Topics

[What is MAGS?]

What is MAGS?
MAGS is a monthly competition for all amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to use AGS to create a game in under a month, following the rules set by the previous winner.

For more information please visit the Official MAGS website.

Why should I enter MAGS?
We're not here to tell you that you should enter MAGS, but merely allow it as a creative opportunity to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and generally as a good kick-start for the new comers.

MAGS is the perfect opportunity to make a game, and the wonderful prize is to announce the next month's rules, and all competitors get the game placed on the MAGS website.

MAGS is meant to be fun and is aimed at everyone, despite their skill. If you have poor art skills work on graphics, and vice-versa, as the voting is based on "favorite" games, and not the most artistic. You may get help for the competition, as long as you end up doing something yourself. You should however be warned that it should prove hard to organize a big team within 25 days.

You are not allowed to (re)use material already created before this competition, you game must be completely new! An exception goes for sounds and music where you can also use free material that is available to the public. Modules and templates are allowed.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours)

This means that you can make a game and rush it, but don't do it to just win by default.

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

Topic: A game of two halves :

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner tzachs:

_________________
Something in the game should be drastically changed in the middle of the game.
Examples:
* The genre of the game should change from horror to comedy
* The music for the game should change from rock to classical
* The character of the game should change from a boy to a girl
* The interface of the game should change completely
* etc etc, anything goes!

The only limitation here is, there has to be a clear justification in the plot for the change. If the user will ask himself "Why???" then you have failed...

For bonus points, you can change more than one thing  

________________


Thread Rules:

1)  Comments are allowed at all times but should be hidden before and while the voting.

2)  Participators are allowed to patch their games even while the voting but I should be informed via pm or here, and only IF the game has a serious bug that makes it crash. Due to the inability of keeping track of versions of the games, I've settled to this.

3) It would be wiser to add the game to the AGS database, so you can easily do changes to the game, while the voting is going on, without having to inform me at all.

So you can patch your game, if it crashes or if it can't be completed.


Have fun this month too!!
All games till the 25th.

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


So changes starting this month:
1) Anyone can comment, critic and express his opinion about an entry, the MAGS, and the host's mother, without being obliged to hide it! As long as the critic isn't like "You suck", something more elaborate could be more useful because after all this is a test for all developers to see if they can really make a game within a month, therefore feedback is crucial.

2) If you don't wish comments for your games..don't look at them! Seriously. Would you post a game and not expect feedback? Only Yahtzee is expecting "You're a god!" type of feedback. The rest of us mortals don't have fanboys.

I haven't coloured it in purpose.



Please don't be harsh. At least not too much.
I'm an amateur, so certain terms, might really make me wonder..

Some other attempts with a brush in GIMP.






It's terribly rough, but I think I'm in the right direction. I'll start when I'm having a cool idea, but so far it has brought sort of fast results. This was done in like 2 minutes. I was just having fun.

I'm wondering do you guys use brushes to do the sketch? Or you just skip the sketch and directly draw-colour?
Is there something better than GIMP except photoshop that deals with layers and stuff?

This isn't perhaps exactly the critics lounge, but I am asking for critique but not in my results but rather in my methods.

[I want to:]

I'm wondering how is it possible to get an object's graphic image, even if scaled and put it into the mouse?
I have no idea on how to actually handle the scaling thing. I've searched a bit, but I'm really into a dead-end. I'm sure it's something really obvious but for the life of me i can't really see it.

I want to:
1)Get the image the object has (even scaled or somehow find a way to scale it (apparently with function DynamicSprite.Resize I guess))
2)Put it into the mouse image, or even better constantly update an inventory item's cursor image (if that's possible by the Engine)

I think the best way would be to get the area scaling by GetWalkableArea(object.X-1,object.Y); function?

What exactly you want to do Dualnames?

Ethan said

I'm a little confused by what your asking.  But if you just want to set the mouse sprite to what a certain object's sprite is then this should work:

mouse.ChangeModeGraphic(eModeInteract, object.Graphic);

Just use whatever name you have for the object and whatever mode you want to change.  

I could be way off on what your asking though...  

