Game News Avernum 5 site launched

[Jasede]

They really all suck from what I can tell. A few of them seem to have a lot of non-linearity and the typical c&c, but I only played Geneforge 1 (a pretty good game) and Avernum 1 (I wish I could unplay it).

They're crap [from what I have seen], but I suppose if you're starved for RPGs they're better than nothing. I'd rather replay Ultima 7. Over and over.

 

[Atrokkus]

Ugh, not Avernum again. one of the worst games I've ever tried to play. I'd rather play Icewind Dale 1, a much better dungeon-crawler.

 

[Baphomet]

I've been meaning to play a Spiderweb Software game. I hear they're all practically the same, so the choice seems arbitrary, but I'd still like to hear recommendations. Thanks.

 

[Fodel]

I hear they're all practically the same, so the choice seems arbitrary, but I'd still like to hear recommendations. Thanks.

Geneforge 2 is a very good rpg, all about choices and consequences, Avernums are dungeon crawler.

 

[Ladonna]

I will probably get it eventually. I finished all the Exiles way back when, and have been slowly, in intervals, progressing through Avernum 4 which isn't a bad game in a simplistic early 90's way.

But who knows, maybe some of the competition will finally rear its head? If that vapourware ever gets finished that is.... :wink:

 

[Vault Dweller]

Ugh, not Avernum again. one of the worst games I've ever tried to play. I'd rather play Icewind Dale 1, a much better dungeon-crawler.

Uh, no. Do yourself a favor and try again.

 

[Elwro]

Yup. I'd recommend trying demos of Avernum 1 and Geneforge 1 - they're both really good, but different games.

 

[Atrokkus]

I have absolutely no gripes with Geneforge 1, it's awesome. and Geneforge 4 is pretty cool too. But Avernum.. I dunno, just not my cup of tea.

 

[Ander Vinz]

and someone was planning to post something like "I haven't played any of Spiderweb's games. Can you guys tell me if they are any good 'cause I can't download a demo and form my own opinion but I heard from one of the cool posters here that I idolise they were all the same. Please help me."

I've been meaning to play a Spiderweb Software game. I hear they're all practically the same, so the choice seems arbitrary, but I'd still like to hear recommendations. Thanks.

heh

 

[Baphomet]

It is amusing to see those two posts side by side. Consider that SS has sixteen games for sale and that plenty of folks would want to narrow down the choices before playing demos.

 

[Ander Vinz]

Consider that SS has THREE recenly released games.
Oh no, too many choices.

 

[Baphomet]

I don't see why I should limit myself to recently released games. In the future, it could go a little like this.

"I'd like to play a Fallout game, but I'm not sure which one. Suggestions?"
"Fallout 3 is the most recently released one. Oh no, too many choices."

 

[Ander Vinz]

You shouldn't. Just do some research.
Simple logic works too. If you you're going to read a book from series which one should you start with?

And this:

"I'd like to play a Fallout game, but I'm not sure which one. Suggestions?"
"Fallout 3 is the most recently released one. Oh no, too many choices."

is different case.

 

[Bradylama]

Man I'm digging those screenshots.

"The Empire is pretty great. It sure is pretty great. Being in the Empire is the best thing you could possibly hope for. It's very awesome."

 

[Baphomet]

Just do some research.

Asking people who have played the games which one they liked best is surely part of the research process. I'll be reading reviews as well.

Simple logic works too. If you you're going to read a book from series which one should you start with?

You often need the context of books 1-3 to make sense of book 4. This is often not the case with video games. And where was this simple logic when you earlier told me to focus only on the three most recently released games?

And this:

"I'd like to play a Fallout game, but I'm not sure which one. Suggestions?"
"Fallout 3 is the most recently released one. Oh no, too many choices."

is different case.

Can you elaborate? It seems like the same thing to me; you're either including older games as candidates or you're not.

 

[Ander Vinz]

You often need the context of books 1-3 to make sense of book 4.

Exactly.

