Jeff Vogel
@spiderwebsoft
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Following
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Founded Spiderweb Software in 1994. Has written many games, including the Exile, Geneforge, Avadon, and Avernum series. Geneforge 2 - Infestation is out!
Seattle
Joined October 2013
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Pinned Tweet
We've released Geneforge 2 - Infestation, a unique, innovative RPG
#indiegame
in an alien world.
Experience an intricate, open-ended story, choose between factions, and carve out a new future with your army of custom-made mutant monsters!
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For my daughter's quarantine schoolwork-at-home, she needs to ask 20 people for her ages and graph them. Which is difficult in the End Times.
So, how old are you? I'm asking here because of the tiny chance this tweet goes viral and I get to force her to graph 10000 data points.
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I'm thrilled
#BaldersGate3
is doing so well. Many new fans of turn-based, story-heavy RPGs are being made.
Sometimes I'm asked if I worry about competition. No! In 3 months, a lot of people will be done with this game and want more. And a few of those folks will come to poppa.
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Thank you all so much! I'm going to blow her mind tomorrow.
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New Blog Post - "Why All Of Our Games Look Like Crap"
A business and design deep dive into why our games have a retro, quirky look a lot of people hate. Why we do that, why we don't change, and how we're still in business after 25 years.
#indiegames
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As traditional, I will use my viral tweet to hype something. In this case, I will hype the concept of Hope.
The next few months/years will be dreadful. Many will suffer greatly. But it WILL end. Plagues have come before and will come again. We will get through this. Good luck!
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We have released Queen’s Wish: The Conqueror! Our all-new, indie, epic RPG is available for Windows and Mac. Escape into a unique open-ended story full of free exploration and choices, an enormous world, and cunning tactical combat.
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This is my copy of the D&D Dungeon Master's Guide. I've had it for over 40 years.
It came out before game design was invented, so it is mainly a fever dream of bizarre charts for every situation, most of which NOBODY ever used. Here are some examples.
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She took a decent random sample of ages and then graphed those. And then we read all of your responses, many of which were clever and all of which were kind. It made us feel less lonely in a stressful time. We hope you felt less lonely too.
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This is a new one on me. Two days after release, Geneforge 2 - Infestation somehow crept onto Steam Hot & Trending.
So if you want to try the unique, innovative indie RPG that has set the game industry aflame with vague and temporary interest ...
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We just released Avernum 3: Ruined World, an epic, indie fantasy role-playing game for Windows and Mac! Features a cool story, intricate game system, and an enormous world that evolves and crumbles as time passes.
Try it on Steam:
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I definitely owe people a response after all your kindness. Even though I will disappoint you.
When my daughter and I decided to tweet this, we honestly thought we'd only get a few responses. When she saw the flood of support, she was thrilled. And then a bit stressed out.
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Geneforge 1 - Mutagen is now out for Windows & Mac! It's a unique, indie, open-ended fantasy RPG in a strange new world. Win the game with combat or trickery. Destroy the "bad guy," or join him. Make an army of custom-made mutant monsters!
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People say all the time how ineffective Twitter is at policing its platform. That is super-unfair. Their 100% effectiveness at keeping the Hong Kong protests and the anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre out of trending topics shows how dedicated they can be when they want to.
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Game Development Conference Photo
#1
:
People at the Oculus booth sitting around a bare board playing virtual Settlers of Catan. Offers the promise of being with friends and totally alone at the same time. Basically the saddest possible episode of Black Mirror.
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My GDC talk about Spiderweb Software, ancient history, and fun game biz stuff is now up on YouTube. I am quite proud of it. It has funny bits.
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My GDC talk about the history of my company was rated
#1
among GDC 2018 Summits, which makes me very happy. If you're interested in indie games or humor or living the Art Life (tm), it might be worth your time.
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So pointing out the world doesn't actually need 10000 new indie games a year on Steam will make some people super angry.
Note: that's almost 300 games a day.
Suggestion: Think I'm wrong? Prove it by going out and actually trying 1% of those games. (Yeah, I didn't think so.)
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My GDC talk about my career and indie games and running a business and keeping the internet from driving you mad has just passed 200K views. It's also funny. Yay!
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And so it begins.
I was going to wait until I had a lull in my work to play
#BaldursGate3
. Then my daughter told me I had to get it now because it's what all the cool kids are playing.
I have the weird feeling we're looking at a phenomenon here.
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I just added to my next game the ability to change the party order by dragging the characters in the roster. It only took 10 minutes. I could and should have done this 15 years ago.
I'm not a great developer. 👶🏻🖥
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I am quietly making some progress getting our next project off the ground. We will hopefully have something to announce in 2 months or so.
