Topics

[Huh, a MAGS Special!? What's that!?]

Huh, a MAGS Special!? What's that!?
Let's go back in time - 5 years. In May 2004 I became the official host of the MAGS competition. Taking over the flame from Magintz, the former host at that time, I'm doing this "job" now longer than any other host before So it's time to celebrate MAGS with a special event this month!

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What we already know ...
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 given rules. For more information please visit the Official MAGS Website

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 (a.k.a n00bies).
MAGS is the perfect opportunity to make a game, and all competitiors 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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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So it's a MAGS Special and these are the special guidlines:
* Please create a real classic point-and-click adventure with cool puzzles and an interesting story. So don't go for RPG, text adventure or arcade please. No restrictions concerning colors and resoultion, ...

* As the topic is "5 years a mags host" a "host" should play a main part in the story. For example:

+ A host invites a number of people and is suddenly killed... - remember "Murder by Death"?
+ A (g)host story based in a hotel - maybe a mix of "Psycho" and "Hotel California".
+ A dog hosts a number of fleas that want to take control of him - "Nanobots on a Dog"
These are just examples - no need to go for these ideas. You're totally free in the way you include the host. The host does not need to be the player character.

You are not allowed to (re)use material that you already created before this competition, you game must be completely new!

Now what about that screenshot up top!?
Actually this screenshot is there just to get your attention  :o It's created just for this announcement so it's no game that exists or will ever be created. But it includes some hidden information:
So you see the adventurer who is on the way to MAGS. Maybe he wants to sign up for the competition, maybe he's on the search for the host... Who knows. Here he's talking to Max and Maggie - you might know the two MAGS mascots. His inventory contains a number of things: a pocket knife, a compass, a pocket lamp, a big blue cup bottle, a multi tool, a shovel and a bag to carry it all around. He's a real adventurer, right!?  8) All these inventory items can be yours - for real! That's the prize for the winner of this month's competition! Reason enough to join the contest!? I hope so.  Become a real adventurer! You probably won't meet Max and Maggie but ... who knows

Just as usual:
Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread and also publish a screenshot of the game.
This time you actually have the complete month, 31 days, to create your game! So all entries need to be in by late May 31st.

Not as usual:
5 years as a MAGS host are gone ... a long time ... maybe it's time to hand over the flame of MAGS to someone else now. Don't worry: The contests won't stop right after this month. But if someone out there wants to be the next host please let me know (via PM). Yes, it might be time for me to leave MAGS...

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Many greetings to all those to who crossed my way over the last 5 years of MAGS!
I hope there will be a lot of entries this time. Good luck to all who join this special MAGS contest!

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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Topic: Space Derelict

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner SpacePirateCaine:

The theme of this month's contest is a classic sci-fi setting - you must have your main character(s) on a ship afloat in space that is, for whatever reason, unable to move (other systems may be malfunctioning at the creator's discretion). Are the characters scavenging the ship? Or is their own ship out of commission? The cause of the malfunction is up to the creator.

The game must include a spacecraft that is unable to function, and one puzzle must center around repairing or jury-rigging something on the ship to get it working again*. Though the characters must spend some time on the derelict craft, other locations are allowed (i.e. a nearby planet, space station, their own ship if the derelict isn't theirs, etc).

*The repair puzzle can be as simple as accessing the craft's mainframe, or as complex as repairing the ship's engine/hull, any puzzle that involves getting something that is not functioning to function again is acceptable, and need not include getting the entire ship to function again.

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All games need to be in by April 25th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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Topic: Re-envisioned AGS classics

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner bspeers:

Remake and re-envision either one of the following first AGS games ever:

1. House Quest
You must get into a house. In the original you just need a key from a nearby bush, but in your version, any method of getting in is valid, as long as the end goal is getting into a "house" or other domicile.

2. Red Flagg
A fishing trip gets excedingly bizarre. As long as the central focus is a bizarre/acid induced fishing trip, nothing else matters. What you fish for, what you find and what obstacles occur are up to the creator.