And replying to that:

What you're suggesting will indeed do half of what I want. But it doesn't access the image the object is having if it's like scaled 120%, but instead finds the 100% size of that image, because .Graphic property redirects to the sprite manager sprite slot.

Plain:

object graphic: sprite 1 != object graphic sprite 1 if object scale is !=100%

I'm thinking of spending good 40 euros max or at least a couple to match the price, for a digitizer. But I'm wondering is it better to draw on a tablet or on pen and paper and then scan it? I know you guys are going to suggest like Wacom. But the models are relatively high in Greece, or I have to pay a lot for shipping costs.

[Oldies that don't post anymore but have recent log dates:]

I've been watching lately this weird thing. Lot of oldies, log-in, very recently, but haven't posted either from this August or November or from a very long time. Also lots of guys I came in with or have been with me while I've been around are like gone or totally gone.

Oldies that don't post anymore but have recent log dates:
Meowster (she just broke that habit, but long time before she did)
Scumbuddy
DGMacPhee
lemmy101

Oldies that haven't posted since summer..
Dan Clarke
Rui Pires
Kinoko
Candle
Fovmester


I'm not like advocating people to post like Calin or me, and I don't expect people to do that. But ..it's just itches me. Aren't forums anymore what they used to be anymore, for me?

I'm wondering because it's been bugging me with the "Plugin Help" topic a lot. Is it really possible to have a drawing surface that will be drawn instead on the background as it is now, in front of everything (characters and objects)? Perhaps allowing to set its baseline, might even work better. I'm just asking, because I want to do something, but the only way I get the effect I want is via a Drawing Surface, otherwise there are serious drawbacks, and no way seems to be able to overcome the drawbacks of the engine.

Equally, if it's more easy to implement the ability to draw a transparent sprite on an overlay, it would really make my day.

I'm not demanding anything. I'm just asking with force..

[What is MAGS?]

What is MAGS?
MAGS is a monthly competition for all amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to use AGS to create a game in under a month, following the rules set by the previous winner.

For more information please visit the Official MAGS website.

Why should I enter MAGS?
We're not here to tell you that you should enter MAGS, but merely allow it as a creative opportunity to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and generally as a good kick-start for the new comers.

MAGS is the perfect opportunity to make a game, and the wonderful prize is to announce the next month's rules, and all competitors get the game placed on the MAGS website.

MAGS is meant to be fun and is aimed at everyone, despite their skill. If you have poor art skills work on graphics, and vice-versa, as the voting is based on "favorite" games, and not the most artistic. You may get help for the competition, as long as you end up doing something yourself. You should however be warned that it should prove hard to organize a big team within 25 days.

You are not allowed to (re)use material already created before this competition, you game must be completely new! An exception goes for sounds and music where you can also use free material that is available to the public. Modules and templates are allowed.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours)

This means that you can make a game and rush it, but don't do it to just win by default.

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

Topic: Chunky Salsa:

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner discordance:

_________________
Choose three or more of the following elements and make a game out of them:

- Blood feuds.
- The power of love.
- Eldritch abominations.
- Farmers.
- Beards of unusual size.
- Chunky salsa.
- An ancient war.

Super bonus points if you somehow manage to use all of them.(..secret...)

________________


Thread Rules:

1)  Comments are allowed at all times but should be hidden before and while the voting.

2)  Participators are allowed to patch their games even while the voting but I should be informed via pm or here, and only IF the game has a serious bug that makes it crash. Due to the inability of keeping track of versions of the games, I've settled to this.

3) It would be wiser to add the game to the AGS database, so you can easily do changes to the game, while the voting is going on, without having to inform me at all.

So you can patch your game, if it crashes or if it can't be completed.


Have fun this month too!!

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

Results

Game: The Quest of the Holy Salsa
Author Tzachs and Jakerpot


Foreword

This monthly competition starts sooner! Yes, only 28 days, but I'm always into giving you guys a headstart!
discordance has mentioned that if you match all of his requirements, there will be some bonus points..ask him and not me! Perhaps we can give you guys some votes.

