Adventure Game Studio: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
[[Chris_Jones's_History_of_AGS|Related: Chris Jones's History of AGS]] | |||
[[image:Roomake_114.gif|thumb|right|320px|[[RoomMake]], the editor for Adventure Creator]] | [[image:Roomake_114.gif|thumb|right|320px|[[RoomMake]], the editor for Adventure Creator]] | ||
'''Adventure Game Studio''' was created by English programmer [[Chris Jones]]. AGS was originally written and released in 1997 as an {{Wikipedia|MS-DOS}} program entitled "[[Adventure Creator]]". Jones rewrote the program during the summer of 1999, and released the new version in September of that year under the name "Adventure Game Studio." | '''Adventure Game Studio''' was created by English programmer [[Chris Jones]]. AGS was originally written and released in 1997 as an {{Wikipedia|MS-DOS}} program entitled "[[Adventure Creator]]". Jones rewrote the program during the summer of 1999, and released the new version in September of that year under the name "Adventure Game Studio." | ||
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After a long period of slow activity, the first complete game, [[Lassi Quest]], was born, but it's not until later, after [[Larry Vales]] and [[Rob Blanc]] had been released, that the engine became popular. | After a long period of slow activity, the first complete game, [[Lassi Quest]], was born, but it's not until later, after [[Larry Vales]] and [[Rob Blanc]] had been released, that the engine became popular. | ||
As time passes, there is now an active community containing members of thousands, which continues to grow, and produce more and more games, which range from short and sweet games like the early games, to large full scale games | As time passes, there is now an active community containing members of thousands, which continues to grow, and produce more and more games, which range from short and sweet games like the early games, to large full scale games. | ||
The Engine continues to be added to and improved upon, with several new releases published over the course of a year. | The Engine continues to be added to and improved upon, with several new releases published over the course of a year. | ||
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== Capabilities == | == Capabilities == | ||
The editor and runtime engine are currently designed for Windows operating systems, though Mac OS, DOS and [[GNU/Linux]] ports of the engine are also available | The editor and runtime engine are currently designed for Windows operating systems, though Mac OS, DOS and [[GNU/Linux]] ports of the engine are also available. | ||
It is not yet possible to create games on other operating systems without an emulator or API wrapper like [http://www.winehq.org/ Wine] (read more on the [[GNU/Linux]] page) or [https://portingkit.com Porting Kit] (for macOS). | |||
At the time of writing, AGS can create games from 256 colour games with a resolution of 320x200 (games with more "classic" looks) to true colour games in Full HD resolution, though the higher the resolution, the more demanding a game is, which means you may need a faster computer. | |||
Some other key features that [[AGS]] has that many other engines don't currently support is the ability to run other games within [[AGS]] and to use Modules, Templates and Plugins. AGS can also allow for your games to be translated into other languages. | Some other key features that [[AGS]] has that many other engines don't currently support is the ability to run other games within [[AGS]] and to use Modules, Templates and Plugins. AGS can also allow for your games to be translated into other languages. | ||
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*5 Days a Stranger: One of the most popular games of 2003, 5 Days a Stranger has become one of the landmark games of AGS. | *5 Days a Stranger: One of the most popular games of 2003, 5 Days a Stranger has become one of the landmark games of AGS. | ||
*Cirque de Zale: Cirque de Zale has been one of the most successful AGS games to date, garnering a great deal of attention throughout the adventure game community. The graphic style and humour is reminiscent of early 1990's LucasArts adventure games, namely the Monkey Island series. | *Cirque de Zale: Cirque de Zale has been one of the most successful AGS games to date, garnering a great deal of attention throughout the adventure game community. The graphic style and humour is reminiscent of early 1990's LucasArts adventure games, namely the Monkey Island series. | ||
*[http://www. | *[http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/204 Melrin: The disciple ordeal] The Melrin games are notable for their graphics. Where most AGS games attempt to create images with proper perspective, similar to early '90's adventure games, the Melrin games instead copy the look of early '90's role playing games, such as The Legend of Zelda series. | ||
===Full Length Games=== | ===Full Length Games=== | ||
These games are usually of very high quality and take several hours to complete. These are the rarest type of adventure game created with AGS, as they often take years for the game creator to finish. AGS is a powerful tool that is used by hobbyists, professional game designers and everyone in between. | |||
Some examples include: | |||
*[http://www.agdinteractive.com/ Kings Quest VGA]: A one-to-one remake of Sierra On-Line's first graphical adventure game, King's Quest. The only changes made were updating the graphics into VGA. The team who was responsible for this project was originally called "Tierra," a play on "Sierra," but has since changed their name to Anonymous Game Developers Interactive," or AGD Interactive for short. | *[http://www.agdinteractive.com/ Kings Quest VGA]: A one-to-one remake of Sierra On-Line's first graphical adventure game, King's Quest. The only changes made were updating the graphics into VGA. The team who was responsible for this project was originally called "Tierra," a play on "Sierra," but has since changed their name to Anonymous Game Developers Interactive," or AGD Interactive for short. | ||
