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Hello everyone!

After a year of on-and-off production, part one of "Bestowers of Eternity" is ready for public consumption.

Get it here:
http://www.agsforums.com/games.php?action=detail&id=304

SYNOPSIS:
Rosangela Blackwell is young writer who lives a solitary life in New York City.  The death of her only relative inspires her to seek the truth behind her haunted past.

SCREENIES:




(edit: Thanks to OTG for the nifty banner)

Hm, this is strange.  I have an idle view for a character (called "NISH") where she's playing a flute.  At one point, I want to have her stop playing the flute, so I pass the command:

SetCharacterIdle(NISH, -1, 0);

However, when she walks and stops, she starts playing the flute again.  I'm confuzzled and I'm sure it's something simple.  Any help?

-Dave

I found what looks like a Czech review of one of my games.  None of the online translators I've used seem to be able to translate it.  I'm curious as to what it says.  Could someone take a look?  The link is:

http://www.plnehry.cz/mac/adventure/postmanonlydiesonce.html

Thanks!

Hi all,

Well I've finished about 1/3 of "Bestowers of Eternity," which is going through the beta phase.  This third sort of stands on its own, albeit with a cliffhanger.   I've been debating whether or not to release it.

I've noticed that other people release games in parts (Book of Spells, The Melt/Drake RON series, etc) and I was wondering how people generally felt about it.  

I also figure that  if people like part 1, it would give me even more incentive to finish the rest of the game.

Any thoughts?

With the second year anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy being today, I found myself writing this personal essay.  It turned out longer than I expected, but I wanted to share it with you.  Feel free to share your thoughts.

For my grandparents, it was "Where were you when Pearl Harbor was bombed?"  

For my parents, is was "Where were you when Kennedy was shot?"

Now, for myself and my generation, it's "Where were you when the World Trade Center collapsed?"

Ask any New Yorker and they'll each tell you a different story.  One might have seen the towers go down.  Another might have lost a friend or loved one in the towers. Ask anyone, and regardless of the story they tell you will see one thing in common - it shook each and every one of them to the core.  I live in New York City, so people generally expect me to have a better perspective on what happened than most.  Maybe I do, but I've put off writing about it.  Like the millions of people living in this city,  I have my story.  I can't pretend that it's of greater or lessor importance than the others you'd hear, but as the second anniversary of the tragedy has arrived, I suddenly feel compelled to write about it.  Chase some old demons away.  Come to terms with it. What have you.  

My story does not start on the 11th, but two days earlier on the 9th.  I was in the midst of driving home from a co-worker's wedding and decided to stop in Jersey City.  I walked over to the pier to check out the view.  Across the Hudson River was the downtown financial district and the World Trade Center.  It was a bright, sunny day - achingly gorgeous. Boats lazily made their way down stream.  It had been a fun weekend and I was feeling good.

Then my cell phone buzzed.  It was my mother.  She uttered the words that I had been expecting - but dreading - for awhile.  "We lost grandma this morning."

I'll spare you the emotional details, but it's what you'd expect.  It was like the world dropped out from under me.  I admit I felt a little dizzy, and I grabbed onto the iron railing for support.  My eyes wandered out over the river, meandered their way over the buildings across the water, and soon locked onto the World Trade Center.

If you've never seen the Twin Towers up close, it's impossible to describe how overpowering they were.  They dominated the skyline.  They were unwaveringly consistant and solid and just always THERE.  They were untouchable.  I clung to them.  Within the maelstrom of emotions that was my state of mind, I clung to those towers like a drowning man.  We fragile human beings might come and go, I thought, but those towers will always be there.  The thought was somehow comforting.

It was the last time I saw them standing.

Two days later, my immediate family gathered at the funeral home.  There, we were to meet the hearse and drive to the cemetary on Long Island.  The general mood was, as you'd expect, very somber.  I was standing just outside with my aunt and cousin, talking quietly, when my uncle came out, ashen-faced.  

"I'm going to tell you something that'll shiver your timbers," he said.  Yes, he actually said this.  He told us that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center.  

I admit to not being very fazed at the time.  It was a tragedy, but I was sure it was an accident.  After all, it was bound to happen sometime.  Surely someone wouldn't do something like that on PURPOSE, would they?  But then the second plane hit, and we all knew it wasn't an accident.  Something was horribly, horribly wrong.

But tragedy or no, my family still had a duty to perform.  We piled into two cars - me and my immediate family in one car, my cousins, aunt and uncle in another - and started the slow drive toward the connecting bridge that would take us to Long Island, the cemetary, and our grandmother's final resting place.  It was all too much to take in at once, and my father insisted that we not turn on the radio.  "Right now, it's all about Grandma," he said.  "Let's do our duty and we'll deal with this later."  Sage advise.  We drove in silence,  and I somehow managed to shove the recent events to the back of my head.  

