Editing Adventure Game Studio

{{Short description|Graphic design game tool}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Adventure Game Studio
| logo = File:Bigblue cup.PNG
| screenshot = Adventure Game Studio Screenshot.png
| caption = The room editor in AGS v3.3.3
| developer = Chris Jones
| released = {{Start date and age|1997}}
| latest release version = 3.6.1.25
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2024|06|9}}
| latest preview version = 3.6.0.25 - Beta 5
| latest preview date = {{Start date and age|2022|05|06}}
| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| platform = [[Personal computer]]
| repo = {{URL|https://github.com/adventuregamestudio/ags}}
| language = [[English language|English]]
| genre = [[Game creation system]]
| license = [[Artistic License]] version 2 (editor & runtime)
| website = {{url|https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk}}
| programming language = [[C++]], [[C (programming language)|C]], [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]]
}}

'''Adventure Game Studio''' ('''AGS''') is an [[Open-source software|open source]] development tool primarily used to create [[graphic adventure game]]s.<ref name="RPS">{{cite web|url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/04/03/exploring-the-lost-world-of-adventure-game-studio/ |title=Exploring The Studious World Of Adventure Game Studio |publisher=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] |date=2012-04-03 |access-date=2013-12-24}}</ref> It is aimed at intermediate-level [[game designer]]s, and combines an [[integrated development environment]] (IDE) with a [[scripting language]] based on the [[C (programming language)|C programming language]] to process game logic.

==History==
Adventure Game Studio was created by British programmer Chris Jones<ref name="RPS" /> in 1997 as an [[MS-DOS]] program entitled "Adventure Creator". Jones was inspired by [[Sierra On-Line]]'s adventure game interface, specifically as showcased in ''[[Space Quest IV]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.adventure-treff.de/Interviews/11754-chris-jones | title=Interviews: Chris Jones | publisher=Adventure-Treff.de | access-date=2018-11-02}}</ref> The first version of Adventure Creator allowed users to create only low-[[Image resolution|resolution]] keyboard-controlled games.

''Lassi Quest'' was released as the first complete AGS game in late 1999. The engine gained popularity with the release of [[Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw]]'s ''[[Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw#Rob Blanc Trilogy|Rob Blanc]]'' and Philip Reed's ''Larry Vales'' games in 2000-2001. 

Version 3.0 in January 2008 included a complete rewrite of the editor using the [[.NET Framework]] and an update to the game engine to support 3D hardware acceleration.

On 26 October 2010, Chris Jones released the [[source code]] for the editor under the terms of the [[Artistic License]], version 2.<ref>[http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=42063.0 AGS Editor Source Code Release] AGS Forums, October 26, 2010</ref> On 27 April 2011, the runtime engine code was released under the same licence.<ref>[http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=43383.0 Initial AGS Engine Source Code release] AGS Forums, April 27, 2011</ref>

By 2015, community developers were maintaining and improving the engine and IDE, and began to implement cross-platform capabilities as well as support for more modern screen resolutions (4:3, 16:9 and custom high resolutions).<ref>[https://github.com/adventuregamestudio/ags/blob/master/Changes.txt changes.txt] ags on [[github.com]] (2015)</ref>

==Capabilities==
The editor and runtime engine were originally designed for [[Microsoft Windows]] operating systems; the runtime engine was ported to [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], [[Linux]], [[Mac OS X]] and [[PlayStation Portable]]<ref name="GitHub repository">{{cite web|url=https://github.com/adventuregamestudio/ags |title=AGS GitHub repository |publisher=github.com |date=2012-06-09 |access-date=2012-07-06}}</ref> after the release of the source code. Prior to AGS 2.7, an [[MS-DOS]] engine was also available; this has since been discontinued. It is not yet possible to run the editor on [[operating system]]s other than Windows without an [[emulator]] or API wrapper such as [[Wine (software)|Wine]].<ref name="wiki GNU/linux">{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/wiki/GNU/Linux |title=AGS wiki: GNU/Linux |publisher=www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk |date=2010-03-02 |access-date=2012-04-23}}</ref>

AGS can create games with a graphical range from 256 colours and a resolution of 320×200, to [[24-bit color|truecolor]] games with any higher resolution supported by the player's graphic adapter and an [[alpha channel]]. It also supports [[pixel art scaling algorithms|graphics filters]]: [[nearest-neighbor interpolation]] (2x, 3x, and 4x), and [[hqx (algorithm)|hqx]] (2x and 3x). Version 2.61 supports the following multimedia formats: [[MOD (file format)|mod]], [[wav]], [[XM (file format)|xm]], [[MIDI]], [[ogg]], [[mp3]], [[Audio Video Interleave|avi]]. Version 2.72 also supports [[Impulse Tracker]] and [[S3M]].<ref>[http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=20582.0 AGS v2.7 Refresh 2 now released] AGS Forums, May 2, 2005</ref>

