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Indie RPG Avadon 2 debuts October 30 on PC, Mac
The next entry in Spiderweb Software's cult-favorite Avadon roleplaying game series arrives on October 30 under the title Avadon 2: The Corruption. An iOS release is scheduled for early 2014. As with prior entries in Spiderweb's series, Avadon 2 is strictly an old-school affair. Players build a character from one of five character classes (each with dozens of unique abilities), and set off on a lengthy adventure where the enemies are Tolkien-esque and the combat is turn-based. The game is presented from a three-quarters overhead perspective while its graphics are largely sprite-based; A design choice that creates a resemblance to the classic Gold Box line of Dungeons & Dragons computer games. "As a Hand of Avadon, the Black Fortress, you once held unlimited power," reads the official plot description for Avadon 2. "Your word was law. Your homeland was united and prospered under the protection of the Black Fortress. Now that fragile alliance has collapsed. Rebellion rages, outside enemies gather, and Avadon lies in ruins. Will you fight to restore your power and bring peace to your realm, or will you join the rebels and forge a new nation?" There's currently no pricing information for Avadon 2, though it seems likely that the sequel will follow in its predecessor's footsteps by featuring a $20 price tag. More details can be found on Spiderweb Software's site.
The enduring web of indie veteran Spiderweb Software
Spiderweb Software is one of the oldest independent development studios in existence. Founded in 1994 by Jeff Vogel, Spiderweb has been developing RPG gems for close to 18 years, beginning with the Exile series, and more recently launching the first of its new Avadon trilogy, titled The Black Fortress.Today the indie industry is regarded as a true form of gaming and art, producing superstars, millionares and rabid fanbases, all within a cool bubble of hipster trendiness. As Vogel tells Joystiq, it didn't start out that way."When I started, there was no indie culture," Vogel says. "We were writing what was called 'shareware' and everyone thought that we were losers. The whole thing about indie developers being respectable and able to make real money on Steam and iTunes is a very new development. And it still makes my head spin."Vogel is lucky -- he found a loyal, niche market in the indie RPG genre -- but he's also displayed a lot of dedication to have survived on his own for almost two decades, longer than many in the latest wave of indie developers have been alive."I'm proud of survival," Vogel says. "I've been doing this for seventeen years, working for the same company and making the same genre of game in the same way. The list of people who have done that is very short."
Spiderweb's Jeff Vogel on shareware game development
If you enjoy classic role-playing adventures that provide hours of addictive and virtually bug-free entertainment, you should check out shareware titles Geneforge and Avernum from Spiderweb Software. For the past decade, the Seattle-based developer has been providing Mac and PC gamers with inexpensive, quality alternatives to mainstream RPG releases. The engaging storytelling and character development that was introduced in earlier Spiderweb releases Exile and Nethergate have remained a formula for success through eight iterations of the Avernum and Geneforge franchises.As Geneforge 4: Rebellion nears completion, RPG Watch caught up with company founder and head Spider Jeff Vogel to learn more about his creative process and how Spiderweb's games are evolving. He had this to say about adding incremental graphic enhancements to the latest Geneforge: "I don't have a religious opposition to decent graphics. I never have. I always put in the best graphics my limited budget and programming skills allow. It's all about fun, and about creating an engrossing experience for the player. And if I have a way to improve the atmosphere of the game and pull the player in more, I'll do that. I can never match the big boys, but I do what I can."After reading the interview, head over to Spiderweb's home to learn more about Jeff and the life of a shareware developer.
