MAGS August “Healing” (VOTING)

[Stupot]

Healing

	Cutman by GOC Games
	State of Mind by Slasher
	The Potion Master by CaptainD and Kastchey

Currently I’m recovering with Covid-19, which apparently tore through my son’s nursery last week and left a trail of sick staff, kids, and presumably parents, as my wife and I have both been hit (albeit mildly, thank God).

So the theme of August is Healing. Interpret the theme however you want. You could make a game about a personal experience of recovery, or you could go the green option and heal the world. It is entirely up to you.

I normally discourage extra bonus stipulations, as they can limit the scope and result in crowbarred-in content that is only there to tick a box. However, this month I do have one request:

All games must be positive in tone. Hopefully this is inherent in the theme but lets make some feel-good games with a happy/optimistic message.

Deadline: August 31st






Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.[/size]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
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[Kastchey]

Speedy recovery, Stu! Good to hear that you're at least having mild symptoms. Hope your boy is okay.

I'm going to have a little bit of extra time this month so as soon as I'm done with the July entry (whether I finish or not), I'll surely give this one a shot.

[DBoyWheeler]

Maybe it could be healing one's spirit.  It might start out dark and downer, but you (the hero) turn things around to make things bright and cheery again.  Just a thought.

[Slasher]

Hi Stupot, I hope you, family and everyone else are fine....

The natural world has all the healing powers we need...of course finding the cure to match the illness may be more difficult...Then again maybe it's all in the mind... Either way you and your family need healing....

I have a few ideas and hope to complete this month....

If anyone want's to join forces by doing a few backgrounds (320 x 200) it would help me a lot....I estimate about 6 in all....

Slasher

[adanior]

Sorry to hear that you've been struck with Covid, Stupot. I wish this pandemic would end already. Until the 10th, I'll be finishing off a different game, being made as a personal challenge. But back to this, positivity should be hard because I'm actually a rather pessimistic person deep down. Still, I'll try to think of something. Maybe I could instead attempt those backgrounds that Slasher wants. I don't really have any work to show off in regards to pixel art, but am a semi-classically trained artist and could probably provide you with something workable.

[adanior]

Sorry to double-post. I very briefly teamed up with Slasher before realizing that I actually can't do pixel art to save my life. I think I'll just take the theme of this month 100% literally and use it to make something that I can use to learn the software and workflow of making an adventure game. I'll remove the "I can help with..." stuff from my profile except for play testing, which I can still absolutely do.

[CaptainD]

I may at long last be doing something for a MAGS again. Watch this space...

Stu - hope you and family have all recovered well.

[heltenjon]

Sorry to double-post. I very briefly teamed up with Slasher before realizing that I actually can't do pixel art to save my life. I think I'll just take the theme of this month 100% literally and use it to make something that I can use to learn the software and workflow of making an adventure game. I'll remove the "I can help with..." stuff from my profile except for play testing, which I can still absolutely do.

It doesn't say anywhere that it has to be pixel art. You may draw/paint something and scan it instead. Play to your strengths!

[Slasher]

Hi,

State of mind...

If someone needs healing then there must first be a problem/issue and this guy has a major issue....After one month of Barry staying indoors alone with the sick man blues, Barry eventually decides to ring his friends and ask for their advice. Can the advice they give him really help and solve his depressive state of mind by raising his low vibrations?

Of course, it's not always easy when you are not thinking straight.

A journey into raising your state of mind and bringing peace and harmony...

320 x 200  Left click Interact...Right click Look at......

I'll be waiting for you Capt... 

[CaptainD]

Kastchey and I are working on a little something...

[Slasher]

Hiya Capt....

Glad to know you have something cooking 

I do hope you get to finishing it...

[heltenjon]

Looks gorgeous! 

[Pilchard]

Looking fantastic CaptainD and Kastchey.

Can’t wait to play - and hopefully heal Zabella, things are looking pretty dire for her in the screenshot!

[Slasher]

Hi

Progress for: State of mind...

Bedroom 95%
Garden 95%
Guru 80%
Pub 2%

I'm managing to get the job done even though I need full zoom 

[ddavey1983]

Cutman by GOC Games
MAGS Entry (August)







"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson

The Champ is facing his toughest fight yet and you, as his trusted cutman, must patch him back together between rounds. Get it right and glory shall be yours. Get it wrong and he'll be flat on the canvas...and you'll be looking for a new job.

A short game made in two weeks for Adventure Games Studio MAGS August 2022.

https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2626-cutman/

[Slasher]

Boxing game looks cool 

State of mind...

Barry seeking Guru Sanjay's help when he loses his mojo...

[Slasher]

Hi,

My entry "State of Mind"...is finished......

