Messages

How are we getting on?
The voting closes on April 24th. Three months is long enough, I think.

[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.

Ouch. I imagine a lot of people said goodbye to some decent streaks today. RIP

Update: my mum got it in three

Spoiler

She was coughing so she started with 'cough', then went 'house', 'hound'

[close]

I made the same mistake

Wordle 668 X/6*

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Thanks for the feedback guys. Mine is coming soon.

Just like my character, Jacob, real life got in the way and I'm embarrassed to say I was unable to vote in time.

Usually I'd be able to give my honest points and forfeit the win if those points add up to more than mine. But because of the way we're doing the scoring this time, I could pretty much decide who by playing with the averages. Not that I would deliberately do that, but whatever scores I give now, no matter how hard I try to be completely unbiased, are just going to look like I've made certain decisions either for or against myself. It seems better for me to just guiltily take the "win" and just open up the choosing of the next theme for everyone to discuss.

So here's my proposal. What if everyone lists a couple of themes (maybe something you have recently considered for the next time it's your turn) and then see which one emerges as one that everyone agrees on.

I think it's too late to upload a fix before voting ends,...

If it's game-breaking and something you think most players will encounter, then I don't think anyone would have an issue with you giving it a quick patch-up.

I haven't noticed that at all, but then again I tend to choose specific bands or playlists dedicated to old music. Even legit music sounds like shitty algorithm-produce these days

That is gorgeous.
Do you have more of these?

@Snarky I happened to refresh the page while you were in the middle of changing the URLs and they briefly showed up.

[Don't Forget the Rice]

Sorry if this is too late, but I have just found myself with a bit of time and was able to pump something out. I'll post it here anyway, and if it doesn't count, that's fine.


Don't Forget the Rice

Jacob had had an idea for his story. It was for a little writing contest that he and a few friends took part in, based on a cosy gaming forum. There were only a few regular particpants, and Jacob always tried to be one of them. The story he had in mind was a bit different from usual. Jacob had to admit that he was a bit of a one-trick pony when it came to writing. His stories always tended to be sort of urban-legend, creepypasta type fare. There always had to be some gimmick or twist. He wasn't really able to just tell a nice story. But this story was going to be different. It was going to be a tear-jerker, goddammit. He was going to make the rest of his fellow writing-buddies cry.

* * *

The story would go something like this: There was a young teenage boy called Simon who was extremely bright and popular, but his younger brother David was involved in an accident and received a traumatic brain injury, leaving him completely disabled. The boys' father had already left years ago and their mother was a drug addict, and not a high-functioning one at that. So, Simon's life immediately changed. He had to sacrifice his popularity and social life in favour of looking-after his brother. This frustrated him at first, and he resented his brother.

One day, he was invited to a party at Greg's house and he and his mum had agreed she would look after David so he could go out. He had made himself look his best and was extra excited because Jenny was going to be there, and he really wanted to dance with her. But he waited and waited and his mother didn't come home. She was off getting high somewhere. So, it was up to Simon to stay at home and feed and bathe his brother... again.

At first, he was just depressed, but he sort of knew it was going to play out like this. But then, as he was spooning a glutinous mash of food into David's mouth, he saw Jenny walking past the window, holding hands with Greg. He lost control and struck his defenceless brother across the face. But David didn't react. He couldn't. Simon looked into his brother's eyes and hugged him, breaking down in shuddering tears. In that moment he realises that his brother is more important to him than anyone in the world and he will do whatever necessary to keep him safe, even if that means sacrificing his social life.

* * *

Something like that.

Jacob was looking forward to fleshing the story out and seeing where it took him. Should David die, or is that too much? What about the mother and her addiction? How might that be resolved? Is it a bit "incel" of Simon to get angry just because he couldn't bone his crush? Jacob spent a fair bit of his waking time thinking about his story and he knew that with a little focus and a little time he might even be able to make it good. And he might even be able to jerk some tears out of his fellow writing buddies.

