Messages

Last chance to vote, guys. Your vote can still make a difference.

Thanks Cat.

You can still vote for your favourite MAGS game of 2020 for the next few days. A few more votes would be really helpful.

https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=58950.0

The deadline for votes has been set for the 13th so you’ve got about another week of voting.

[I´m the last man on earth. You?]

I´m the last man on earth. You?

That’s 7 words, at least. Nice twist though.

Could it also be a cure for a supernatural disease?  Like magical, or perhaps a variation of one of the Resident Evil viruses, or whatever?  Just thought I'd ask.

Don’t see why not. Usually the MAGS theme is quite open to interpretation.

Bongs?

So if I want to put a song by The Cure in the game does that count as pre-existing asset?

Yep. Unless you can get Robert Smith to compose an entirely original song just for your game.

Thanks for all the votes so far. A picture is starting to emerge.

It would be nice to have a few more if you have a moment, especially if you are a frequent participant of the monthly contest.

Looking back at all the games, it really is a quality selection. It's always warming to know what great content can and does continue to come out of MAGS. Well done, folks.

Four entries this for March. Well done everyone. Time to vote for your favourite using the poll above.

Don't forget to rate and comment on the games in the database, where possible.

	Food Wars by Slasher
	I Rented a Boat by eri0o
	Huggles Goes on a Trip by fernewelten Win | Lin
	Return Journey by GOC GAMES

@fernewelten - there seems to be a problem with your images. The forum doesn't seem to like it. If you can sort it out and give me a new link, I'll update the table asap.

As always, let me know if I've made any glaring faux pas.

[What a Whopper]

The winner of MAGS April is:
What a Whopper, by slasher.


Topic: The Cure
Set by WHAM
Deadline: April 30



Since we're all having to deal with all sorts of medical issues from time to time, lately more than usual, wouldn't it be nice if there was a cure? A cure for that one thing that's really a big problem right now? A cure for whatever ails you or a loved one specifically? Or perhaps something most grand: the cure to all disease, anywhere, forever?

Create a game where a key concept is a cure for an ailment or medical condition. What the cure is like, or what happens to it, or what the player/protagonists relationship or attitude to this cure is, remains up to you.

Teaming up is permitted. Pre-existing art assets, such as graphics, sounds and music, are permitted. Originality is encouraged.

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.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Nice few entries. Good show, everyone. I’ll sort out the voting etc as soon as I can, so you have about 12 or so hours to fix any last bugs and technical issues :-)

Thanks for voting.

It now says “The Fozen Shorre”. Just kidding.

I think it would be great to tsk about the games in here if it means keeping people interested and reminding them to vote. Of course try not to sound like you’re trying to affect people’s opinions, but otherwise go for it.

[WHAM]

Yep. Well done WHAM. You are the winner of MAGS February, for One More Fathom.

I'll PM you about choosing a topic for April, so get your thinking cap on.

Thanks to everyone who participated. Keep an eye out for a new topic on April 1st.


Also, please kindly turn your attention to the voting for MAGGIES 2020, and choose your best three games from last year.

[The Cabin]

The winner has been announced. For those of you who missed the result in the AGS Awards, the winner was:

The Cabin by TheBitPriest.

Good job, TBP. You won by quite a margin, so well done.

Thanks to all those who voted. We ended up with the same number of voters as last year even though the voting period was much shorter, which is great.



Thank you to everyone who made a game for MAGS in 2020. And thank you to everyone who played the games and voted, rated, commented, and otherwise got involved. You all rock.

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 2020 and vote for your favourite games among the winning MAGS monthly entries. There are 13 entries to choose from (as we had two joint winners for September).

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

A few requests before you 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.
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
Voting lasts until April 13th, and the winner will be announced during the AGS Awards ceremony a few days later.

January "Misfits"		Fritz the Cat by Slasher
February "Frozen World"		The Frozen Shore by JackPutter
March "Death Defying"		Dangerous Derek's Livestream by JackPutter
April "Sky High"		The Penthouse by Intense Degree
May "Forgotten History"		Pride and Relatives by Intense Degree
June "Outside"		Perceptions by Slasher
July "Distance"		Distance No Object by Slasher
August "White Elephant"		A Prelude to an Adventure by Hobo
September "Cloak and Dagger" #1		The Spider's Web by Slasher
September "Cloak and Dagger" #2		My Father's Secret by JackPutter
October "Darkness"		Lord of Light by PlayPretend
November "Rain and Snow"		The Cabin by TheBitPriest
December "Companions"		Tom and Jimi in: Blowout! by Slasher

Happy voting!
Please do let me know if there are any issues or mistakes.

Click here to vote

[Pig in a Poke]

Once again. Apologies for the delay.

You can now vote for your favourite game of MAGS February.

Please play both games and vote using the poll above.

(And don't forget to rate and comment on the games in their respective homepages.)

Pig in a Poke by Slasher

One More Fathom by WHAM

Thanks to all participants.

I've had an idea for some time now, though it's mostly about a bit of a pit stop rather than a full journey, would it still fall under the theme?

I’m sure you can make it fit. Technically we’re all constantly on a journey of some sort at any given moment.

[I Rented a Boat]

The winner of MAGS March is...
I Rented a Boat by Eri0o
Very well done.

	Food Wars by Slasher
	I Rented a Boat by eri0o
	Huggles Goes on a Trip by fernewelten Win | Lin
	Return Journey by GOC GAMES

Journey
Set by Racoon and Slasher

One day you find yourself on the road, if for a small trip or an epic adventure is your choice. It is not about the Destination, it is about the Journey.




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.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Well done to Slasher and Racoon. You have won MAGS January. You’ll be contacted soon about setting a topic for March.

Big thanks to you both and to CaptainD and to all those who played the games and voted.

Japan still stubbornly think there’s going to be an Olympics this year. I can’t see it happening. We haven’t even started vaccinating yet. There’s talk of having it behind closed doors but what would be the point?

Do you think we're going to get a "Mario and Sonic at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games" if it does happen this year? 

I’d love to see some sort of nod to those games. There have been some Mario 35th anniversary things going on but it’s been quite low-key, and they opened Super Nintendo Land recently, so that’s all good.

Haha. Sorry you have to go through that, PlayPretend. It’s amazing they have to make it law and people still refuse. In Japan mask-wearing is only a recommendation, yet pretty everyone is wearing them. Yesterday: 1570 new recorded infections, nationwide.

Japan still stubbornly think there’s going to be an Olympics this year. I can’t see it happening. We haven’t even started vaccinating yet. There’s talk of having it behind closed doors but what would be the point?