Messages

I swear if any of the voice actors are from Wooden Overcoats, I will absolutely lose my mind.  Congrats on coming so far, can't wait to see the finished product!

This was a very fun gameplay, and I did enjoy it, it had fresh ideas, I enjoyed using my (the wizard's) other senses and the quirky humour!

Aww, thanks very much!  By a crazy coincidence, four years later I'm right now working on an upgraded version with better graphics and gameplay, as an experiment in learning how to make games more disability-friendly.  I appreciate you playing and the kind words! 

Actually relaxing without being pretentious, well done!

Thanks very much!

************

      Stop

************

This isn't really a game.  It's a chance to relax.

There are no puzzles or controls to worry about.  You can click through my words or just take your hand off the mouse.

I'm inviting you to hang out on the mountaintop as long as you want.  Breathe for a bit.  Think about nothing.

************

A ten minute relaxation session, made by HyperAnimated in Adventure Game Studio.  Sound on recommended.

Download on Itch.io!

AGS Games Page



(HyperAnimated = formerly the Great Underground Empire, formerly PlayPretend, having one of my trademark changes of online identity.    I'll be posting some of my other AGS games on Itch.io under this name, too.)

The concept reminds me a bit of the Adventure series by @Akril15.

I thought I remembered games like that...I'd never played the Adventure series, but I just now read the walkthroughs.  Similar concept in that different game characters interact between game universes, but set strictly in the overall Sierraverse, no LucasArts/other peeps, and completely different plot idea. So phew for not accidentally plagiarizing!

I appreciate all the input from everyone.  I'm starting to think I'll just go for sheer parody to avoid C&D's.  Hell, it worked for Watchmen.

I saw Ken Williams encouraging people on SierraGamers to make fan games, while explicitly spelling out they had signed away all rights to Sierra and he didn't even know who owned the rights anymore.  So instead I asked permission to use his and Roberta's likenesses as pixelated in-game characters, we'll see what they say. If it goes full parody then I'll call them William and Wilhelmina Robertken.

Sorry for the slow response!  Honestly, I just struggle with depression, especially related to creative stuff.  So please don't ever judge something's worth or participation based on when I retract back into my shell because I'm on another downhill in my emotional rollercoaster.

Thanks, I appreciate the info!  I Googled and tried to follow the confusing buyouts and mergers with Vivendi, Activision, etc, and it seems like they were gutted.  But I can also see Freddy Pharkas, KQ1-3, Heart of China and other games are still being sold on Gog, so I wasn't sure.

So probably no issue with sharing the backgrounds/sprites/etc. on here once I'm done collecting, then?

Hi all!  Apologies, I imagine this topic has been asked more than once, but I can't tell if maybe I'm just not searching correctly to find it.

My main question, please - will Sierra sue you for using their work in a non-profit fan game?

Basically, I had a cool idea for a game that's a nostalgic love letter to Sierra, mixing a lot of their work into a multiverse plot.  I'd like to adapt art and sprites ripped from their games, edited for new animation styles similar to Dorkly.

I've seen bits and pieces online suggesting Sierra sued this kind of stuff pretty hard.  But I also know Space Quest fan games exist.  Any idea if they take legal action even if you're not making any money from it?

(And follow up question, please - I've already collected thousands of sprites and backgrounds from Sierra games.  I literally scraped Mystery House this morning for every possible screenshot of different screen conditions.  Is it bad form or illegal or anything to offer to share them here once I'm done collecting?)

Yay everybody!  I voted for heltenjon's too, so I'm glad it got the tiebreaking vote.   

[Jump the Shark Approach]

Avast me hearties for the surprisingly long Jump the Shark Approach?

Spoiler

Frantically wave SUNGLASSES and WRISTWATCH at ship, trying to attract attention with the reflections.

Dammit, nothing.  It sails out of view.

Consider swimming, then spot SHARK.  Aren't DOLPHINS supposed to fight off sharks?  What the hell, DOLPHINS?

Drink COKE.  It is warm and flat, but you should always hydrate as soon as possible.

Sit down, thinking.

Look at COCONUTS.

Look at SHARK.

Look at SHORTS.

Stand up, slowly, thoughtfully.  Look around for anyone who might be watching.  The camera senses what you're about to do and whip-pans quickly out to the lapping ocean waves.

There is the sound of a ZIPPER going down, some rustling, a ZIPPER going back up, an awkward cough, and when it pans back, the camera shows you still fully dressed but holding your UNDERWEAR.

The game gods look upon your acquiring the Forbidden Inventory, and frown thundercloudiously, but nod permission, with a clear warning that you'd better watch yourself.

Climb PALM TREE.

The PARROT shrieks insults in a kind of pidgin pigeon dialect.

Grab PARROT, but it takes startled wing, leaving you with only a couple of bright red and blue FEATHERS.

Knock COCONUTS down to the ground.

Break off PALM FROND and drop to ground.

Climb down PALM TREE.

The PARROT, shrieking curses, returns to its perch, because where else can it go?

Unravel bottom seam of T-SHIRT, until you have a very long piece of THREAD.

