I just released a game called "Spooks."Ã,  Play it, I worked hard.Ã, 

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yeah, essentially since I first played a computer game. Ã, When I was about 6, I'd draw pictures showing how Commander Keen would be so much better if he was a girl who hopped around collecting rainbows.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
N/A

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
Nope, I don't have enough experience with programming for that.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Haha, no. Ã, I imagine I wouldn't be as motivated to work on things if it was my job, anyway.

Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Divide? Ã, Nah. Ã, I'm not even sure what that would be like. Ã, Anyone who suggested that women are unable to make computer games would probably be mocked by the rest of the community.

Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way? Ã, 
Yeah, if it's a good game and it's made by a female, I feel a "Right on!" kind of sentiment.

Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way? Ã, 
Personally, I haven't had much programming experience since that's not where my interests lie. Ã, That's why I was so excited when I found AGS, since you don't need a background in that sort of thing before you can make a game. Ã, It certainly made it easier for me to get a start, but I think a lot of community members can agree with that, not just the females.

Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Not that I can tell. Ã, I have a few ideas for gritty psychological thrillers, and then I have ideas for quirky puzzle games. Ã, It depends on what I feel would make a better game, not the fact that I'm female.

Any other comments?
Will you be posting your paper here once it's done?

[gameboy]

Name:
Kristjan Laimets aka gameboy

Age:
only 14... until April.
I don't know am I too young to be here... but what the hell.

Female/male:
Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Since the end of 2005. A very little time.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Because I've always been a big fan of adventure games. And programming itself.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
Well... It certainly is good that AGS is freeware. Otherwise the community would not be that big.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
I come to the forum pretty often, but it isn't really very important in my life. I mostly move around Estonian forums, but -- I have to say that Estonian forums suck because there's so much spam! And there's no AGS forums in Estonia which is bad.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
I've been involved in the two following games: Santas sidekick and Clip goes to town.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
Okay, then:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes I was. Before AGS I've used QBasic and Game Maker. Even got some games released with GM.


b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
Not gonna answer this one.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
I mostly use an old version of Game Maker. I've made a lot of games with it. Very little of them released. And none in English.

The most famous game I've ever made is Karaas (a wannabe racing game ) which was pretty popular in Estonia some time ago. Well, the game itself sucked.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
A little bit maybe... But I don't think that I will ever be a proffessional game designer.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Um... no?

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Er... no. Should I?

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Not really.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
No, not really.

11. Any other comments?
No, I'm already friggin tired of answering all those questions...

[Afflict]

Name:
Afflict

Age:
21

Female/male:
Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Joined in begining of 2005

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I love adventure games more importantly I like graphics

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I am very thankfull that Chris Jones has dedicated so much time and effort into creating something that so many have taken to heart, and better yet its FREE!

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Eat sleep, .. work <crinch> AGS!

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
I am currently involved in the making of an AGS, nothing released yet.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
Okay, then:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes, ever since I was a litle boy. I even wanted to persue it proffesionally. Programming, no didnt like it that much.


b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
Yes

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
Probably never use anything else, as coding is not my strong suite.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
It has inspired me to actually brush up on my art again something I have left alone
for so many years! Always wanted to do game design proffesionaly.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
No

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
No

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
It makes it easier for everybody

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Mmmm, No altough I never really check whos a female and who isnt...

11. Any other comments?
Special thanks to Chris Jones for AGS!

[Grapefruitologist]

Name: blue_eyed_alley_catz
EDIT: I mean grapefruitologist! Sorry heh, that's my username on a different forum.

Age: 13

Female/male: Female

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
I forget. I'm kinda new.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
A long time ago, I played Monkey Island, and I wanted to make my own fangame, but AGS was too complicated for me (I couldn't find tutorials back then). Later I started remembering how fun Monkey Island was and I decided I should atleast try to make a new game (which I am, doing pretty good, too.) I already had an idea for a game (or whatever), and even a sequel to it (but I didn't think it was going to be a game until later.)

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
Eh?

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Errrrr.........
...
I guess I'll skip this one. xD

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
I'm already making Since You've Been Gone (It's a game based on the song by Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone", but, better grammar, and it's more like a cross between that and the movie Freaky Friday... scary, eh?) and I'm planning (and working on somewhat now and then) Since You've Been Gone 2 and another game which I was going to write into a book a few years ago that I'm still trying to think up a name for, about an 11 year old pirate girl in the medieval days.
I'm also helping Mistral make a "dothack remake" and doing the art/sound, and I don't know what dothack is, but whatever. =D
I'm also helping Yodaman make an Indiana Jones game, again doing art.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
Errrr, you mean completed ones or ones I'm currently making or ones I'm helping other people make? I haven't worked on any completed ones yet.

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yep, I was trying to learn "CAOS", a scripting language for Docking Station, an artificial life game, to try to make some add-ons for it (and I'm still working on that).

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
No, unless you count add-ons for Docking Station as games, then I use CAOS Tool.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
I was already thinking about doing that, which is why I wanted to learn how to make adventure games, which is why I downloaded AGS.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
I wouldn't know, I don't know the genders of people over the internet. xD

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Nope.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Errr... nope.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
You're starting to sound like my mom. xD
Nope.

11. Any other comments?
Errr... nope.
EDIT: Ok, I guess so.
Helm said "10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Not particularily. Adventure games are very girly anyway."
That's funny, because I always thought of adventure games as being more for boys. xD

[Pumaman]

Name:
Uomo puma, L'

Age:
Indeterminate

Female/male:
Unknown

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Dunno, probably about a year or two now.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I don't really remember, it just kinda happened somehow.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
It has meant that the community is made up of cheapskates and tight-arses, rather than respectable upper-class businessmen with bowler hats and pocket watches, which is the kind of clientelle we should be aiming for.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Varies... some weeks, like Mittens, 100%.
Other weeks, like when I'm bored of it, 0%.
Other weeks, like when I'm not really bored of it but there's something good on TV or there are local youths hanging around to write to the local paper about, somewhere in the range 1-99%.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Sadly not, no.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
N/A.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
No, once it's your work, it becomes your livelihood and is no fun. You can't just give up on a game you don't like, you have to follow it through to the better end -- even when there's nothing you'd rather do than pick up the concept art and dialogue scripts and throw them out of the window in a fit of rage.
The scripts would have to be tied to a brick, obviously, to ensure that the landing was suitably loud and impressive.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Yes -- I can't stand to see a woman making a game, I just ask myself what right she thinks she has to be out of the kitchen.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Yes, I take a copy of the game to bed with me and keep it close to my chest at all times.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Yes, the ones made by men are all about guns and bombs, and the ones made by women are all about My Little Pony and friendship bracelets.

11. Any other comments?
Sorry for being unable to answer your survey in the proper professional manner that you have come to expect. It's been a long day.

[Saberteeth]

Age:
14 years, 4 months, 23 days, 21 hours, 24 minutes and 2 seconds.
Female/male:
Male!
1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Been serving the community since 2006
2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Like 99% of all the people on the forum, to make adventure games.
3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
It doesn't...
4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
At the time, big. But not that BIG.
5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Yeah, I proofreaded Clip goes to town(it's not acctually making but still.). I'm working on a project right now.
6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
Nah, I don't wanna.

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
/
b.If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
/
c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
/
d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
/
7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Errr, how can you define(in posts) between female and male? I don't think there's a gender divide.
8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Nope. I liked Cirque De Zale as much as Larry Vales.
9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Nope.
10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
A-a(no).
11. Any other comments?
:o 8) : :'(

[DoorKnobHandle]

Name:
Jan H. Simon

Age:
17, I'll probably turn 18 in June 2006.

Female/Male:
Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
I joined the community on the first day I found AGS and this forum. So - taken from my profile - I started being involved in the community since the 14th Oct. 2003 (09:18:44). This makes it two and a half year now.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Me and a friend of mine played Lucas Arts adventures as children (especially "Maniac Mansion", "Day of the Tentacle" and "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis"). Once we were older, we wanted to create our own adventuregame. I knew how to program things with C++, but I wasn't quite up for the task yet. He was gonna draw stuff for it. Well, we never quite managed to get anything done together, but I stumbled upon adventuregamestudio.co.uk while searching google for an adventure game creator.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
If AGS wouldn't have been free, I wouldn't have tried it out and looked for one of the other (free) adventure game creation engines. I wouldn't have been part of this community either. That's why I think that this community wouldn't be as strong as it is, if you had to pay for the program. Additionally, AGS wouldn't be as well-known as it is either.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Well, I never attended Mittens and I don't intend to do so (not because I don't like anybody here, but because I accept this as online community. I don't want to mix it up with "reallife" contacts). I check the page almost everyday and quite frequently most of the time. I don't always post as much as I could, but I still recently broke the limit of 700 posts.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want.
My first game I ever produced was called "Plants!". It was only available in my native language (german) and is no longer available for a damn good reason. It was crap! I intend to do a complete rehaul of the story, the art and the whole idea sometime in the future.
Then there is "Troopers". This one is officially still in production. It's a realtime-strategy game made with AGS (just like any Command&Conquer title and looks nearly as good thanks to graphics from Neutron and sounds just as amazing as the original games thanks to an impressive soundtrack by The Scorposer).
Then I am working with Hobbes on Buccaneer II (on the fighting engine particularly), this one isn't released yet either.
Last but not least, I am the lead programmer for Screen 7's "Indiana Jones and the Fountain of Youth". I don't think I have to mention that we're still working on the final beta version for the demo... The constant delaying of the release date is already legendary in the community.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Definately. I already drew screens from self-thought games as a child and always dreamed about being able to program. Later, I created modifications (including programming, creating models, sprites and maps) for games such as Half-Life and Max Payne 2.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
N/A.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
I don't use any other game creator, but I program a lot with C++ and OpenGL (and SDL). This is the "real" thing when it comes to programming. It can be quite a hell compared to the nice AGS Editor script language, but still quite amazing.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Not professionally. While creating stuff with AGS is a great hobby of mine, I would never intend to go into the game/application programming business for a job.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
No, not at all. But I do think that girls usually get more replies to their posts. That's just natural though, I guess.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
I wouldn't feel different about the game, but still I'd probably replay it, just to see if there really aren't any major differences. I haven't played Cirque de Zale or Spooks yet (those are the two only games that I know are made by a female, I think).

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Why would it? Of course, you could say that it simplifies the technical aspect of creating a computer game, but then again - how says that girls can't code?

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
No. While girls are known to be more detail-loving, I think it comes down 100% to the individual.

11. Any other comments?
I hate pie!

[Ionias]

Name: Mike Doak

Age: 30

Female/male: Male.

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Since back in the Ez-Board days. I would say late 2000 or early 2001.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I had been programmingÃ,  with QuickBasic and found it easy but too limiting. So I searched the net for something else and came up with AGS.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
It is a good thing. I would pay for AGS myself, but many others wouldn't have. The more the merrier.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
The community? I'm not sure. AGS? Quite a large portion.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS?
Yes. Pizza Quest, ROTN 2 1/2, Castle Quest Demo, Fatman.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
Yes, I have tried but they all need this stuff called code or something. I'm not that great at writing it.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Yes it did, silly me.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
No idea.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
No.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
No idea.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
I can't even keep the forum avatars straight much less remember who made what game. So, no not much of a noticeable difference for me.

