Topics

[-> Anything goes storywise as long as a pact with a literal or a figurative devil is made-> Short story, not a sketch story, so at least 500 words-> Deadline is Wednesday, July 12th]

  Everyone wants something...and what if there was a "shortcut" to getting that something?  Perhaps that shortcut comes at a sinister cost, which begs the question, does the end justify the means?

Rules:
-> Anything goes storywise as long as a pact with a literal or a figurative devil is made
-> Short story, not a sketch story, so at least 500 words
-> Deadline is Wednesday, July 12th

The voting categories will be:

Best Bargain:
Best Devil:
Best Setting/World:
Best Writing/Style:


There will be tailored trophies for the top three.  I'm taking your forum avatar head, shrinking it, and adding gold, silver, or rusty tin colored horns.

[-> Anything goes storywise as long as at least one character backstabs another character-> Short story, not a sketch story, so at least 500 words-> Deadline is Friday, May 26th]

We live in treacherous times.  That brother, that best friend, or that lover...do they have our well-being and overall best interest at heart?  Or are they plotting and scheming, waiting for that penultimate moment of betrayal where they plunge the knife deep into our back?!

Rules:
-> Anything goes storywise as long as at least one character backstabs another character
-> Short story, not a sketch story, so at least 500 words
-> Deadline is Friday, May 26th

The voting categories will be:

Best Stab:
Best Stabber:
Best Setting/World:
Best Writing/Style:

Trophies:

       

[Best Plot]

  Outside of being involved with developing games, many of us also have our specific interests or hobbies.  It could be an academic interest, serious or trivial, and so maybe you read a lot about that particular subject; for me that would be human evolution and World War II.  Or perhaps you partake in a semi-occasional obscure hobby, some type of (preferably unique) sport, some or all aspects of your profession, traveling, etc...What subject matter do you know about that most other people don't, that you find endlessly interesting?  Write a story that shows off this knowledge!  Maybe your reader will come away with a newfound curiosity or interest.

  If you don't know jack outside of computer games OR have a skillset suited for story adaptation...Well then you should at least be qualified to write about YOU, so write about something that happened in your life.




We will vote on:  Best Plot, Atmosphere, Word-Choice/Style, Grasp of Subject Matter, and Enthusiasm for Subject Matter

There should be trophies...The deadline is Thursday, March 17th.

[1.]

  I'm fascinated by the idea of real or fictionalized first meetings between civilizations, either human and/or sentient self-aware aliens.  Generally things don't turn out well during and shortly after these first meetings, but your tale could be either peaceful or a pillaging bloodbath...or something in-between.  So write a story that centers around the first contact between two distinctly different civilizations, any race/culture whether human or otherwise provided it is both sentient and self-aware, and the after effects shortly (use your definition of the word "shortly") after this meeting.  Also, the characters involved don't have to be diplomats/kings/chiefs/presidents...any representatives from any walk of life in each civilization can take part in the first meeting and then the good, bad, or mediocre fallout and overall ripple effects throughout each civilization involved.


"Well...


...there goes the neighborhood."

EXAMPLES:
1. The first Spanish conquistadors landing in South America, and sadly we all know what happened next.
2. Neanderthal man first meets modern humans somewhere in what is now Europe, and afterwards were either out-competed for resources or perhaps killed off or both.
3. The Spoogalans from planet Gargax meet a tribe of Inuit Eskimos, and they all live happily ever after.

CRITERION:
Best Character:
Best Civilization:
Most Unique and Intriguing First-Contact:
Most Unique and Intriguing After-Effects:
Best Overall Story: (Worth 2 points)

TROPHIES:
*This was tough, I debated between a hieroglyphic symbol for life, a monkey using a bone tool, and a simple globe.  But the ultimate symbol for me is the venus figurine, as it represents life and means that a civilization is sophisticated enough (technologically, artistically, able to do more than hunt/gather, etc...) to make art.

First Place is a real stone venus figurine dipped in gold:
Second Place is a high quality silver replica venus:
Third Place is a cheap wood venus knockoff:


The deadline is Monday, May 11th.

  So for the next round of the Fortnightly Writing Competition you are tasked with writing the middle chapter of an absurdist pulp noir story.  Since you would be writing the middle chapter, you don't have to introduce the characters (although no hard requirement against doing that) and no need to wrap up every single plot and subplot(s) with an ending.  Just dive the reader into whatever crazy situation(s) you can concoct filled with pulpy over-the-top characters (like old dime novel action heroes, 1940s detective, etc...) in a dark noir-ish hell of World (Dark City, Winchester '73, etc...).