Snap off one thin metal stem of your SUNGLASSES.  They sit a little crooked but stay on your face.

Bend stem into a makeshift HOOK.

Wade into the shallows and collect an OYSTER.

Back on beach, smash OYSTER between two COCONUTS.  Pluck out OYSTER MEAT.

Combine HOOK, THREAD, OYSTER MEAT as bait and FEATHER as lure.  You now have a makeshift FISHING LINE.

Wade back out (but not far enough to be shark food), stand still until FISH forget you're there, then drop FISHING LINE in water.
A bit later - a nibble, a tug - and you haul back in surprise, launching a beautiful TROPICAL FISH onto the beach, where it flops and, eventually, expires.

Cut TROPICAL FISH in half on GLASS SHARDS at bottom of BOAT.

Skewer FISH HEAD on end of PALM FROND.  You now have FISH ON A STICK.

Untie HOOK from THREAD.

Combine HOOK, ROPE, LIFEBUOY, FEATHER and FISH TAIL, then tie ROPE to beached BOAT.  You now have a MOORED FISHING LINE WITH A FLOAT AND LURE.

At this point, you realize there's something buried in the sand.  You dig it up and find an IPHONE with a full charge, five bars and an OCEAN RESCUE APP.

...

...f*** it, no, your plan is good, you're committed.  You chuck the IPHONE in the ocean.

Shove two COCONUTS inside T-SHIRT, up around your chest.  Tuck in T-SHIRT to hold them.  You feel like this would look hilarious at a party.

Cast FISHING LINE towards SHARK.

Climb TREE as fast as you can.  The PARROT screams disapproval, snaps at your nose and takes to the air again.

Hook UNDERWEAR over two fronds.  You now have a SLINGSHOT.

You watch as the SHARK circles closer...closer...and SNAP!  It takes the bait!

The SHARK tries to swim away, and while the BOAT is beached, it keeps dragging closer and closer to the water.  Better hurry!

Load COCONUT in SLINGSHOT.

Shoot a COCONUT at SHARK, annnd...ploooosh!  You miss!

Only one more chance!  It's almost dragged the BOAT into the water!

Take aim with another COCONUT, aaaaannndddd...

CLONK!

There is now a KNOCKED OUT SHARK floating in the water.

Scramble down TREE, untie ROPE from BOAT and swim quickly to SHARK.

While it's unconscious, frantically tie ROPE into HARNESS around SHARK, and sit astride it like a pony.

As SHARK groggily comes to, dangle FISH ON A STICK in front of it.

SHARK whips forward, chasing FISH ON A STICK it can never catch.

Steer SHARK like a jet ski back to land, let it have the FISH, hop off, scramble to shore, successfully reach HOTEL.



*****************************YOU HAVE WON.*******************************


...

...have you?...

You turn around...and see the SHARK looking at you...like...it misses you?

Like there's some unspoken bond as the first person to ever feed and show it kindness?

You think for a bit.

Gesture to SHARK to wait.

Enter HOTEL.

Punch BOAT RENTAL CLERK in the face.

Clean out CASH REGISTER and COMPLIMENTARY SUSHI BAR.

Run back and mount up on your new SHARK STEED.  Your new...FRIEND?

Toss SUSHI to FRIEND, and ride off to your new life as the most badass PIRATES ever.

[close]

@RootBound Nice!    I just had a sudden nostalgia flashback to the old game Hard Hat Mack!

I can't participate this month or next because packing and moving whee!  But I would like to submit for anyone to grab: a magician's assistant who gets sawed in half, the magician has a heart attack, and now you've got to get yourself back together!

I'd also like to suggest maybe, in the event of future ties, the winners privately do a gentleperson's agreement on which one will be the sole host next round.  Given this is just a lil eight pound, six ounce baby competition, it'd free up another player. 

We have a winner!  Congrats to cat, great entries by all! 

Sorry everyone, my spouse and I caught COVID following a trip last week and I was too knocked out to remember about setting up voting.  And update to my update moments ago, I just figured out how to add a poll for the first time, lol.   

Sorry for the delay, I was on a trip and just made it back.  And this is a non-voteable entry due to being co-host!

Update: I just finished writing the entry, it is not what I expected to come out but I'm posting it anyways, lol.  Content warning, it's a little dark and has on-screen momentary violence and death.  It feels very Neil Gaiman to me.

Brace yourselves a bit for the BLACKOUT Approach.

Spoiler

While thinking what to do and staring down this unwanted amphibious Lothario, you take an absent-minded bite of the APPLE.

[FadeOut(30);
Wait(720000);
FadeIn(30);]

Your eyes flutter open blearily.  You're looking up at the treetops and sky, because you're laying in the grass.

You're also looking at the too-close face of a PRINCE, because he is kissing you.

Startled, you fumble in your GARTER, then lash out with your KNIFE.  The PRINCE falls off you.

There is now BLOOD here.

[while (cPRINCE.Blood > 0) {
  Wait(1);
  cPRINCE.Blood --;
}]

...

There is now a DEAD PRINCE here.

You slowly realize you are hyperventilating from shock and adrenaline.