11. Any other comments?
...and because I don't like pie... Well, unless its lemon meringue... PLAY ACE QUEST!

[Erenan]

Name: Luke Simpson, a.k.a. Erenan

Age: Twenty-two

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Since the 24th of May 2005, 3:44 P.M. Pacific Standard Time.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Because I wanted to make point and click adventure games.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
Well, lots of people use it.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Not a very big part, really. I love AGS, and I love the games people make with it, and I love the idea of making games myself with it, but I'm not really terribly involved in the community yet. Of course, if I stick around long enough, I'm sure I'll become more involved eventually.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want.
Yes. The Bunker, Elf Motors Inc., and a Joke Game called Javelin Catch. I also proofread a MAGS game called Unfinished, and did beta testing for Spooks, which is based on those very same MAGS rules. And, as a matter of fact, I designed those rules. 8)

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games: Okay.


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes. I've wanted to make games for a long time now. Probably because I grew up playing games.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS? N/A

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
My dad taught me to program in BASIC as I was growing up, so I used to write simple text based adventures on our various C64s and other computers. None of them were any good, of course, but it gave me a great start on understanding how computers and programming languages worked. Unfortunately, it did not help me learn to draw.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
It didn't really inspire me, but that's mostly because I already had the desire to do that. Using AGS is mostly a hobby, but it's good practice in a design sense.


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community? Not really.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Not for the most part, but it depends a bit upon the content of the game. If a woman made a game that was derogatory to women, for example, that would make me stop and wonder why. But mostly I don't think about the gender of the game creator when I'm thinking about the game. They're two things, and I separate them in my mind.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Yes. It makes it easier for everyone to get involved. Now, I imagine the question is implying that it's inherently more difficult for women to get involved in computer game design. But I don't think it is. By and large, fewer women want to get involved, and that's why they don't. It isn't because of some stereotype in the industry.

Probably the female game designer I appreciate most is Lori Cole.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
I haven't noticed one.

11. Any other comments?
If I ever open a restaurant, I'm going to name a pie after Chris Jones.

[Ubel]

Name: Aapeli Kutila

Age: 16

Female/male: Male... at least the last time I checked.

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
A bit over a year now. Joined in the forums on December 2004.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Well... I saw this article about adventure games in one magazine. AGS was mentioned there and I though like "Wow, it would be so cool to make an own graphic adventure game!". So I typed www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk on my internet browser, went to the download section, downloaded AGS 2.60, started practicing with it a bit, and... yeah...

I've always been a big fan of adventure games since a friend of mine showed me some of the Sierra classics. And I think I've always been kinda interested in game making. You know, programming and stuff... So that's pretty much why I'm here now.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
Well, it sure has had a lot of effect in it. People can make their adventure games without paying anything. That way they can keep it as a nice little hobby. ^_^

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Oh, you mean how big part does life play in my world of AGSing? Not very big... I check the forums at least 50 times a day. O_o I do it ALL THE TIME. I live here. I'm almost always on the AGS IRC channel. I like to chat with people from AGS. So actually pretty much everything I do with my computer is somehow related to AGS.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Yeah I've made a few games. Check my profile if you wish to see what games I've been working on.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes, for quite a long time. I tried making some simple text adventures with CoolBasic a few years ago but didn't succeed very well.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
-

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
I've been trying to make something with CoolBasic again, but other than that I'm pretty much using AGS for everything since it's much easier.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
It did for a while... but I don't know if I'd enjoy making games as a job. I want to keep it as a hobby.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Hmm, no...

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it’s made by a female? In what way?
Not really.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Dunno... maybe... maybe not...

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
In my opinion and experiences, games made by females are usually more carefully designed and created than the ones from males for some reason.

[Grapefruitologist]

"10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
In my opinion and experiences, games made by females are usually more carefully designed and created than the ones from males for some reason."

You obviously have never heard of my game, then. xD

[Andail]

Name: Andail. Real name: Petter Ljungqvist

Age: 25. 26 in November.

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

Since June 2001. That was some months after I downloaded AGS and started making my first game.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

Police Quest was my very first game. After that I created paper based adventure games regularly which we played in school. Years and years later it struck me that it might now be possible to easily create such games with special programs.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

It's an extremely helpful and benevolent atmosphere. I wouldn't have joined the community if I had had to pay.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

It varies. In periods I'm at the forums every day, and chat with ags-members every night. Then there can be long periods without any activity at all. Ever since I released my last game years ago, I have no need for technical support or feedback.
I attend most of the real life meetings, and have partaken in all mittens so far, as well as hosted one.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

Yes, I released three games within a year, and even though they were not very good, this was when games generally were of much lower quality than these days, so I guess they were pretty appreciated.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Extremely little. I've never been very interested in programming, and the only game creation I indulged in was based on pens and papers.


c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

No. I experimented a bit with some basic programming language with my first pc back in 87-88, but that was very briefly.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

Not really. The idea of trying to sell games has crossed my mind. I possess many of the necessary qualities, except for the entrepreneur part.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

Only that males outnumber females by 5 to 1 or more. 

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

I try to, but I'm likely to look at it differently. We have a lot of preconcieved notions when it comes to genders. I try to be neutral, though.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

Don't know really. Women tend not to pick up programming as readily as men do, by way of traditions. If so, it might invite them to do stuff they hadn't done otherwise. Which goes for most male users as well, of course.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

The few games I played made by women have been extremely impressive. "Mom's Quest" happens to be one of my favourite ags games so far. I just love it. Then again, I have a rather odd taste for games, sometimes.

11. Any other comments?

I'm simply happy to have stumbled across the AGS. My life is about searching for creative outlets.
Since game creating involves both art and music, as well as plot writing and programming, it's the ultimate creative project.

[Radiant]

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
About two years.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Because it was there, really. I had been a game designer for a long time and came upon some adventure games and thought, hey, I can make a game like this. Then I found out AGS was the engine used, and that it worked well and flexibly so, so I turned up here.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I'm not sure it's relevant, I've seen similar communities spring up around several shareware or commercial game design tools. Plain fact is that communities spring up around good tools, and most tools aren't good so they don't get much interest. They don't feel substantially different. One point of note is that here, people like and respect CJ a lot, and for some other communities I've seen people with strong dislike of the author of their tool. But that may also be caused by CJ simply being a nice guy.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
I read the messageboard daily (more often when I'm bored) and intend to go to *ittens. It's nice but I do have more important things y'know.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Yes: META, MOTLPAA, HOIK and ATOTK. Also, Radiant FontEdit. Do you like TLAs?

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes. Four published titles to my name beforehand.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
Yes, mainly in Visual C++, some older work in Basic. The experience doesn't differ much really. In VC++ I write my own graphic libraries, in AGS they already exist. But using them is not essentially different.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
No, I was already a professional before.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
I feel that, as with most online communities, about 90% of the people here are male (and European/American, and late teens or tweens). I don't see a gender divide as such, no. People are likely assumed to be male unless they indicate otherwise, but that's hardly a divide.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
No. I judge games on their merit, not on who made them (I do, however, somewhat judge people on what they make). In my experience girls/women are (substantially) less likely to take up game design or any kind of programming, but those that do are better at it than the average boy/man.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Not especially. AGS makes it easier for people in general to get involved in computer game design. I see no indication that the percentage of female designers is higher in the AGS community than anywhere else.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
See question eight. Otherwise, in the mainstream market there probably would be; but people turning up for AGS coding are sufficiently geeky ('cusezlemot) that this would be less than obvious.

11. Any other comments?
Maybe, I'll think on it.

[Seleceus]

Name:
Jim Everett

Age:
39++

Female/male:
Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
I stopped a year-long lurk just over 2 years ago.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Game design, drawing, and story writing were already separate hobbies of mine.  This type of forum seemed a natural fit.  But the thing that made AGS the 'one' was the general community attitude.  I haven't seen a more encouraging, or constructive, Critics Lounge ANYWHERE!  Amateurs can post their creations without fear of all-out attack.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
With money comes a hidden agenda.  Always!  It's human nature.  But by this product, and more importantly the support, being free to use, it tends to give us a better cross-section of people along with their talents, and ideas.  When there's little chance of theft, sharing becomes a much easier thing to do.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
I poke around daily, although I don't post much.  I've made it part of my morning routine, along with checking the news and weather.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
I have one project, in the works, that's not yet ready for the Announcement forum.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
     a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
     Yes, I was.  I started with pencil/paper/dice games, to board/card, and actually some old Doom levels.

     b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
     NA

     c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
     Not computer-based, so there's no real comparison.

     d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
     No, I already work as a database programmer.  I'll keep the game design enjoyable, thanks.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Not at all.  I've been lucky enough to have never read a disparaging remark about gender, nationality, or personal philosophy here.  Hopefully, I never will.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
No.  And with most games produced under nicknames, it's all-but impossible to really tell anyway.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
I feel it makes it easier for everyone.  Why?  Silly questionaire.  Just by being here you've answered your own query.  People here tend to listen...(most of the time)

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
No more so than games made by people of different ages, or different cultures.  So I suppose; Yes there must be, but I'll be damned if I can tell them apart.

11. Any other comments?
Not at this time.

[monkey0506]

Name: Michael Rittenhouse (monkey_05_06)

Age: 18 (in 7 days).

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

767+ days.  (19 February 2004 to 28 March 2006 as a registered user, lurker days not included)

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

I really want to make video games.  Computers are pretty much my life.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

Freeware, especially good freeware (like AGS), is the best!  Personally, I don't like to spend money on stuff.  I'd much rather have it all given to me.  And when you get high quality stuff like AGS for free...that's tops.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

Recently its role has declined (mainly due to embarassment over a certain nameless module that was released too soon, and has never actually worked, and I can't really seem to make work), although it is a major part of my life.  I spend probably between 10 and 15 hours a week just on the forums.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS (You may list them if you want)?

I have not yet been involved in developing any completed games (I don't think this counts...).

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Yes, I was.  Years before I found AGS I asked my brother what the best way to make a video game was, and he told me C++.  I actually have learned some C++, but with the amount of work Chris has done on AGS, the support of the forums, and the ease of the scripting, I'll make at least a few games with AGS first (although...that could take some time )

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

(N/A)

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

I have used WinterMute, Klik N Play, The Games Factory, and AGAST (in the search for the ultimate engine) and found all of them difficult for a "newbie" to start using.  KnP is supposed to be simple, but I honestly couldn't figure it out (too simplistic perhaps?).  TGF seems more directed at arcade-style games, which wasn't what I was looking for.  AGAST is entirely script based, which to a scripting-n00b (which I was at the time), is rather daunting and difficult to use.  WinterMute.  Well...let's just say we didn't get along.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

Inspired me, per se, no, however, it has fueled the fire.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

Hmm...difficult to say.  I think there are probably a majority of male members, however the number of female members aren't exactly small.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

I think the only difference might be the way some aspects of the game are perceived.  I can't think of a good example at the moment, but there are definitely things that, maybe, you would expect a male to say/write but not a female (and vice-versa).  But that would be the extent of it.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

I think AGS makes it easier for everyone to get involved in computer game design, regardless of sex.  It's one of the simplest ways I've found of taking some ideas, plugging them into the computer, and making a game out of it (although I may not have necessarily done this yet).

