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That's my point: the issue is not the input, but the output. I think it is only (or, at least, mainly) problematic if the output closely resembles "features characteristic of your expression."

The input can be problematic too if the results are too close to some sources.

Outputs from generative AI would probably fall under "fair use" in most cases but you can't assess that if the source pictures are not listed.

Since they probably use a very big number of pictures for each output, it could be in their interest to list the most significant sources with statistical weight.

Nice graphics. I can't believe all the other animals chill out and only think about eating while the forest is burning...selfish gluttons 

I'm stuck:

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the turtle is still hungry after I gave it some honey and a worm.

The bear and the beaver told me about a moose but I can't visit it yet

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The restore button doesn't seem to work.

Thank you! Maybe I can devise the next theme with my Mittens partners this week-end 

Two very different approaches here

@heltonjon

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I could never crack Linda's password since the wording is so Anglo-Saxon but I admit it was pretty clever.
And the zealous cleaning bot was hilarious (in my mind at least).

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@RootBound

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The cooking-crafting number at the beginning seems pretty easy-going.
In typical Rootbound fashion, it gives way to a spine-tingling second act.
For a terrible scuba diver like me, the number of things you must accomplish in apnea is daunting.

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Thank you for all the treats.

I like "DEATH CANYON". it's ominous and grandiose at the same time. The percussions add a nice tribal touch.

"SEWER CREEPERS DOWN THE DRAIN" reminds me a bit of the ambiant tracks in Sanitarium.

I gave it a shot. Here's the SLAPSTICK APPROACH:

Spoiler

After an understandable panic attack and lots of swearing at those lousy quitters, you pull yourself together and try to assess the situation.

You access GALAXYPEDIA on the TOUCH PANEL.
Although you can't access the stellar-net any more, you can still browse the manual and the chart of the ship that are embedded into the local system.
You see parts of the ship disappear one by one on the chart as you click on them ("Oops, seems like the part of the ship you try to access doesn't exist any more.")
You're baffled to still be alive in a ship without control room, engines or steering system.

Most of the menus on the touch panel indicate "INSUFFICIENT POWER" when you try them because the solar panels are filled with holes the size of bowling balls.
However, "Maid bot" shows a different warning: "open-ended strike due to vexatious behavior".
You realize she has her own battery and may still be running.
when you click on "vexatious behavior", it plays a video record of your cat peeing on the leg of the maid robot.
You can try to apologize but it falls on a deaf ear.
You go fetch the PHOTO OF YOUR CAT, then you put it in front of the camera of the control panel.
You renew your excuses with an awkward cat imitation.
She doesn't really buy it but - oh well, since cats can't speak that'll do. The MAID ROBOT turns on and wakes up.

Speaking of your cat, you can hear it move through the vents on the walls if you put your ear to them.

In the closet there are a few sets of spare uniforms. One of them looks special and belongs to a female comrade.
On the desk you see a photo of her wearing it on top the notoriously climate hellish Mount XuhPlym27. Seeing how she endured the acid rains and lack of oxygen with a smile, you suspect it's one of those all-in-one protective fancy suits. You should be able to go outside with it. Only, it doesn't seem to be working right now. A closer inspection reveals it's lacking a battery button inside.

You pick up your MULTITOOL on the desk. You use its MAGNETIC SCREW DRIVER on the FOOD REPLICATOR to open its front cover. You can spot the POWER CABLE behind it. Use the ION CUTTER of the multitool to sever it and give the extremity of the power cable to the MAID ROBOT. She plugs it into her belly button and the FOOD REPLICATOR lights up.

On the CONTROL PANEL, select FOOD REPLICATOR. Most of the dishes on the menu would require too much energy, but you can make some BISCUITS AND MILK.

Take them and ask the MAID ROBOT to go near the VENT, use your diplomatic skills to convince her to let you climb on her shoulders and put the BISCUITS AND MILK near the opening.
Your cat approaches to eat them but retreats when you try to grab it.
Ask the maid to lend you her FEATHER DUSTER and wave it in front of the vent.
The feline instinct kicks in and the cat comes play.
Gently grab it.
More diplomacy will be required to avoid a brawl between the cat and the maid as you go down.

Your cat has a necklace with a tag that plays its name and address when it's pressed. Open it and pick up the BUTTON BATTERY inside.

Put it into the ALL-IN-ONE UNIFORM. Put the suit on and try the different modes: deep-sea diver- lion tamer - astronaut. Incredible how powerful those button batteries became in the last decade!
With the suit on, you can feel your strength increased tenfold.
Use the MAID ROBOT as a battering ram and smash the door. She may resent you even more but you're way past that now.
You head out and discover that the ship has been reduced to a couple of boxes loosely connected by dangling cables. The maid and yourself follow one of them and reach the escape pod. Inside, you release your cat from the suit and the maid robot powers the pod the best she can.
You can't wait to give the others a piece of your mind as you head to the close-by planet at a snail pace.