==Community==
The AGS community is based on the AGS Forum,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/ |title=AGS Forums - Index |publisher=Adventuregamestudio.co.uk |access-date=2012-05-27}}</ref> the AGS Internet Relay Chat channel<ref>
[irc://irc.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/AGS]</ref> and Discord channel.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://discordapp.com/invite/BSvN5ZF|title=AGS Discord channel }}</ref> There are real-world meetings of the community each year, known as "Mittens".<ref>[http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/wiki/Mittens AGS Wiki]</ref>

==AGS Awards==
The AGS Awards were founded in 2001 and are awarded annually to the best games created with AGS, in multiple categories.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/wiki/AGS_Awards |title=AGS Awards |publisher=Adventure Game Studio wiki |date=2022-06-30 |accessdate=2022-06-30}}</ref> The AGS Awards were once an important barometer for indie adventure games, receiving coverage from sites like ''[[Destructoid]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/aaamaazzing-it-hurts-199927.phtml |title=Destructoid revies AGS Winners |publisher=[[Destructoid]] |date=2011-04-29 |accessdate=2011-04-29}}</ref> ''[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/02/07/ags-awards-2010-down-to-finalists/amp/  |title=AGS Awards 2010 down to finalists |publisher=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] |date=2011-02-07 |accessdate=2017-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/02/25/point-click-vote-the-ags-awards/amp/ |title=Point-click-Vote for the AGS Awards |publisher=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] |date=2013-02-25 |accessdate=2013-02-25}}</ref> ''[[Game Developer (website)|IndieGames]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiegames.com/2010/01/indepth_the_ags_awards_2009.html |title=In-Depth: The AGS Awards 2009 |publisher=www.indiegames.com |date=2010-01-26 |accessdate=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiegames.com/2013/03/the_2012_ags_awards.html |title=The 2012 AGS Awards |publisher=www.indiegames.com |date=2013-03-28 |accessdate= |archive-date=2013-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603034225/http://indiegames.com/2013/03/the_2012_ags_awards.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ''[[GameSetWatch]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/03/adventurers_get_ags_awards_int.php |title=Adventurers get AGS Awards |publisher=gamesetwatch.com |date=2006-03-03 |accessdate= |archive-date=2016-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005064031/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/03/adventurers_get_ags_awards_int.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2007/02/ags_awards_zeebys_get_winners.php  |title=AGS Awards 2007 Winners |publisher=gamesetwatch.com |date=2007-02-02 |accessdate=}}</ref>

==Reception and usage ==
Thousands of games have been produced using AGS,<ref>[https://www.uvlist.net/groups/info/agsengine Adventure Game Studio full game list] on uvlist.net</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://freankexpo.net/ |title=Games made by AGS |access-date=2021-04-01 |archive-date=2011-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421080537/https://freankexpo.net/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> among them commercially successful games such as ''[[Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine]]'', ''[[The Cat Lady]]'', or ''[[The Journey Down]]''.

[[Wadjet Eye Games]] is an [[indie game developer]] that has created most of its commercial titles using AGS, such as [[Blackwell (series)|the ''Blackwell'' series of games]]. They also publish AGS games by other developers, such as ''[[Primordia (video game)|Primordia]]'' by Wormwood Studios, ''[[Resonance (game)|Resonance]]'' by XII Games, and ''[[Gemini Rue]]'' by Joshua Nuernberger.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/ |title=Adventure Game Studio |publisher=Adventure Game Studio |access-date=2012-05-27}}</ref>

Development teams [[AGD Interactive]] and [[Infamous Adventures]] have remade and updated ''[[King's Quest]]'' and other [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra]] releases. [[LucasFan Games]] have done the same with [[LucasArts]] adventure games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fans Present Maniac Mansion Remake |url=https://mixnmojo.com/news/Fans-Present-Maniac-Mansion-Remake |website=The International House of Mojo |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[:Category:Adventure Game Studio games]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
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* {{Official website}}

{{Video game engines}}

[[Category:Adventure Game Studio| ]]
[[Category:1997 software]]
[[Category:Adventure game engines]]
[[Category:Free game engines]]
[[Category:Formerly proprietary software]]