Topics

[Cut it in Half]

Cut it in Half

Guidelines set by: cat
Deadline: April 3rd (Half-way point March 19th)

VOTING OPEN
Please vote using the poll above.

	MORT: Manageably OK Response Team by RootBound
	Pod Dwellers by Mandle
	Breakfast Requiem by jfrisby and Babar

Share it, divide it, split it up, reduce the budget, size, whatsoever.

A big problem for finishing a MAGS game is starting too big. The smaller the scope, the more likely it is you will finish in time.

For an additional challenge, I suggest that you strive for having a game that can be played from start to finish at half-time (March 19th)! Roger walking around an empty screen with blue cup placeholders? Some puzzles still missing? No music? Dialog that sounds like written by a 4 year old? All fine, as long as it is playable. You still have half a month to finish the rest.
No need to post the half-finished game, but a post about your progress would be nice.



What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[The Distant Door]

The Winner of MAGGIES 2023 is:
The Distant Door by Durinde (with 7 votes)
Well done, indeed.

In 2nd place we have The Devil's Teeth by GOC Games (with 5 votes), and injoint 3rd place with have both Elevation by Rootbound, and Tales from a Forgotten Tavern by Ponch (with 4 votes each).

Thanks to everyone who has taken part in MAGS over the past year. We had a quiet 2023 in terms of entries, but the quality of those entries was really high, and things have already picked up for 2024, so with lots of cool-looking games. Keep up the good work.


Now it's time to decide the best of the best. The cream of the crop. The cherry on top, the icing on the cake, the toad in the hole... Now I'm just hungry.

It's time to cast your mind back to 2023 and vote for your favourite games among the winning MAGS monthly entries. There are 14 entries to choose from (as we had two winners each in June and September).

Voting is simple. Just choose your best three games in no particular order. The game with the most tallied votes will be the winner.

A few requests before we proceed.

1) Please try to have played as many of the games as possible (preferably all of them). If you really don't have time to play every game, some of them have videos you can watch instead (🎬). I will try to add more videos over the next couple of weeks.
2) Only one submission per person.
3) Please vote for games based on their own merits (visual, enjoyment, puzzles etc.). Don't just vote for your friend or fellow countryman's games.
4) You do NOT have to be logged into a Google account but you will be asked for your AGS forum name for verification purposes.


Click here to vote

The winner will be announced as part of the forthcoming AGS Awards ceremony.

Now, here are the games.
As always. Please let me know if I've missed anything.

	January The Sea The Devil's Teeth by GOC Games 🎬		February Make a Demo Splendor Solis (demo) by tbook
	March Uplifting Elevation by Rootbound		April Hiking The Errand by 4KbShort 🎬
	May Air The Passenger by 4KbShort 🎬		June* Stranded The Road Trip by 4KbShort
	June* Stranded Mad Jack: Breakdown Shakedown by Rootbound		July Last One Tales from a Forgotten Tavern by Ponch
	August Distance/Separation The Distant Door by Durinde 🎬		September* No Talking, Please The Delivery by 4KbShort
	September* No Talking, Please Lost & Found by Creamy		October Prolific Super Author Simulator 2023 by Rootbound
	November Worlds Collide Worlds Literally Collide by The Great Underground Empire		December Forbidden Dead Phones by noblonski

(* June and September had two winners each)

[Into the Woods]

Theme: Into the Woods
Set by: nobloski

The winner of MAGS February is Brian Eggs is Lost in the Woods by @OneDollar.

	The Second Secret of the Orbs by jwalt
	Brian Eggs Is Lost In The Woods by OneDollar
	Dracula's Mid-Century-Modern House of Mystery by newwaveburritos
	Use It All (Or Forget Your Ball) by Kastchey
	The Green & Red by Babar and jfrisby

Make a game about:
something that takes place in the forest or woods or at least has something to do with it.

Have fun. I'll leaf it to yew guys.

[Trippy]

Theme: Trippy
Set by: The Great Underground Empire

The winner of MAGS January is cat, with the colourful Apfelmännchen.

	Trippy by jwalt
	A Doll in a Dream by Blondbraid
	Apfelmännchen by cat

To get some practice at letting go of making "perfect" art - your game should be heavily, or entirely, based in a trippy visual space.

Whether this is the innate world, your protagonist has ingested hallucinogens, got licked by an alien toad, etc. is up to you.  Go crazy, abstract, wild colors, throw perspective and depth out the window, have a main character who's a scribble or has a changing number of heads.

Bonus points for well-signposted game mechanics or puzzles based around using trippy visuals or logic to overcome obstacles.

[Forbidden]

As a special Christmas treat, I'm giving you a few days head start and a cheeky extra week to make your games. What can I say? The rules are meant to be broken... which is fitting, since this month's theme is "Forbidden"

Theme: Forbidden
Set by: RootBound

	Not My Ron by jwalt
	Dead Phones by noblonski
	Hues of the Haunt by Kastchey

FORBIDDEN

A lot of room to interpret here. Could be as small as a parent's curfew or talking in a movie theater, as medium as forbidden love or trespassing, or as big as a totalitarian 1984 planet. Someone or something in your game should break a rule set by someone or something else.






