Game News Avernum: Escape From the Pit Announced

[VentilatorOfDoom]

Tags: Jeff Vogel; Spiderweb Software

<p>Jeff Vogel <a href="http://www.avernum.com/avernum/index.html" target="_blank">decided it was time for a remake</a> and officially announced <strong>Avernum: Escape From the Pit</strong>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>If you wonder why, <a href="http://jeff-vogel.blogspot.com/2011/07/announced-avernum-escape-from-pit.html" target="_blank">here's</a> his latest blog entry explaining it. There's also a <a href="http://www.avernum.com/avernum/avernumFAQ.html" target="_blank">FAQ</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>This is the second time that we have rewritten the <a href="http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/exile/winexile.html">Exile</a>/<a href="http://www.avernum.com/avernumold/index.html">Avernum</a> trilogy, a move that is full of all sorts of questionable integrity. I am very nervous about announcing this title for exactly that reason, even though we have very, VERY good reasons to do a serious, polished rewrite of this game. Because Avernum has such a large and passionate fanbase, we have already put up an <a href="http://www.avernum.com/avernum/avernumFAQ.html">Avernum: Escape From the Pit FAQ</a> to answer many of the questions that will be coming up. Such as, Why?<br /> <br /> Short answer: Because the old version doesn't run on new machines anymore. Also, the iPad.<br /> <br /> Longer answer. Look at this screenshot from Avernum:<br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://www.avernum.com/images/avernumold/beingbad.JPG"><img src="http://www.avernum.com/images/avernumold/beingbad.JPG" border="0" alt="" width="400" height="295" /></a></div>
<p><br /> Ghhhhahhhhh! Make it go away! Make it go AWAYYYYYYYY!<br /> <br /> I mean, seriously.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Agreed, the screenshot looks hideous. It was about time someone would upgrade the graphics. The game is scheduled for Q4 2011 (Mac) and Q1 2012 (PC and iPad).</p>

 

[hanssolo]

but all his games are remakes?

and I like how Vogel thought those shitty amateur portraits were totally ok and would actively defend them until two years ago.

EDIT: and the long answer is actually the shorter answer?

 

[m_s0]

The way I see it, remaking the same game twice is ridiculous. Nethergate is next, I assume?

 

[justheat]

but all his games are remakes?

and I like how Vogel thought those shitty amateur portraits were totally ok and would actively defend them until two years ago.

EDIT: and the long answer is actually the shorter answer?

do you think it would be cool if that background behind the character's apperance/inventory slots dynamically changed?

 

[Elwro]

I don't see anything wrong with the screenshot. At least not more wrong than how Avadon looks. Is this really a big improvement?

 

[Roguey]

When we released our first game, wayyyy back in 1995, we charged $25. At the time, that was a fair and unsurprising price for a shareware game. These days, the constant downward pressure on prices can no longer be ignored. Also, the market is developing in ways that finally make me think that we can make more money at lower prices.

That's concerning. I don't know why anyone would think that $25 (half the price of a PC game, still less than a handheld game) is an unreasonable price for a full-featured RPG with hours of content (as opposed to the deluge of one-note gimmicks) unless they're massive graphics whores. Why cater to them?

 

[mindx2]

We are also taking pains to make it much more difficult to create a party that is too weak to progress through the game.

sarcasm on It's ganna be great sarcasm off

 

[hanssolo]

That's concerning. I don't know why anyone would think that $25 (half the price of a PC game, still less than a handheld game) is an unreasonable price for a full-featured RPG with hours of content (as opposed to the deluge of one-note gimmicks) unless they're massive graphics whores. Why cater to them?

Also, the iPad.

Shitty market is shitty.

 

[mondblut]

Why did he bother with Avadon anyway? The way I see it, he has now large enough back catalogue to keep remaking it to the end of his days.

 

[Konjad]

Reason: I want money from iFags

 

[Micmu]

serious, polished rewrite of this game

We are also taking pains to make it much more difficult to create a party that is too weak to progress through the game.

No. The game system has been heavily revised. It's a mix of Avernum 6 and Avadon: The Black Fortress.