It would be much to ask people to do the whole conversion for me, I've cut down my begging for help. First of I am an imbecile when it comes to plugins. I'm sure they are easily done on AGS but frankly I lack the patience. So can someone code something for me? I want to be able to draw the contents of a dynamic surface into the screen in front of everything. The exact same way snow/rain plugins draws it. So if one can use a function that I can repeatedly execute to draw contents of a drawing surface on screen I'd really be the most content man ever. I did some attempts, but nothing worth.

So something like:

Code: ags

GetDrawingSurfaceAndDrawOnScreen(DrawingSurface*surfme);

Perhaps some code on how to, or the resource files will be handy..I don't know if it matters but the game resolution is 800x600 32bit.

[Theme]

Theme

Well, it's random yes. It can be funny yes, it can be harsh yes! And it's the theme you've all never wished for!

Sci-Fi Stories
Rules:
-The story must be science fiction based. Using original stories is allowed!
-Random elements are allowed!
-No word limit!
-Horror/Comedy/Romance and everything is allowed.

Spoiler

-No Douglas Adams stories. I won't be subjective..

[close]

Started at 25th of Jan 2010
Ends on February the 10th
Vote!

Winner:
Discordance!

[Problem:]

Perhaps this doesn't fit exactly in the technical, but rather in the beginners so I apologize if you think it should go there

Problem:

I'm using the code below to have player type a word, just to get an extra point.
Before player has the chance to type, the Narrator says:

"You feel like..eh..what's the word?"

Notes:
1. Blip is just the equivalent of cNarrator.Say("
2. The gui is called gWord, so when it closes, apparently game carries on.
3.txtwordy is the script name of the text box.

Caveats I've noticed so far:

1. If player says: "I'm no idiot" the game will understand idiot and parse response idiot.
2. I don't want to restrain player into one word response. It's sort of like giving the answer away.

Code: ags

function txtxwordy_OnActivate(GUIControl *control){

if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(txtxwordy.Text)==true) {//So if player accidentally presses enter it doesn't get considered as an input.
return;
}

if (txtxwordy.Text.Contains(GetTranslation("idiot"))!=-1) {//If player says idiot.
    blip("&321 Thank you.");
    blip("&322 An idiot is exactly what you feel like.");
    gWord.Visible=false;
    GiveScore(1);
    return;
}

else {//If a sentence doesn't contain idiot you get this response
        blip("&323 No, actually,'idiot' was the word I was looking for."); 
        blip("&324 In a reckless moment you go completely mad and decide that you ought to take Arthur with you.");
        blip("&325 You try to tell Arthur about the importance of getting a drink, but he's rambling on about a man called Prosser.");
        gWord.Visible=false;
        return;
}
}

So?
Any ideas on how to go through this differently and fix or restrain the caveats I've alrady noticed? It's a really bad thing if the parser responds in a way different way, than you expect.

Human: are you okay?
ALICE: Don't I look like it?
Human: ASDASDASD
ALICE: Can you speak any foreign languages?
Human: ASDASD
ALICE: Do not ask me any more questions please.
Human: ASDASDASDASD
ALICE: I've lost the context, unknown person . Are we still on ASDASD ?

This is from a chatterbot conversation

Well, I've been searching and searching and well nothing. I want to use a module/plugin that works with 800x600, but thing is they either don't work or the effect is drawn on the background/thus behind characters.

I tried 3d Rain which I found awesome, but can't make it work on 800x600.
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=31813.0

But I tried!( )

So anyone any ideas on a rain module for 800x600?

I also tried particle system manager, but still the same. I want to be able to have the same effect from the rain/snow plugin on 800x600. Perhaps either with a module, I've not noticed, or perhaps with another OLD plugin.

[Description:]

Description: Imagine the world is ending before your very eyes. How would you depict this, if you had an orchestra at that moment.

Rules:
-Every music format and style is allowed.
-Duration: any allowed
-Covers of famous songs are allowed.

Ideas:

I'm always thinking of Louis Armstrong - What a wonderful world. If the world ended, i'd have it play!!

[What I've Done So Far]

I'm using this logo as Ben304 uses the two columns with 3 and 4 items. I was wondering any cool tricks on make it better?

• Have it look better for starters.
  
