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You can change what room the game starts in by editing the main character's initial room [parameter  or by editing the game_start() function in the global script.  The put test code in your room to initialize everything to the desired state.

As you probably surmised already from the replies so far, AGS itself does no provide this.  Long ago (before the time of modules) I created a thing called AnimationEngine that allowed this kind of thing to be done.  It's long fallen into obsolence and so last year I created a Thread Module that was much better and took advantage of the newer AGS features.   Unfortunately I had a hard disk failure as I was on the verge of releasing it and so it's now all gone; except for some incoomprehensible notes and silly notions floating around in my head.   

For me this is something that is absolutely essential so I intend re-creating it when I find  some time.   I'll be sure to let you know...

I think, without being 100% sure, that RickJ once created the BluBox, the ultimate AGS testbed or bead..?

I created and released a very simple version.  It used a predefined GUI and some extender functions that allowed one to easily define and pump data to the GUI via script commands.

I then made a much nicer and refined version where all the functions were defined in a module.   But it was lost to the great bit bucket in the sky before I took the time to release a copy.  That was about a1.5 years ago.

Since then I have recreated the enhanced version and refined it a little further.  I'm still working on it and so haven't released it yet.  But there is a copy available online of what I have so far.  I have used it to test the MODOX module (Module Documentation Extractor) I am also working on.   A new version of Modox is eminent, as soon as I document the templating language and make a ZIP it will be done.    

Anyway you can download a working copy of BluBox from the modox link given in this thread:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=39512.0

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The only draw back with this is that in order to watch a variable the script must be changed, compiled and tested.   If it were possible to access a variable via a text string reference at runtime then it would be possible to make changes to the debug GUI without recompiling etc.  

Calin's scenario is easily implemented with a pause instruction.  I don't recall if BluBox currently has specific provisions for this.   However, I think the AGS debugger allows one to single step through a loop and define break points.  I do recall that implementing a "trap" Led Indicator function that turns on and stays on if the variable it is monitoring ever becomes non-zero.  

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Is it possible to write a plugin that would allow  runtime access to variables via a string reference?

@Calin:  I think it would be enough to include a variable lookup table as part the debug ionfo and some functions that would allow them to be looked up by name and displayed at runtime.   Anyone then could devise a debug gui that suited their particular needs.

It would be a bonus if the same could be done with functions.   You know at runtime type in a function name and it's parameters and then execute it...

Is your computer able to boot from a thumb drive?   If so there may be hope ...

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-install-ubuntu-linux-from-usb-stick.html

Plain Ubuntu fits on a CD so you can install that, then follow the above tutorial to make a bootable USB drive.

I don't think Vista is under the same iron fist, no. I could be wrong though
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As I said before KKKWho Owns Your PC? New Anti-Piracy Windows 7 Update "Phones Home" to Microsoft Every 90 Days[/url].  Are you just being naive or sarcastic?

And here is some more new about those wascally wascals at micwosoft ...
http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000681.html

It's just a thought but perhaps we are better of taking our chances with hackers in the wild rather than paranoid microsoftees.

It's because their pants are down to their knees ...

Yeah, When I see 25 year old guys going around like that I would laugh out loud if it weren't so sad.   It makes me think that there are some benefits to warfare.  Of course putting them all on the "B Ark" may be a bit more humane and just as effective (or even more so as idiots sometimes survive combat).

Probably your sub-conscious, non-temporal self realizes these guys are blooming idiots who are clueless about their phenomenal bad taste in music.

If you ever need to talk your way out of a situation just tell them you were wondiering if one of your professors was an asshole when he was "our age" or if he got to be that way over time.   When I heard your music I got this vision of the professor listening to loud rap music in his car like you guys and it just cracks me up.  Thanks .. you guys made my day, I was feeling really down because of that @$#% professor until I walked by here ... but from now on, when I think about him I just crack cup...".