** Couple of issues now fixed...

With Kastchey's background art help I was able to complete this game.. My first in months....

Left Click Interact / Right Click Look at.....

Barry has the sick man blues and has lost his mojo.....He is very depressed and has not gone out, eaten or slept properly for weeks.... Can his friends help him raise his vibrations and get a better state of mind? A journey into healing....

https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2627-state-of-mind

Barry seeking Guru Sanjay's help when he loses his mojo... Can he help him get it back and end his sick man blues?

[heltenjon]

Brilliant game, Slasher. That actually raised my spirits, as well. And I think I found a way to filll the vibrations bar without visiting the guru, too.

Spoiler

If you select the record player multiple times before putting on a record, you get a new record of each type every time. Then you can keep putting on the correct record as many times as you have collected records before that option becomes locked.

[close]

It's been too long since my last Slasher game fix. Great to see a new one from you!

[Slasher]

Hi, heltenjon

I will fix....

Cheers

[Slasher]

Good catch, heltenjon

I have fixed it (one says with hope  )

Cheers mate

[lapsking]

I enjoyed both games, they are both good. Cutman is innovative and it has a creative theme and puzzles and State of Mind is a short but a complete adventure game with a meaningful story. Waiting for the 3rd.

[ddavey1983]

Thanks heltenjohn, glad you enjoyed it!

Great game, Slasher. Just completed it. Innovative and funny!

[Slasher]

I played Cutman....

First time the screen went black and it froze my computer and I had to do a hard shutdown and restart.. I then ran it Windowed from setup and the game opened ok....

The graphics and animations were really good... I liked the idea of the notepad hints etc.... I feel this should be a demo because it has the potential to be so much more...

Being an ex boxer (1966-1973) I could feel the pain 

All in all not a bad entry...and made in 2 weeks!

[Slasher]

Come on guys, is it just me and ddavey1983?

Where's the Capt?

[CaptainD]

We're here, Katschey is working hard and I'm cheerleading (plus doing one or two useful things  ).

[Kastchey]

You're the brand On top of other things.

[Slasher]

Come on guys...It's time to pull your fingers out 

Meanwhile V2 X Null inventory tweaked...

[Kitty Trouble]

A couple good entries for the MAGS. I played them today and I'll give my opinions on them during voting.

[Kastchey]

Come on guys...It's time to pull your fingers out 

Fret not my friend, we'll make it The game is very close to fully playable already and I reckon that version 1.0 will be ready tomorrow.
We will probably take all the time we are given to spruce up whatever we can, but I pinky promise we will submit the entry

[Slasher]

I have made a few tweaks...

Vase color and chosen record playing on re enter...

https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2627-state-of-mind/

[Kastchey]

Just a quick update - we're still on track, the game is fully playable now in its bare minimum version. I have a two pages long to-do list of enhancements and improvements , so I'll try to get a few in before tomorrow evening.

[adanior]

Hey. It's been a while. Some very good looking entries here. Slasher, your game looks particularly interesting and I can't wait to try it. I'm just sorry I couldn't pull off any backdrops for it.

For what it's worth, I've been practicing my pixel art all month and getting noticeably better. In particular, based on what Heltonjon advised, I've been practicing a style of pixel art that works for me (ie, high-resolution, but a bit sketchy). I should hopefully be ready to do something on my own for the next jam. Til then, I'll play what you guys have done.

----

This will be a hard vote. Both games were pretty innovative in their concepts. Though I finished both games in around 10 minutes, I found them to be vastly different experiences to play though. Cutman was challenging, but in a very good way. State of Mind intimidated me a little at first with the meter in the top right, but turned out be a series of relaxing, easy and logical inventory puzzles. If I had to say which game personally resonated with me more, definitely State of Mind as I'm suffering from depression myself and over the past month have been doing similar things to try and "heal". Of course, there's still CaptainD's game, which looks very promising. Hope there's enough time.

[Kastchey]

CaptainD proudly presents:
The Potion Master
Download here

[imgzoom]https://i.ibb.co/HVWTLnk/Layer-3.png[/imgzoom]

Markus, the young apprentice of a local potion master, has barely started his apprenticeship when trouble began - his master, Zabella, was found lifeless (but not quite dead) on the floor of her own underground lab. The local doctor can only do so much, leaving it up to Markus to investigate his master's mysterious collapse and -hopefully- find a way to cure her.