What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Worlds collide]

Worlds collide
Topic set by: Creamy and 4KbShort

	Wagu Ogambo -- A Reality on the Norm game by jwalt
	The Play of Life by tbook
	Dreamscape: Silent Serenade by Kastchey
	Worlds Literally Collide by The Great Underground Empire

"For this MAGS, show us a split between two or more characters. Does it occur in reality? Or after you cross a doorway to another world?

Is it a split in culture? An enemy you have to work with to obtain your goals? Or just an unknown entity that you have to bridge the gap to further your ends? You decide."



What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Vertices and Vagaries]

Voting is over.

The joint winners were:
Vertices and Vagaries by Rootbound
Topping the Triangle by Mandle
Of the Creation of the Pyramids by Sinitrena

Commiserations to:
Three's a Crowd by Baron


They say all good things come in threes. Or do they, I forget. Well, let's say they do.

Nothing comes in threes moreso than triangles. Triangles not only have three sides, but they also have three angles.

Can you think of an angle for your story?

Whatever you do, I'm sure you will tri your best to come up with acute story.

Deadline: November 5th

[Prolific]

In honor of Slasher, one the legends of MAGS (or MAG, as he called it), we have a special theme for you this month.

Theme: Prolific
Set by: Durinde

The time for voting is now.

Please vote using the poll at the above.

]	Super Author Simulator 2023 by RootBound
]	The Weird Thing Under The Bed by Mandle

Create a game themed around something or someone who produces a lot. Perhaps there's an adventure about a magic tree that produces an abundance of fruit. Maybe a game about a once prolific sci-fi writer who is stuck for ideas or an underachiever is suddenly asked to produce a lot. Perhaps a game about a movie star that seems to get cast in everything and wants to do something else.

Inspirations might include Isaac Asimov, Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, The Rock, and of course Slasher.





What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[No Talking, please]

You say it best, when you say nothing at all. So I will shut my mouth and introduce MAGS September.

Theme: No Talking, please.
Guidelines by: Ponch

This month's MAGS was a tie. Well done to both entries for sharing the win.

]	The Delivery by @4KbShort
]	Lost & Found by @Creamy

This game can have everything except dialog. Nobody says a word! Is the world filled with monsters that hunt by sound? Have space aliens stole all our words? Have you been raised by a colony of devout mimes? Have you taken a vow of silence? Are you trapped underwater and can't afford to waste the air? I don't know! But no one talks in this game!







What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The winner of this contest was: Sinitrena


Greetings, writers and word weavers! We gather once again for our story-writing contest, and this time, we bask in the luminous theme of MOONLIGHT. Let the moon's ethereal glow guide your pens as we embark on a journey through the night skies. Unleash your imagination, and may your stories shimmer like stars in the moonlit canvas of the cosmos. So, take flight on this lunar escapade, and let your words paint the world with the magic of MOONLIGHT. Happy writing, and may your tales enchant us all!
^{(Co-written with ChatGPT)}

^{(Made in Bing Image Creator)}

[DISTANCE / SEPARATION]

Welcome to MAGS August

Theme: DISTANCE / SEPARATION
Set by: Rootbound and 4KbShort

The winner of MAGS August was:
The Distant Door by Durinde

	The Distant Door by Durinde
	The long August longing by Cassiebsg and Blondbraid

Is it something to overcome, or something sought after? It can be as wide as a bay or as narrow as a window. How far can you run, or how close can you stand to what you want to run from? How big or how small a gap can you manage to bridge? And is it a gap between yo and a goal, a loved one, a destination, a home?
Maybe you only need one more inch, one more second. So close, and yet so far. Or so far as to be in a different world entirely. It's up to you.




If you are joining us from Itch, welcome.
Please remember your entries do NOT have to be adventure games but they MUST be made with Adventure Game Studio editor.



What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Tales from a Forgotten Tavern]

Theme: Last One
Set by: 4KbShort

The winning entry is:
Tales from a Forgotten Tavern by Ponch

	Tales from a Forgotten Tavern by Ponch
	Well... Horror, Naturally by tbook

What: Human? Minute? Day? Animal or tree? Maybe the last star?

Where: Is it an item or a moment in time? A place? Does it move? Is it buried? At the bottom of the ocean?

Who: Who else wants it? A greedy corporation? Your evil twin? A time traveler from the future? Everyone?

Why: Why is it so important? Why do YOU need it? Save the world? Save yourself? Destroy it before it's too late?

When: The far future, the distant past, today? Yesterday?







What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Stranded]

The theme for MAGS June is Stranded.
Set by: 4KbShort.

It's time to vote for your favourite game of MAGS June.
Please vote using the poll above:

	The RoadTrip by 4KbShort
	Mad Jack: Breakdown Shakedown by RootBound

"You're walking through the woods, there's no one around and your phone is dead..."

Get stranded and use your adventure game logic to escape or make a new life or die trying? The possibilities are endless! Or at least only limited by your imagination and coding skills.

