What is MAGS?
MAGS is a monthly competition for all amateur adventure game makers. The idea is to use AGS to create a game in under a month, following the rules set by the previous winner.
For more information please visit the Official MAGS website (http://www.mags-competition.info/).
Why should I enter MAGS?
We're not here to tell you that you should enter MAGS, but merely allow it as a creative opportunity to help you work to a deadline, improve your skills, and generally as a good kick-start for the new comers.
MAGS is the perfect opportunity to make a game, and the wonderful prize is to announce the next month's rules, and all competitors get the game placed on the MAGS website.
MAGS is meant to be fun and is aimed at everyone, despite their skill. If you have poor art skills work on graphics, and vice-versa, as the voting is based on "favorite" games, and not the most artistic. You may get help for the competition, as long as you end up doing something yourself. You should however be warned that it should prove hard to organize a big team within 25 days.
You are not allowed to (re)use material already created before this competition, you game must be completely new! An exception goes for sounds and music where you can also use free material that is available to the public. Modules and templates are allowed.
Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours)
This means that you can make a game and rush it, but don't do it to just win by default.
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Topic: A game of two halves :
This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner tzachs:
_________________
Something in the game should be drastically changed in the middle of the game.
Examples:
* The genre of the game should change from horror to comedy
* The music for the game should change from rock to classical
* The character of the game should change from a boy to a girl
* The interface of the game should change completely
* etc etc, anything goes!
The only limitation here is, there has to be a clear justification in the plot for the change. If the user will ask himself "Why???" then you have failed...
For bonus points, you can change more than one thing ;)
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Thread Rules:
1) Comments are allowed at all times but should be hidden before and while the voting.
2) Participators are allowed to patch their games even while the voting but I should be informed via pm or here, and only IF the game has a serious bug that makes it crash. Due to the inability of keeping track of versions of the games, I've settled to this.
3) It would be wiser to add the game to the AGS database, so you can easily do changes to the game, while the voting is going on, without having to inform me at all.
So you can patch your game, if it crashes or if it can't be completed.
Have fun this month too!!
All games till the 25th.
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So changes starting this month:
1) Anyone can comment, critic and express his opinion about an entry, the MAGS, and the host's mother, without being obliged to hide it! As long as the critic isn't like "You suck", something more elaborate could be more useful because after all this is a test for all developers to see if they can really make a game within a month, therefore feedback is crucial.
2) If you don't wish comments for your games..don't look at them! Seriously. Would you post a game and not expect feedback? Only Yahtzee is expecting "You're a god!" type of feedback. The rest of us mortals don't have fanboys.
:D
AWESOME COOL.
I'm in.
Here is a picture from last months attempt that will never see the light of day.
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/livingroomunfinished.gif)
I totally love that topic. Not sure if I have enough time to make a game though...
Pretty cool! :)
AGAIN, i can do backgrounds for your game, just send me a PM.
Chicky you bastard!! You denied us of this game!!
Cat, you go ahead girl!
Jakerpot...going to make it a regular here eh?
I actually had a nice idea along those guidelines, though I can't see myself entering as I've got this terrible disease called midterms. Still would enjoy helping out.
Wait... Can i enter this MAGS too? I made the backgrounds for the winner entry so, is this in the rules?
Yep, winners can participate again. The high score for this is held by Wretched, who won three times in a row.
I've got an idea that could work really well for this, I just need to see if I can finish the other game I'm failing to make before I can turn my attention to something new.
I do believe an Aeronuts II would satisfy the rules of this contest... ;)
Well, my greatest weakness is time management so, I'm gonna give this a try. Not to mention this will be a good way to force me to practice my abysmal artistic abilities. :)
I do have a question though. Does something actually have to change or can it just be that the perception that the player has of the game totally changes?
I'm pretty psyched up about the story idea I have for this so I hope that it fits the criteria, heck I'll probably make it regardless. ;)
Remembering: If someone needs help with backgrounds... :=
I can't remember how to script. 1 year ago, i lost all my habilities with AGS. Now i just know how to draw.
Quote from: Jakerpot on Wed 03/03/2010 02:54:22
Remembering: If someone needs help with backgrounds... :=
As incredibly awesome as that would be, it would kind of defeat the purpose of doing this to work on my art.
*Sigh*
I might enter if I finish some animations, I have an idea that may work (Or not :) ) But if I don't finish it in time, I'll work on it anyway :)
Quote from: Ethan Damschroder on Wed 03/03/2010 02:26:26
I do have a question though. Does something actually have to change or can it just be that the perception that the player has of the game totally changes?
Perception counts as something in my book, so yeah, that would definitely be ok :)
Anything goes, people, just make games!
Quote from: Jakerpot on Wed 03/03/2010 02:54:22
Remembering: If someone needs help with backgrounds... :=
I can't remember how to script. 1 year ago, i lost all my habilities with AGS. Now i just know how to draw.
Sent you a PM ;)
Oh God... I just had a brilliant idea for this, and it ends in a week. I feel like a moron...
Quote from: Questionable on Thu 18/03/2010 11:57:14
Oh God... I just had a brilliant idea for this, and it ends in a week. I feel like a moron...