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

No.  Not really.

11. Any other comments?

I'm rather hungry.  I think I'll go eat now.

[an AGS rookie]

Name: Tony Burlin

Age: 20, soon to be 21

Female/male: male

question 1: I,ve been using AGS and downloaded games from  this site for a little less than a year but it,s no longer than a month or two since i started to seriously read the forums and actually post replies here.

question 2: I read about some games which were made with AGS and since i had long had a dream about making my own adventure-games and not just play them i searched for it on the net and decided to give it a try. (I don,t regret that decision one milli-fraction of a second .)

question 3: I think it has affected the community a lot! This site wouldn,t probably be half as big or half as good if AGS wasn,t freeware. (i for example wouldn,t be  using AGS if you had to pay for it.) I think it encourages also people with only the sligthest bit of interest in game-making since you don,t have to risk feeling you have thrown away your money for nothing if you didn,t like the program.

question 4: Since i started to read and post in the forums, i would say it plays a large part. I read the forums almost every day and i try to post at least one reply every week. ( I plan to register myself as a member to.)

question 5: I am working on my first ever game with AGS.

question 6a: I was definitelly interested in game-design before i found AGS. I was not however interested in scripting until i started to use AGS.

question 6b: Probably not. I wouldn,t have been encouraged to keep trying if the program hadn,t been so simple and user-friendly. Seeing so many good games made by other amateur-enthusiasts is also very helpfull.

question 6c: Nope. AGS is so far the only game-engine i have used.

question 6d: I,m definitely hoping to be able to convert all my ideas (or at least some) into proffesinoall games with awesome graphics, voice-acting and all that stuff some time in the future. But actually doing it for a job? . I don,t think so. (having your passion as a living doesn,t always mix i think.)

question 7: Not what i,ve noticed, no.

question 8: None at all.

question 9: I think AGS makes it easier for females and males to get into game design as long you are motivated enough.

question 10: Not what i can think of.

question 11. Nope.

[Krysis]

Name: Krasimir Savov A.K.A. Relentless

Age: 21.

Female/male: Last time I checked I was Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

A year or so...

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

Its something I allways wanted to do, and it is fun.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

I love it. People here rule.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

I check the forums dayly and I read allmost every new tread.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS (You may list them if you want)?

I have tryed to make games by myself and I've failed each time... But I did make the artwork for mozza's latest game that is not released yet.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Indeed. I've tryed RPG Maker and Game Maker but now AGS is my favorite.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

I have no idea.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

AGS is the only tool I need for now.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

I doubt anyone would care if I do...

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

I respect girl members (Um... that sounds so stupid). In the forum boys and girls are equal. All you get is a handle, an avatar and a signature... We are all people.Ã, 

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

I doubt it. Games are games.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

AGS is a program that can be used by both genders.Ã, 

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Some girls make better games.

11. Any other comments?

"I am your Father!" "Yeah, right!"

[Peder 🚀]

Name: Peder Johnsen

Age: 18

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
First got involved with AGS in 2001, but diddent registrer on the forum untill 2003.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I remember I wanted to make my own Adventure game, and searched for a way to make it.
And somehow I found AGS.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I think this is GREAT! I mean, it gives EVERYONE a chance to make their own game on a easy way for FREE!

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
The AGS community never been a really big part of my life before early this year, cause of me being busy with school, homework, playing in bands, etc.
In other words I had to many things to do for it to be a big part of my life.
It is alot bigger part now than it was before.
I go on the forum as much as I can, post posts where I got something to say, I try to make games, I recently been making some entries for different competitions.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Yes, since 2001 I been trying to make a few games, but gave up on most of them cause of being to busy with other stuff.
But in 2004 I finnished my first game, "Trapped in a Building".
Never really got much feedback on it, but it was pretty crappy, or as someone said "The game is one big bug." and it was!
After that I was working alot on a game, but that I gave up on cause of lack of story.
I then decided to make a fan game with Lucas Arts GFX, from the games: Sam & Max, Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle.
I called the game "Where did Sam go?" and was a short but for me a fun game.
I basically made this game to get to know the last version of AGS better.
When I had finnished that game I decided to enter the MAGS competition.
And on 27th of March 2006 my entry "Fallen Angel" with all original art and SFX was finnished. I won the competition and I am now doing another entry for this months MAGS just for fun.
I also got plans for other games.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes I was, ever since I tried Beneath a Steel Sky and the Monkey Island games I got really interested in games, and even before that when my brothers bought a Sega Master System (old console) I got really interested in games. And since then I allways wanted to make my own games.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
No I do not use any other programs as I havent found any other programs I like.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Yes it has.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
I would not think so, havent noticed anything.
It is probably more males here, but I seen quite alot of females here to!

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Not at all. Even though the games MIGHT be different in different ways (language etc.) I would not think of saying a game is crap just cause a female made it.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Yes, but then again it also makes it easier for males to get involved, cause not all males are that interested in computers and learn computer things that easy. But most females I know of arent that "into" computer things like programming , websites etc, stuff like that, but most males I know are.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Well, I think some females might do things different than a male would do, but then again some males probably would to.
So I think there allways will be differences between games made by males, games made by females and games made by males and females.

11. Any other comments?
"May the Blue Cup be with you"

[Layabout]

Name: Ryan P Keepence, AKA, Layabout, Lay, Captain Urinal, Pirate Jack, Dickhead...

Age: 24

Female/male: Male.

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
I joined Febuary 4th 2000 to the ezboard forums. Probably lurked for a bit before then.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
My first experiences with PC games were the Kings Quest series, when I was about 8. Since then, I've always loved them and wanted to make one to call my own... Something seriously went wrong somewhere.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
AGS has a great community spirit, a love for adventure games. These people like something that they can't really otherwise get in the shops. The fact that it is freeware has allowed the community grow in such a way. AGS is so well known today, due to it's continued coverage in the media. I think people would pay for it today, as opposed to when it was quite young.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Far too much. I rarely do much else on the internet, except look for pr0n!!! It takes up about 90% of my free time, with actually making games probably takes up 1%.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS?
Not really. Unless you count Gorthor or Dickboy.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yeah but no but yeah, like when I was younger I was like trying to make my own adventure games, but no It was too hard, but yeah then I found AGS and then CJ sold his baby to chantelle for a westlife cd.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
No, it is far too hard for a graphically minded person.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
I'd like to.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
There was, but not so much anymore.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Nope.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Yes, it's free and the community are not a bunch of nerds who salivate when a women joins. We are a welcoming lot, and gender counts for nothing. As long as you are insightful and have a passion, we welcome all.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Women write female dialog better, due to the fact that us stupid males don't know what the hell a woman would say.

11. Any other comments?
I still can't find my pants... AND PALY ACE QUEST11!11!1!1

[rharpe]

Name: Richard Harpe (AKA: rharpe)

Age: 30

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

Since 2002 or 2003... maybe even before. (Not sure really.)

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

I love the old school Sierra Online and Lucas Arts Games made back in the late 80's and early 90's.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

I find it amazing that CJ didn't decide to go commercial with all the publicity he has recieved from the site and the AGS software. And I feel there is a greater respect for him amongst the users/followers.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

Fairly big actually. I visit the site at least 2 to 3 times a day...if not, more. It helps me practice my artwork, take criticism, build friendships with people that love the same thing I love...Game Design!

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

I'm still trying to find time. Being 30 and all with a family and other "real life" responsibilities... time is the hardest thing come up with. Where was AGS 15 years ago???

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

I actually was learning some other game development software: Multimedia Fusion 1.5. (And in the past have dabbled with other programming languages.)

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

Sure. But AGS was the best for "Adventure Games".

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?

The ony other game development software I use is Multimedia Fusion 1.5. It's different from AGS because it was not specifically designed to make "Adventure Games." But it is great for making any other types of games!

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

No. But it has inspired me to work on dreams I've had since I was a kid. To make my own games, the way I like them.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

The PC game industry is dominated by males... no questioned asked. But the ratio of game designs between male and females are probably even. Why because you could have 100 males and only 25 of them making games... And 25 females and 6 are making games.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

Nope. Male or female, if it's good, I could care less.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

I can't see how it's any easier for females than males? Ags makes it easy for anyone to make a game regardless of a persons sex, race, or age.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Maybe some slight differences. Males tend to put more "male eye candy" in their designs. This could also reflect the maturity of that person. But like I said before, the line is quite blurry.

11. Any other comments?

AGS is the best "Adventure Game Design" software out there. It's intuitive, powerful, and gives instant results. My hat goes off to Chris Jones for making such an exceptional piece of game-design innovation!

[Stefan Z]

Well, if I have to..... I don't have to? Well, I'll do it anyway.

Name: Stefan Z. (real name: Christiaan Timmer)

Age: 24

Female/male: Male.

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
I downloaded the program in 2004, but didn't get around to use it until november 2005.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I stumbled across NORM one day, and after playing some of those games I followed the trail to adventuregamestudio.co.uk. When there is such an easy-to-use program to make my own adventure games, why not give it a try?

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
It created a very dynamic communicaty; it's very easy to just 'jump in'. The mood is very relaxed I think, because people don't have to earn their living with it. Of course the downside is that people might not have enough motivation, but any freeware engine that's behind games like Ben Jordan or a concept like NORM easily overcomes these negative points. But being kind of a newbie, I might be wrong ;-)

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
It's a hobby. I check the boards 5, 6 times a week. I like to follow the discussions and occasionally add my own thoughts and opinions.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want.
Yes! I just finished my first game: Snake. So that's one.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
I have programmed some small applications in Pascal / Delphi. But that was a long time ago. As said before, stumbling across AGS unleashed a formerly unknown part of my brain. After downloading AGS, I briefly tried out some programs to make text-adventures, but because I never played text-adventure, I found it boring to make one.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

Probably not. But most things find their way.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
I did use some programs to make text-adventures. I can recommend HUGO. But I can't really comment on this.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Ha! No, it's only a hobby.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
There do seem to be more men than women, being a newbie I don't know if there is a 'divide'. I did find it strange to read that DragonRose got reactions from people being 'shocked that's she's a girl'.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
I have a slight preference towards games made by women, since they generally, I'm speaking in general here, tend to have more emphasis on characters instead of plot (I'm thinking of Gabriel Knight).

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Seeing that most schools offering computer courses still have 90%+ male students, I think any program that makes programming a game easier will make it easier for females to make games. But I'm on the brink of being a sexist here, so I'll shut up.

[/b]10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?[/b]
Can't think of anything. When a game kicks ass, it kicks ass, right?