[imgzoom]https://i.ibb.co/4YR3VW3/Layer-2.png[/imgzoom]
[imgzoom]https://i.ibb.co/KjZ941j/Layer-1.png[/imgzoom]

Made in three weeks for the MAGS competition: Healing. Boldly untested. Save often

[CaptainD]

STOP USING ME AS A BRAND!!  You'll put people off 

Game page is up: https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2629-the-potion-master-mags-version-
Main download now on Itch: https://captaind.itch.io/the-potion-master-mags-version

I feel like someone who created a basic cake recipe, someone else collated all the ingredients, mixed them, baked and decorated the care, and is now trying to give me credit for that cake.

It's Kastchey's cake, people. Eat it. It's good.

Also, don't experiment with potions in real life, it's almost definitely bad for you.

[Stupot]

Hooray! Three entries!

Now it's time to play the games and vote for your favourite one. Please vote using the poll above.

	Cutman by GOC Games (ddavey1983)
	State of Mind by Slasher
	The Potion Master by CaptainD and Kastchey

[Kastchey]

I feel like someone who created a basic cake recipe, someone else collated all the ingredients, mixed them, baked and decorated the care, and is now trying to give me credit for that cake.

You should really give yourself more credit sir. The original idea was yours, the character design is also yours, you made the high level puzzle flow, did part of the writing and most importantly, kicked the entire thing off. It's as much your game as it is mine.

Cutman by ddavey1983

Spoiler

A really nice and well polished entry. I loved the 90s style vibes The puzzles were original and entertaining. The time limit was a great idea, it added a significant degree of challenge. I only wish I could skip the cutscenes after a failed attempt (though I learned to save in the middle of a face-fixing round once I noticed I could). Overall, great job!

[close]

State of Mind by Slasher

Spoiler

A great interpretation of this month's theme, possibly the best of all entries. I had no difficulty solving the puzzles, so I could just sit back and enjoy the writing and the story flow. Overall a short but enjoyable little game. The fact that the vibration level was basically a points system in disguise did not take away any of its charm

[close]

My vote:

Spoiler

It was a really tough choice between this game and State of Mind, but I decided to vote for Cutman.

[close]

[Kitty Trouble]

All right, this is really a tough choice. All 3 games had certain parts of them that were better than others and it's hard to pick an overall winner.

State of Mind

Spoiler

When I first played this game I thought it needed a bit of polish as I got stuck trying to find the vase due to its black color matching the TV, so it looked like a TV stand. Also some text was skipping when I tried to click through it, and minor things like that. Though the vase issue was fixed before the final release, as well as another bug which I reported. But we're voting on the final version... which I admit would have gone a lot more smoothly without the vase issue. The thing that this game has going for it that the others don't is that it fits the theme recommendation of making a feel-good game. The others do focus on healing, but not in a feel-good way. Overall I found this game to be decent, but easy.

[close]

Cutman

Spoiler

I played this game second and I have to say I probably thought that the game was the most fun out of the three. The fighting scenes were pretty polished as were the graphics of the fighting/recovery screens, and it definitely gave me retro vibes. The fighting reminded me of the old Indy games. I kinda wished this game had an auto-reload to last part rather than having a manual save and load but that's just a minor thing. Although in my opinion not quite an adventure game, I had a lot of fun with this and could see where this game could be expanded to be more.

[close]

The Potion Master (Gameplay spoilers)

Spoiler

I feel like this was the most polished adventure game out of the 3. Although there were some minor things (the descriptions for the green stone made it seem like it was glued in and meant to be there but the red stone seemed out of place, leaving me to take only the red stone and it not staying in place when I tried it on the bookcase. This led me to pixel hunt for a while for things to do and looking for glue for the red gem when I remembered later that the green gem already had glue on it and maybe that was supposed to hold it in place better somehow? Other thing was the large amounts of herb hunting felt tedious and thought could have been made smoother. Overall, this game's story left me intrigued and the abrupt ending made me wanting so much more. Of the 3 games if a game were to be expanded I'd want it to be this one. I want to know so much more about what happened and what is going to happen. This game in my opinion had the best graphics and polish.

[close]

My choice

Spoiler

Cutman

[close]

Spoiler

Though the other 2 games were good and I enjoyed their stories, and appreciate the theme of State of Mind being the most accurately represented, I enjoyed the actual gameplay of Cutman the most and for that I'm giving it my vote.

[close]

[Shadow1000]

It's good to see three great entries. Here are my thoughts:

Cutman

Spoiler

Really creative and original. I don't think I've seen anything like this made with AGS before. Not a fighting game per se, as you don't control the movements of the fighter, but the fighting is a great way to set a context for the healing and fun to watch. Putting a timer on following the steps was a great idea so it's not just a guessing game. I enjoyed playing playing this.

[close]

State of Mind

Spoiler

Slasher is baaaaaaaaaaaaack!!! And out with another Slasher style game. Multiple locations, vibration bar, numerous NPCs and puzzles, overall an easy to solve, but entertaining entry!