*[http:// | *[http://homeoftheunderdogs.net/game.php?id=4485 The Adventures of Fatman]: A satire of the crime-fighting superhero Batman, "Fatman" garnered quite a bit of attention for being the first ever AGS game to be released commercially. The game was originally sold on CD, and came with a voice pack and a unique "director's commentary." The game has since been declared abandonware by its creator, and is available from [https://archive.org/details/Fatman_201612 the Internet Archive]. This link takes you to the ISO file (which includes the speech pack). | ||
*[http://people.freenet.de/lucasfangames/maniac/games_eng.htm Maniac Mansion Deluxe] This has done for LucasArts' Maniac Mansion what AGD Interactive did for King's Quest. The game is a one-to-one remake of the first ever point and click adventure game, but with completely updated graphics. However, there are several modern easter eggs scattered throughout the game. | *[http://people.freenet.de/lucasfangames/maniac/games_eng.htm Maniac Mansion Deluxe] This has done for LucasArts' Maniac Mansion what AGD Interactive did for King's Quest. The game is a one-to-one remake of the first ever point and click adventure game, but with completely updated graphics. However, there are several modern easter eggs scattered throughout the game. | ||
* [http://www.monochrom.at/suz-game Soviet Unterzoegersdorf/Sector 1]: A game by Austrian art/philosophy group monochrome. The fake history of the "last existing appanage republic of the USSR", Soviet Unterzoegersdorf. Created to discuss topics such as the theoretical problems of historiography, the concept of the "socialist utopia" and the political struggles of postwar Europe. To monochrom it was clear that the adventure game, an almost extinct form of computer game, would provide the perfect media platform to communicate the idea of "Soviet Unterzoegersdorf". Edge (games magazine) chose the game as their 'internet game of the month' of November 2005. | * [http://www.monochrom.at/suz-game Soviet Unterzoegersdorf/Sector 1]: A game by Austrian art/philosophy group monochrome. The fake history of the "last existing appanage republic of the USSR", Soviet Unterzoegersdorf. Created to discuss topics such as the theoretical problems of historiography, the concept of the "socialist utopia" and the political struggles of postwar Europe. To monochrom it was clear that the adventure game, an almost extinct form of computer game, would provide the perfect media platform to communicate the idea of "Soviet Unterzoegersdorf". Edge (games magazine) chose the game as their 'internet game of the month' of November 2005. | ||
*[http://www.wadjeteyegames.com/games/blackwell-legacy/ The Blackwell Legacy Series] by Wadjet Eye Games. Perhaps the first game series to go commercially "big" using AGS. The series focuses on Rosa Blackwell, an unwilling medium, and her spirit guide Joey as they help the (recently) deceased pass over into the next realm. | |||
*[http://www.wadjeteyegames.com/games/technobabylon/ Technobabylon] by Technocrat Games. Discover what ties a group of strangers together in this dystopian future where an all-seeing AI ensures the safety of its people. | |||
*[https://www.application-systems.co.uk/lamplightcity/index.html Lamplight City] by Grundislav Games. Take on the role of Miles Fordham and investigate a string of events around the fictional Lamplight City. | |||
===MAGS Games=== | ===MAGS Games=== | ||
MAGS, the Monthly AGS competition, is an activity on the AGS forum which has game creators attempt to create a short game over the course of one month. The challenge is that the game has to follow a series of restrictions as to length, art and content. At the end of the month, the games are voted on and the creator of the best game wins the opportunity to choose the restrictions for the next month. These games are usually very short and simple, and vary wildly as to art quality. | [[MAGS]], the Monthly AGS competition, is an activity on the AGS forum which has game creators attempt to create a short game over the course of one month. The challenge is that the game has to follow a series of restrictions as to length, art and content. At the end of the month, the games are voted on and the creator of the best game wins the opportunity to choose the restrictions for the next month. These games are usually very short and simple, and vary wildly as to art quality. | ||
===Games Series=== | ===Games Series=== | ||
There have been a few examples of series of games with a lot of games. | There have been a few examples of series of games with a lot of games. | ||
The most notable example would be Reality on the Norm which is a series of games which anyone can make one of, with the same characters and settings | * The most notable example would be Reality on the Norm which is a series of games which anyone can make one of, with the same characters and settings. | ||
The award winning 5 Days a Stranger spawned a sequel: [http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/7days/ | 7 Days a Skeptic] | * Another series of AGS games is the Maniac Mansion Mania series. The games take place in the Maniac Mansion universe and show the everyday life of the well-known characters. | ||
* One of the more well-received game series is the [[Ben_Jordan| Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator]] series. | |||
* The award winning 5 Days a Stranger spawned a sequel: [http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/7days/ | 7 Days a Skeptic] | |||