Then we drove over the bridge... and saw them.

It is an image that is permenantly etched onto my retina.  The Twin Towers, which two days before had been my emotional salvation, were now on fire.  Superimposed in front of a harsh, crystal-clear blue sky, they were belching smoke like two flaming cigarettes.  I knew it was complete chaos over there, but the world surrounding my family and I seemed eerily silent and calm.  All we could do was gape at the site in utter disbelief, and all I could think was "Thank God grandma never has to see this."

Eventually, we arrived at the cemetary.  My cousins, who had the radio on during their drive, filled us in on what happened.  Both towers had collapsed.  There were no more Twin Towers.  From now on, we'd refer to them in the past tense.  

Somehow, we got through the funeral.  We did our duty.  It was the most surreal moment of my life.  I uttered a eulogy that I had prepared - it was heartfelt, honest and conveyed what my grandmother meant to me and all of us, but each word felt like ashes in my mouth.  I felt guilty.  I felt guilty feeling sorry for myself.  Minna Gilbert, my grandmother, also known as "Gabby" to my sister and I, had lived a very long, very blessed life and died very peacefully with all of her children surrounding her.  We should all hope to go that way.  How could I feel sorry for MYSELF, when thousands of innocent lives had just been cut short in such a horrifying, brutal way?  

I felt guilty and I felt angry.  I also felt cheated.  This was a day for US.  It was a day for us to mourn and feel sad and sorry for ourselves.  And it was taken away from us.  Maybe that was a bit selfish - and I KNEW it was selfish - but I couldn't help myself.  My emotions were a whirlwind, churning and spinning around like puree in a blender, and I didn't know what I should feel.

The government had ceased all traffic going in and out of the city, so we were unable to get back.  Fortunately, my cousins had a home on the island so we all headed there.  We spent the majority of the day camped out in their den, our eyes glues to CNN, listening to everything but understanding nothing.  We glared at the screen, as if by the sheer power of our collected minds we could will the reporters into giving us answers.  In retrospect, the timing of the events worked out well.  Because of the funeral, we were all together.  None of us were alone.  We had just gone through hell together, and we bond as a family was strengthened as a result.

Trains into the city were running again the following morning, so we headed back.  For the last 24 hours I had seen the NYC skyline on television, but I was extremely wary of seeing the sight for real.  When we stepped out of the subway station, my mother looked up, gasped and shuddered.  "I'll never find my way around this city again," she said.  I knew exactly what that meant.  The World Trade Center was the designated Compass of New York City.  You just had to glance up, look for the towers, and you'll be able to tell what direction you were facing.  No longer.

I walked my father, mother and sister home.  They were living in an apartment just south of Canal street.  Canal street was deemed the cut-off point for traffic.  To walk south of Canal, you had to show ID that you belonged there.  After we got there and settled in, I decided that I needed to get back to my own home.  I needed to be alone for awhile.  I wasn't feeling too well and I just wanted to sleep the rest of the day away.  So I hugged my family goodbye and began the 13 block uptown walk to my own apartment in the east village.

It was the longest walk of my life.

In a city that was always teeming with life, one that was always filled with hustle and bustle and people jostling each other with lots of honking traffic and all-around NOISE, there was now silence.  The sidewalk and streets were crowded with people, but the overpowering quiet smothered the city like a blanket.  Everyone's face was downcast and haunted - much like mine, in fact.  At one point, a metal door clanged shut with a bone-jarring clang.  It was a sound that you hear every other minute in New York, but at that moment everyone reacted like they heard a gunshot.  A few people screamed.  Everyone was on edge.

A tired-looking man came up to me and, in a thick jamaican accent, asked me where the Queens train was.  I told him the next one was on 8th street, but I didn't know if it was running.  It turns out he was a security man and had been at the World Trade Center site for the last 30 hours.  I don't know what came over me, but I was overflowing with emotion.  I grabbed his hand, shook it mightily, and thanked him profusely.  It was just one many examples of fellowship that broke out across the city after that time.  New York has the reputation of being an unfriendly place, and maybe that's justified, but when a tragedy occurs we all pull together.

I got home, took the elevator to my apartment, and collapsed into bed.  There I stayed for a week.  I might have gone out for food, but I honestly can't remember.

It's been two years since that day, and the media has put forth many theories on What It All Means.  One often hears the words "in these post-9/11 times" being tossed around like a badmitton birdie.  In these post-9/11 times it takes longer to get through airport security.  In these post-9/11 times we are no longer as innocent.  In these post-9/11 times we must be vigilent.  Regardless of how you feel about the politics, the aftermath or the wars that followed, you can't deny what a searing impact that day had.  Much like any personal tragedy, our history is now marked.  There was life before 9/11, and now there is life after.