11. Any other comments?
AGS forever!

[KristjanMan]

Name: Kristjan Ostov

Age:13

Female/male:male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Started to play and watch formus since 2003 joined this year

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
My classmate wa doing games with game maker and he was quite good at it and i wanted to make games too but i didnt choose GM becaus then he would have callen me a n00b so i searched foe game making programs and found AGS

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
Well if it wasn't a freeware programm there wouldn't be so big and friendly community

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Pretty big part because i go to school and i have lots of free time every day so I check/post/read forums 10-15 times a day

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Not yet but will realese a game soon...

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
Umm i realy haven't completed anything yet but I'll answer anyway

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes
b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
I have used Game Maker you can create almost anything with it

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Hmmm...I guess not but maybe

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
There is more men than women...

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
No a game is a game it doesn't realy matter who made it (as long it's a good game!)

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Don't know realy...

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
No like I sed a game is a game

11. Any other comments?
Everybody have a nice day!

[skw]

Name: Jan Teodor Czyżewski / John Theodore Tchyzevsky | Age: 18 | Male


1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  One year (since April 2005).

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  I always wanted to make an old school adventure game. The AGS engine seemed the best of all available of that kind.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  I think it's obvious. The less you have to pay, the more people will be able to pay. AGS enables everyone to test it before and make a game of full value without any payments. This also helps people to improve their artistic and programming skills.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  It depends. Currently I visit the forums a few times a day. I'm also trying to make a game and improve my digital painting and scripting skills at once.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  N/A

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Yes.

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  N/A

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  A few. AFAIR, it was in 1999 and they were simple text-based adventures with lo-res static backgrounds.

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Well, maybe. I'm trying to take the graphic studies and then obtain a bachelor title.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Yes, there's much more males than females. But who cares?

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Yes. But it's not a negative feeling.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ask female.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  It's just as with, for example, books. Yes, it's a difference, maybe because women are more sensitive.

11. Any other comments?

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Thanks. I hope my entry will be at least a bit useful.

[Etcher Squared Games]

Name:real - Bryan, on here - Worm III, originally on here Ã, EtcherSquaredGames

Age:
28 (29 in 1 week)

Female/male:
male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
July 2004 is when I made my first training game

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Well, the whole adventure game genre was dead to me. Ã, Lucas arts and Sierra no longer made these sorts of games and companies like "the adventure company" or who ever they are called made really horrible games. Ã, I sought out a place pretty much like this. Ã, I found the AGS site first and then later on found the other one whose name eludes me at the moment (the one with the more complicated scripting). Ã, I found the games were better than the "professional" ones today. Ã, 

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
Free is always good. Ã, If people had to pay, that always keeps people away. Ã, But if it were cheap (like $5) then it might be ok, but I prefer that CJ keep it free *wink wink*.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
It terms of a hobby, it's a big part. Ã, Personally I've fallen into the pattern of 1 game a year, but I lurk on the boards and read a lot, but don't post that often myself (trying to get back in which is why I'm doing this survey). Ã, I tell a lot of people about how I make freeware games and it's amazing how I get these big bright eyes and like "Oh really wow, what have you made?" Ã, But they never have heard of any (either) of my games so far. Ã, But it's still a great conversation piece.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Free publicity is always good. Ã, "Sierra Quest 1: Roberta in Love" and "Into the Light" are the two official games I've made. Ã, I'll be announcing "Scene 1 Take 1" once Zyn gets me artwork (hint hint zyn...j/k no hurry). Ã, I also got paid to create a tutorial about AGS for a place called "Cyber Camps". Ã, I created a short stupid little game called "Stickman" (because I actually can't draw...) and wrote up a tutorial geared for 8-12 year olds on making their own game. Ã, The people were actually impressed with what I created. Ã, 

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
All my life. Ã, I played my parent's "Pong" game when I first saw it, went to Atari 2600, then Nintendo, then Super Nintendo, etc etc. Ã, And have always wanted to create my own all my life. Ã, I've wanted to work for Nintendo and back in the day, Sierra. Ã, Unfortunatly, Sierra doesn't really do this anymore, but oh well. Ã, This keeps me happy.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?



c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
...just AGS

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Again, always a dream, but I definatly don't have the background to ever do it professionally.


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Seems like it is mostly guys yes, but the woman sure hold their own. Ã, My good friend, Kinoko (creator of "Cirque de Zale" (I hope I spelled that right)), could beat me any day on graphics, story, and design. Ã, 

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
The only thing is it would be cool just seeing how a woman thinks through her game. Ã, How they approach things versus a guy. Ã, Otherwise, doesn't make a difference.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Yeah sure, for one, any girl could pretend to be a guy (Frankenstein) if she feels that she'd not get the respect as a woman.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Not that I have noticed.

11. Any other comments?
One thing on a personal note about the AGS community is how kind they have been to me. Ã, They understand that when "I" do the graphics, that I simply can't draw, and they go easy on me in terms of commenting about that. Ã, Otherwise I get very kind comments and critiques about my games. Ã, I appreciate it very much.

[R4L]

Name: Corey Hectus

Age: 15

Male/Female: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
I found AGS on the summer of 2000. My friend had found RPG Maker and I wondered if there were any more programs like that. I found AGS, which to me was the most flexible and, not to mention, easier program. I joined the forum the day I got it and went off to learn how to use the functions. I was 9 at the time, and most of it was hard to learn, especially the if/else statements for some reason.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I just wanted to make games. I found out later that AGS is basically used to create adventure games, and most people at the time were re-making King's Quest games. I on the other hand didn't finish any games until I was ready, in 2003. I had spent the whole time learning the script, and nagging people on the forums. Then I figured out the if/else statemjents on my own and I learned to do some different things in AGS.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I think free is best. At the same time I found AGS another program called DarkBASIC was around. It forced people to pay $50.00 american plus shipping and handling, and from what I remember, the forums didn't really have too many people on it. These forums usually have activity almost all the time.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
AGS for me is a hobby, and the only thing I turn to that lets me be creative and do what I like to do. I haven't used it lately, because of school and the lack of game ideas. The AGS community is like a big brother to me. I always post something on the forums I don't understand, and I usually get a nice response that solves my problem. I haven't caused any uproar on the forums, except when I first joined, and from there, the forums have been great.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Yeah, these games weren't really any "ambitious" projects, these were just games I did to see if my practice at the script had paid off, and they did. Well I got the basics down. I have worked on Practice Script: The 1 Room Puzzler, a game I haven't finished called Nightmare, and I have a MAGS game entitled Ray and the Guitar. I kinda moved into the non-adventure category and hope to make a 2D AGS Smash Brothers like game.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes. Very interested. I got the Xbox around 2001 and I then I said "How do they do that?" This thought has always led me to AGS and other freeware programs. I would initially take a game design like boxing and see how it would work in AGS, of course the lack of C++ knowledge always keeps me away from that one.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
To tell you the truth, no. I originally had wanted to be a Graphic Designer, but now, I want to go to college for Game Design or Visual Art.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
I tried DarkBASIC, but the lack of interface always gets me. I use AGS because of its simplexity. The thing is though, I actually know AGS compared to other programs like BlitzBasic or darkBASIC. It's just that I have fun making a game with AGS, and when I use a program I don't recognize, I get frustrated and usually stop doing what I was doing.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
AGS has always inspired me, but at the moment, im having a real hard time thinking about what to do in the future. I want to go to college for Game Design, and hope to work with Lionhead Studios and produce the amazing games that Peter Molyneux creates. But on the other hand, I want to go to college for visual arts so I can draw better and hopefully come back to AGS and create better quality games.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
There are more guys here yes, but other than that, there are women on the forums. So no, I don't think theres a big gender divide.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Not at all. I have been anticipating Kinoko's Gift of Aldora for quite some time now. At first, I didn't know if Kinoko was a girl or guy, then I read some of her posts, and then it was quite clear. Lol, you are funny Rebecca.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Not really sure how to answer this one.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Not that I have noticed.

11. Any other comments?
If I could change one thing about the forums, it would be this. When you first register, you would be taken to the forum rules page, a page that shows the rules for every topic. After that, you would take a test about these topics and you would have to get them all right. I have been seeing lately that some people just post where ever they want (yodaman). And some people just don't care about the quality of their games (yodaman). They just draw some
really quick sprites, and put them into a really quickly drawn room, and make a really fast game with about 4-5 bugs, and expect people to applaude them for their "hard" work. Note to n00bs- A room alone may take weeks to months to make, depending on your experience and a sprite may take days to weeks to create. And ripped sprites don't count for original artwork. :p

[Ghost]

Name:
Björn "GHOST" Ludwig

Age:
31

Female/male:
male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
I registered 2002, 2003, got abroad for a while and then
I came back to stay.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I always loved adventure games; I saw quite a lot of the
"golden classics" actually being top-notch, brand new, shiny showcase displays. When I saw a
report about AGS on  german tv show Giga Games, I thought I might give it a try- it was then when I first saw
an almost perfect program.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I am pretty sure people like to test a free program more than one they have to pay in advance, but that only helps to build a comminity in the first place. People stay because of the quality, I think. One april's fools day joke has shown that quite a lot of people here would actually pay for AGS.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Apart from keeping my caffeine level on an actually SURVIVABLE amount? Well, I check the forums, three or four times a week, but that's about it.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Nothing to present here; I'm working on two games, though.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Haven't noticed one so far.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Women are the better storytellers. That's really true, in both professional and hobby games. Can't put my finger on it, but they have a knack to put in small details into a
story, so yes, if I know a game was made by a male or female designer, I automatically adjust some expectations.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
I'd say AGS is a good start for people who are not experienced in programming. Male or female doesn't matter.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
I really wouldn't know anything else but the things I stated in question 8.

11. Any other comments?
Witches always stand between birch trees.

[cpage]

Name: Chris Page | Age: 21 | Male


1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

          Registered this user name on ezboard on August 12, 2001, Lurked for about a year before posting under the name cjpthatsme.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

          Wanted to make a game, and I really needed a hobby as it was before I could drive so I had NOTHING to do.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

          Well it seems that every year there are more and more people. If they had to pay for it they would probably go with another system that is free. I think even with all the great features it has AGS had it been sold would never had grown to the wonderful community it is today.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

         It used to play alot more of one, then over time we seperated but I'm getting back into it now.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

          A couple but nothing too notable.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

          a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

                    Yes.

          b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

                    Yes..... I dont mean to sound like an ass but I had already used GF and KnP

          c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

                   I find it less enjoyable to be honest, Probably because if you need help you know you will wind up asking a bunch of cocky jerks where as here it is people over time you know and like to talk to.

          d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

                    Maybe..... I do like to do it but I think graphic design is more my thing.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

          not really no

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

          not really no

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

          I think it is every bit as easy for both genders. I really dont think they need to find a way to get into it any more then men.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

          To be honest.... Yes and No there are always exceptions but in my experience the story lines by women seem to have more....... Dimention

11. Any other comments?

          San Dimas High School Football Rules!

[Sinister]

Name: Sinister - Real: AJ Alegria

Age:23

Female/male:Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
-Around for 4 years now..