Dualnames, I think it's time for your monthly post saying you once did a MAGS entry in a week ;)
I once did a MAGS entry in 5 days! :P
and also, if you have a great idea but can't do it for MAGS, do it for people :)
Would if I could but i'm already working on something, and I just started working on another game that if all goes well I would like to be my first community-released project. Maybe I'll spill the beans on what my idea was when it gets to be the day before.
tzachs: :P
To the rest, from the first of April, some changes will occur on the MAGS competition, hopefully for the best of developers and for the attraction of outsiders to this community.
I'm going to start the changes from April and forth. So this month's MAGS stays by the book. Summing up, to de-confuse:
MAGS A (January, March,May, July, September, November)
It starts on 1st and ends on 30/31st
The winner sets up the theme of the next MAGS A
Voting and playing lasts whilst MAGS B is going on. (2 weeks each)
MAGS B (February, April, June, August, October, December)
It starts on 1st and ends on 28/29/30/31st
The winner sets the theme of the next MAGS B
Voting and playing lasts whilst MAGS A is going on. (2 weeks each)
If we go by that idea the theme of MAGS B will be set by the winner of this MAGS March, and either the runner of this month or the runner up of the MAGS March, or a public poll for a sort of special MAGS will have it
The winner of this month if not deadly obvious from this post, will set the rules of May. MAGS A and MAGS B are just a way to clarify and indicate condition of the competitions.
To sum up, there will be constantly a 30 days game making month, and a 30 days voting and playing month for that, whilst on the second process another game making month of 30 days will overlap.
The rules of April, are going to be set by me. And hopefully for the theme I'm thinking you'll love it.
It's about time you get what you deserve. I know this changes will be a little
off the book, but the rules are just guidelines.
I think we need more distinguishing names than "MAGS A" and "MAGS B."
Suggestions?
"MAGS ODD" and "MAGS EVEN"?
Or, "ODD MAGS" and "EVEN MAGS"?
;)
But yep, I am serious.
Wow, Chicky, that background looks very BASS-y! Very nice.
Quote from: Gilbet V7000a on Fri 19/03/2010 03:27:36
"MAGS ODD" and "MAGS EVEN"?
Or, "ODD MAGS" and "EVEN MAGS"?
;)
But yep, I am serious.
Sounds better than A and B. :D
Oddly enough I could make an odd game for an ODD MAGS.
or
I couldn't even make an even game for an EVEN MAGS.
:=
But when even odd is even, than that's odd.... :-\
Okay so i think it's time to declare myself a failure for what... the 8th time in a MAGS thread? I really thought i had a solid plan for this month but the ever increasing responsibility that now rests on my shoulders irl, that stuff really has to come first.
I'm happy though, because i now have two great complete game plans and an art style nailed; all thanks to MAGS.
Quote from: Chicky on Tue 23/03/2010 14:16:17
Okay so i think it's time to declare myself a failure for what... the 8th time in a MAGS thread? I really thought i had a solid plan for this month but the ever increasing responsibility that now rests on my shoulders irl, that stuff really has to come first.
I'm happy though, because i now have two great complete game plans and an art style nailed; all thanks to MAGS.
This is why I'm giving you the chance to complete a MAGS entry on the next month..where the the theme is:
Spoiler
Nothing to see here move along
My idea for a game was to have a a guy looking for clues that his wife was cheating on him. At first it would be mostly white with touches of black and grey. Then he find out that she's in some seriously dep trouble with some not friendly people and the game goes mostly black with touches of white and grey. The music would also reflect the mood change as the man goes from snooping, alienated lover to protective, macho man. He sticks his nose where it doesn't belong and tries to get some dirt on the people his wife is hiding from because the only way to stay safe is to have leverage.
(http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/2329/10513889.gif)
That title seems ideal for a game with a PRY verb and a crowbar in the inventory. In fact, games taking their titles literally would be a great future mags idea ;o.
Awww.... no games of two halves at all? :(
@Scarab: Hehe, I'm afraid sequels are excluded by the rules.
So, obviously I didn't make it. Choosing the wrong resolution, the graphics took too much time. The topic was great nonetheless and I hope I will finish the game within the next month(s).
So the theme for next month could be: finish your MAGS entry? Everyone who had plans for an entry in the past can now enter again and finish a game for once? Boosts morale...
Just a thought...
Leon, that's an awesome idea. This could make Chicky's title come to reality, as well as all those horror themed games that didn't make it.
I second Leon's idea...
And Chicky has not one but three titles she could deliver if I count correctly ;)
Yes she does! :-*
I thought Chicky has testes...
I'm sorry perhaps this is just wrong and all..but let me get this straight.
Not one single entry?
Not oneGood to know. I fucked this up too :-. Greatness, and I was just about to revive it. :(
Quote
Dualnames, the man who killed MAGS
No idea what Gilbet is going to do with that: ???
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=22522.msg306106#msg306106
Took 5 years to break this row of a non-entry MAGS competition. In fact it's the first MAGS that hasn't had an entry EVER. It's a shame for those that tried and just didn't find the rules welcoming. I feel ashamed I let this reach this point to actually do something about it.
So thanks to cat, Chicky, Questionable that did their best this month.
Perhaps you can have a MAGS: Revisited where people are encouraged to finish any entries they may have started for a previous mags and have yet to complete provided they submit an actually FINISHED game ;). They would have to list which mags topic it was based on, of course, and it should encourage at least a few people to dig out old, unfinished games they hid from everyone and actually do that last bit or whatever to get them released.