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I was watching a couple of the Game Theory episodes (mainly FNaF related ones), and it had me thinking...

What if some Adventure Game Studio games made appearances in Game Theory (or Gaijin Goomba's "Game Exchange", or "The Science Of...", or other related channels)?

Something to think about.  That'd make a great challenge to go along with MAGS... make up a REALLY cool game with fun references (cultural, science, story-telling, etc.) that would DEFINITELY get the Game Theorists' attention.

So I ditched Skype in favor of Discord.  (I heard of hackings of my friends on Skype--some even had accounts deleted from those scummy hackers.  I also heard Discord is more secure.)

Send me a PM if you want to know my Discord screenname.

(sigh) Another voice artist gone.

We recently lost June Foray.

Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Natasha (also from Rocky & Bullwinkle), Magica DeSpell (my favorite Disney villainess), Ma Beagle, Granny from Looney Tunes...

A long roster of characters now silenced with her gone.

Who has seen on YouTube that weird-as-hell music video "Beep Beep I'm a Sheep"?

Seriously, a video weird like that (hell, even just the SONG that's weird as it is) should be a future MAGS idea.  Whoever wins the next MAGS competition, think you might like this suggestion?

Spoiler

For the curious, here's the video in question.

[close]

[Heavy Metal Nannulf: The Strange Stage]

My entry into the July 2017 MAGS Competition is done!

Behold...

Heavy Metal Nannulf: The Strange Stage

Get it here: http://paladindboy.gamejolt.io/nannulfmagsjuly2017




A band is visiting the neighborhood of Nannulf Tungmetall, a serious heavy metal and rock music aficionado, but something is preventing them from coming out on stage.  Nannulf decides to investigate!

The songs here (only two) were made by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com (he's got some cool tunes).  Sound Effects (only three, but those are probably all that are needed) from RPG Maker XP.

All the rest provided by me, D-BoyWheeler!

Anyway, check this game out!

Okay!  I am trying to test my Inventory GUI for the MAGS July 2017, and I can't seem to get the inventory item active.

Here are the snippets code for the Inventory GUI.

Code: ags

function show_inventory_window () 
{
  gInventory.Visible = true;
  // switch to the Use cursor (to select items with)
  mouse.Mode = eModeInteract;
  // But, override the appearance to look like the arrow
  mouse.UseModeGraphic(eModePointer);
}

function btnInvOK_Click(GUIControl *control, MouseButton button) {
	// They pressed the OK button, close the GUI
	gInventory.Visible = false;
	mouse.UseDefaultGraphic();
}

function btnInvSelect_Click(GUIControl *control, MouseButton button) {
  
	// They pressed SELECT, so switch to the Get cursor
	mouse.Mode = eModeInteract;
	// But, override the appearance to look like the arrow
	mouse.UseModeGraphic(eModePointer);
}

function iCrowbar_Interact()
{
  player.ActiveInventory = iCrowbar;
}

function iScissors_Interact()
{
  player.ActiveInventory = iScissors;
}

function iDiscToy_Interact()
{
  player.ActiveInventory = iDiscToy;
}

function iCrowbar_Look()
{
  player.Say("This crowbar looks quite sturdy.");
}

function iScissors_Look()
{
  player.Say("They're not TOO sharp, but they could cut some string easily.");
}

function iDiscToy_Look()
{
  player.Say("This plush toy was used in a historical play.");
  player.Say("The owner probably forgot to pick it up afterwards.");
  player.Say("I'll just hold onto it till the owner asks for it.");
}

So, basically the code from a default Sierra stuff, with a few things done my style.

The Eye Icon is as usual as well.

But when I use the Inventory thing, no matter how many times I click the arrow on the inventory item, it WON'T pick up the item!

Honestly, this never gave me hassle in last month's MAGS!  The Inventory, which HASN'T given me problems before, is NOW what's giving me problems.

[Add-on] I HAD put code with the Inventory Items (like "Interact" and "Look"), but it still doesn't work.
[Add-on 2] I elaborated more on the code.  Again, no matter how many times I click the arrow on the inventory item, it won't pick up.  What could I be missing?

I am not sure how to start up clubs/groups on FurAffinity, but I think it would be awesome-sauce if there were a club on FurAffinity for Adventure Game Studio users.