Translation: dumb it down to avadon-like crap for iDiots

Bye, Jeff

 

[Johannes]

serious, polished rewrite of this game

We are also taking pains to make it much more difficult to create a party that is too weak to progress through the game.

No. The game system has been heavily revised. It's a mix of Avernum 6 and Avadon: The Black Fortress.

Translation: dumb it down to avadon-like crap for iDiots

Bye, Jeff

Did you play Avernum? The character system there is quite simplistic, nothing much of value is lost with revamping that. You just identify the good skills and pump those. I don't know about Avadon system since not played it, but at least latest Avernum and Geneforge are much more interesting than Avernum 1. Exiles do have their own pros but Avernum 1-3 are just pretty exploitable crap in hindsight.

 

[Pope Amole]

I don't know about Avadon system since not played it, but at least latest Avernum and Geneforge are much more interesting than Avernum 1. Exiles do have their own pros but Avernum 1-3 are just pretty exploitable crap in hindsight.

Surprise: in terms of enjoyment Avadon has nothing common with latest Avernums and Geneforges. It's an absolute shit, so even if avernum I-III are shitty already (I dunno, I've played only 5-6 and got tired from the setting already), I don't think that changing the flavour of their shittiness would do the trick.

 

[Andhaira]

*Sigh* Oh well, I guess he has to do what he has to do to fill his belly.

However, it does make sense that he is focusing on the ipad since he has always put out products for the Mac first.

 

[Micormic]

there's a reason i've never given him my money



it's because he's retarded and his games suck ass

 

[Elzair]

$5 says it's a linear dungeoncrawler with unkillable NPCs.

 

[Metro]

When we released our first game, wayyyy back in 1995, we charged $25. At the time, that was a fair and unsurprising price for a shareware game. These days, the constant downward pressure on prices can no longer be ignored. Also, the market is developing in ways that finally make me think that we can make more money at lower prices.

That's concerning. I don't know why anyone would think that $25 (half the price of a PC game, still less than a handheld game) is an unreasonable price for a full-featured RPG with hours of content (as opposed to the deluge of one-note gimmicks) unless they're massive graphics whores. Why cater to them?

To stay competitive with the market? It's all fine and well as a fan of CRPGs to hold your nose up and say 'let them eat cake,' to the peasants who won't pay $25 for such games but as a developer you'd be an idiot not to try to widen your consumer base.

 

[OSK]

there's a reason i've never given him my money



it's because he's retarded and his games suck ass

Play Geneforge. The original Exile trilogy is worth trying too.

 

[Roguey]

To stay competitive with the market? It's all fine and well as a fan of CRPGs to hold your nose up and say 'let them eat cake,' to the peasants who won't pay $25 for such games but as a developer you'd be an idiot not to try to widen your consumer base.

I'm pulling the war games card. Though they haven't collectively gone full casual like Vogel has either, so I guess you're right in that casual games do need to be sold at casual game prices, a tradeoff for the customers he's lost from switching styles and the ipad/pc price discrepancy (I'm sure he received a ton of angry letters over that).

 

[Gwendo]

If it's coming to iPad, we already know what will happen to the game design... Huge houses with super large corridors, so that people can navigate with their fingers.

I disliked, in Avadon, to see an house interior which was 300x300 tiles with just a 2 tile table with a couple of chairs in the middle.

 

[justheat]

Reason: I want money from iFags

the moment i get my 25 million from sales on steam, i will send money to help solve US debt crisis.

 

[tindrli]

yep.. the ipad thing sucks.. but avernum is a great game compared with shit that sels nowdays and personaly FUCKING GREAT to see a remake

 

[Lightknight]

Short answer: Because the old version doesn't run on new machines anymore.

Well the answer is easy then - boycott the new machines ! There, the problem is solved !

Did you play Avernum? The character system there is quite simplistic

And in my book its still good enough. The only thing that really needs improvement is the boring and self-duplicating spell system.

 

[Carlos' Bitch1]

Well, with the current state of the industry in mind, I may yet buy this depending on what improvements are made to the combat system. If none, I will just stick with Exile.

 

[Trash]

He's dumbing down the character system and will make the game easier. Fuck Vogel.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Bye, Jeff