===Non-Adventure Games=== | ===Non-Adventure Games=== | ||
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Examples include: | Examples include: | ||
*[http://the-makers.tripod.com/ Board Quest]: A rather challenging board game, in which the players travel around a board based on automated dice rolls and have to compete in various challenges. | *[http://the-makers.tripod.com/ Board Quest]: A rather challenging board game, in which the players travel around a board based on automated dice rolls and have to compete in various challenges. | ||
*[http://www. | *[http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/220 Platformerius: The Ninja Incident]: Platformerius is a platformer. You play "FruitTree," an AGS forum member, who has just had his Japanese garden attacked by ninjas. The player character can attack both up close and at a distance. The download includes the source code, so that others can create similar games. | ||
*[http://yallara.cs.rmit.edu.au/~dlloyd/WintermuteStudios/HLoBB.html The Historical League of Bouncy Boxing]: A very complex two player fighting game which pits various historical figures wearing boxing gloves against each other. | *[http://yallara.cs.rmit.edu.au/~dlloyd/WintermuteStudios/HLoBB.html The Historical League of Bouncy Boxing]: A very complex two player fighting game which pits various historical figures wearing boxing gloves against each other. | ||
*[http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/gfw/ Adventures in the Galaxy of Fantabulous Wonderment]: has some adventure game elements, but is largely a spaceship based trading sim. | *[http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/gfw/ Adventures in the Galaxy of Fantabulous Wonderment]: has some adventure game elements, but is largely a spaceship based trading sim. | ||
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==Community== | ==Community== | ||
The AGS community is quite possibly the largest surrounding an adventure game creation utility. It is based on the [http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forum AGS Forum] and the [irc://irc. | The AGS community is quite possibly the largest surrounding an adventure game creation utility. It is based on the [http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forum AGS Forum] and the [irc://irc.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/AGS AGS Internet Relay Chat channel]. | ||
One of the most important aspects of the community, other than getting assistance with game creation, is the presence of various competitions for art, writing, music and general game creation. | One of the most important aspects of the community, other than getting assistance with game creation, is the presence of various competitions for art, writing, music and general game creation. | ||
The three game creation competitions are as follows: | The three game creation competitions are as follows: | ||
*[http://www.mags-competition. | *[http://www.mags-competition.info MAGS]: The Monthly AGS competition, has developers create a unique game based on a series of restrictions. Development time is one month, and at the end of that time players vote on the best game. At the end of the calendar year, all MAGS games created over the course of the year are voted on for the Maggies, and the game with the most votes is declared the best MAGS game of the year. | ||
*ATC: The AGS Team Challenge: In this competition, groups of five people attempt to make a game. Each team has a story writer, a background artist a sprite artist, a musician and a programmer. The goal of this activity is not to create the best game, but merely to complete a game within a certain time frame. | *ATC: The AGS Team Challenge: In this competition, groups of five people attempt to make a game. Each team has a story writer, a background artist a sprite artist, a musician and a programmer. The goal of this activity is not to create the best game, but merely to complete a game within a certain time frame. | ||
*[[AGS Awards]]: The most prestigious award of the AGS community, the AGS Awards (also very rarely known as the "Rogers") are a series of annual awards similar to the Oscars voted on by the AGS community. Awards are given out for various story, character, and technical aspects, as well as for best game overall and a Lifetime Achievement Award. The awards ceremony is held on the IRC channel. | *[[AGS Awards]]: The most prestigious award of the AGS community, the AGS Awards (also very rarely known as the "Rogers") are a series of annual awards similar to the Oscars voted on by the AGS community. Awards are given out for various story, character, and technical aspects, as well as for best game overall and a Lifetime Achievement Award. The awards ceremony is held on the IRC channel. | ||
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*January 2006: AGS 2.71 - ''Dynamic strings added'' | *January 2006: AGS 2.71 - ''Dynamic strings added'' | ||
*August 2006: AGS 2.72 - ''Graphics filters (2x, 3x, Hq2x, Hq3x) added'' | *August 2006: AGS 2.72 - ''Graphics filters (2x, 3x, Hq2x, Hq3x) added'' | ||
*... | |||
*June 2021: AGS 3.5.1 - Please consult this forum thread for [https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=59192.0 an overview] of all updates. | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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*[http://t-vandepoele.be/AGS/ AGS Linux Port] | *[http://t-vandepoele.be/AGS/ AGS Linux Port] | ||
**[http://feags.sourceforge.net/ Adventure Game Goddess] (Linux frontend) | **[http://feags.sourceforge.net/ Adventure Game Goddess] (Linux frontend) | ||
*[irc://irc. | *[irc://irc.agsarchives.com/ags AGS IRC channel] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Software]][[Category: Getting Started]] | ||
[[Category: | |||