#remastertime
#indiedev
#indiehour
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My daughter lost a tooth, didn't tell me, & hid it in her room overnight to PROVE, scientifically, that I'm the Tooth Fairy.
#dadyouliedtome
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Me: Visual Studio, please run my game.
VS: This 20 year old code is sad. Many security improvements have been made since you wrote it. Perhaps...
Me: RUN THE CODE.
VS: I beg you, the disasters that await you if ...
Me: I AM A GOLDEN GOD MY CODE CANNOT FAIL
VS: human please
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We've started a Kickstarter for our next all-new series/game, Queen's Wish: The Conqueror.
It's a new engine, system, and story, featuring all our retro charm, intricate design, and cool storytelling. Thank you for any support you can give!
#indiedev
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We have announced our next game! Geneforge 2 - Infestation is an open-ended fantasy adventure in a unique fantasy world. Use battle or diplomacy and trickery to change the world, served by your army of custom-made mutant monsters.
#indiegames
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Ultima IV was a hugely influential game. It blew my mind as a kid, led directly to my having this job, and inspires me to this day.
This video is terrific. In particular, it shows how the designers got every bit of potential and fun out of the engine.
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I (and several hardworking artists) have been scrambling like mad for the last two months to prepare a Kickstarter for our next game series. It's a big new thing for us, and I am terrified. We'll activate it next week.
#indiedev
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We are scrambling to get everything together for our new Kickstarter. Coding furiously to get enough game together for a video. Writing. Screenshots. Lots of worrying.
Look for it in February!
#screenshotsaturday
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It has been out almost a week, and Geneforge 1 - Mutagen has been a surprising success. Our fastest-selling game in years, and people seem to be having a lot of fun. Thank you for supporting our RPG weirdness!
Our reward: We get to write another game.
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My GDC talk about my career, ancient internet history, and the True Meaning of Indie Games is now available! I'm really proud of it. Please enjoy my wisdom and my weird face.
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After years of planning and coding, the world of Queen's Wish: The Conqueror is done. I can now start finishing the game. Out for Win/Mac in September.
I do all of my primary design on graph paper, like an old nerd. Here is a big mound of all the towns and dungeons in the game.
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Our breakout game, Exile 3: Ruined World, came out in 1997. Back then, there were lots of computer games magazines, printed on "physical paper". Some of them gave awards.
There are little stars in the globe that swirl around when I shake it. It's 27 years old, and no fungus is
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I put a ton of politics into my games, but I write political philosophy, not comments on current events.
My games are not about any one Big Issue Of The Day. They are about the base principles we have that help us make our own opinions about those issues.
#pretentious
#buttrue
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Saying a game has 500 hours of gameplay is like saying your RPG has a million words of dialogue. At some point, it shifts from a promise to a threat.
However, these days, I think 20 hours for a main story is perrrrfect.
We wanted to clarify our recent communication about the amount of hours required to complete the game. Dying Light 2: Stay Human is designed for players with different gameplay styles and preferences to explore the world how they see fit.
#DyingLight2
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We've announced the release date for Queen's Wish: The Conqueror, our next all-new, indie, retro RPG! It's coming to Windows and Mac on Sept. 11, 2019, with the iOS version out in late 2019.
RTs and wishlists are greatly appreciated!
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New Blog Post! "I Am the Cheapest Bastard In Indie Games"
So why DO our games look so cheap and weird? It's our best path to a profit in a TOUGH business! I break down our earnings and budget numbers. Also, rantings, whimsy, and My Little Pony gifs!
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This post really blew up. I've gotten lots of friendly support. Thanks! Also, a LOT of people have taken the time to tell me that I am a gigantic bozo. Thanks!
I want to answer criticisms, so I'll be writing a followup next week called "I'm the Cheapest Bastard In Indie Games!"
New Blog Post - "Why All Of Our Games Look Like Crap"
A business and design deep dive into why our games have a retro, quirky look a lot of people hate. Why we do that, why we don't change, and how we're still in business after 25 years.
#indiegames
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We've released our 18th all-new game, Queen's Wish 2: The Tormentor! Enormous, open-ended, indie, retro, role-playing adventure. Tough choices and turn-based tactical combat, in a brutal, hostile land. Open-ended freedom in a huge world, plus lots of fun!
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Our old cult-classic Blades of Exile was made Open Source a while ago. Someone has launched an indiegogo to fund reworking the project and making it run on modern machines.
I'm not familiar with this developer, but I did want to boost his signal. Thank you for this brave effort,
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I design all the locations in our games with pencil and graph paper. Some backers of our latest Kickstarter get 20 year old maps hand-annotated by me. I'm really flattered that anyone would want them.
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We just had a birthday! We've been making indie, retro fantasy role-playing games for 26 years, and we're celebrating with a huge 48 hour Steam sale. Epic adventures with great stories, all on the cheap! Queen’s Wish: The Conqueror is half-off!