• And any ideas on how to animate it?
  

I've always loved how the Lucas Arts Golden Man logo was changed in every Lucas Arts game for example.

What I've Done So Far

Images




Take 1
You can see how I animate the logo:

View it on photobucket
Mediafire link (really sorry!!)



Take 2

View it on photobucket
Mediafire link (really sorry!!)



Take 3

View it on photobucket
Mediafire link (really sorry!!)



Video Take 4

View it on photobucket
Mediafire link (really sorry!!)

EDIT: The lag you may notice on the video is because of CamStudio. It's rather fluent real-time.

Okay, so well, probably stupid, but who cares anyway?

Okay, I was working really hard today, REALLY HARD, and as I compile the game and everything is okay, I save it. And everything is cool. Then I just try to open it, and the editor won't load it, and a message appears, and I send the technical support to the AGS Website. The menu with the games you've worked on appears, but  no game can load. I'm using AGS 3.1.2 on Windows 7 64bit and everything was working good so far. So I say perhaps an AGS file has corrupted. So I try to open the versions of AGS I have. Same as well. Not even 2.72 will load.

Thing is what did I send? Why's it working? Why was it working so far?

EDIT: Solved. Still what was the error about?

[Authors:]

Ever wondered how to handle and create FOG in an AGS game?

Authors: Dualnames and Ryan Timothy
AGS Dependencies: AGS 2.72 and Later!

Here's the answer to your question. The Fog Module. Mostly scripted by Ryan Timothy.

• Download Fog Module Version 1.00 + Template Files
  

And Video Demonstration

[What is MAGS?]

What is MAGS?
MAGS is a monthly competition for all amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to use AGS to create a game in under a month, following the rules set by the previous winner.

For more information please visit the Official MAGS website.

Why should I enter MAGS?
We're not here to tell you that you should enter MAGS, but merely allow it as a creative opportunity to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and generally as a good kick-start for the new comers (a.k.a n00bies).

MAGS is the perfect opportunity to make a game, and the wonderful prize is to announce the next month's rules, and all competitors get the game placed on the MAGS website.

MAGS is meant to be fun and is aimed at everyone, despite their skill. If you have poor art skills work on graphics, and vice-versa, as the voting is based on "favorite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competition, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

You are not allowed to (re)use material already created before this competition, you game must be completely new! An exception goes for sounds and music where you can also use free material that is available to the public.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours)!

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

Topic: Early Classic Horror:

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner Kastchey:

_________________

Your game must contain the following phrase: "Oh my God... he's alive!"
(she/it alternatively) and either the player character or an NPC must be a typical
monster from those 30s-60s horror films.

Examples:
- A mummy
- A vampire
- A werewolf
- King-Kong or another oversized animal-like monster
- Frankenstein
- Dr Jekyll/Mr. Hyde
- Anything else that cries old school horror.

It would be nice if your game had a setting typical for an old horror film (or book):
a large old house, a castle in a desolate area, a Victorian age rainy town, a spooky
forest - but that's not strictly required.

Have fun!

All games till the 256th.
_________________


Thread Rules:

1)  Comments are allowed at all times but should be hidden before and while the voting.

2)  Participators are allowed to patch their games even while the voting but I should be informed via pm or here, and only IF the game has a serious bug that makes it crash. Due to the inability of keeping track of versions of the games, I've settled to this.

So you can patch your game, if it crashes or if it can't be completed.


Have fun this month too!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winner

Discordance!

[Winner]

Is it really 2010? Yes, it appears it is! So it's also time to find out which was the best game posted in the last twelve months. Weird enough this is the only time in MAGS history, that a host is having his own game. No worries, I'm not allowed to win, I'm just keeping the game there, you can still vote it.

Time to decide who's the ultimate game maker of 2009. Two weeks to vote between the games. Are you really up for it?

We don't want to judge about best graphics, best character or other best categories - there's already a famous award for doing this. "Maggies" just wants to know what's your favorite MAGS game 2009. It's up to you to decide what's most important: Graphics, gameplay, idea, interpretation of the MAGS rules, whatever...