I can so see it... AGS-Furs.  And maybe the icon could be the blue coffee mug with the pawprint (the logo of FurAffinity).

I mean... just a thought.

In other news, the reason I brought that up is because on FurAffinity I've been getting some adoptables through art trades.  "Adoptables" being some generic characters that one can "adopt" as characters in exchange for some money or, in some cases, an art trade.  Anyway, with the adoptables, not only will I have new ideas for games (AGS or otherwise; I mean, these new chars combined with ideas I've been giving myself already, I'll never lack game ideas again), I'll now have a good excuse reason to take part in future MAGS competitions!

This morning, as I was trying to wake up, I had this REALLY eff-ed up Pokemon-related dream.

In my dream, I was starting up FireRed or LeafGreen (the dream wasn't specific).  The graphics in the game (in my dream) were REALLY far out--as in definitely something I know beyond reasonable doubt couldn't be done with Game Boy Advance back in the day.

The Nurse Joy in the game warned that because I hadn't played the game in a while (in my case, since I started up Diamond again), the Pokemon in my party were starting to get mutinous (or at least she said something close to those words).

When I checked out the Pokemon in my party, their graphics and sprites were really cool looking (again, in a style I knew was beyond the GBA's abilities back in the day), as the art and animations looked like they came straight out of the anime.  But as Nurse Joy warned, they looked quite PO'ed!  Some scenes in my dream even showed the Pokemon attacking my character!

Weird dream, eh?

[Rosaura Docelestial: Rescue from Despair]

Hooray!  I've finally completed my MAGS entry for June 2017.

Behold:
Rosaura Docelestial: Rescue from Despair


This takes a different spin on the "Rescue" theme.  In this case, Rosaura Docelestial, the title heroine, is trying to save a young boy on Earth from his own despair.

To help him, she is planning to get three items for his birthday.

This is a 640 x 480 resolution game.  And it's better viewed in Windowed mode.  So click Winsetup to get it to Window mode.  If it does that error message that says it might not be properly installed, that's okay, as AGS is a wee bit ornery at times.  Just click the link that it was installed properly.  Then double-click "RosauraMAGS" to play.  I made it so hopefully I won't need to put something in Hints & Tips.

You can find the game here: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2163/

Glove & Boots recently started another activity for their channel called "Paradoke" (a portmanteau of "parody" and karaoke").

For this, appropriate for Cinco de Mayo (thought I'd post this while it's still said holiday), they did this number, which is a parody of Kokomo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN7t7PMZOb8

After debating with myself, I decided that the AGS project I had on hold needed to be done over.

So, after I get done with my current non-AGS project, I'll probably ask the person in charge of the Recruitment section to kinda remove the previous thread about it (it was the "Sarimento" thread), and I'll probably post anew (I guess trying to include a Verb Coin when I was still in the dark about it was a bad idea).  Hopefully next time I can finally get some momentum going and actually get help with it.

Just thought I'd set apart a threat for sharing jokes for this month.  (Preferably clean ones.)

You know, just post a funny joke (again, clean if possible) in this thread.  I might start a new thread for next month.

I'll start...

Ban pre-shredded cheeses in the USA--make America grate again!

By now you've heard we lost Don Rickles... famous insult comic and the voice of Mr. Potato Head.

Rest in peace, ya hockey puck.

I've a fun idea...

How about we make up some "You Don't Know Jack" questions based on Adventure Game Studio games.

Lemme make one up to get it started, and give you the idea.

--

Category Title:
What You Talkin' 'Bout, MAGS?!

[Cash amount told.]

Host:
So, I've been looking through the Hall of Fame, and noticed one of the REALLY old MAGS themes--MAGS, for those not "in the know", refers to a monthly competition where one tries to make a short Adventure Game Studio game before the month's end to fit a particular theme.  Well, the one of the earliest themes was "Textless", where they have to develop a game without the characters using ANY kind of text in game--with a few exceptions.  And it got me thinking...

[Question shows up, Host reads aloud.]

Question:
Suppose a programmer back then was struggling for some inspiration, and looked to a Super Nintendo game for ideas of how to make a Textless game.  Which would give the best inspiration for a possible competitor of "Textless" adventure games.

