Messages

"Sir, I'm afraid it's terminal... Next."

For Sal: rtro computr. Kyboard brokn.

Here are some ideas:


Her fillings were all that remained.

Reddening, he waited for his floor.

“Excuse me. Have you seen me?”

“Do it.”
“But.”
“NOW!”
“...”
“Thank you.”


These are always a fun exercise but I find it almost impossible to actually “tell” a story. The best you can really do is hint at the story and hope the reader fills in the blanks. This might involve having to create their own backstories and scenarios that could be vastly different from the author’s intended story. Which is great fun, but I wonder it’s possible to really tell a whole story in 6 words.

[Shoaly You Can't be serious!]

Just two entries this month. Thanks to those who entered.

Time to play and vote:
(Click on the titles to download and vote using the poll above.)

Shoaly You Can't be serious! by CaptainD

In Search of Marina by Slasher and Racoon

Don't forget to rate and comment on the entries' respective game pages.

[Greed]

Topic: Greed
Set by Slasher.

Vote for your favourite game of February by using the poll above.

Pig in a Poke by Slasher

One More Fathom by WHAM

Create a game where you have an insatiable greed for something and will do anything to obtain what you greed for....the more the merrier... Maybe your greed backfires? 

You may use existing graphics...



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 always liked board games though I’ve never gotten into the big epic war games or role playing games. Confession: I’ve never even played D&D properly.

I’m more into abstract games and party games, ones that take like 30 minutes a game. My wife and I recently got into games like Azul and Sagrada, and I’m designing one along similar lines in my limited spare time.

I’ve also got a few Oink Games, these little fun games that fit into a small pocket-sized box. The best one is Nine Tiles Panic.

https://oinkgames.com/en/games/analog/nine-tiles-panic/

Well done to Slasher for winning this round. I’ll PM you in a bit about choosing the next topic.

Nice. I’ve been enjoying the #BerniesMittens hashtag on Twitter.

Trump’s policies (or lack thereof) certainly didn’t do the statistic any favours but there’s over 4 years worth of other stuff blame him for (I think he should definitely take the rap for those who lost their lives in the Capitol riot). But I think pinning genocide levels of corona deaths on him is a bit of a stretch.

Governments fucking up their coronavirus response is pretty much the norm. Saying he’s personally responsible for 400000 deaths is like blaming an avalanche that destroyed your village on the guy who left the gate open.* It’s a terrible statistic but not the worst in the world as a percentage of population (UK is worse, another major policy fuck-up).


*Though admittedly some will be quick to point out that experts had been warning about this type of avalanche for years and the village leaders were supposed to be investing in better gates but they got complacent, so that will need investigating.

Impersonating Arnie, my son added 'And he won't be back.'  A bit of good news at last 

Bravo. Your son is a man after my own heart.

Don’t forget to vote if you’ve played the games, guys. We’ve only had two votes so far. It’s my fault for delaying the start of voting. But please vote if you haven’t yet. Thanks, love you, bye xxx

In Japan they’re not even planning to start jabs until the end of February. I’ll be happy to get it so that I can go back to the UK and see my family who haven’t even met my baby yet.

I think things are gonna turn nasty in January

Called it (not that it wasn’t obvious).

The real question now is will it settle down after Biden’s inauguration or will Trump’s cosplayers double down?

Voting Time.
Thanks to our entrants.
Please vote using the poll above.

Tom and Jimi in: Blowout
by Slasher
https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2501-tom-and-jimi-in-blowout-/

Ka and Da
by VampireWombat
https://vampirewombat.itch.io/ka-and-da

Jason Saves Christmas
by fernewelten
http://loquimur-online.de/ags/JasonSavesChristmas/JasonSavesChristmas.zip

Will we have a last minute flood?

I might be able to present a game this month … but today being Silvester and all, I'm not sure whether I will get it ready by this evening.

Would it be possible to get an extension?

Would an extra 24hrs (from now) do?

[Under the Sea]

Topic: Under the Sea
Chosen by TheBitPriest

The winner of MAGS January is In Search of Marina by Slasher and Racoon

Shoaly You Can't be serious! by CaptainD

In Search of Marina by Slasher and Racoon

With many of us stuck in the gloomy grey of winter, it might be nice to dream about coral reefs and brightly colored fish!

The sky's the limit! Except instead of sky, let's do sea water!

You might make a game about exploring a sunken pirate ship, finding Atlantis, discovering a Lovecraftian horror, piloting a cold-war era submarine, or even dancing with singing lobsters. The only requirement is a significant part of the game is under the sea. It doesn't have to be tropical. You may be indoors in a vessel or facility. You may also start topside, as long being under the sea is a major component of the game.



Pre-made assets are allowed.

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 TheBitPriest for The Cabin. You are the official winner of MAGS November by quite a margin. You’ll be contacted soon about choosing a topic for January’s theme.

Thanks to all who entered and voted.
12 votes ain’t bad. If only half of those people were to go and rate the games in the database, (which was the condition for granting the extension), we might start seeing some orange cups. 

I've left comments on each game page...

That’s my man.

Remember the deal, everyone.

When I try to think of AGSers who actually put out games every so often (or work on AGS games in some capacity), I think it might as well be 50/50. I mean maybe there are more guys, but it’s not as though we’re lacking in female representation.

When it comes to AGSers who fart about and never actually make anything (guilty), the proportion of males to females feels much higher.

What I’m trying to say is that AGS girls put out more than the guys.

Now that the electoral college has certified Biden as the winner we are another step closer to the end of the trumpocalypse. But still don't let your guard down until Biden is actually sworn in near the end of the January.

I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Trump’s attempts to stay in power and I think things are gonna turn nasty in January but I have faith (especially since both the electoral college and the Supreme Court have spoken) that he will ultimately fail. Thankfully the US isn’t Russia where Putin can just keep moving the goalposts to keep himself in.