This is often not the case with video games.

But if you're not starting from the first you're risking to miss a lot of fun.

And where was this simple logic when you earlier told me to focus only on the three most recently released games?

Recently released titles are Geneforge 4, Avernum 4 and Nethergate: Resurrection. First two are from series, third is remake. Thus unless one of the games in series is prequel or branch story most people prefer to start from the beginning.

And this:

"I'd like to play a Fallout game, but I'm not sure which one. Suggestions?"
"Fallout 3 is the most recently released one. Oh no, too many choices."

is different case.

Can you elaborate? It seems like the same thing to me; you're either including older games as candidates or you're not.

All SS games were made by the same person. Do I need to continue?

 

[Baphomet]

A convoluted way to say "start from the beginning" but nonetheless interesting to read. Thanks.

 

[Selenti]

Exile 2 > anything he's made since, sadly.

Art since Avernum on has been hideous, in the old tile-based engine (Exile 1-BoE) the old school charm worked, but there's really no charm whatsoever to the Avernum/Geneforge engine.

 

[Elwro]

Well, for me the Avernum series definitely have the charm Everything seems in place, I don't need fancy next-gen graphics. In Avernums 1-2 the feeling of exploring a huge cave system deep underground is appropriately conveyed, I think. The descriptions are well written for my taste. I usually put my own music in the background, so I have double the fun :D (Although a side effect is that when I listen to any symphonies by Schubert I immediately think of Geneforge 1...)

 

[Fez]

If you want to play the better games, then you can start with the latest ones which have many improvements over the earlier titles. If you want to follow the story from beginning to end, then start with the first Avernum/Geneforge games. You can decide for yourself what is more important to you.

 

[galsiah]

If you you're going to read a book from series which one should you start with?

Small Gods.

 

[Ander Vinz]

If you you're going to read a book from series which one should you start with?

Small Gods.

Is that Harry Potter series you're talking about?

 

[galsiah]

Pratchett. Possibly they're similar - I wouldn't know.
The point being that each book is intended to be stand-alone (much like games in a series), and while there are many cross-references and in-jokes, it's certainly not self-evident to start with the first book. With later books in such a series, the author has a much more coherent, fleshed-out view of the world - and it shows. That's even without all the gameplay tweaks, bug fixes etc. for later games in a series.

It might usually make sense to start from the beginning of a series, but it's hardly daft to question that policy for an individual case. Sometimes (as with Pratchett books for many readers) the first isn't the most useful/instructive/interesting place to start.

If playing and evaluating a demo took a similar time to asking a question on a forum, you might have a point. Since the time investment is different by orders of magnitude, I don't think you do.

 

[Elwro]

BTW, there are sub-series inside the Discworld series (Rincewind, the Guard, the witches etc.) - you can easily start with the first book from each of them.

 

[Ander Vinz]

Pratchett. Possibly they're similar - I wouldn't know.

No way.

The point being that each book is intended to be stand-alone (much like games in a series), and while there are many cross-references and in-jokes, it's certainly not self-evident to start with the first book.

It's preferable to start with the first book in a series because otherwise you miss all those cross-references and automatically spoil the fun of previous books. Nobody forces you though.
Am I echoing you?

With later books in such a series, the author has a much more coherent, fleshed-out view of the world - and it shows. That's even without all the gameplay tweaks, bug fixes etc. for later games in a series.

Or he can run out of ideas and begin to repeat himself. Or exhaust his inspiration. You never know.

It might usually make sense to start from the beginning of a series, but it's hardly daft to question that policy for an individual case. Sometimes (as with Pratchett books for many readers) the first isn't the most useful/instructive/interesting place to start.

Totally agree.

BTW, there are sub-series inside the Discworld series (Rincewind, the Guard, the witches etc.) - you can easily start with the first book from each of them.

This is exactly the thing I'm going to do after finishing my current pile of books. I've enjoyed the whole Rincewind series and definitely want more of Pratchett's humor.