Some of you know that my company is starting a clothing line for Jackie Chan.  I just came back from the industry trade show in Las Vegas where I met the man himself.  Quite cool.  Check out some of the pics here:

http://www.davelgil.com/jackie/jackie.htm

http://www.blacktable.com/loser030811.htm

A nice article that AGSers could appreciate.  It's about why people put so much effort into artistic works for free, and why they keep doing it.  

-Dave

Actually, I just downloaded an animated .gif making program and wanted to show off.





It's a boston terrier.  Woof.

Gives new meaning to the phrase "better half," doesn't it?

It's taken me two years, but I finally got off my duff and recompiled a windows version of this game.  You can get it off of the Reality-On-The-Norm site or download it directly at http://ron.the-underdogs.org/games/post.zip

For those who haven't played the game, here's a screenie:



SYNOPSIS:Pete Bailey the postman has been murdered, and the only suspect is zombie Michael Gower. Help Max Griff, Reality's number one (and so far only) private eye as he tries to unearth the real killer. Charades, vats of acid, Mah Jong and donuts await your investigation!

Enjoy!

Hi all,

Try as I might, I can't get this to work.  I have a "broken sword" type of inventory screen at the top and I can't get my game to register the button click.  Any tips?

Here's my code:

if (interface==3) // INVENTORY GUI
 {
     if ((button == 2) && (game.top_inv_item < game.num_inv_items - game.num_inv_displayed))      
     {
   
   game.top_inv_item = game.top_inv_item + game.items_per_line; // scroll up
   
     }
   if ((button == 1) && (game.top_inv_item > 0)) // scroll down      
     game.top_inv_item = game.top_inv_item - game.items_per_line;
 }

Hi all,

I'm going to be adopting a Boston Terrier soon and am blanking on what to call the little guy, so I figured I'd turn to you guys for advice.  So... any suggestions?

Hi all,

I've been trying to program my own "broken sword" like inventory window.  I thought it was working, but it's now a complete mess.

My GUI works with no icons.  Essentially, you left-click to walk and interact, and you right click to look at something.  Outside of the inventory, that works perfectly.

The inventory GUI is called by moving the mouse to the top of the screen, and the inventory items are displayed.  Right-clicking on the items gives you a description.  No surprises there.  Left-clicking selects the item, and the cursor turns into a graphic of the inventory item.  Fine.

However, when I move the cursor out of the inventory GUI, then move it back in, the cursor turns back into the standard cursor!  But it still reacts like the inventory item is still selected (i.e., you have a locked box and a key.  You left-click the key, the cursor turns into the key, you move the cursor out of the inventory window, then move it back in.  The cursor turns back into the default arrow cursor, but you can still click it on the locked box and it works).

Another thing, the cursor spontaneously changes into the AGS "look" or "walk" cursors for seemingly no reason.  Right-clicking fixes the problem, but I don't know why that's happening.

I've posted my code below.  Any light shedding appreciated!  

Thanks,

-Dave


function on_mouse_click(int button) // called when a mouse button is clicked. button is either LEFT or RIGHT
{
   GetGlobalInt(284);
   if(GetGlobalInt(284)==0)
   {
       if (button==LEFT) // LEFT CLICK
   {
   GUIOff(2);
   if(GetGlobalInt(1)==0)
   {
       ProcessClick(mouse.x, mouse.y, MODE_USE);
       ProcessClick(mouse.x, mouse.y, MODE_WALK);  
   }
   else if(GetGlobalInt(1)==1)
   {
       ProcessClick(mouse.x, mouse.y, MODE_USEINV);
       SetGlobalInt(1,1);  
    }
   else if (GetGlobalInt(1) ==2)
    {        
       character[INVIS].room=character[EGO].room;
       SetPlayerCharacter(INVIS);
       Display("Active Inventory is %d", game.inv_activated);
       SetActiveInventory(game.inv_activated);
       ProcessClick(mouse.x, mouse.y, MODE_USEINV);
       SetPlayerCharacter(EGO);
       character[INVIS].room=-1;
       SetGlobalInt(1,2);
     }
}  

else if (button==RIGHT) // RIGHT CLICK
{  
   GUIOff(2);
   SetCursorMode(6);
   ProcessClick(mouse.x, mouse.y, MODE_LOOK ); // SINGLE-CLICK RIGHT
   SetGlobalInt(1,0);
       
}

else if (button==LEFTINV) // LEFT CLICK ON INV
{
   if(GetGlobalInt(1)==0)      {
       if (game.inv_activated == 4)  //IF PLAYER SELECTS NOTEBOOK, OPEN NOTEBOOK INVENTORY

