Ok, so you've never used IRC before, but want to get in on the act? Here's what we hope is a beginner's guide to what it is and how to join the AGS IRC community.
Basically, IRC consists of a number of text based internet chat rooms, where you can chat to other people from around the world.
First of all, I should mention that if you're behind a strict firewall or HTTP only proxy, you may not be able to use IRC. Check with your system administrator.
Getting started
Now, download and install an IRC client. If you're using Windows, the obvious choice is mIRC.
Once installed, you'll get a dialog similar to the following:
In the boxes, type the relevant information. You don't have to provide
your real name or real email address, you can just put anything in. In
the "Nickname" box, type the nickname that you want
to be known by on IRC. This is a similar to having a posting name on the
forum - you can be called whatever you like, but obviously it's worth using the same name you do
on the forums, so people will know who you are!
There is also an "Alternative"
box - here you can type a different nickname that will get used if someone else is
already using yours.
Now, click on the "Servers" option in the left hand tree, then click the "Add" button. Type the information as shown below:
Click "Add" and the top window will close. Finally, click the big "Connect to Server" button and with luck you should be logged in and see a lot of messages scroll by.
Once the messages have stopped coming, you should have a flashing cursor at the bottom of the main mIRC window. In it, type:
and press return.
You should then see the AGS channel window where you can type messages for all the other AGSers on IRC to see. On the right hand side of the mIRC window is a list of users currently online.
Have fun - some newbie questions & answers are listed below.
Please also scroll down this page and read the channel rules - what is and isn't allowed there. Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse for breaching them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why have some people got a '@' symbol in the user list?
A: These people are channel operators. An operator (or 'op') is
similar to a message board moderator - they have the power to kick and ban people from the
channel, and to change the channel topic (displayed in the mIRC
title bar).
Q: Who is Roger?
A: Roger is the AGS channel's bot. A bot is a computer program that
pretends to be an IRC user. Roger's main job is to automatically grant
Operator status to selected people as they enter the room and to kick
anyone who is abusing the channel out.
He can also do some cool stuff like tell you the last time a user visited
the channel (type "Roger, seen username"), and store facts.
Common Abbreviations
You may see these abbreviations used frequently on IRC, and even on the
forums. Here's what they mean:
| AFAIK | As far as I know |
| BBIAB | Be back in a bit |
| BBL | Be back later |
| BRB | Be right back |
| BTW | By the way |
| IIRC | If I remember correctly |
| IMHO | In my humble opinion |
| IMO | In my opinion |
| J/K | Just kidding |
| LOL | Laughing out loud |
| NP | No problem |
| ROFL | Rolling on the floor laughing |
| ROFLMAO | Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off |
| (sp) | I know I didn't spell that word correctly, so please don't bother correcting me. |
| TY | Thank you |
| WB | Welcome back |
These are just some of the most common abbreviations - a fuller list is available here.
The #AGS Charter (Channel Rules)
The #AGS IRC channel is a chat channel dedicated to the discussion of
the Adventure Game Studio application, games made with AGS, and adventure
gaming in general.
1. Technical questions, however, should not be asked here. Any scripting
issues that you have are better posted on the forums, where more users
have more time to look over your question.
2. Off topic conversation on serious topics is welcome too. However,
off-topic random rants and pointless rambles should be avoided. Although
it can seem that the channel is dead at times, and that a random rant or
argument will do no harm, it can prevent a more useful discussion from
starting up.
3. Channel flooding is not permitted. Flooding is defined as sending many
messages in a short period of time, with the effect of drowning out what
is being said by other people. The exact determination of 'flooding' is at
the channel ops' discretion; but note that repeatedly talking to the bots
may be classed as flooding.
4. The channel is for AGS community members
only (i.e. people who signed up on the forums and have an interest in
adventure games). Any other people who randomly wander into the channel
may be kicked or banned without warning.
5. Do not idle excessively.
Anyone who sits on the channel but does not speak for 24 hours will be
kicked. Also, if you are going away from your PC but leaving IRC logged
in, it's common courtesy to add "|away" to your nick to let
people know you're not around.
Any breach of the above rules will result in a warning from a channel
op, and if the warning is not heeded then a ban of approximately one
week will be instated. After that time, the user will be permitted to
return, but if they breach the rules again, a permanent ban will be
instated.
If you receive a ban, but feel it was unjust, take it up privately with
the op who banned you. Do not whine about it on the forums or other
IRC channels.
Only the Op who created the ban may remove it. If the Op who banned you
has been absent from the channel for a significant time (over one week),
then you may request that another Op review your case.
CHANNEL OPERATORS: Channel ops are regulars who have been there
for a long period of time and are well trusted by others on the channel.
Selection of new ops is made by appointment only and no requests for op
status will be given.
Quick summary of the rules above