RPGDot:
Hi Jeff! Before we start with the interview, I musk make a confession. I have never solved a Spiderweb game without using the Editor. I think that your role playing games have got the most difficult final level bosses. I remember the demon Grah-Hoth in Exile I who was so mean that I hadn't got a chance to beat him (or take Vibius from Nethergate). Did you get similiar complaints from other players?
Jeff Vogel: Actually, no. Most players don't use the character editor at all. It's probably a matter of play style. Some people's style of play is more compatible with what my games reward than others. Of course, there's nothing wrong with using the character editor. Do whatever makes the game more
fun.
RPGDot: What can we expect from Avernum 2? Is it a remake from Crystal Souls or are you going to add new quests, monsters and towns?
Jeff Vogel: Both. It's a ground up rewrite, with piles of new material, a whole new interface, system, etc. Someone who already played Exile 2 will still find plenty new to do.
RPGDot: Although you use a very neat top-down engine in your games, I criticized in my reviews that all npcs are not animated and don't walk around. Are you going to improve this lack of
animations?
Jeff Vogel: Not in this engine. There will be animated motion in the next engine I'm developing.
However, this is a matter of personal taste, and, just because most games use animated movement doesn't mean that it's better. I find that animated movement makes it take a lot longer to move around than the instant movement style I use. I want to spend time playing the game, not clicking on one side of town and waiting for my people to stroll
there.
RPGDot: Will Avernum 2 have long music tracks with epic sounds and songs?
Jeff Vogel: I don't like music in computer games. And, when I make a decision, I always do what I personally
prefer.
RPGDot: On your website I read that you are also planning to create a science-fiction role playing game. Can you give us a brief overview of this game? Will it use a similiar engine like Avernum and Nethergate?
Jeff Vogel: The working title is Geneforge. It will use a whole new engine. It will have real-time movement normally and use a turn-based combat system (very much like Fallout). More than that, I don't want to say
yet.
RPGDot: When I am talking about Spiderweb games, I am thinking about old school crpgs with high-quality gameplay. However I grew very frustrated when I played Homeland. This game possessed many brilliant ideas, but I had to deal with so many nasty bugs and problems. Are you satisfied with the development of Homeland?
Jeff Vogel: Homeland did have some difficulties, but there's a lot to like too. Steven Morris is a developer with a lot of promise, and I was glad to give him a shot. And a lot of people like Homeland. That's the great thing about
shareware. Nobody who dislikes the game ever has to spend a penny on it.
RPGDot: Have you ever imagined what wonderful games you could do with the Infinity Engine from Bioware? Have you ever considered to invest money in such a program?
Jeff Vogel: No, and no.
RPGDot: What are your plans for the remote future after Avernum 2 has been released?
Jeff Vogel: Working on Geneforge. Working on Avernum 3, and maybe more games with the Avernum engine. We'll
see.
RPGDot: Pease tell our readers your favourite role playing games. What kind of game are you playing at the moment?
Jeff Vogel: Ultima IV and V. Baldur's Gate II. Planescape: Torment. I just finished American McGee's Alice.