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

-I've always wanted to make my own Adventure games, since i was 15 years old.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

-AGS has opened up a lot of space for new indy developers, and given people who want to become professional game developers or who want to work in the industry a glimpse of what game making is about.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

-AGS has claimed much of my free time, and has led me to meet people from all over the globe, and form part of one of the best teams around. I would trade AGS for anything right now.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

-Yes. I've had my first failures (i say failure cause i never finished them) and others that im very proud of.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

- Very much so, when I was 15 I was inspired by LSL to make a comode adventure game based on my own life as a teen in a school with lots of parties and girls!.. That led to later ideas, led me to found a website and tale part of greater projects later on.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

- Yes, and no.. other programs do have a downside always, while some are easier to use  yet provide no real authoring safety, others provide a lot of security but are quite complex. Some provide a nice leap into other genres but serve no other purpose.. 

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

-Yes, but its just a dream... perhaps one day..

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

- Not, really.. but males are more common.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

- Well, not really.. if the game is good, i dont care if its a woman or a guy who did it. However it's always fun to see what a woman is comming up with. After all, one woman (R.Williams) created the genre as we knew it, and others brought to a new level.. so seeing some women trying to reach that is very interesting.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

- Not, really AGS is a non gender oriented so i say it helps both men and women dive into computer game design.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

-To go out and say.. NO, is perhaps being a bit naive. The styles of Roberta Williams, Jane Jensen, Al Lowe have each their own contrast, im not sure weather gender has anything to do with it, or if its just personality.. but who cares if we do percieve a diference.. men and women are diferent like, any man is diferent from another!.. So cheers to diversity.

11. Any other comments?

- For those, who know me.. i came off rather composed didnt I?.. So.. now.. BEER!! BOOZE! SEX AND ROCK AND ROLL! DUDE!

[Dan_N]

Hey, what the heck?
I'm not doing anything good anyway.

Name: Dan N. (real name not giving - paranoia!).

Age: 15.

Female/male: male, last time I checked (this morning).

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community? RE: 2 months.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS? RE: I'm on the search for great game creators with easy-to-learn interfaces so of course I got this one! (I also was impressed with Yahtzee's 5 Days a Skeptic)

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it? RE: It's bigger! Because more people have acces to it.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life? RE: It's something to do.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want. RE: Not with anyone else, I'm just working on two games - In Space (just for fun) and Circus Minimus (for MAGS august 2006).

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS? RE: Yes game design and programmin (Pascal).

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS? RE: -

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ? RE: well, it's done much slower, I mean with borland's pascal editor I have to write letter by letter the code for the game (graphics, sound, scripts) and it takes me about two weeks to make even a quarter of a game, while in AGS it took me two days to finish about two rooms. You draw a parallel.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally? RE: It's been my dream to become a game designer, I mean, kids in my class wanted to be astronauts, doctors, nuclear physists , but I wanted to be a game designer. I don't know, maybe when I'm older I'll get a break and design games for the new, reformed Westwood or for Blizzard (ah, dreams, dreams).

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community? RE: well, in the community, I don't know, I haven't seen such a thing, but in game making, of course women (mostly) will have their main character be female and men (mostly) will have their main charcter be male. This is to put them in the skin of the character.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way? RE: no. It's still fun!

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way? RE: Well, studies show that men are more likely to go into computer programming and technical stuff as they find it much to complicated (I'm not saying anything!!!), I guess, so, I guess again, that now that AGS is much simpler, maybe this will attract a much larger female community. Right?

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females? RE: except from the main character (usually), no. But I haven't seen any horror games made by females yet (maybe you could point me to one?).

11. Any other comments? RE: nope.

[Sakkeus]

Name: Sakari

Age: Born 6th of December 1989, so 17 at the moment.

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
-Hmm... I've been poking around the forums for a year now, I think. I havent posted much though.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
-I really wanted to make my own adventure game, and I really didn't want to learn to program.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
-I think more people are attracted to freeware than commercial products, and of course the author
gets more respect from the community, because he has given his product to communitys use for free.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
-Well since I have no other life than sitting on the computer, it's important for me that I can create something in some way.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
-The Big Bad Wolf and the Three little pigs is my first game, and I made it completely by myself.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
-I've always been interested in making adventure games. I've also tried creating levels for FPS games, but it never worked out for me.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
-Well I can still answer this: I think that I would have left to whole idea of creating my own
adventure game, if I never had found AGS.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
-Nope.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
-Well sometimes the idea spins around my mind, but I really try to come up with a job that is related to movie making. So the answer is: a bit.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
- Well I have only seen a couple of females here, so I really can't say anything to this one.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it’s made by a female? In what way?
-Yes. I think it brings a whole different feel to any game.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
-Yes. Anyone, even females can make an AGS game, but I don't think it really opens any pathway to professional game designing for either males or females.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
- Yes, I think that females put more thought on the story than males in general.

11. Any other comments?
-Nope.

[FamousAdventurer77]

Name: FamousAdventurer77 / Afraid I can't reveal my true name on here.

Age: 21

Female/male: F.

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
I first found out about AGS in 2004 but didn't really get involved with it until mid-2005.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Like my culture that's dedicated to preserving old school ways of life, I was thrilled to find out there was another group of people who felt the same way about my childhood treasure: adventure games. I realized there were a couple thousand people who felt the same way I did about these games, and well, I needed a place to go where I could hold intelligent conversations with people and who could understand the computer geek side of me that my punk and hardcore compatriots sorta can't.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I think it ensures that only serious adventure game aficionados get involved. Granted, there's terms and conditions if you would like to use AGS to make a profit and since games take so long to make and there's nothing wrong with wanting to get profits for totally busting your ass (especially if you have to work alone). But seriously though, adventure games are hardly even much of a niche market anymore. It's all this 3D kill-everything crap, and game designers are more about revolutionizing hardware (digital eyelash rendering) than about making great software anymore. But the fact that this particular engine is nonprofit also keeps everyone together: only those who really like doing this and making these games will want to get involved. It's not like way back in the day when putting SCI and AGI on your resume would've meant something, if you want to get a job in the gaming industry today it sure won't be with adventure games and definitely wouldn't involve 14+ years old languages that only us real old-schoolers care about.


4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Thanks to the community, I got one of hell of a research project done for uni. Usually my other life in the music scene is my dominant one but since a few NYC clubs shut down, eh, things have been rather shut-in lately. When I'm not in school [uni makes me want to rip my brain out with a rusty fondue fork] or out with my friends then I'm attempting to finally get my game done. And a lot of people have been real helpful and supportive with my ideas and attempting to help me learn the actual programming language.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
No. But I'm going to plug my own game in progress right now!

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes. I attempted making an RPG with Coldstone til I realized it just wasn't going anywhere. It felt like I had a house made of stick figures: it looked great and finished from the front but no internal scripting, um, the whole thing's just a decoration that's going to fall over. I also used to concentrate in Comp Sci in high school where I mastered rudimentary VB98 which is an accomplishment considering that I'm awful at math. But when C++ came around the math was too hard, same when I registered to major in Comp Sci at uni-- I realized that not only was the industry not to my liking but that I'd be better off with just-for-kicks game design like AGS because the gamers I met in my first programming class-- NOT in my sphere at all! I realized that just like with my music/culture, I was born too late. I realized my true purpose a month later.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
AGS kept me interested if that's what you mean. Luckily my school just started offering a class in basic programming for non-math majors-- meaning maybe I'll finally get the hang of it.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
I tried Coldstone (if you ever played the adventure-RPG Pillars Of Garendall, this was the engine used for it) to make a parody RPG but realized that unless I had a team of like 150 people to help with things I would never get it done.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Quite the opposite actually. I saw the AGS community as another underground network just like my culture: the bands and songs that are a big deal to us, make no difference to normal people who don't know our kind of music and the way bands make themselves known. Our bands tour when we can and live for it but we hold regular jobs and/or go to school in the daytime and when we're not touring. We don't belong to talent agencies or management groups, to quote the Wretched Ones "We don't belong to nobody."

So AGS made me feel the same: "Finally. I can be with other old-schoolers but still keep up my regular job and just do this on the side." Being that the industry changed so much, well, I didn't want to just belong to some company just to be told my ideas were 15 years behind. I didn't want to bother learning the new languages for this unoriginal 3D mass-produced crap...doing AGS for free is fine with me as another hobby of mine that doesn't have anything to do with music and my culture.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Women are definitely in the minority. The divide isn't palpable like how it can be in the underground punk and hardcore scene (which I still find sad sometimes) and other scenes and creeds, but computer gaming is still and always was pretty much male-dominated.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Being a female player and designer, I have to admit I feel the same pride I feel whenever I see another band that features talented girls: We prove that we can be just as good if not better than men at the same things. Female programmers are a definite minority and we always feel proud of it because it's something that we're told we can't do. I just suck at math so that's why I have a hard time getting the grip of certain languages, but so do a lot of men. Being good or bad at math or programming isn't gender-specific-- fingers get pointed at women a lot for not being good a math but I think that the men who are bad at math just don't get spotlighted enough.

And let me tell you it's the same with music. I play guitar a hell whole lot better than a lot of boys I know but men who suck at guitar don't get pinpointed as much as women who do, just because some are still intimidated at the ideas of women getting into male-dominated fields. F.ck I'm proud of being involved in three heavily male-dominant fields and proving people wrong all the time! But to get back to the point,

Great game design and crappy game design are not gender specific. I saw some good points throughout the thread, one man mentioned that men are more likely to draw romanticized versions of women, ie with bigger breasts and nice bodies or just in the way they are vocalized or portrayed; whereas a female game designer may give a more realistic portrayal. I think it all depends on the individual designer and how they want to tell the story and portray the characters. Girls sometimes make romanticized versions of themselves too because it's expected, or what they could wish they could look like, etc.
But once again it all depends on a lot of things of how they want the art to properly execute the story and game design itself.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Yes and no. Some girls can get turned off from it the same way men can; when scripting and that Global Settings Module look really intimidating. I know it did with me at first! (Hence why I'm putting off scripting for as loooong as possible.)

Pretty much, it's sexually ambiguous: the same thing can happen with men. Getting exposed to a great AGS game and realizing you can make your own; well, it's ambiguous.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Hand in hand with #8 bigtime: I've agreed and disagreed with responses I've seen from people throughout the thread:

Girls can write and design about different things as much as men can. The sky's the limit! But one comment that stuck out was when someone had said that women who designed the games get more attention-- I can explain this phenomenon. It's just like how it was when a certain hardcore band I briefly joined in '04 had this big uproar from other people, like "Huh? They let a girl in?!" Some people are really subconsciously affected at how this society teaches us to think: that in spite of all the things women can do, some things will still shock people (namely men) because of the invasion of such a male-dominated field. Like they think we're still not "allowed" to do it and it's unspoken. And in the case of music and other things, and game design has to do with it too-- there's just things that they think seem more "appropriate" for girls, like I hate pop punk and faux hardcore and that crap but it's just what some of these a-holes deem "appropriate" or appealing to girls. Whereas I and a lot of other women who feel the same way just want the REAL THING straight up, no bulls..t. (If you know the bands: ie, I would sooner cover Warzone or Blitz* than Blondie or something.) So in the gaming world, a romantic fantasy type game would be considered "appropriate" for girls, or at least more appealing.