But focus and time were two things, Jacob lacked the most. His wife was pregnant with their second child and Jacob was forced to put his silly story on the backburner while he kept on top of all the housework and kept their elder son entertained. He didn't wish to moan. He wasn't an asshole. At least he hoped very much that he would not come across as such, but it just seemed to our poor hero that every time he thought he might have a moment to write his story, there was another chore or duty to be done.

As the deadline for the writing contest passed, Jacob wondered if he would ever have a chance to write his story again. Let alone all the other books and big writing projects he had on his laptop, in various stages of "barely begun."

One day, while his son was watching something on TV and his wife was napping, and it seemed that all the laundry and dishes were done, Jacob decided to open his laptop and try to bash something out, despite the deadline having passed already. But no sooner had he clicked on the "Word" icon, than he heard his son. "Hey, daddy. How about we make paper aeroplanes?"

"Not now buddy," said Jacob at first, and obligingly his son didn't ask again and carried on watching the screen.

Jacob also found himself watching his own screen, staring at the blank page. Something was keeping him from typing. He tried to focus, but nothing came to him. Instead, he closed his laptop, took out a couple of pieces of paper and said, "Go on then, turn the TV off. Let's make paper aeroplanes."

And so it was that Jacob never did finish that story. Some say that that blank Word doc titled "Document1" is still somewhere on a hard drive somewhere, long lost to mother nature.

He did, however, manage to write a story, even if it wasn't the story he had hoped to write. One day, before work, he received a phone call saying he wasn't needed until much later in the day. So, he suddenly found himself alone in the house, already pretty tidy, no distractions, and no other chores [except rice, don't forget to cook the rice]. So, he decided he would try to enter something, even though the deadline had long passed. And what he wrote was a story about a guy who really wanted to write a story but couldn't because he kept having to sacrifice his writing time for his family, and he used that story to frame a basic outline of the story that he had originally wanted to write.

Kind of silly really.

Maybe a requirement for consideration in future AGS awards should be free evaluation copies to anyone who requests it, with controlled download links that are shut down after the awards?

I know in the past some devs have at least offered reduced prices during the voting period. Any thing that can get more people playing more of the games is a good idea. It's a bit much to make it a requirement though.

If you genuinely made something good, trust your new fans to support you.  If you didn't, you shouldn't be charging.  (Not aimed at anyone here - this is just something I've strongly believed for years.)

I don't think I agree. If someone is confident they've made a great game, and if they've put a great deal of their own time and resources into making it, and have any desire to recoup some of that, then they have to charge a fixed price. Trusting players to cough up is a bad idea, as most won't if it's optional.

Welcome, @Tiredofthecitylife.

This sounds like an interesting project. Do you have any screenshots? There is a rule that you're supposed to include at least two screenies (but also, I just want to see what it's going to look like).

Well done to 4KbShort and RootBound for making these two brilliant-looking games.

Now it's time for everyone to play the games and vote for the best one.

(Please vote using the poll above)

	The Gift by 4KbShort
	Elevation by RootBound

We'll be winding down the voting for this very soon, once we have a date for the AGS Award ceremony, so it's time to start thinking about voting if you haven't already. Thanks to those who have done so already.

Playthrough videos (🎬) are available for almost* all the titles if playing them all is out of the question.
^{* I still can't get Darkness and Denim to work with my screen-capture software.}

Hi! New here but I heard about MAGS from a youtube video. Can I enter with a team? Me and my friends thought it'd be fun C:

Welcome Coco. Absolutely, team entries are more than welcome. If you and your friends decide to enter, please pop in the thread occasionally with updates and screenshots

Unlucky Intense Degree. Real life has a habit of getting in the way.

April's topic is up if you want a look: https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/competitions-activities/mags-april-hiking-open/

[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.

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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.
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This looks very cool. All the best

Hi @4KbShort, welcome to MAGS. This is indeed where to post your entry. Well done on making a game in just one week.

It seems the link you have provided is broken though. Could you check the link and edit the post if necessary? Cheers.

@RootBound
I hope someone else is planning to enter, but if not, one entry is still better than no entries, so I'm happy to leave the door open a little while. Is three extra days enough?

[Splendor Solis demo]

The winner of MAGS February is Splendor Solis demo by tbook.

Keep an eye out for tbook's chosen theme in MAGS April.