(1) Super Mario World
(2) Young Merlin
(3) Lagoon
(4) Final Fantasy II

Wisecracks for wrong answer

Spoiler

(1) Host: Obviously you ate way too many mushrooms.  Drugs are bad, m'kay? (cash deducted)

(3) *siren going off and sound of a ship sinking* (cash deducted)

(4) Host: No, actually, there's a crap ton of dialogue in Final Fantasy games, and this game--really Final Fantasy IV, but that's just semantics--is no exception.  You need to grind some more. (cash deducted)

[close]

Response for right answer

Spoiler

(2) Host: Young Merlin very rarely, if ever, uses text.  Most of the dialogue is word balloons or thought balloons showing the item needed or the character to see... or similar stuff.
(cash added)
Host: So even in his younger years, Merlin had a little trouble in "spell-ing"! (rimshot) Booyah!

[close]

--

So you got that?  Make up a cute category title, the question, and in spoiler tags the responses for wrong answers and right answers.

Or, perhaps you might make up a "Dis or Dat" category.

Lemme provide an example of that.
--

Category: The Land Down Under Can Be Spooky, Mate

Host: I'm gonna list off seven Adventure Game Studio games, and I need you to tell me if it's a game by Ghost, or a game by Ben304.  If you think Ghost spooked up this idea, Press 1.  If you think Ben304 gave us the gem, press 2.  And press 4 to skip.
[Cash amount for right answer, or deducted for a wrong answer or ones the player didn't get to.]
Host: Let's do this.

(1) Chance of the Dead
(2) Eternally Us
(3) Heed
(4) RAM Ghost
(5) Featherweight
(6) Once Upon a Crime
(7) Annie Android: Automated Affection

Spoiler

Correct Answers
(1) 1
(2) 2
(3) 2
(4) 1
(5) 2
(6) 1
(7) 2

[close]

Host's responses.
0 Right: Yep, we have an ubernoob here.
1-2 Right: Why not go play one of Ghost or 304's games?  Or any more AGS games than you have already.
3-5 Right: Sounds like you need to restore a saved game somewhere... you need more practice.
6 Right: Keep trying and you might get the maximum possible score.
All 7 Right: Ben304 is impressed.  Sounds like you could be a person who could be a teammate on his next project, mate!

[After score is tallied]

Host: Those games are examples of the greatness of AGS, but with practice, you might one day join their ranks.  We'll see.

--

Or, perhaps you might be into a Gibberish Question?

Here's a good template for that.

--

Category:
Better Get That Candy Replenished Pronto!

Host (after explaining how Gibberish Category works): So, what recent MAGS game title does this rhyme with?

Gibberish: She mad when your toffee be low

Hints:
* It's a recent MAGS game...
* Involving time travel...
* "The Escapade of the Protagonist" would be too complicated.

Answer

Spoiler

The Adventure of the Hero

(After score tallied)
Host: The Adventure of the Hero.  Kind of generic, but whatever, we'll go with it.  Props to him for his entry.

[close]

--

Maybe when we get the ball rolling with this idea, I could even make up other questions, like "Nocturnal Admissions" (where Cookie Masterson describes a weird dream, and the player has to guess the movie he was referring to, assuming it's a movie); "Cookie's Fortune Cookie Fortunes" (with a fortune cookie fortune and a question based on that); "Funky Trash" (in this case, the host finds used Inventory Items pertaining to a game, and the player has to guess which game it's from); and so forth.  And eventually I would like to make up the Final Round question known as the "Jack Attack", where they must match two words or phrases, as long as they fit the clue.

So... anyone wanna make up You Don't Know Jack questions based on AGS games?

This is one question I've always wanted to ask adventure fans...

We all know Cedric is annoying in King's Quest V ("A POOIsonous snake!")

But there's also that annoying fairy in Zelda, Navi ("LISTEN!!!")

So, my question is, which do you think is more annoying?

Hey, gang!  Listen, I heard word from an internet friend of a data leak on CloudFlare.  Among those affected include Paypal and Amazon, and a long list of others.

Not sure if Adventure Game Studio (forums and other parts of the site) are connected to CloudFlare, but better safe than sorry... better update your passwords here, and on Paypal, Amazon, and other sites you're on.

(Usually, I update my passwords near the beginning of a month, but this news has made me update mine even earlier.)

The saying of "Hindsight is 20/20"...

Well, thinking back on the "Genre Shift" MAGS contest... for sake of hindsight, I figured that "Phantasmagoria" or "Gabriel Knight" would've been great (in the "genre shift") as Castlevania clones.  What do you think?