These concepts are quite simple. Now what we want to see is the most creative reimagining of one of these topics. There is plenty of room for ideas and puzzles besides the main idea of these concepts so be creative

In addition you should also in some way work in a reference to the classic AGS games - at least a joke, technical example, puzzle, graphical confrontation etc. that somehow shows the difference/evolution between the classic and the new game.

That's it! No other restrictions.

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All games need to be in by March 25th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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Topic: Your Favorite Book

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner Dualnames:

Remember your favorite book? Wouldn't an adventure game about it be nice?
Well, all you're restricted is make a game based on a book, whether you make that book
or some chapter of that book, into a game, or base your game's story and plot on a book.

When you join the contest please let us know which book your entry is based on.

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All games need to be in by February 23rd.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

You remember the MAGS competitions in 2008? All together 32 games entered the contests and offered a great range of amusement, humour and entertainment. To celebrate all the contestants and to bring all those games back to your minds and on your screens again here's "Maggies".

We don't want to judge about best graphics, best character or other best categories - there's already a famous award for doing this. "Maggies" just wants to know what's your favourite MAGS game 2008. It's up to you to decide what's most important: Graphics, gameplay, idea, interpretation of the MAGS rules, whatever...

The voting period will run two long weeks until January 17th.
Take your time to play all the games and decide in the end...

For voting please visit the MAGS site or make your choice right here:

Santas Stolen Sleigh by Dudeman Thingface
Bics Christmas Tale by bicilotti
A Christmas Wish by Twirlly
Nightwatch by Buckethead
Man vs. Fish by Cheerios
Rock Rock Rock by SSH
Magical Whatever Girl by Eggie
Erk - Adventures in Stone Age Real Estate by OneDollar
KATA by Radiant
Awesmoe Quest by Radiant
Limey Lizard by ProgZmax
Vector Vendetta by Radiant
The Shawshank Redemption by Eggie
Super-Pitstop-Racing by Rocco
Retroron Demo by zabnat
Philosophers like hot Cocoa by JuuL
Crash! Evade! Destroy! by Akatosh
Our Finest Hour by ProgZmax
Lichdom by ShadeJackrabbit
I am not crazy right - The Well by King_wiking
Evil by TwinMoon
Dr. Zoo by Jojoboy
I am not crazy right - The Cell by King_wiking
A Walk In The Park by ShonenAiGuy
Unintelligent Design by Twin Moon
The Book Unfinished by enveloop
Hypnotoad by Radiant
Curse of the Vampire by Shaden
Studio Mediocre by BaRoN
Dead of Winter by Twin Moon
Red Beard Saves RON by FSi
Below Zero by Woodban

Please vote only once and be sure to have played all games before sending your voice! Good luck to all participants.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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Topic: (No) Drugs!

"And suddenly I had an inkling of what it must feel like to be mad."

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner bicilotti.
They are brief and pretty vague, so there's a lot of freedom for your games:

The main character in your game must ingest (or sniff, hear, see, meet, breathe, touch, etc. - you choose) something or someone. This will affect the functioning of his (her) body and/or mind.

No further restrictions.

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All games need to be in by January 25th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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Topic: Real World/Holiday World

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner Cheerios:

December MAGS rules traditionally involve a Christmas theme. This month your adventure will begin and end in the real world.

However, for the middle part of your adventure, your character will transport into a magical world inspired by Christmas (or any other holiday that you personally celebrate this season). This transportation will occur via a magical object, a magical event, or a meeting with a magical character.

Additionally, your character should have a clearly stated or obvious deepest wish.  Events in the magical holiday world should fulfill his/her deepest wish many times over.  There should be an unbelievably happy ending.

No further restrictions.