I've played funny games on here, fantasy-themed, serious ones, violent ones, all types. Designed by both men and women, and production teams. They all appeal to me because they're old school! But if it's shocking you want, read on:

But I know that when and if I ever finish my game it would get attention called to it for being designed by a woman, because it's a theme that women are usually too afraid to explore: I'm making a game called "On The Prowl" loosely based on Leisure Suit Larry 1. You HARDLY EVER hear of a game where it's a girl on the chase instead of a guy and typically when such games or films are made, they're written by men and are usually a portrayal of male fantasy rather than the actions a woman would really take IRL if she was going to go out and paint the town red; and also the fantasy and sexually ambiguous viewpoints from a woman (portrayed wrongly in all mediums 95% of the time). I'm a libertine and have nothing but pride in making this and hope it encourages both men and women alike to have the same open attitude. But yes, this indeed is not a game a girl would typically make.

Most people would say that girls try not to be violent: look at Cirque du Zale, that game kicked ass and was designed by a woman and did feature some violence and attitudes that would not be deemed "ladylike" (You go girl ) But men also make non-violent games (Bog's Adventures featured minimal blood and violence.)

My final say on the matter? Gender's an illusion. Controversy rocks. Women can be very male and men can be very female and sometimes game design will reflect that. Both genders should tear down the walls society puts up, of what they "should" make and what's expected of them. I hope that's the effect my finished game will have on people, that it'll inspire them to do something different and controversial.

11. Any other comments?
I'll probably graduate from uni by the time my game's finished. But it'll be totally worth it when you're playing as Lara Corley who's trying to make her night be something other than "The Day I Got Fired and Dumped In A One-Hour Period" and will she sleep with Indiana Jones? Only one way to find out! (And that's to wait til my game's finished and play the whole thing through. Those Indy cutscenes I'm working on are my pride and death.)

*- ever play "Razors in the Night"? Punks will get the joke here.

[Stupot]

Name: Stuart Forbes

Age:23

Female/male:Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
About a week

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I've been playing some free adventure games lately so it was inevitable I'd come accross this site and it inspired me to have a bash at making my own one.... I'm pretty pleased with the progress I'm making on my first project.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I'm amazed that this is freeware, and I'm happy.  Many people would pay to use software like this... but as you say there is a great community here and I hope to make some new friends here over the coming weeks.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Not much as yet, but that will increase the further I get into making my game.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? Only the one I'm working on at the moment... I haven't officially announced it yet, as I have no real screenshots, but I'll give you a sneak preview of it's title..... _{A Window Cleaner's Apprentice}

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS? yeh, bit of elementary programming with DarkBASIC, but never really made anything substantial.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
It's something I've always liked the idea of, but maybe this will be the true springboard I've ben waiting to find.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
DarkBASIC is completely different in that the scripting is number one... i mean it's important here, too if you want to make a decent game, but at least here you can use the interface and point and click for your results... Also Darkbasic is mainly for 3D games, unfortunatley I can't get my head round the 3D scripting, and I prefer 2D games anyway... call me old fashioned.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Woah, there leslie.. one step at a time... I always wanted to be a pro games designer as a kid, but lack of artistic skill and a not enough programming practice has led me to this point in my life... 23 years old, still haven't got a clue what to do with my life... if I realsie I'm quite good at this I might try and pursue a career in the field, but I'm allergic to grass.


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
This area will always be ,ale dominated, but I've een pleased to see one or two females here... (at tleast they say they are, cant trust anyone on the net these days though, can ya).

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
I might think, cool, this was made by a female, respect.  But really, its not like theres much difference.... its not a breast-feeding contest its adventure gaming.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
I think AGS makes it easier for ANYONE to get into game design, so yeh.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
I'm not sure If i've played any by a female yet, but I'll be sure to look one up and I'll report back with my verdict.

11. Any other comments? Happy new year everyone... (i know it's a little late)

[Ponch]

Name: Ponch

Age: 34

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

Three years

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

Friend of mine had a copy of the engine on their computer. I played around with it and decided to start making games with it.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware program affect the community that has built up around it?

Very much so -- freeware always seems to collect a motley and devoted following. There is a certain something about a product that depends heavily on its user base for development and growth that seems to inspire a passion amongst its users.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

I check the forums about once a week or thereabouts. I used to visit here more often, but free time isn't what it used to be these days.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

I've made about a dozen games using AGS. Four of them have been released upon the world.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Yes. I used to make text adventure games years ago. I also made scrolling arcade games for the Amiga. These days I just use AGS and Game Maker.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

I was already making games before AGS --- AGS just made making them easier.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

AGS is more user friendly and has better support both from its creator and its community than any other engine I have tried in the past.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

Nah, I already have a career. Game making is just a hobby.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

Never really paid a lot of attention to it. I know there are several women here and some of them are quite active in the community with activities like "Release Something" and the like.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

Nah.  A good game is a good game. The plumbing of the designer has nothing to do with it.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

AGS makes it easier for anyone to make games. Plumbing is not a factor.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Nah.

11. Any other comments?

There is no beer in my fridge and I am sad.

[Akatosh]

Name: Akatosh 

Age: 16

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

Since about spring 2005.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

I played these strange games named 7 Days a Skeptic, Apprentice I and Apprentice II (how I got to them? See that other thread). All three mentioned a strange "AGS" thing in their credits, and I went checking. I quickly discovered the Adventure Gaming Studio was just the thing for me.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware program affect the community that has built up around it?

I doubt there would be a that great and big community if AGS wasn't freeware.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

Well, making games is one of my biggest hobbies, and during holidays I visit the AGS boards up to multiple times a day.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

Koffee Krisis - Episode I, Kristmas Krisis, _Access (being done), Ninja (will never be shown to the world), ThinkTank (same there), BBIC (currently paused).

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Yup. C++. Borland C++ builder.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

I don't think I would have gone on with making games without AGS. Before I discovered it I didn't finish a game in 6 months and had several bug-ridden bad game attemps lying around (some of them still are).

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?

AGS is great because it actually is dedicated to games.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

Yup. I actually entered KristmasKrisis in the Gamesload newcomer award... and got 4th 

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

If I paid attention to that, I'd probably be able to answer that question.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

Why should I?

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

No idea.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Not in Freeware games... but if you look at the game industry you'll notice some differences. You'll never be able to tell if the designer was male or female, but in retrospect (how do you write that ) and with the knowledge (geez, why do I always want to write knowdoledge?) about the designer's gender you will probably notice some small detail differences.

11. Any other comments?

School starts again on Monday  :'(

[auriond]

Name: auriond

Age: 24

Female/male: female

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

Not very... since November 2006.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

I just suddenly had this idea for one of my characters, and it seemed very suitable for a point and click game.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

If I hadn't started making a game, I wouldn't have even discovered this great community as I tend to just download AGS games without playing them. That said... ok to answer the question, I guess the community would be nowhere as dynamic if AGS was a commercial program.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

I'm stuck here almost all the time I'm online, learning, learning, learning.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

Just The Marionette... and probably that will be the only game I'll ever make, too.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Yes - programming, though not game design. I learned that only when I started TM.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

Nope.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

Never tried...

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

Puzzle design is far too difficult for me, who is basically a storyteller... so no.


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

Hah! There is a gender divide in almost all the gaming communities I've visited or belonged to. Yes, there is.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

Not much... though I'd probably think "Good for you!" to the game's author.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

I'm really not sure... I don't even know whether females find it easier to do things like programming and stuff. All I know is that I like it, and I do pretty well at it compared to my peers.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

I think so, but mostly in terms of storyline. I haven't played enough games to compare puzzles.

11. Any other comments?

I'm tired and I want more time to work on my gaaaaame.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Ah well, nothing to do...

Name: Pedro Pires

Age: 20 as of now. Ask again in a couple of months and it'll be 21. Ask again 5 years from now and... do yer own math.

Female/male: I'd like a female, please. Definitely male.

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
My profile says I registered 26 January 2003, and I count that as the day I started posting around here - does that count?

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Because I love adventure games, and because I love telling stories, and I thought it would be wonderful to make my own adventure game - and I found AGS after much searching.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I feel it has helped the community grow and evolve beyond measure. Free = more people are around it. Accourse, the fact that it's a very friendly community that has some very good mods also helps.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
At the moment, a very little part, actually. When I turn my peecy on, it's a major part of my life, but when I'm outdoors, it matters very little to me. I don't even know any of these people - and mind, there's many people here I admire!

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Only my LSL2 remake.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yeah. I once wanted to write IF. No need to draw.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
I've tried other programmes, all freeware. I've found AGS is the best for me. I can do everything I want in AGS, including things it wasn't really meant to. Why, I've even made a text parser engine in AGS - which allows me to write IF in AGS instead of looking elsewhere. AGS is a wonderful tool.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Once upon a time, yeah. Then I got realistic, and took my dreams elsewhere.


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Say what? No, not at all. If anything, I feel there *isn't* gender in this community, or colour, or religion, or sexual preference. We're all people, and that's it. If anything, I feel there's many age groups here.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Well, I'm likely to be pleased. Despite what I said before, I think women are wonderful beings and I like to be reminded that they exist in this community too.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Again, I don't feel there's any real differentiation in gender here in this community. If this doesn't help, by effectively doing away with any and all discrimination, I don't know what does.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Yes, the same way there's a "masculine" and "feminine" way of doing things. The masc. one is usually more straightforward, sometimes blunt. The femin. one is usually a bit rounder, a bit more sensitive.

If anyone thinks this is gibberish, I think this applies to everything, and I can cite examples to be found on my area of "expertise" - singing. There's masculine and feminine ways to sing, you know, and they don't always match the artist's gender.

11. Any other comments?
Yeah. This questionaire was a nice idea, but why the heck did it focus so much on the gender issues?

[auriond]

The questionnaire was started by someone doing a survey for a study he was doing, so I guess he was studying gender differences in gaming or game-making - or some such.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Wow, 4 pages of all sorts of comments and I get to be the lucky one whose comment is commented on! JOY!

[KittenInPyjamas]

Name:
Ellie
Age:
27
Female/male:
Female
1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
For a few months now.
2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
At first I loved the games. Then, I loved the community.
3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
A lot. At least for me, the fact that I didn't need to pay anything for it attracked my attention at first.
4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
A very big one. Although I rarely post, I come in every day either to look for downloading games or simply to read the forums.
5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Unfortunately not, although I would DIE. I have a few ideas, but I don't know anything about programming. I can draw nicely, but not in MS Paint!
6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Not at all, and I never even thought about that.
8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Not at all. I can't tell the difference.
9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
It makes it easier for any person who 1) enjoys adventure games, 2) has basic knowledge of programming, 3) has imagination and  zest, and 4) likes sharing.
10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
No. Actually, three out of ten of the questions are about girls. I really can't see the point! 
11. Any other comments?
I really hope people never stop making games with AGS even if technology gets much much better.