[close]

The Potion Master

Spoiler

Quality pixel art that makes you feel like you're right there. Great story and perfect adaptation of the theme. Great combination of inventory puzzles, closeup puzzles, identify items using reference books, dialogue puzzles and everything that makes a complete adventure game. What really stood out to me was the pacing of the game and puzzle design. In my opinion, these are the hardest to get just right because everyone is going to experience the same game differently. But MY experience was that I had to work to solve the puzzles and the story unfolded in perfect sync with the progress.

Of course this game has a LOT of room for expansion: more places to visit, more potions to use, more people to talk to and so on. But for a MAGS entry made under time constraints, this is an outstanding work.

[close]

My Vote

Spoiler

Potion Master gets it this month. Aside from the features I mentioned, the overall polish and extensive interface is so outstanding that this is my vote.

[close]

[heltenjon]

A great month with three really entertaining and totally different games! Hats off and applause all around!

Cutman:

Spoiler

Very innovative, and good use of a time restraint. Gave me retro feelings back to boxing games I've played, but it was cool to see it from another angle. The boxing match animations and all the other 'filler' stuff makes it atmospheric and a real treat.

[close]

State of Mind:

Spoiler

Totally feel-good game with the trademark Slasher humour. I enjoyed it a lot, and it hits the spot with the theme recommendation. As usual, I keep wondering how he made a game out of a plot like this. Great stuff.

[close]

Potion Master

Spoiler

Oh my. The world this is set in feels so alive! Kastchey's mix of detailed portraits and blurrier pixel art for the main game play is a real treat for the eye. Basically, you're sold when you see the first screen shot. The story is built around herb collection and recipes, and it could have been dull, but it is not. The recipes and the dialogue hint of a world beyond the game and makes it seem much more than it is. Like Shadow1000, I liked the variation of puzzle types, and I felt all the puzzles were a part of the story in a natural manner. And it was a challenge, too. The game is "boldly untested" and sports some bugs, like the owl getting his eyes back and Markus stating that he's in the mountains when he's not, but it wasn't enough to take away my enjoyment.

[close]

My vote:

Spoiler

All three games are good and could have been winners, but when they turn up in the same month, I have to pick one. Potion Master takes it for me, with its complex world and varied puzzles.

[close]

[Wiggy]

Congrats to all who participated, I played all 3 games and was most impressed. I could not vote for a winner, because a fag paper (showing my age now) separated them, and depending on the mood of the day any of the 3 could be my favorites.  However I would like to plea to Captain D and Kastchey to develop their world more. It is engrossing and so expandable - there is a saga here.

[Kastchey]

Thanks so much for the kind words, everyone! It is really heartwarming and motivating to see this kind of feedback, especially on the game world design. We started small with a really simple idea in mind and somehow, it started living its own life while we progressed.

As for continuing the game, we would love to do that. Each of us heavily struggles with free time so it's difficult to make any guarantees, but if we can make it happen, we will.

What will definitely happen is a cleaned up post-MAGS version that I'm hoping will include all the puzzles that were planned, but didn't make it into the MAGS version, a couple extra locations maybe and some more lore. We'll see how that goes and take it from there.

Also, here's the Linux version of the MAGS release for you Windows-intolerant folks (hi selmiak =]):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/141PEa8steRxcoNHsB3g5ZzO8lXtX5gUG/view?usp=sharing

[CaptainD]

State of Mind

Spoiler

Very nice entry as always by Slasher, a short and sweet game but a lot of fun and very well in keeping with the theme. Definitely the most feel-good entry! I very much enjoyed building up the good vibes in this game.

[close]

Cutman

Spoiler

Wow... the tension I felt playing this game was intense! I'm not a fan of boxing but still got drawn right into this very clever concept. Being able to save between rounds was very much appreciated. The boxing animations were really well done too.

[close]

Two great entries, but my vote goes to...

Spoiler

Cutman, because it does something rather unique and does it very, very well.

[close]

[Stupot]

Just a few more days left to vote, if you haven’t already. 

[Stupot]

Well done to Cap’nD and Kastchey for their winning game The Potion Master.

I’ll PM you both soon about coming up with a new theme for October.

Thanks to all participants and voters.

Don’t forget to rate and comment on the games in the database.

[CaptainD]

Thanks to everyone who voted for The Potion Master! Hopefully we will be able to build it into a bigger, more polished game at some point, circumstances permitting.

Big props to GOC Games and Slasher for two great entries 

[ddavey1983]

Well done Captain D, excellent game. Really enjoyed yours too, Slasher. Thanks to everyone who voted for Cutman really enjoyed making it.

Sorry for the delay in posting, been working on something for this month's MAGS.