  Two of the judging criteria will be "pulpiness" of the characters and "noir level" of the background World.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdist_fiction
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp_noir
  http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/vanity-fair/images/3635869/title/film-noir-photoshoot-photo

  Competition ends on Saturday, August 30th.  Have at it!

  EDIT: Want to mention...Just because this is the middle chapter doesn't mean your entry has to be relatively short.  Length is your call.

  Trophies:

  1st          2nd          3rd

  So I've got a bunch of domains, maybe around 60ish, and a small handful I've turned into humble little web-sites.  But now, mainly for shits n' gigs, I am the proud owner of...fartomatic.com!  Well, assuming Godaddy transfers it to me without incident.  The domain has been around since 2001 in some form or another, at least according to Wayback Machine.

  Anyway...Tell me, fair rumpusites, what do I do with fartomatic.com?  What is fartomatic.com?   

  EDIT: Most absurdly funny and weird idea gets implemented if its within my realm of capabilities.
 

"Master, you have promised that I will receive the weapon upon completion of my training.  I've heard the legends, and know that the sage chroniclers report mixed reviews on it's power when wielded by a man such as myself - but this concerns me not!  O' wizened mentor, we both know that it is now time for your protégé to receive...THE ULTIMATE SWORD OF WANTON DESTRUCTION!"

Your master hands you:



Colouring/Coloring Ball Competition ends on Friday, January 24th.  And yes, there will be trophies (admittedly a bit bland) you trophy vultures!


Glowing Gold Sword:                 Sturdy Silver Sword:                 Rotted, Pitted Wooden Sword:

[GO!]

------------------

  The next competition is a continuation-game story.  So one poster begins the story, the next picks up, and so on.  You can encapsulate your own subplot, advance a main plot established by a previous poster, or go through kind of plot twist you want - but its going to all be one story so please try to segue accordingly from the previous poster.  You can drastically the change the setting, plots, subplots, characters, etc...all within reason.  You can end in a cliffhanger for the next guy or gal writer...BUT keep in mind that the only real rule is that you can't paint the next poster into a corner.  For example, finishing with, "...and then the super-mega hydrogen bomb exploded into the nearby black hole, and they all died." makes it hard for the next person to take over.  Any kind of main story in any setting is fine.  We'll be voting using most of the usual criteria, but with a few extra that apply to this kind of game. There will be a tailor made trophy with some kind of teamwork theme, and it will include avatars, and it will rock your socks off junior.

  So the first poster has the luxury (or responsibility) of kicking this thing off!  The deadline is December 1st. GO!

[OSD Moby GearWhaleDX]

Ponch released OSD Versus Moby as part of the MAGS contest back in December 2012...But thanks to the flu, the game didn't have a battle system.  He handed me the code, and then...I farted around and did nothing!  But after a few weeks a crude battle system started to develop, it was polished and features were added over time, and now:

OSD Moby GearWhaleDX

AD - Walk left/right
WSX - Block high/mid/low
Left Click - Harpoon (high/mid/low deployment depending on y axis) or Spell (depending on icon clicked on)
Right Click - Melee (high/mid/low depending on y axis)
Space Bar - Depth Charge

Hint: Watch Moby for a tell just prior to his attack in order to block his ranged and melee attacks accordingly.

In the unlikely event that you haven't ODed on OSD (3 games in the last 24 hours!), check it out:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/1685/

Or Download Here - Added the direct link here and a mirror link on the AGS DB

[-]

Write a short story or poem about invading aliens.  The aliens don't have to be the "bad guys", or look hideous, or meet any other of the alien genre stereotypes.  So make them out to be however you want.  The only requirement is that the aliens in the story have invaded, are in the process of invading, or will invade a human town/city/settlement of some kind.

- 1st place: The Happy Golden Alien and if you have a Steam account...
XCOM Enemy Unknown!  I received an extra copy by pre-ordering another game, and this is a fun way to give it away.  If you are not on Steam and/or don't want it, XCOM goes to the 2nd place finisher.

- 2nd place: The Somewhat Pleased Silver Alien

- 3rd place: The Unhappy Decapitated Alien in a Jar


Forgot to mention the deadline...Writing contest ends April 27th!