For voting please visit the MAGS site or make your choice right here:

Snow Queen - After The Apocalypse by Kastchey	[DOWNLOAD]
The Hunt for Goldbeard by Bulbapuck	[DOWNLOAD]
Robbing the Princess by OneDollar	[DOWNLOAD]
Alpha Dog by DrWhite	[DOWNLOAD]
Aeronuts by abstauber	[DOWNLOAD]
Trial of the Schnellersparrow by Pinback	[DOWNLOAD]
The Energizer by tzachs	[DOWNLOAD]
The Chronomancers by discordance	[DOWNLOAD]
Ted McBinky and his Steam Engine by FSi	[DOWNLOAD]
Steamsquares by cat	[DOWNLOAD]
Steam Trek: Clueless around Risa by frogking	[DOWNLOAD]
Samarkand by Babar	[DOWNLOAD]
One Of A Kind by Crimson Wizard	[DOWNLOAD]
Ex Machina by SomeSickSelf	[DOWNLOAD]
The North Crown by SomeSickSelf	[DOWNLOAD]
The Deed by Crimson Wizard	[DOWNLOAD]
Minor Minion by Helme	[DOWNLOAD]
Ardent Fever by Tijne	[DOWNLOAD]
The Secret Plan 1 - Running to stand still by tzachs	[DOWNLOAD]
The Colorless Sylph by Tijne	[DOWNLOAD]
Celtic Chaos: episode one - cold mead by Helme	[DOWNLOAD]
Wheel of Torture by Tijne	[DOWNLOAD]
Billy Boy's Important Wine Lottery by Gudforby	[DOWNLOAD]
Souls Quest by jerakeen	[DOWNLOAD]
Proposal by Tijne	[DOWNLOAD]
Rockabilly Kid by Mazoliin	[DOWNLOAD]
Mr. Dangers Contest by poc301	[DOWNLOAD]
Dead in Space by Wyz	[DOWNLOAD]
Breakdown by OneDollar	[DOWNLOAD]
A Place Without Frontier by lord_hellfire	[DOWNLOAD]
Red Flagg Dont Call me Blue - Redux by SpacePirateCaine	[DOWNLOAD]
House Quest II by lord_hellfire	[DOWNLOAD]
Writers Blocks - Tech Demo by bspeers	[DOWNLOAD]
Winners Dont Do Drugs by Dualnames	[DOWNLOAD]

Please vote only once and be sure to have played all games before sending your voice! Good luck to all participants.

Thanks to SpacePiraiteCaine and Ryan Timothy and Leon And Peder Johnsen!

Winner
Without further delay..winner of the MAGS (bored to check)

Spoiler

Abstauber and his game Aeronuts

[close]

[I've tried:]

I wonder how you guys record your in-game AGS scenes you put in your videos. For example like Grundislav does it in his videos.

I've always done a workaround, and it's really tiring, and I've had enough to be honest.

I've tried some "famous" programs but they've really not what I'm after.
I want to be able to record sound from the speakers onto the video  I will be recording, and for the love of god, it has to end up synchronized.
But that's a minorine.

What bugs me more is that I can't find a program to record something and then have the result at the speed I was seeing it. Problem is it ends up really slow, despite I had no trouble when it was recording.


I've tried:
Camstudio (De-syncs and slows down video)
Taksi (Sucks)
ZD Soft (Same as camstudio)
FRAPS (Not freeware. 30 seconds limitation)
Camtasia (30 day trial with all features available, works perfectly.

I'm sure it's probably allowed by Chris Jones, to redistribute your game with its code files, as part of an open source. But if one was to upload it into sourceforge that allows projects to host their files there in open-source format, wouldn't they require to AGS also to be open source as it's the engine?

http://sourceforge.net/develop/

Just an incredibly stupid question out of true ignorance.

There's this thing going on for many versions of AGS (at least till 3.1.2) that when a GUI is open and Sierra Style Speech is displayed the text GUI (if Z order is set properly) will be in front of the GUI, so that's cool, BUT the character (as all characters do that), will appear behind the GUI. And well, I know there's a workaround, but I was wondering is there any chance that this will get (or even got) fixed?

I'm not demanding, just wondering here.