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I'll ping people who have participated before:
@Creamy @The Great Underground Empire @Kastchey what do you think?

I couldn't think of a good puzzle when I read the setup. Then I was busy and forgot about it.
But there was nothing wrong with the setup IMO.

However, many members express that making puzzles are hard

I find it easier to start with an idea for a puzzle and build the setup around it.
In the same way that you would first devise an original motive and modus operandi if you wrote a whodunit.

Doing it the other way is more challenging, but that's part of the fun here.

Here you go, deadline extended until July 1st

@Creamy I hope you don't mind

Not at all. I'm glad someone gave it a go.


What a strange place. I had never heard of it.

I have no problem with your character but this animation doesn't work IMO.
Even if you go for a jittery feel, you can't animate without rhyme or reason.
Otherwise, it looks anarchic and jerky.

Some things to consider:
- left leg immobile most of the time (frames 1-3-6-7-8)
- trunk immobile but there's exactly 1 frame (4) where it's significantly lower. Why?
- People raise and lower both upper arms at the same time when they're duck dancing, not when they're running (frames 5-6-7-8)
 
I think you should google "sprite sheet running", take a model that conveys what you're trying to achieve and restart.

Good luck

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An ancient Egyptian tomb?

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Congratulations for the release. I finished the episode.

Not sure if AGS is really suited for a browser game at this resolution. This episode is very short, yet it took 1 minute to load on my computer (I timed it). You could use an engine like Renpy and get better results. The few interactions required to move forward didn't add much and - dare I say - confused me.

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Pushing our mother in the pit? Using the book on the forest?

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It was alright because the game is signposted.

Nice style. I turned the voices off but that's what I generally do in amateur games. Yes, I'm quite picky - I even turn them off in professional games sometimes.

About the story: pretty standard heroic fantasy so far. It's too early to judge.

Keep up the good work!

I find AI text generators not quoting their sources very annoying.
They should put footnotes like students in their essays or contributors on Wikipedia.

I've tried Haiper AI video generator recently to animate pictures. The results are interesting but highly unreliable.
The AI seems to recognize elements in the frame (character, limbs...) and can render some surprising 3d effects but it's not good at keeping track of things when it tries more complex animations. Also, it's quite prone to changing your style in the case of drawings.
Still, an impressive feat.

80s Europop:

There's also a French song from the 80s called Maria Magdalena but they seem distinct:

Thank you for this nice ceremony.

Here are the winners of the AGS Awards 2023

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Best Game of the Year
Abscission


Best Freeware Game
Shards of God


Best Short Game
Trapped On The Balcony


Best Non-Adventure Game
Super Star Trek (1978) meets 25th Anniversary


Best Demo
An English Haunting DEMO


Best Audio
Abscission


Best Visuals
Shards of God


Best Writing
Stranger in Utopia


Best Programming
Dreams in the Witch House


Best Character
"Dr Noriko" from Barn Runner 5: The Forever Friday 5


Best Gameplay
Abscission

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@cat I see 3 missing categories in your list:

Innovation
Fernewelten

MAGGIES
The Distant Door

Lifetime Achievement
Heltonjon

Forgot about that one. And I'd rather not host several competitions simultaneously. Could you please handle it @Hannah_Banana ?

The issue is fixed now.    If anyone was unsure about downloading the game, itch.io has un-quarantined my account. Thanks again @glurex for bringing it to my attention. I hope everyone feels safe trying it out now. 

Sorry but the page is still quarantined when I try to download the game.

[NEAR YOU]

NEAR YOU

This month, please draw a background showing a landmark, city, famous person, etc. representing approximately where you live.

Deadline: March 24th July 1st

As usual the entries will be judged on:
- Concept: your background should tell us something about the kind of patrons that regularly visit the bar.
- Playability: does it have clear walkable areas, things to interact with, etc?
- Artistic Execution: what's the feeling of the place? Does the image convey the wanted atmosphere?

Have fun and good luck!

The topic was lifted from the Background Blitz suggestion thread.

It should be ok for me. I may arrive on Saturday.

Nice character. I don't think he lacks personality.
When the animation is played so fast, it's hard to spot the inconsistencies.
I tried a few things, you take what you want:


- smoothen the back motion of the right arm
- changed angle of the left arm
- gave each feet a different shade and put them on different levels for readability.
- lower coat less jerky.
- reduced wrinkles when right arm is unbent.

Regarding playablity, I'm not seeing all that wrong with Creamy's image. Doors to click on, people to talk to, and a statue and horse to look at.

What I meant is that unless using 3D models, it'd be hard to animate the characters with this perspective. Especially if you want to let the player walk around freely.

Wishing there had been more entries!

Me too.