   {
          GUIOff(3);
          SetInvDimensions(115,10);
          GUIOn(4);
          character[INVIS].room = character[EGO].room;
          character[INVIS].x = character[EGO].x;
          character[INVIS].y = character[EGO].y;
          // if you are in a scrolling room, so the viewpoint doesn't suddently shift
          SetPlayerCharacter(INVIS);    
   }
   else
       {
            SetActiveInventory(game.inv_activated);
            SetGlobalInt(1,1);
            if (notebook ==1) SetGlobalInt(1,2);
       }
   }
   else if(GetGlobalInt(1)==1)
   {
       if (GetCursorMode() == 4)
           {
               RunInventoryInteraction (game.inv_activated, 4);
           }
           else
           {
                RunInventoryInteraction (game.inv_activated, MODE_USE);
           }
    }
   else if (GetGlobalInt(1) ==2)
       {
           character[INVIS].room=character[EGO].room;
           SetPlayerCharacter(INVIS);
           if (GetCursorMode() == 4)
              RunInventoryInteraction (game.inv_activated, 4);
           else
              RunInventoryInteraction (game.inv_activated, MODE_USE);
           SetPlayerCharacter(EGO);
           character[INVIS].room=-1;
           SetCursorMode(6);    
           SetGlobalInt(1,0);        
     }
   }

else if (button==RIGHTINV) // RIGHT CLICK ON INV
      {  
      RunInventoryInteraction (game.inv_activated, MODE_LOOK); // SINGLE-CLICK RIGHT
      }
}


else if (GetGlobalInt(284)==1)
{
   if (button==LEFT) // LEFT CLICK
   {
       if (WaitMouseKey(10)==1)
       {
           QuitGame(0);
       }
       else if (WaitMouseKey(10)==0)
       {
           QuitGame(0);
       }      
 }
}

}

Would you recommending testing it one section at a time?  Or should I wait until the game is complete before getting it tested?

I'd appreciate any comments on this.  I can't seem to get the doctor's coat right.  He's supposed to be a serious old doctor.  The way I have him now, he looks like a cult member.




bigger version:

Hi all,

I have a funky kind of inventory GUI.  A notebook with notes that you can use as inventory items a-la "Discworld Noir."  The problem is, I can't get the notes to line up properly.  Is there a way to manually place the inventory items within a custom inventory GUI?

Thanks!

SYNOPSIS IN A NUTSHELL: Rosangela Blackwell is a troubled young woman living in New York City.  Orphaned since she was five and her only relative locked up in an insane asylum, all she wants is to be left alone.  She is a writer, and enjoys a small if moderate success in the field.  Her quiet and introverted lifestyle is soon shattered with the arrival of deceased 1940s lounge singer Joey Mallone.  Rosa, it seems, is a medium, and Joey is her spirit guide.    It is Rosa and Joey's reluctant destiny to free the world from all spiritual ills, whether they want to or not.

I've been hashing out this plot for a long while, and I finally got it to the point where I am comfortable posting it here.  My goal with this game is to keep create a deep story with a focus on character interaction.  

A demo/teaser is available HERE:  http://www.agsforums.com/games.php?category=101&action=download&game=224

Those of you who played my RON game "Purity of the Surf" might recognize Joey from his brief cameo there.  :-)

EDIT 6/9: The original screenshot I posted is now redundant, since I am no longer using that version of the room.  Here is an updated version:



7/10
Woohoo!  I got the GUI to work.  

* Dave Gilbert does the GUI dance of joy.

Also, OTG/Annie/._. is helping me with some screenies, so the backgrounds are sure to rock.

9/23
Woosh.  I've been working like a mad possessed over the last few weekends on this game.  The first 1/3 is being beta tested right now, and I'm thinking of releasing it as a demo or "Part I" when it's finished.  In honor of the occasion, here's a new screenshot.  This background was drawn by Annie of ._. Productions.  (characters drawn by me)

I just started dating someone.  She's cute, charming, funny, brilliant... there's only one problem.

She owns a macintosh!1!!

She can't download my games and be wowed and awed by my AGS coding prowess.

Damn.

Looks like I'll have to dump her now.

This is Father Raoul.  I like the way he looks, but I'm having a lot of trouble with that bloody priest's collar.  Can anybody help?



enlarged:

Yee-ha.  This is now ready.  And three days before the deadline, too.  

BSpeers' rules stated that the game must use a combination of "Insta-Game" and "Reality on the Norm" sprites/backgrounds, and I think I've followed that pretty faithfully.  So here is my Insta-RON game: "A Better Mousetrap!"

Davy and Elandra are trapped on an alien world.  The jury is out on how they got there.  Did Elandra's new invention go horribly wrong?  Or did Davy's magic cause havoc again?  Regardless, it's up to the both of them to find a way back home.

Features both Davy and Elandra as playable characters!

Download it here:

http://ron.the-underdogs.org/games/trap.zip

(I haven't put it into the RON database yet, but you can download it directly from that link)

Enjoy!