Well, here is a sneak preeview of Google's entry into this realm ...
http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/consumer-electronics/portable-devices/is-apples-empire-in-danger-as-googles-chrome-os-tablet-prepares-to-face-the-ipad

If it get's down to reinstalling windows you avoid formatting the disk; I think you can just delete the windows folder and then reinstall.  I'm running XP under Linux/Virtualbox and I turned off that automatic update shite because I don't trust M$.   Since I use firefox on the  Linux side the machine is not as vulnerable as a naked XP machine.  Though I suppose some would say that I'm being naive and lucky.

You can get the source and documentation for the demo game here:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=34048.0

They'll come for your liver ...

First of all I like the term "clamp"; it's used extensively in control systems.

Anyway I'd like to suggest the use of some conventions that would promote consistency and simplicity.  Much of this is obviously my own personal preference so if your's are different..; well it's your module.

Proposed rules for arithmetic functions such as clamp, max, min, random, etc.:
1) Always make the input value the first parameter rather than the last.   By doing this it makes possible the use of optional paremeters.

2) Begin function names with lowercase letter indicating data type.   For example ClamInt() would become iClamp(). So there would be room for a future fClamp(), cClamp(), sClamp(), and of course the totally useless bClamp()  .

Other proposed rules:
3) Consider using extender function where appropriate.   FaceDirection() is a good candiatel.

4) Consider making object methods where appropriate, at least set a pattern for doing so in the future if required.

I have always found that scaling down looks much better than scaling up.   At the beginning of the design process I identify a typical small room and set a pixel scale at the front most walkable area.  This point could for example be 40px/foot.   I then draw my characters to that scale.   If I want a character that is six foot tall then he is drawn at a height of 240px.  You can choose any scaling that you think works best for your game.

I think most people don't take so much trouble and just wing it.

I had two, I say two Western Digital Hard Drives fail last year.  One was relatively new and it's replacement was brand new and failed within weeks.   I took the hint and replaced the last one with a Seagate.  In the past I have preferred Maxtor but it seems like the have been aquired by Seagate or something.

I think people would volunteer to do builds for their favorite platforms but I think there are issues that would require more porting effort specific to each platform which is beyond the scope of our current one person team.   

I support the idea of increasing the limit.

There is some advantage to Khris's suggestion.   If you logically divide up your controls into groups and then put each control on a separate GUI you may find that it is much easier to manage the layout.  For example if you want to move a row of buttons it's very easy if they are on a separate GUI, you just move the GUI.

A more interesting suggestion is to add the ability to add a GUI within a GUI.  How is that different than what we can do now?

1.  Child GUI positions would be relaticve to the parent GUI's position. 

2.  Child properties such as visibility, enabled, etc would be overridden by changes to the parent's corresponding properties.  For example if the parent visible property is set to false parent and children GUIs are not longer visible.  If the parent 's visible property is true then then child GUIs are visible if their visible property is also true.

3.  GUI event handlers.  The child event handlers could be the same as the parent's by default.  In this way controls on child GUIs would be handled the same way as if they were on the parent GUI.

4. Import./Export - Export of  the parent GUI would also include the children by default.  There could be an option to the exclude children if necessary.  Import of the same would include whatever was exported.

While doing some research for pythonic web hosting I popped into the SMF forum site and saw this portal mod that allows integration of forum and website.   Thought it may be of some interest to the folks following this discussion even if it's not appropriate or helpful with respect to the new website.

http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=1419

@Damien

Morality does not exist in an objective sense, yet it's constantly used as propaganda. It's a personal thing and yet individuals expect others to embrace their values.

I agree with this point.   In the same post you go to illustrate this point further by doing it your self when you say this:

Like Miguel, you assume "given that he pays his taxes, hires people and doing so benefits his social universe". What happens when you attach "no matter what" to your self interests?

The clear implication of your usage of "no matter what" is that acting in one's own best interest will result in immoral consequences.  That's why people who don't like free market capitalism insist on characterising actions taken on one's one behalf as greed.  

I agree with the point SSH makes in his previous post except that he also uses the word "greed" to characterise human nature.  I would restate his point #1 as follows:

"1. People do things that are in their own best interest."