When: 2967 or 1853?
Where: Desert Island, Moons of Mars, The midwest, Another Dimension?
Why: Crashed vehicle, experiment gone wrong, someone betrayed you!?
How: Build an escape craft, sacrifice a loved one, trick a demon into granting your wish?






What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Air]

The theme for MAGS May is Air.
Set by: RootBound.

The win for this month can be claimed by 4KbShort for their game The Passenger.
https://4kbshort.itch.io/passenger




Yes, it could be literally set up in the air:




Or it could simply be a place where air is needed:





What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Voting is over.The winner is:To Play the Queen of Hearts by Baron]

Voting is over.
The winner is:
To Play the Queen of Hearts by Baron

From the bright lights of Broadway to talent night in the local village hall, the stage has long been a symbol of creative expression and cringe alike. But what does it mean to be on stage, to play a part in the grand performance of life?

Don't wait in the wings. Tune your instruments, warm up your vocal cords, and take your rightful place in the spotlight.

We want stories where the stage is the star of the show:

A tale set around either the creation of a concert, or the story of what happened to some people attending the musical, or a murder mystery set in the chaos of a Christmas nativity play.

Break a leg.

[Hiking]

Calling all adventure-seekers. It's time to strap on those boots and take a trek through the rugged terrain of MAGS April.

The topic this month is: Hiking
Set by tbook

The winner is The Errand by @4KbShort. Well done.

Please vote using the poll above.

	The Errand by 4KbShort
	3 Days to Pandora (Demo) by Coco The Clown

Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside.






What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I've found myself stuck. Any hints would be gratefully received.

Spoiler

I have the antenna with the thread around it, but need to find some kind of adhesive.
I have the bowl with the sugar and starch, but need to find something spicy.
I haven't worked out what to do with the shopper yet.

[close]

@Bulbapuck

The AGS Facebook page is being inundated with spam posts about Fake celebrity deaths.

[Uplifting]

This month's theme is:Uplifting
Theme set by: Stupot

The winner is Elevation by Rootbound. Well done.

	The Gift by 4KbShort
	Elevation by RootBound

Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to lift off! We're here to announce the most uplifting MAGS contest of the year, so pack your bags, grab your metaphors and similes, and get ready to take flight on the wings of creativity. This time, we're not just aiming high, we're reaching for the stars, and we won't stop until we've crafted the most uplifting games the universe has ever seen. So whether you're as light as a feather, as strong as an ox, or just love puns about helium, this is the contest for you. We're looking for games that will lift our spirits, tickle our funny bones, and leave us feeling like we're floating on cloud nine. So what are you waiting for? Let's soar together and create some truly uplifting games!

^{(Description powered by ChatGPT - I asked it to include metaphors and similes. I think it's actually taking the piss 🤦)}

[Make a Demo]

Theme: Make a Demo
Chosen by: Bulbapuck and ddavey1983

The Winner was Splendor Solis by tbook.

	Police Quest 4 SCI(ish) Demo by GOC Games
	Splendor Solis (demo) by tbook

For this month's MAGS competition we want you to make a small demo for a large-scale game that doesn't exist (at least not yet ). Been looking for an excuse to start up that great project in your mind? Or maybe you have a great idea for a small section you haven't found the game for? Now's your chance!





What is MAGS?
Started in 2001, MAGS is a competition for amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to create a game in under a month, following the guidelines set by the previous winner. It aims to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and provide a kick-start into making adventure games. Regardless of skill, MAGS is for everyone. Voting is based on "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, or the best coded. If you have bad art skills, use it as a chance to do some graphic work. If you're sub-standard at coding, use it as a chance to give scripting a go. Ultimately, people will vote for the most enjoyable entry.

Rules
Entering MAGS is simple. First, conceptualize your game following the month's criteria (see above). Second, create your game fuelled only by coffee. Finally, post your game in this thread, including:

* A working download link
* The title of your game
* A suitable in-game screenshot

At the end of the month, voting will begin, usually lasting for fourteen days, and the winner chooses the next month's theme.

Remember that this is a challenge to see what you can do in a month, so any tinkering you do after that, including fixing minor glitches, is against the spirit of the competition. The exception to this is that you may go in and fix major, game-breaking bugs only during voting. We want you to have a game that voters can actually play and that runs on their machines.

So to reiterate, during the voting period fixing major, game-breaking bugs is okay, fixing minor glitches or making cosmetic changes is cheating.

Tips
Here are some ways to make sure you have a game to submit at the end of the month:
* Make a tiny game. Plan small, then cut it in half. Find shortcuts (e.g. if making walkcycles is time-consuming, make the characters static or have it in the first person).
* Plan to have your game playable and submittable with a week to spare. This way you have a week to fix bugs, add some flourishes and maybe even get someone to test it.
* Plan to submit it a day or so early. This way, if there are any technical issues with uploading, they can be sorted out in time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Need a little help with graphics? Perhaps The AGS Trove has something you can use.
Don't want to go it alone? Try the Recruitment board.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++