I've managed to beat the feature creep monster and finally finish (barring a version 1.1 if needed for fixes or something) my first game!  A few years ago I got the idea that it would be pretty funny if a hero was trying to save the planet while everyone else cowers and/or cracks wise.  It has taken quite a while to finish what is basically a one-room game, though this is partly due to development centering around having fun moreso than buckling down with deadlines.  Anyway, enjoy!

One genetically designed man along with an inept, insulting, and cowardly scientist must save the World from his evil twin brother and hordes of zombies!

Features:

• Zombie blastin' action
• A deep, emotional backstory that rivals the classic works of...Ok scratch that one
• Variety of weapons
• Ungrateful innocent civilians
• Chuckle inducing mad scientist
• Zombie piledrivers

Thanks to Pinback for his stunning background, Ponch for patiently testing, and SSH for making some awesome modules!

DOWNLOAD:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/Games.aspx/Detail/1590

[The Golden Beaker!]

  It's ALIIIIIIVE!  Your challenge is to write a story or poem that includes at least one mad scientist.  He/she/it can be the main character integral to the plot or even a bit player.

 The deadline is December 20th!

And the trophy prizes are:

The Golden Beaker!

And, meh, the Silver Beaker...

  The next writing competition is AGS fan fiction, and it begins now!  Set your story or poem in an AGS game universe or involve an AGS game character (OSD, one of the RON characters, etc...) in a setting/background of your choosing.  Basically, there are no restrictions as long it is somehow AGS game related.

 I'll vote in the event of a tie.

Plus, hideous trophies:

1st Place:   2nd Place:   3rd Place:

[Pirates]

The subject is "Pirates".  No software pirates, and no modern day versions (Somali Pirates).  I be talkin' to ye about pre-1900s eye-patch wearin', peg-legged, swashbucklin' scoundrels of the seas who would make their own mother walk the plank just for a few dubloons.

No real limitations on the story or poem, just that it should be more than a paragraph and involve old school pirates.  Voting starts on December 5th.

Yer booty is a gold pen flying the jolly roger colors.

[GAME IS RELEASED]

>>> GAME IS RELEASED <<<
(click link to view Completed Thread/Download Game)

I've been working a small quirky one-room shooter as a first game.  The backstory is usual cookie-cutter stuff, but I think the gameplay will eventually be pretty cool once it gets ironed out.  The basic idea is after a zombie apocalypse, scientists created two prototype super-human zombie-killers who are supposed to be immune.  The first one was bitten by a zombie, and turns out wasn't immune after all...He will be your archenemy.  The main character is the second Prototype.  Using a large bolt action cannon, hand cannon, and nodachi samurai sword the Prototype will fend off the hordes.  He also has a caltrop trap and a zombie-attracting chicken in his arsenal.  Periodically, a sarcastic, inept scientist will come out of his bunker and berate the Prototype or possibly show off one of his weird contraptions/creations.

  I'm slowly tweaking the gameplay, which I want to be a bit strategic and a bit twitch...but I really need a graphic artist to help with the monster sprites, as I need to replace a handful of the ones I'm currently using as placeholders.  Each one has a 8-frame walk/attack, 8-frame run/attack, and 4-frame death animation.  Some have a 2-frame recoil animation after getting shot or hit by the sword.

Main Menu Scoreboard


Old Screenshot (pre-Pinback)


Story: 100% (Just there to support gameplay)
Sound/Music: 100% (Max McCracken already did the music)
Graphics: 60% (Mainly need to replace monsters, perhaps small tweaks to room)
Gameplay: 70% (Base is done, but many "battle" tweaks needed)

Here's an early beta version in case anyone is curious:
http://shutupload.com/dl/0edccef5ed0d/

  The beta is just the base of the game only, as the gameplay is still a ways off and other things don't work properly like the chicken (aim the reticle and press SHIFT key).  The zombies also have a bad habit of getting stuck on each other.  In this version the only way to die is to fall off the cliff.

  Ridiculous backstory: He was originally designed as a genetic super soldier, and shortly after was bitten by a zombie.



  His legs work for me, so I'd like any kind of critique on his upper body.  Thanks!

I've been looking into a fan-made mmo Fallout Online, which seems to have a decently sized community of regular players.

http://fonline2238.blogspot.com/
http://fonline2238.net/forum/index.php?board=1.120

Looks good, as does the various single player restoration packs for Fallout 2.

Guess I should add...I was wondering if anyone on here has played Fallout Online.