MAGS April: "Distorted Senses" (CLOSED)

[Atelier]

You got to show a least one picture from which proves that these sprites are already used.

That's a silly ultimatum, if you've already used something it has to have been already made, but it doesn't have to have been already used if it's already been made.

Also, a minor technicality, but you did post about a game using QR codes on the 27th March, four days before the competition was announced: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=45652.msg612898#msg612898

Now are we supposed to assume you didn't do any work towards creating a game like this at all before 1st April? Later on in the thread you talk about including .txt files which is exactly what was done here. Can you see how it's hard to separate which material is completely new from which was made before?

[Icey]

Oh no no see that was an idea that I had I was just sharing. In hopes that someone would at least make something to try and see if it worked. I had a big school project to do and had no time for anything else. I started that game 6 days ago. I knew it wouldn't take me long cause I just wanted to make something simple but at least what a cool story(that I can apparently only see which is fault).

I think one way to proves this though would be to show you the date of the started game but I'm not at my cousins house anymore cause vacation time is over.

[Baron]

There's no way to unravel what's been made when (unless it's blatantly from a game that's already been released): MAGS has always been run on the honour system because there really isn't any other way to logistically police it.  If Icey says it meets the MAGS criteria, I'm happy to compete with him.

[Icey]

See and like I said before I don't care really if I win or lose. I just wanted to enter but the thing is I didn't think I really wanted to try and enter with out knowing even if I had enough time to do something.

Some how I missed the last two post on the first page. First off people PMQ is mine to control and release what ever spin-off I want to in any form. Besides, no matter what I make it get's treated the same way. I planed to just make this game at first about some adventure game character using his phone to just go through random puzzles but I changed my mind and wen't with something else. You all seemed to call this a rushed game. You obviously can see the BIG PICTURE!!!

The game is men't to focus on the QR codes and the puzzle sites that go along with them. It's not men't to be a full game. I had to script a short game with totally new bland sprites cause I didn't have my laptop to make detailed stuff hence why everything is all in Pixel. It's not rushed foolish children it just didn't require a lot of my skill to display some such as this. Hell, I personally like the fact I could use photoshop this time. I got to try my hand a something different again.

[Radiant]

MAGS has always been run on the honour system because there really isn't any other way to logistically police it.

Yes. This incident is the reason why some people doubt him.

[Khris]

Icey:
Don't complain that people don't trust you after you cheated and lied about it.

Also, the main issue isn't you being unable to do anything other than PMQ spin-offs, it's that your game *looks* like you cheated. That doesn't necessarily mean you did, but it *is* a rushed entry which has been at least partly planned since before the announcement of the current theme (QR sh...tuff).

Long story short, my impression is that you had this game planned and already done some work on it when the MAGS theme was announced, and changed it slightly to fit the rules, then dropped it here.
Everything hints at that, from the QR thread to the game's "story" not being fresh, to the "I don't care"-implementation of the MAGS theme.

Now I'm always one to give people the benefit of the doubt, not you though.

I say disqualify the entry and extend the MAGS ban.

And, although I'm being Captain Obvious here:
If you feel you're being mistreated and didn't cheat this time, why not enter a MAGS in a way so it's clear that you didn't? Why not make a fresh game, disconnected from PMQ, announce early in the MAGS thread like the other people do that you're planning to enter, and release something that's clearly built around the theme? That way cheating is pretty much out of the question and you don't have to defend yourself every time anew.

[WHAM]

My two cents:
While I like the fact that Icey is trying new stuff (though I don't see the point of the QR codes as a primary gameplay mechanic, but with Icey I rarely do see the point, so maybe I'm just not the right audience), I dont think the game really fits the current MAGS theme.

The theme was sensory DISTORTION, and while being momentarily colourblind is a sort of sensory failure, I don't think it really fits the mood or the theme of the current MAGS. However, if the only other competitor, Baron, does not mind, and since there don't seem to be other competitors coming in, I don't really see the reason to bar Icey from participating this time around, despite the suspicious schedulling and the sudden appearance of the otherwise unannounced game.

I think we should let this be a lesson to Icey (and possibly others) instead, always declare your MAGS projects when starting them, and only later either release them or drop them if you can't finish up in time. I for one had no idea, until now, how important the declaration of the MAGS game was, and I have worked on at least 2 MAGS games (which were dropped) without declaring them.  Maybe it's just the fact that Icey has a history of MAGS misuse, but it's good to clarify this anyway.

[Victor6]

I don't see a problem with allowing Icey to enter either, even if it means risking a potential diarrhea cake situation*,providing it goes to a vote. It looks like a rushed entry, but that could just be down to Icey being soo vastly behind the par when it comes to game design. To him, this is a serious entry he put a lot of effort into. Even if the rest of us see it as garbage.

If Baron doesn't enter, it'll be a win by default, and folks are gonna break out the torch 'n' pitchforks.