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All games need to be in by December 23rd.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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Topic: Points of View

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner OneDollar:

Your task this month is to make a game in which the same overall story is told more than once, with each retelling either exposing different facts or changing the story. There are two ways you can go about this:

1) Play through different strands of an overarching story so that by the time the player has finished each version they see the whole picture
2) Tell two different versions of the same story

This is kind of a hard concept to get across, so here are some examples to illustrate each method...

Example 1:
Sally and Tim are robbing a bank. The first part has Sally making her way along the top floor of the bank using her feminine wiles to distract the guards and take down all the security systems. In the second part the player plays as Tim who makes his way through the basement to the safe, cracks it and steals all the money. By the end of the game the player will have seen both sides of the bank job and will have an idea of the part each character had in the overall story.

Example 2:
Captain Cool and his sidekick Small Boy have just returned from their latest mission. In the first part of the game the player plays as Captain Cool telling in flashback how he saved the day in typical hero fashion. In the second part the player plays as Small Boy telling in flashback what really happened. This lends itself to puzzles such as in Captain Cool's version he leaps gallantly out of a window, but in Small Boy's version Captain Cool is afraid of heights and Small Boy has to push him.

Rules:

• You must tell one overall story (at least) twice, with each telling showing either a different side or a different version of the story
• That's pretty much it!

Advice:

• You may want to have more than one playable character, but you don't have to!
• If you're using the multiple strands approach try and interlink the stories e.g. a character finds an item in one part, while another part can explain how the item got there
• If you're using the retelling approach you could have a simple story then make it more complicated in the retelling, e.g. a character 'just happens to have' a useful item, but the retelling shows how they actually had to do something embarrassing to get it.
• As an alternative to the retelling method, you could do a 'What if?'

So it's a bit complicated this month, but hopefully the rules are open ended enough to inspire some great games!

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All games need to be in by November 25th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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Topic: Stone Age

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner Radiant:

Back in the good old days, men wore animal skins, carried heavy clubs to hit each other on the head with, and chased down dinosaurs for breakfast. We didn't need such fancy new-fangled inventions like the wheel or fire, we just herded our woolly mammoths all day and watched the the latest show on painted cave walls. We don't need you young punks with your fancy spears, nosiree!

The game should play in the Stone Age. Whether this is a serious stone age (like on Discovery Channel) or a silly one (like on the Flintstones) is up to you. Possible other sources of inspiration include Joe & Mac Caveman Ninja, or the Clan of the Cavebear books; or try speaking only in monosyllables for a while and see what you come up with. The main character may be human, but could also be something else, like a pterodactyl or something.

Furthermore, the game should involve a new invention. This could either be a classic (like the wheel or fire), or something weird (like a cuckoo clock that nobody knows what to use it for). No further restrictions.

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All games need to be in by October 25th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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Topic: Broken Game

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner ProgZmax:

Do you remember all those games you've played that seemed to be really striving for greatness but kicked themselves in the teeth at every turn with multiple features that were a chore to use, horrible bugs that hindered gameplay, furious difficulty settings that made you see red, or a control scheme that seemed designed by Satan himself? And what about all those early Sierra walking deads, eh?

Well, now it's YOUR turn to fumble with the best of them!

This month, the rules are simple:

1. Make a game that is fundamentally broken in some important way (saves randomly don't work, mouse control falters, jump button takes ages to trigger) and design a GOOD game around the flaws.

2. Any genre is allowed, though for time constraints a standard adventure formula may be easiest.

3. The game must be interesting enough to really frustrate the player when something goes wrong/isn't implemented/crashes, so put some effort into the design!

4. Once again, having fun doing this is a must. It's time to satisfy your dark, bitter sense of sadistic humor. You know you want to!

Let's make some great broken games!

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All games need to be in by September 25th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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Topic: Minigames

This month's guidelines were set by last month's winner Rocco:

"Minigames" - that's the only rule this month. All game types are allowed - can be Adventure, RPG, Arcade, whatever...

What does it mean?
Your game must contain a minigame which is connected to the gameplay somehow. That means it must effect the game in some way. We don't want a minigame as stand alone game! It must be a part of your main game.

