Top notch game creator for those with the skill
If you've ever played a game and thought 'This is rubbish, I could do better', then Adventure game Studio is for you. The package is mainly intended for the creation of graphic adventures and does require some design and programming knowledge in order to get the most out of it, but for those with the skills and an idea for an adventure game, this is something that is worth investigating. This is obviously an older version, but there are newer updates available which expand on the features available. However, the basic principle is the same, so as long as you want to make a point and click adventure like the Space Quest and King's Quest series or Larry Vales (which was created with AGS), this is pretty much the best way to do it. The package may seem complex at first glance, but there are plenty of tutorials on the internet to help you out, as well as a strong community, so before you know it you should be able to come up with something of interest. Make no mistake though, this isn't a quick route to making a game, and you still need to have a solid outline, script and art, but AGS's beauty is the relative simplicity with which your ideas can be integrated into it. If you don't have any artwork, you can use pre-defined assets but there are also plenty of resource packs out there too. ASG's interface is pretty intuitive and flexible, offering a surprising amount of power and sophistication, as evidenced by the many games which have been created using it and which have been sold commercially. While not one for the novice game designer, ASG is definitely one to look at if you are more confident with your skills and have a great idea for an adventure.