At the risk of turning MAGS into a popularity contest;- A solution to the 'only one entry, so only one choice' problem might be to have solo entries run against nothing in the polls. If people think it's awful, they can vote for 'no winner' for this round. The entrant can still chose then next theme, but they do so without the winners laurels.

* This is where someone knowingly enters something shit into a baking competition. The entrant gets the attention they desire either way (either by complaining that no-one ate it and therefore the judging is biased, or by defending his 'unconventional' cooking style and laughing at the people who ate shit.

[Eric]

I for one had no idea, until now, how important the declaration of the MAGS game was, and I have worked on at least 2 MAGS games (which were dropped) without declaring them.  Maybe it's just the fact that Icey has a history of MAGS misuse, but it's good to clarify this anyway.

This is the good that can come of this situation. I started working on something too (that failed), and had no idea I needed to pre-declare. I thought it best to keep mum in the likely case that I didn't finish. This is good info to know, and should maybe be declared in the prompt post from now on?

[Radiant]

This is the good that can come of this situation. I started working on something too (that failed), and had no idea I needed to pre-declare. I thought it best to keep mum in the likely case that I didn't finish. This is good info to know, and should maybe be declared in the prompt post from now on?

I don't see any need for making this a general rule.

As before, if the problem is that one guy isn't following the rules, then by definition adding more rules isn't going to solve that. We have existing rules against rushed entries and against entries started too early. Both of these rules have sufficed in the past and would suffice again this time.

[Icey]

So can some explain the rules on the story of a mags game? Is it really against the rules for a person to have an idea for a game weeks or days before the comp? I mean an idea is just a idea until you do something with it. I could say I got an idea, this Friday I'm gonna become a rich off this brand new game. I'm not gonna become rich unless that game done...I lost my point but a idea should mean much over the finished product. Also If I'm correct I also said in my idea that the didn't have to be long. I only care about the big picture which is the plot and the puzzles. Your so stuck on rushed game khris or I so called cheated radiant that you can't see the big picture. It's called QR Quest not long game that has more see able point .

[Atelier]

Is it really against the rules for a person to have an idea for a game weeks or days before the comp?

Like Baron said it's impossible to tell what people have created before, especially so mere ideas, unless we install telescreens everywhere.

I don't think it should be an official stipulation to announce your participation but it is a good idea to do so, cos it's sort of annoying if you don't. And if you can't make it, all you have to do is post or send a PM and it takes about 2 seconds. But icey, you are the only person who has ever done this to me Sometimes you're so nonchalant, it's like you're trying to be caught being sneaky. Surely you can't have forgotten the informal ban from December, so why did you casually post an entry? Anyway I'll talk to you about it in PMs to resolve the issue.

Cogliostro is still in, although there is a quote "50%" chance of him finishing

[Baron]

If Baron doesn't enter, it'll be a win by default, and folks are gonna break out the torch 'n' pitchforks.

Oh, I'll be making an entry.  We're past the point of no return.  How much polish it will be lacking is another point for conjecture, but I'll definitely be posting a game.

EDIT MAY 3: Well we've done our last round of beta-testing.  There's a few more things I want to implement, so I probably won't release the game until pretty much the deadline (I assume it's midnight my local time on the 5th?), but we've definitely got a fully functional and fairly well-polished game here!

[Ghost]

I'll keep my finger hovering over that download button then 

[Baron]

Introducing..... Wages of Darkness


Distorted Sense: You are visually impaired due to a power failure, and therefore must "feel" your way around.  Your sense of self is somewhat distorted as well.

Gameplay: Right-click to "feel" out what things are, Left-click to use/interact/take anything.  You can set difficulty levels at the beginning or change them throughout the game.  You can't die in Easy mode, you will eventually die in Difficult mode, and you will probably die frequently in Intense mode (only accessible through the in-game menu for the time being due to issues of symmetry).

The Team: Art by Kastchey, Music by Doc Savage; Writing, Scripting & Voice Acting by me.

Download: The game is available HERE .

I had hoped to make a custom display function and find a few more sounds, but it's looking like I'm not going to have the time before tomorrow evening so I'm just releasing it as is for the competition.  After the voting I'll hopefully work myself up to adding the extra features.

Enjoy!

EDIT MAY 5:  Well the deadline hasn't technically expired, so I made the option to watch the intro more explicit and, since I found myself with an extra hour this evening, I added in those extra sounds.  Hope that's not breaking any rules.  This is my final submission for the contest.

[Doc_Savage]

Wait There is a problem with it - the intro is missing

[Tabata]

... the intro is missing

Yes, but you can start the intro by choosing the option at the start (second line in the middle) 
Well, for me it works that way 

[Doc_Savage]

It is not natural like that

[selmiak]

I made it through intense
Did you move one coin for intense difficulty? Felt like it was somewhere else

[Ghost]

It is not natural like that

Call it a feature- inability to see the intro 

Downloaded and played a litte. I will play it fully tomorrow, but what I saw looks (and feels) really promising already, Baron & team!