So a minigame is a game within the main game. It usually has a different GUI and a different way to play.

For example a point-and-click adventure game could include an action scene at some place, or a riddle where you need to combine objects using a different GUI, or something that requires text input, or ...
These all are only examples - there are many other ways to include a minigame. But don't forget: The minigame must help the player character to go on in the main game. It should not just be an easter egg :-)

Some more mingame examples in commercial games:
The boxing sequence in Indy III
Sam and Max has some
Monkey Island II (long-spitting, affront fencing)
Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes (Dart game)
Largo Winch (Card game and some more)

You got the idea? That's all. Good luck.

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All games need to be in by August 25th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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Topic: Retrofest!

Let's go back in time with this month's guidelines set by last month's winner ProgZmax:

Rules:

1.  In order to give all entrants the greatest chance of completing a game you are asked to emulate a more simplistic graphical style, like CGA, EGA, AGI, C64, Apple IIe -- or any other retro system -- even Atari! (anything up to and including the NES in terms of complexity is fair game).  These were used for some of the classic adventure games like Maniac Mansion, King's Quest, and many more.  Low colors and simplistic graphics should allow you to focus on the most important part of any game:  the fun.

2.  You must have fun while making this game.  If you did not enjoy making it, we will not enjoy playing it!

3.  You must adhere to the limitations of the style you are emulating.  For example, if you use AGI/C64 then everything must be drawn with a 2x1 pixel.  Some systems have tough color restrictions per sprite as well, so pick an older system that most appeals to you and remember that this competition isn't about the most beautiful sprites or backgrounds but about gameplay and fun!

4.  Make it clear which format you are emulating upon submission, just in case there are people who have not seen it before.

5.  Any genre of game is acceptable.  Jump n' runs, rpg, adventure, action, you name it (as long as you can complete it in a month).  Even text adventures are fine!

If you need some help finding palettes/examples of the style you're after, a quick google image search will find all of what I've mentioned above (and more).

That's all.  Now make some FUN games to play!

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All games need to be in by July 25th 27th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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This month's guidelines are set by last month's winner King_wiking (slightly adjusted):

Topic: Evil

June, it's the beginning of summer and the warm and good-natured time of the year is finally here. Apart from this the theme for this month is "Evil". The rules are pretty simple:

1. Your main-character must be evil in some way. That means that there can't be any I-am-good-just-for-the-sake-of-it blonde hero that runs around swinging a rapier with all too tight trousers.
Good examples for main characters are (but of course not limited to): An evil mastermind trying to take over the world, a devil trying to make people do evil things, an orc following his masters plan, a psychopath or something similar. As long as the character's main goal is selfish and/or evil in the game it's fine.

2. At one point in the game "death" must come into place. This could be done by a location (eg. a graveyard), by a character (eg. the Grim Reaper) or by an action - be creative.

That's all, no further limitations. You can put into your inventory whatever you want to
Good luck.

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All games need to be in by June 25th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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This month's guidelines are set by last month's winner ShonenAiGuy:

Topic: Conspiracy

There are many stories about conspiracies: aliens, crop circles, sinister government agencies,...
Now it is up to you to tell a tale like this... There is no restriction in which way your story should go.
Use your imagination!

Items to include (these must appear in your inventory at some time):
- Some type of spy gadget
- Dark suits

Things to include (optional, to give you some ideas):
- Black shades
- Aliens
- Evil scientist
- Foreign spies

There are no further restrictions so you are very free in terms of game design. Good luck!

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All games need to be in by May 25th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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This month's guidelines are set by last month's winner TwinMoon:

Topic: Love Is In The Air

It's springtime! The season of rejuvenation - trees start to blossom and the world awakens after its wintery sleep.
It's also the season where it's getting warmer: girls start wearing short skirts again and guys start wearing tight t-shirts again.