[Charity]

Name: Charles Moor

Age: 20

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Been lurking on and off since early 02.  So about five and a half years?

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I've wanted to make games since I started playing them.  I found out about AGS through Home of the Underdogs and had to check it out.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
Free things are more accessible, so the community is more accessible.  I guess?  I know I probably wouldn't have paid for the AGS back when I first found it.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Not a big part.  Although my brother and I still occasionally quote the AGS Show at eachother.  I mostly just browse the forums to amass information about the scripting language and keep up to date on forthcoming games.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Not any completed games.  I did make a movie based on a conversation in an unrelated IRC channel, a couple years ago.  It was somewhat of a success there, but I figured it was too injokish to post here.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:
a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes, at least since I was nine or ten.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
I was already involved with game design, and I probably would have stuck with the idea, at least.  No saying whether or not I would have completed anything.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
I tinkered with The Games Factory, Q-Basic, and the Playstation edition of RPG Maker.  I never got far enough with Q-Basic to make anything.  RPG Maker was clunky and kind of limiting.  The Games Factory was pretty powerful, and I made a couple simple games with it, but I think I prefer scripting in AGS to the more visual style.  It might be worth looking into again, if I still have it.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Right now, I don't want to join the game industry.  As to whether I'll ever want to sell a game I make as a hobby, I don't know.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
I think there are more males than females.  Is that a divide?

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Perhaps I am nominally more receptive?  Ew.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Not females specifically.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
If so, it's not as big as the overall person to person difference.

11. Any other comments?
Pass.

[Sylvr]

Name:
SilverTrumpet

Age:
19...in a few months, anyway

Female/male:
Female

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Since 21 Jun 2006, 08:57. Well that's a partial lie. I left for a good long time rather randomly. And as of very recently, I have returned.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Well, I first found this, I think when I was missing my King's Quest games and wanted to see if there were any other games like this. With a little help from Google, I found AGS. I immediately downloaded the program, then checked out some other games on here, and then checked out the forum. I guess the bottom line is that I was bored one fateful day.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I think that the community is larger cause the program is free

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
I used to check out the forums every day, especially when I was still trying to make games... then that faded. And I recently decided to check it out again. Chances are it will play as nearly a big part. But not quite.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Nothing serious at all. [strike]One was a complete joke[/strike] Nothing serious at all, two are on here for everyone to wonder at. J&D actually had some thought put in (because the game content was significant to me), and I learned a lot. I was working on another one for a long-ish while, but when I moved out for school I think all the files were lost, come to think of it. But I've never worked with another AGSer on one, which I might like to.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Nope, just playing. I always liked tinkering with programming, but I never thought to use it for an adventure game, really.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
Very likely not, since I would have no idea how.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
Nope.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Haha nope. I'm definately not talented that way enough for that.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
It's mostly male? How's that?

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Perhaps.... I guess I don't expect it to have as much violence (only applicable before I play, I suppose)

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Not particularly, but I think it makes it easier for everyone in general.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
See question 8?

11. Any other comments?
Sometimes the almighty Blue Cup comes to me in visions.

[vertigoaddict]

Name: Vertigo Addict (my real name initials are M.I.B.H.I, you get the point?)

Age: 16

Female/male: male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

I don't really remember, a couple of months?

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

Because I wanted to make a point and click game.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

It feels great, a great thriving community where everyone is unique in their own way.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

It keeps me sane and it helps me cope.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

My games are still in progress, I beta tested 'Jacob' and am helping someone with backgrounds.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

yes

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

yes, there are other Game designing programmes out there which are free.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

AGS is friendlier

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

I wouldn't say professionally, but if you meant as a job, yes.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

In here we are all god's children  :

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

You go girl!

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

It doesn't depend on gender, it depends on the person.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

no

11. Any other comments?

No other comments

[CosmoQueen]

Name: SN: CosmoQueen Real:Yolonda or Yoli

Age: 22

Female/male: Female

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
About three years.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I'm in love with adventure games and this is the best place out there for it.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware program affect the community that has built up around it?
I don't think it affects it at all. I think it's very honorable that there are people who are more in it for the love of games than just to make money.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Pretty big, playing games is one the joys in my life.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Well I only beta-tested "Cayanne Pepper" and "Shoot My Valentine".

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Well I am interested but just haven't really put much effort into trying to make a game.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
Well if I was into game design, the answer would be no.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
Nope

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Oh yes, I'd really like to give that a try someday.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Not at all.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Not really, but considering that I am a girl I would feel a bit more proud

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
AGS makes it easier for EVERYONE equally.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
No, gender doesn't matter. It just depends on each individual.

11. Any other comments?
Nopers

[Dualnames]

Name: Jim Spanos

Age: 20

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Since November 2006

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
I wanted to make my own adventure game ever since I played Monkey Island.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

Lucky.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

Nowadays pretty much

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Yes. Don;t want to list them.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
I fooled around with Klik n Play for a little bit

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
Nope.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

In theory it's a nice idea, but I wouldn't really want to do it for a living.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
There's definitely more males,

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

Yes.i don;t try to but it happens. You don't wanna hear.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

It's just computer based for males by stereotypes.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

I don't think so.

11. Any other comments?

[Questionable]

Screenname: Questionable
Real: Adrick

Age: 19

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
Good question. Technically a couple of months; although I was a lurker and I've been messing with AGS for almsot a year now.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
After experimenting with AGS, I found that it was a perfect outlet for the stories I write and a good way to spend my spare time when I was stuck at home recovering from an auto accident.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware program affect the community that has built up around it?
Pay products will generally have a smaller following over free products when the quality of content is identical. If there was a competitor to AGS and the features were identical, would you buy it? Only if you were ignorant to AGS existence. I believe that the fact AGS is free allows this community the flexability to grow and wane without affecting the product, as well. If a pay product does not have a significant enough following the prouct will be abandoned or forced to change.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
I'm not sure how this can be quantified, but creating narratives and engaging gameplay and art has soaked up may hours of my times so far and I don't regret and minute of it, I suppose it plays THAT big of a part! =P

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS?
None that have been played by anyone on here.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
I'm attending a Design College currently with a focus on Game Art and Animation. But programming? That's too technical for me.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
---

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the experience differ?
I haven't used anything else to make compose a game, although I use many tools to make a game with AGS.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Perhaps, it depends on life more than AGS, though.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
No.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
No.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
I believe it simplies it for both genders.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
I think that the personality of the individual is probably more influential than the gender of the person.

11. Any other comments?
No.

[SinSin]

Name:
  Anthony Simpson

Age:
23

Female/male:
Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
since april 05

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Coz i wanted to make adventure games too

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I think that because of it being freeware more people have joined as there is no hassle to buy

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Not a huge part but i keep coming back

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
Yes

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
Yes
b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
Mmm no
c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
Nope
d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
Yes
7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Nope although there female members are outnumbered pretty heavily
8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
Nah
9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Only in female voice acting
10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Yes girls seem to stick at it for longer
11. Any other comments?
Why on eart have i just filled this out two years after the launch    LOL

[Jon]

Name:
  Jon Taylor

Age:
17

Female/male:
Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
About a year and a half.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?
Free games!

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?
I think that it has probably made it more popular

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?
Its all I think about

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want
I have helped make every game

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
No
b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
No
c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
No
d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
lol
7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?
Yes, I often get sexist slurs shouted at me
8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?
No, in no way
9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?
Yes, easy to use
10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?
Yes, all games made by women are full of the colour pink and fluffy bunnys No 
11. Any other comments?
What's with all the questions about women?

[Ren]

Name:Anonymus

Age:Anonymus

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?
About 2 years...

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

I wanned to make games.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

Good.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

I'm just tinkering with it im my spare time.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

Not yet.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

No

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover itâ€â,,¢s made by a female? In what way?

No but i think i could tell by the game itself.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

Yes. Sprites, SFX, (maybe) code goes in, game goes out.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Yes, but it can't be discribed by words.

11. Any other comments?

What purpose does this questionaire holds?

[monkey0506]

Name: Michael "monkey_05_06" Rittenhouse

Age: 20

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community? About four and a half years as of this writing.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS? Monkey Island. I wanted to make games like Monkey Island, and AGS could help me do it. I never did make the games clearly...but it got me a strong background in programming.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it? I definitely think that if AGS was a commercial program the community would be a very different one. We may have the same general size population, but the type of people here would be very different I think. I think it would be a tighter community with a lot fewer joke games. Not many people would pay for a program just to play around with it.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life? I'm like a troll who's been here too long to get rid of. Sure I've contributed a few things, but even trolls slip up once in a while and accidentally produce something of value!

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want. I've only made joke games myself, but I've been told my modules may have been used in some other games.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS? Yes very much so. I used to annoy my older brother because at the time he knew more about computers than I did. Since he's moved on to other ventures. Not me though! My first program was written for my TI-83 Plus graphing calculator, which has a BASIC-style language, and calculated the missing value from Y=MX+B for any given 3 values.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS? My dream has always been game design. AGS has simply been an amazing tool to teach me basic programming and game development principles which will hopefully assist one day in a career.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ? I have used other programs before and the thing that hooked me was that AGS was the easiest and most powerful. There are engines out there that are easier, and there are engines out there that are more powerful, but IMO AGS has the best balance between the two.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally? As I said, game development is what I aspire to do anyway, so I wouldn't say it's inspired me as much, as to help me learn things which will make it easier when I can afford to get into school.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community? Do I feel there's a gender divide? No. There is one clearly. I know there's a gender divide. Do I feel that the divide is entirely due to the manliness of the forums, site, and the program? No. I think that statistically speaking, men show more interest in games and game development than women do.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way? Clearly if it's made by a female it will be more sexier, but less awesome.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way? As stated by those before me...AGS makes it easier for everyone!

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females? Same as I stated before.

11. Any other comments? Yes.

[Buckethead]

Thought I would fill this out:

Name:

Sander 'Buckethead' de laat

Age:

17 almost 18

Female/male:

Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

About 2 years now I think

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

several years ago I was reading this magezine called "Computer idee". It had a page where each week they would pick some freeware programs or games and would display them there. AGS was on that page together with a game that was made with it. As I was a fan of adventure games and interested in game design I checked it out.  And here I am!

