Review GameSpy promotes Geneforge 2. Who would have thought?

[Vault Dweller]

Tags: Geneforge 2

I don't know why, but <a href=http://www.gamespy.com>GameSpy</a> decided to post a very positive <a href=http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/march04/geneforge2pc>review</a> of <a href=http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/geneforge2/index.html>Geneforge 2</a> praising the gameplay and giving it <b>4/5</b> rating.
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<blockquote>If you haven't tried one of Spiderweb Software's games yet (my condolences if this is the case), let me tell you about a guy with a vision for self-sufficiency and an elementary design philosophy that, since 1994, continues to reel in the skeptics and roll out believers. Someone big really ought to hire this Jeff Vogel guy. After all, he's making a living and bringing in accolades with technology that looks like it crawled out of a documentary on gaming relics.
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What makes Geneforge 2 work is Spiderweb's familiarity with the same kind of mechanics that turned gaming series like Ultima and Wizardry into legends. The formula that Mr. Vogel and Co. have mastered here is, as before, how to combine fast-paced exploration with smart surprises that keep you guessing. Do yourself a favor and try this game, because as they say in Arkansas, "It's the gameplay, stupid." </blockquote>
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Well, I couldn't have said it better myself: It's the gameplay, stupid!
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Spotted at: <A HREF="http://www.gengamers.com">GenGamers</A>

 

[Trash]

I don't know why, but GameSpy decided to post a very positive review of Geneforge 2 praising the gameplay and giving it 4/5 rating.

Maybe someone over there read the pcgamer article and figured that if pcgamer liked it.....we oughta like it? Nice to see some good media coverage on Spiderweb and their games though, these guys deserve it.

 

[DarkUnderlord]

Someone big should hire this guy? So Jeff Vogel will be hired by BioWare now? Is that what he's saying?

KONSPIRACEE!

 

[Anonymous]

If Jeff Vogel gets hired by anyone, the world is just another step closer to exploding from stupidity.

 

[DrattedTin]

I think he'd refuse.

 

[Anonymous]

He'd better. Or else we'd have to get the angry mob of pesants out.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

I think the Mac people would be rather pissed off about a PC developer hiring Vogel.

 

[Whipporowill]

Hey... isn't this a sign of the apocalypse or something?

 

[Diogo Ribeiro]

Hey... isn't this a sign of the apocalypse or something?

And the Prophecy is clear - the End of Times shall be brought unto this world when the great God Beast Bioware releases a quality CRPG, with an emphasis on RP.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Did anyone notice this:

About one-quarter of the way into the story, Geneforge 2 suddenly opens up considerably, taking a cue from games like Gothic and allowing you to join various factions, which in turn shape the outcome of the story.

How stupid is that?

 

[Peacedog]

How stupid is that?

You gotta love short term memory. I don't know what it is that causes so many reviewers to cite recent examples and then act like said examples pioneered or evolved the relevant gameplay mechanic (which they often do, if inadvertantly). It can't all be because they weren't gaming way back when.

Anyway, Vogel has already done work for one of the big boys. He did some work on Mech Warrior 4, and wrote a selection of hints & tips on it for CGM I think it was. He seems to fantasize about working with a bigger team and budget, but I believe he's said several times it all comes back to him not answering to anyone (in essence), and he prefers to keep it like that.

It would be nice if more big developers engaged in the time honored tradition of copying neat things from other games and copied some of the neat things from his (which he in turn copied from the Ultimas, and even Fallout).