Which brings me to the following rules:
1. The main character in your game must fall in love.
2. There must be a ladybug in your game. (It doesn't have to be any part of the story or a puzzle, just put one or more in there somewhere. And since I like ladybugs, it's not allowed to let the player kill any).

Your game should include at least two things from the following list:
- a valentine card arriving too late
- blossom (in a tree, in someone's hair, in your inventory, use your imagination!)
- a bird's nest with an egg in it
- a common snowdrop (flower)
- a poem or some lines of poetry being read out loud
- an inventory item having something to do with Romeo & Juliet (a DVD, a book, a costume for Romeo)

(By the way, it's National Poetry Month in America in April, you might do something with that.)

Make sure you have a good obstacle which prevents the lovers from being together; like a protective dad, the girl playing hard to get or a canal which prevents the lovers from reaching each other.

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All games need to be in by April 25th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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This month's guidelines are set by last month's winner BaRoN:

Topic: Work in Progress

You must create a game that is incomplete, but it must of course still have an ending.  For example the graphics could be left as rough sketches, or partially not polished; placeholder graphics could be ubiquitous (i.e. the blue cup or Roger); or messages could frequently display "not implemented yet" or "coming soon!"  Interpret "incomplete" as you like, but the characters in the game should recognize that it's not complete - in other words, they should not believe that everything is as it was envisaged to be.

Only Mandatory Rule: The incompleteness of the game must somehow be a part of at least one puzzle.  For example a door might not have been drawn in the wall yet, so how can you get inside?  You know you're supposed to cut the red wire, but they haven't been coloured yet.  Something like that.

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All games need to be in by March 25th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

Please do not just enter the competition with a rushed entry (a game created in just some hours or a few days)!

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This month's guidelines are set by last month's winner Woodban:

Topic: Life is a Stage

Since back in Ancient Greece theatre was an improtant medium to communicate certain ideas and feelings, morality but also merriness. This month's MAGS competition is about the theatre's stage.

The "MUST-HAVE" rules:

- Every entry's story needs to be communicated as a performance on a stage
- Try to make the player realize at any point of your game, that he's actually in a theatre playing
- You might want to keep the focus on the stage, meaning the player character should be an actor, but if you involve i.e. a person from the audience, that can be the player character, too
- Try to conclude in a clear moral that the play communicates
- You can do anything to the stage (i.e. use pyrotechnics, rotate the stage to a vertical stand, ...)
- The play can be anything you like: A great magician on stage, a circus, a musical - anything you can find on a stage, but be aware of the fact that you MUST tell a story within the program of the performer.

The "NICE-TO-HAVE" rules:

To catch the atmosphere of theater you can, but don't have to, concentrate on one or more of the following points:

- Emphazise movement (in combination with music) - think of exaggerated movement, people "flying" through the air, etc.
- A special music - a musical theme that often occurs within the game, but adjusts to the situation (i. e. the main theme is a happy or confident tune, when a beloved character dies, it changes into a sad tune)
- Dialogues & Monologue - include inner monologues in form of a speech to the audience - we want to know how the char feels
- Sprites & Character art - here it's extremely important that the character sprites really communicate the underlying character design - meaning that if you i.e. have a bad character the player should notice that from the first second on
- Special kind of interface

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All games need to be in by February 24th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

You remember the MAGS competitions in 2007? All together 40 games entered the contests and offered a great range of amusement, humour and entertainment. To celebrate all the contestants and to bring all those games back to your minds and on your screens again here's "Maggies".

We don't want to judge about best graphics, best character or other best categories - there's already a famous award for doing this. "Maggies" just wants to know what's your favourite MAGS game 2007. It's up to you to decide what's most important: Graphics, gameplay, idea, interpretation of the MAGS rules, whatever...

The voting period will run two long weeks until January 17th.
Take your time to play all the games and decide in the end...