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

It makes everything nice and open. Everyone can give it a try and I think that has led some talented people to the community.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

Pretty big. I usually check the forums atleast once a day. And since I've been getting more serious in making a game and since the stickam room it's just getting bigger and bigger.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

I've made a silly joke game and a game for the MAGS. Currently I'm working on a game that is a bit more serious.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Yes, I have been into making levels for UT and Half life for quite a while now that really got me into game the design. I never been much of a programmer though. That is a thing AGS got me into.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

-

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

I have tried making a small game for the Unreal engine once. This didn't work out as I'm not enough of a programmer.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

Not really. It is something I wanted to do before I got into AGS.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

There seem to be very little females on the forums. But they fit in with the guys very well. So they are not really devided from the male part of the community.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

I don't care at all.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

I think AGS makes it easier for everyone. So that includes females. AGS just has alot of documentation and a really helpfull community. And it's pretty easy in use in general.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Not really. Although it's hard to tell as there hasn't been that many game made by females

11. Any other comments?

Nope, I always dislike this question lol

[Emerald]

I find it hard to believe that anyone cares about any of these answers... It always strikes me as a cheap way to get noticed. Few people can resist the urge to list their opinions on a form if they believe someone will read it -- usually it wont be. Even if they didn't make up that vague report, who's going to sit there and read pages and pages of basically the same thing ("I like making games and I'm not sexist")?
In fact, most surveys are done for the sole purpose of being able to say "we did a survey," for whatever reason. They're never particularly reliable -- especially when posted up in front of everyone. After seeing that every other person in the community thinks a certain way, who's going to be honest about their feelings?

[paolo]

Good point, Emerald. Given that nothing is being done with these answers (they aren't being used to improve AGS or this site and they aren't being collated and published in a peer-reviewed sociological article on gamers), and I doubt that anyone is really interested in what people are saying here, I have to ask, what is the point of this thread except to perpetuate itself?

Ah, I've just read the original posting. It was for an essay, but that was in February 2006, so no doubt the essay has long since been written and so continuing to answer the survey serves no useful purpose.

[radiowaves]

Name: Taavi Viikman

Age: 20

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

Ugh, some two or three years maybe? Don't know exactly, been on and off from the forums.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

Through a friends project, he needed help with graphics.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

Its a new step to free society. But ofcourse, this nifty freeware programme allows people to try out game making. people can now see if they are suitable for it or not, they don't have to pay 300 bucks anymore to buy some engine or game creating environment. Now everyone can try.

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

I don't know. There aren't actually very many people I know, here... Community itself is very very small part, but projects take some time away, yes

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

I am currently working on 3 projects. My first AGS experience was with the 2My little real life adventure" which is now abandoned.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Definately yes. I gathered up with a programmer several times to make a game. But all the times project died. Now I have several engines laying around without source code.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

I know I answered yes to previous question, but AGS has definately improved my game designing ability since with this I have gotten further into game design.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
Currently no. I have always wanted to try out flash though.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

Yes, i have thought about it, but in that case I have to finish something big first, which probably involves lots of time and money.


7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

No, not exactly. However, I think boys and girls do make different games. Boys like to experiment more, for example, girls just take it more easier.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

I don't know. Probably not. Why? I fould feel different if it were super awesome game, though.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

Probably yes. It makes it easier for them as it makes it easier to everybody else.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

I answered that question in 7'th question.

11. Any other comments?

No.

[Joseph DiPerla]

Name:

Age: 27      

Female/male: Male

(1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community? )

----Since 1998, around september I think.

(2. Why did you get involved in AGS?)
------I love Adventure games. Particularly the older Lucasarts games. My favorite was and still is Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders. I played that on My Commodore 64 and Amiga 500 all the time. It was actually the first game I ever played. I wanted to create my own Zak sequel since I was like 12(Or somewhere around there). I was really hoping LEC would, but they never did, and so I searched and searched for and Adventure writer and I found Adventure Creator.

(3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?)
----------I think its the greatest thing ever. I have never seen so many games developed off one engine. I feel its absolutely awesome and kind. It really helps push adventure games back into the market of game playing. The only thing I think that is a drawback to being free is that many professional developers will think its buggy and not worth a try, so they use other engines because of it. But maybe I am wrong.

(4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?)
---------I try not to involve myself with Online Communities too much do to dangers with the internet. So it plays a role. I have known many great people for years here. But apart from gaming and the internet, I have a life and a wife to take care of, and possibly children in the future. So, its a significant role, but not on top of my priorities list.

(5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want)
-----------Lets see... I have helped in translating The new adventures of Zak McKracken into Italian. I beta-tested for the Shadows of the Empire game. I worked and abandoned a Zak McKracken/DOTT 2 crossover sequel game. I was on a team developing DOTT 2 that died away. I helped in the past on working on Demo-Quest. But my three main projects are The Simpsons Game Template, and two games that are coming out from it: Where's Maggie and Springfield Woes. I hope to one day finish a game.


(6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:)
a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?
   --Yes

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?
   --Yes
c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?
   --I try to make games using Visual Basic 6. They are semi Graphical, Text games that interact with MMORPG's. More specifically one for Star Wars and another for the Transformers.
d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?
   --Yes, although its just a dream and a wish and probably wont ever happen.

(7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?)
-------------Absolutely not. I still remember how much of an effect Erica McLane had on this community.

(8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?)
-------------No WAY! They might make better games than men!

(9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?)
------------I think it does for everyone. Its freeware with a large community and support. It makes things easier for all of us.

(10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?)
----------------No, not really.

11. Any other comments?
--------------AGS is a great tool. Its the best thing to happen to Adventure gaming and its a great contribution that Ron Gilbert, Al Low, David Fox and any other legendary engine and game developers of the genre would really appreciate. I hope to one day finish an AGS game.

[ma2003]

Name:

Forum Name = Ma2003
Real Name = Winston Iti

Age: 19

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

I have been involved with the community for a mere month and a half.

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

I've been trying to design games for almost for a while now. With a bit of graphics background, I started with Macromedia Flash, then moved on to Unreal Modding, then Half-life Modding, and then stop for a little while with game designing. I did not complete any mods with any of the game engines. Then about two months ago, I found 7 days a skeptic. I didn't play it, but it made me interested on how it was made and produced. So I found the AGS website. I found this site very useful.

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

Freeware helps a lot of people like myself, who can't afford complicated software to create a game all by myself. Also, Freeware gives a sense of honor to me knowing that AGS was released via freeware for a reason. 

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

I've only been a part of the AGS community for a little bit more than a month. But my

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want:

Yes, I'm working on a Adventure/Stealth/RPG game where a boy named Bobby must purchase some milk for his mother. It turns out, the shops and stores are closed because of a large earthquake, also other shops in different towns are also closed. Bobby will venture into different towns trying to find atleast one store, while dodging and sneaking past bullies, strangers and aliens(?). Bobby's quest will involve him trying to find a milk bottle while at the same time, solve the mystery of the earthquake.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:

a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

Yes, I was interested. Mainly the design part, programming has never been my cup of tea.

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

The experience differs alot. One, its easier to use. Two, graphics are mostly 2D, so someone with a illustration background or 2D animation background will find things a bit easier than say, creating character models for Half-life 2.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

No. I have other things for the future. Maybe in the future, when I'm rich, and able to hire coders, modellers and etc.

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

Umm, no. I wouldn't like to think so. It is true that males play video games more than females, but that doesn't mean gaming is a male community only. I don't think that applies to this community either, especially when Adventure Games and AGS can appeal to anyone, whether male or female.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

No way. Although I'd probably say, "Awesome, the males aren't the only ones making games." Maybe I think that the game might have a sense of dignity or grace.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

Yes. It'll make ANYONE want to join, except for the people that don't want to design, and people that don't play video games.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

No. Maybe a sense of grace and dignity from the females, maybe. No swearing! HAH!

11. Any other comments?

AGS really kicks some serious butt. I'm really enjoying the pace and developing phase with AGS.

[guns4party]

1.my first day following tutorial real and genuine noob.

first name: N/A

gender: judgung by my real first name what do you think?

my age?: your gender?

2. i love escape games and always had some ideas but never found a good program but wanted to seriously dedicate my self and umm bordum. And i found AGS on Yahtzee's website and thought, well i have the time what the hell.  i tried a bunch of other crudy freeware that was a limited version of something that cost money. I cant remember the names fill in that blank yourself.

3.Just becouse every one and there mum can dowload AGS doesn mean everyone and there mum will. AGS requires script and you actually have to GASP!! think for yourself. Some people get bored after a while. Especially the people that have 0 scripting experiance and think "I dont need no tutorial"  they get confused and give I'm not saying thats a bad thing what I'm saying is  its just not right for everybody and there mum.

4. Its my first day what do you want me to say? although if it wasnt for my love of all water sport (xept the type of fishing that doesnt involves types of guns) then it would probably have a big impact on me physicly

5.I could of sworn i mentioned this was my first day but yes i am making a very basic escape game so that i can get a feel for  AGS.

6.ok

6a. Yes i have always been intrested in the programming part i dont no why though.

6c. see question 3

7. I dont really care were here for the games right?...ok well i am.

8. see question 7

9. see question 8

10. honestly, if it has breast's in it I'm going to assume its made by a male but if its made by a female,again,breasts therefore,does it matter?

11.see question 1

[DazJ]

Why are people still answering? lol...interesting reading though

[Patternjake]

Name: Jake Jackson

Age: 19

Female/male: Male

1. How long have you been involved in the AGS community?

I registered back in 2007 but I didnt start to get involved until this year

2. Why did you get involved in AGS?

Game creating!

3. How do you feel that the fact that AGS is a freeware programme affect the community that has built up around it?

Well i think if it was a pay per app, it wouldnt of had much of a community to begin in the first place, its nice just for a little donation button for appreciation of Chris Jones great work!

4. How big a part does the AGS community play in your life?

Erm i was really into the AGS program itself about 4-5 years ago, but i used it for several months so it did play quite a big role in my life then.

5. Have you been involved in making any games using AGS? You may list them if you want

Yes- I have made three games, 1 has been released already-

-The Mysteries of Stiego Moors 1
-Urban Disaster - I have still to release this once i find my copy of it (long time since i did AGS stuff)
-Mysteries of Stiego Moors 2- A did a very small intro which had parralex scrolling and a touch of 3d to it, Id have to dig this up again.

6. Answer these questions if you have been involved in making AGS games:


a. Were you interested in game design/programming before you started using AGS?

I was crazy on game design, I was always drawing conceptual artwork with friends, character designing / world designing, and always storywriting. Its really the software programming I aimed my life towards, so the whole gaming thing has gone down recently. I still plan though to get serious with gaming in one point in the future.

b. If no, do you feel that you would have got into game design without AGS?

c. Do you make games using other programmes, either freeware or not? How does the eperience differ?

I tried using DarkBasic and FPS creator in the past but they werent really my thing. Ive done a few platformers in VB and XNA but other than that, it really isnt my kind of thing.

d. Has AGS inspired you to try and take up game design professionally?

It did inspire me, and I have always had thoughts about professional game design, but i decided its not the path i wanted to tank. (Hobbies its great for me haha!)

7. Do you feel that there is a gender divide in the AGS community?

Not really, no. But i feel men express themselves more on any community.

8. Are you likely to feel differently about a game if you discover it's made by a female? In what way?

If the game is good, nope.

9. Do you feel that AGS makes it easier for females to get involved in computer game design? In what way?

I suppose it makes it more fun instead of computer geekish.

10. Do you feel that there is a difference between the types of games created by males and females?

Erm I think ones created by females tend to be a little more romantic.

11. Any other comments?
Yeah, Chris Jones rocks!