Gazing around as if in a dream, you also slowly realize the FROG, PIG and BILLYGOAT GRUFF are staring at you in horror.

There is a long, tense moment.

Then the PIG drops his sticks and starts to run.

no no nonono nononoNONONONO no witnesses, NO WITNESSES

[FadeOut(30);
Wait(24000);
FadeIn(30);]

Your eyes flutter open.  There is no sign of the FROG, PIG, BILLYGOAT GRUFF or DEAD PRINCE.  The OWL is gone, his nest overturned as if kicked over in hurried flight.  The KNIFE is also gone.

There is a large amount of WATER splashed out around the sides of the WELL.

You look down at your dress.  There is a large amount of BLOOD and DIRT on it.

You tear it off, and stuff it into the HOLE IN THE GROUND.  You pack DIRT into the HOLE until it is SOLID GROUND again.

Without your DRESS, clad only in CORSETRY and a GARTER, you don't look like a princess anymore.  You could be anyone.

Anyone at all.

You look at the WELL for a long time.

The CRUMBLING STONE of the WELL gives in to several good kicks.  More water spills out, stained red, but it soaks into the ground and you kick DIRT over it.  There is now a COLLAPSED WELL here that could easily have caved in on itself from age.

You look at the castle in the distance, symbol of the patriarchy that makes FROGS and PRINCES think they can take what they want, when they want.

...

You find the BROKEN WAGON just needs a little work with ROPE and STICKS to be serviceable.  You harness the SHEEP to it with ROPE.

You idly finger the jewels and silver of your TIARA.  They might be enough to buy another life.

You set your sights west, away from the castle, and drive the WAGON on, as the sun dips towards the horizon like a GOLDEN BALL falling slowly into a WELL.

[Fadeout(30);]

[close]

Omg, I love all these entries so much. 

Finally played this, really well done!  A high-quality game from start to finish.  Puzzles were just tricky enough to be satisfying.  And I really liked the mechanics, like the disappearing inventory notification, hotspot highlights and mouse-scrollable dialogue options.  Fantastic work all of you! 

Thanks!  I don't mind being non-votable, I just want to have fun too. 

[The Rules!]

Hi everyone!  @heltenjon and I tied on the last one, so we collabed on this one!    (And apologies if this wasn't supposed to be a new thread, please delete or move if needed.  Just didn't want to keep everyone waiting.)

The Rules!

Participants write entries that must do the following:
1. Use at least 3 of the provided elements (inventory, NPCs, a piece of the room like a cabinet or faucet etc.)
2. Give a step-by-step walkthrough of your puzzle solution.
3. Don't add new elements. For example, if the room is a forest, breaking a thin branch off a tree makes sense unless the host said the trees were huge and tall. But adding a hollowed-out stump with a bear sleeping in it is too specific. Assume all important elements have been mentioned by the host.
4. Keep any dialog elements summarized rather than typing out the whole conversation (for example, "threaten the mailman", "ask the child for advice", and so on, instead of giving every spoken line).

Each contest runs for two weeks to allow for a good number of entries, and then it switches to voting for one week. The participant whose solution gets the most votes gets to come up with the next scenario! (Please also provide a link to these rules).  Current entries until Feb. 24th.

Voters use the criteria of:
a) how logical the puzzle seems
b) how creative or unexpected (but still sensible) is the use of elements
c) how satisfying is the solution (Is it too simple? Way too complicated? Or just right?)

Here we go!

The Golden Ball

Premise: You're a young princess whose golden ball has fallen down a well, and there's a damn talking frog who won't bring it back up unless you kiss him.  Gross!  You're getting that ball back without him!

Location: You're in a bright, happy forest with soft breezes gently tickling the treetops.  The castle isn't far away, but you can't leave sight of the well because you just know some damn peasant will get your ball before you come back, and then where would the economy be?  The well is made of old, crumbly stone, has a little wooden roof and winch, but when you crank up the rope, the bucket is long gone.  The water looks very deep, dark and cold.  The frog is squatting on the edge of the well, eyeing you inappropriately and making little kissy noises.

You are carrying:

• Your floofy silk and lace princess gown upon your willowy frame.
• Your thin silver tiara beset with three diamonds, upon your willowy head.
• A surprising amount of whalebone corsetry, given how willowy you are.
• A sewing needle that you stole from a servant for a laugh.
• An apple some hag gave you.
• A garter, in case of unexpected marriage.
• A knife in your garter, in case of mustached men in leotards with funny ideas about the redistribution of wealth.

And you can see:

• A bird nest occupied by a heavily sleeping owl.
• A mossy stone with a sword sticking out of it. The sword can not be pulled out.
• A hole in the ground, perhaps the home of a fox or a badger?
• A sheep grazing.
• An overgrown road leading to the well.
• A broken wagon along the road, long abandoned. There are some broken musical instruments in the wagon.
• A pig, seemingly gathering straw for building his house.
• The youngest billygoat Gruff, lost and outdistanced by his older brothers.
• Some strange-looking mushrooms, with a skeleton nearby.

Have fun, can't wait to see your entries!