Also, if you have some "hindsight" ideas of what could've been put in the Genre Shift back then, feel free to share what they could've been here.

Hey all.

My current game project is slow going (kinda happens when you have to do the game pretty much by yourself; also, trying to get the Verb Coin to work correctly may have been what slowed things down tremendously).  I had wanted to get it done before year's end, but obviously it won't happen that soon.

So, I'll take care of what I can till about Jan. 6th of this coming year, but then put it on hold (fear not, I'm not canceling it--I do want to do the AGS game eventually), because I want to work on (hopefully) my first commercial game (this game made with RPG Maker 2000, though).  I hope to resume the current AGS project when that other game project is done.

Just wanted to let you know what's going on early this coming year.

[Edit] I may be starting the AGS hiatus earlier--after I wrap up one sprite, I'll put the project on hold and start my RPG Maker 2000 project.  Yes, it's a game that IS my own idea (not a fangame) and a project to be a commercial game.  But once that RM2K game project is done, hopefully I can resume the AGS project.  I do not want to cancel it--far from it.  I just need to work on other things for a while.

Okay, I think AGS is starting to glitch.

I'm working on a dialogue tree early on.

One character, Skjold, has this dialogue tree (I had to get creative, since most characters have separate first name and last name).

Code: ags

// Dialog script file
@S  // Dialog startup entry point
return
@1
Sarimento: "So who put the snatch on your sweet daughter?"
  cSkjoldB.Say("It was that cruel warlord, Pertteli Hallanlavan.");
  cSkjoldB.Say("He was sent by his partner-in-crime, the sorcerer Vekell Sorteisen.");
  cNynneB.Say("He wanted to set an example of what happened to those who would dare to stand up to him.");
  cSkjoldB.Say("If he finds out Lara had been saved, he'll be furious!");
Sarimento: "I look forward to taking him on."
  cSkjoldB.Say("Don't let your overconfidence get the better of you.");
return
@2
Sarimento: "What land have I landed in?"
  cSkjoldB.Say("You are on the lovely Hyperborean Island.");
Sarimento: "Sounds kinda cool."
  cSkjoldB.Say("Ha ha... in fact, it's pretty cold.  For most of the year, anyway.");
return
@3
Sarimento: "Nice talking to you!"
  FirstTalkSkjold = true;
  NeedToTalkToSkjold = false;
stop

And the other character, Nynne (Skjold's wife) has this dialogue tree.

Code: ags

// Dialog script file
@S  // Dialog startup entry point
return
@1
Sarimento: "How did these troubles start?"
  cNynneB.Say("Pertteli and Vekell had come from a kingdom that used to be friends of ours.");
  cNynneB.Say("But then, one day, Vekell had used his magic to deceive the ruler of the other kingdom.");
  cNynneB.Say("The neighboring king thought we of Hyperborean Island had attacked them, so he sent Pertteli and Vekell, and their men, after us.");
  cSkjoldB.Say("Eventually, the king realized the deception...");
  cNynneB.Say("But by then, it was too late to stop the enemies.  The invasion had begun.");
return
@2
Sarimento: "Who else is in your family?"
  cNynneB.Say("We have an older son.  His name is Dynes.");
  cSkjoldB.Say("He wants to face Pertteli and Vekell, but he is not that much of a warrior, and even he himself acknowledges that.";
Sarimento: "Perhaps I can talk to him.  At the very least, he might have some useful information I need."
  cNynneB.Say("Thank you.  It would give him confidence.");
return
@3
Sarimento: "Thank you for talking to me."
  cNynneB.Say("It was an honor.");
  FirstTalkNynne = true;
  NeedToTalkToNynne = false;
stop

I try to do a test run, but when I try, I keep getting the error message "Error (Line 27): Unexpected End of File."  It's in Nynne's dialogue tree, but not on Skjold's.  Even though they are set up the same way, and should've had the same syntax.  Does AGS have a bug or something, or is there something I'm missing in Nynne's dialogue tree?

I discussed this with Stupot+ in notes, but I wanted to share this.

I had yet another random thought related to adventure games in general... it came shortly after this current MAGS started (Oct. 2016)...

What if Phantasmagoria or the Gabriel Knight series were done in the art style of the anime/manga "Death Note"?