For voting please visit the MAGS site or make your choice right here:

Mr Frisby Saves Xhristmas by Mr_Frisby
Alan Saves Christmas by OneDollar
Me Go Cannibal Jungle by FSi
Anti-heroes by paolo
Jacob by ThatOneChick87
Get Me Go Away! by Akatosh
Trance-Pacific by Ben304 and paolo
Serum by Jojoboy
Root of all Evil by Radiant
Revelation by dkh
Recollection Demo by OneDollar
Plan 10 From My Pants by FSi
Pixel Hunt by Radiant
Washed Ashore by Akatosh
Stranded by theatrx
Help - the game by FSi
G.P.s Lost Adventure by Wells8892
You Must Be This Tall by munchiez
The Zipper Meteor by KC
AlienCarniage by FruitStripeApe
Ache Quest by FSi
Of birds and bees by Gamer_V
Happy Ducky Adventure by Mr. Buckéthead
Roast Mother Goose by theatrx
Owls Quest by joelphilippage
West Of The Root by KC
Unexpected Quest by Mr. Buckéthead
Test Rat Escape by Wells8892
Odot Tamat On by zabnat
Me Go Store by Akatosh
Day of the Fish by Ollibony
Cabbage of the Closest Kind by FruitStripeApe
Alien Attack by Jon
Text Parser Game by FSi
Rays Rods by KC
Geometric Shapes 1 - Circleboy by Gamer_V
Encounters of the Closest Kind by FruitStripeApe
PMUVCHVT by Akatosh
CoMATtCEHoSVD by FSI
Skippy Saves The Day by Dufferama

Please vote only once and be sure to have played all games before sending your voice! Good luck to all participants.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

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This month's guidelines are set by last month's winner OneDollar:

Topic: Prologue

Let's do something a little different this month. January is associated with beginnings so I want you to come up with a game that acts as an introduction/prologue chapter/opening sequence to what would be a much bigger game. The game can be as long or short as you want. You may want to concentrate on one or more of the following areas…

Plot â€" Will you be introducing an epic space saga, a cleverly written satire, an abstract artistic work?
Atmosphere â€" Use of music or specific graphical style
Characters â€" More than just another bitter private detective?
Puzzles â€" Demonstrating your puzzle making abilities, or new takes on existing ideas?
Innovation â€" How would your game stand out from the crowd?

Rules:
Your main aim is to make your audience want to keep on playing by the end of the game
You must include at least two puzzles
By the end of the game something significant must have happened that results in the events of the rest of the story.
By the end you should have established how the rest of the full game would play â€" how it would feel, what direction the plot is headed, what the player could expect to experience etc
There must be a beginning and an end of the game - so a dead end (like walking around with no new options) won't do it

The idea is really open this time; let's see what highly polished examples of your game creation abilities you can come up with!

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All games need to be in by January 26th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.

[What is MAGS?]

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.

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 (a.k.a n00bies).

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 "favourite" games, and not the most artistic, you may get help for the competiton, but should try not get anyone else to do any part of the game for you.

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.

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This month's guidelines are set by last month's winner paolo:

Topic: The End Of Christmas

So it's the December rules again and we go for a Christmas related competition:

* Someone in the game discovers something that means that Christmas can no longer be celebrated.
* The player character has to "save" Christmas, either by stopping this discovery from becoming public knowledge, or by proving conclusively that the discovery is untrue.
* A freak weather condition, such as a hurricane, flooding or extreme heat or cold, occurs at some point in the game. It must be a freak condition for the place where the game is set, so, for example, if the game is set in Norway, extreme heat would be freak weather, but a snowstorm would not.
* Two or more of the following items must be used as inventory items somehow during the game:

- a bustle
- a collection of mugs of different colours, but the blue one is missing
- a hosepipe with holes in it
- a jar of yeast extract (Marmite, Vegemite or similar)
- a mouldy sandwich
- a sumo wrestler
- a trombone
- a 20-volume set of encyclopedias
- a used teabag

Let your imagination run riot and have fun!

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All games need to be in by December 24th.

Please post a download link of your game entry to this thread, best with a screenshot. Thanks and good luck.