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It says a lot for my lack of business skill that I announced my new game officially the same day Baldur's Gate 3 entered early access.
But don't forget! When you run out of good games to play, mine are cheap!
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Geneforge 2 - Infestation just ticked over into Very Positive territory. No negative reviews! Thank you, kind people! It makes me happy to make things people enjoy.
I'll write a blog post soon with some hard stats about how launch went.
Try it here:
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Geneforge 1 - Mutagen comes out on Wednesday, and we're getting lots of love on Steam's Popular Upcoming list. We'll also be out on Epic, GOG, and the Humble Store. We're terrified and excited. Here is a bonus screenshot of a Shaper exploring some mines with his worm army.
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I'm about to turn 50, so I'm going through all my dreams and letting go of most of them.
Me dancing? Not a thing. Rock-climbing or caving? Nope. I will never play music well.
And my abs? Never visible. Since abs are so darn precious, I will protect mine under a layer of fat.
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Every so often I have to spend a long time psyching myself up to push a button.
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Queen's Wish has been out for a week!
Our first week of sales was very strong, and our refund rate is low. Plenty of debate about the changes we made, but many are having fun. There's a very good chance of Queen's Wish 2, which thrills us.
Thank you for your support!
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Geneforge 2 - Infestation, our unique RPG in an alien world, is still doing great. 100% positive reviews on Steam. Thank you! Windows & Mac out now:
iPad coming May 22. Here's some shots from that.
#screenshotsaturday
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Avernum 3: Ruined World has been out for 3 weeks and sold very well. We will be in business for a few more years.
We're working on an all-new game setting with a new system and art. We hope to announce it with a Kickstarter in the first half of the year.
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We started Queen's Wish: The Conqueror 3 years ago. It is probably the last all-new series I will write, and I tried to write a unique, innovative, fun game. It was very different, and a lot of people didn't like it. I thought it had failed. I recently realized that it hadn't.
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Spiderweb's next big project will be Geneforge 2 - Infestation, the next remaster of our beloved, cult-classic epic. The Kickstarter for it will start soon and have unique new rewards and goals. Very excited! Follow here to be notified when it starts ...
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We're about halfway done with Queen's Wish 2: The Tormentor. A unique, innovative, tactical turn-based RPG, with a cool story told with lots of words. We're small, but we can afford words!
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Our new RPG, Queen's Wish: The Conqueror, is coming out in one week. Early Wednesday morning, everything is set to go. Until then, we will be sleepless with worry.
Here's a new screenshot!
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Thanks so much to Rock, Paper, Shotgun for this very fun and supportive interview. It says a lot about us and where we're coming from. If you want to know a little more about where our weird, old, retro RPGs come from this is a great place to look!
Avernum and Geneforge creator Jeff Vogel says "sustainability is tricky" - even when you're a bottom feeder -
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Early sales of Queen's Wish are very strong. Even though the game is a very unusual RPG, early reviews and feedback are very positive. Still near the top of the Steam Trending list. We're optimistic about making Queen's Wish 2. Phew!
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Sometimes a work of art is created where everyone involved, at every juncture, made exactly the wrong artistic decision. Watching such a work can be a beautiful, freeing experience.
Yes, I did see Cats last night. Why do you ask?
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Geneforge 1 - Mutagen Kickstarter just ended. It easily funded, reached two stretch goals, and was far more successful than we expected. We are enormously grateful. While I should take a day off, I'm really fired up and sending art direction to freelancers. Thank you all so much!
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For me, the most fascinating thing about Cities Skylines (and SimCity) is how it lets you retreat into a lost world.
You build a city fueled by middle class people who work in industry making things. It's basically 1960s-Simulator.
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I get asked a lot which of our jillion games to play first. Avernum: Escape From the Pit is the start of our most loved series, so I'd go there.
Geneforge is our most funky, innovative title, but it's really showing its age. We're remastering it starting late this year.
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Steam is featuring us on the front page today! Our most beloved series, the Avernum trilogy, is having its biggest discount ever. You have been banished to the vast, deadly, underground nation of Avernum. Fight for survival, escape, and revenge!
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We have launched our Kickstarter for our next game, Geneforge 2 - Infestation! A huge new indie RPG adventure. Help us create a remaster of one of our most beloved cult-classics. Backers can help make the game and even get physical merch.
#indiegame
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We are about a month of releasing Geneforge 1 - Mutagen for Win and Mac! Exact release date coming soon. We will also be a part of the Steam Game Festival. While we're getting ready to ship, we have a bunch of new screenshots! You can wishlist us here ...
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Really don't like when a game makes you tap a button quickly to do something.
By making me focus on my fingers and how I hold my controller, it completely takes me out of the game. Also, tapping rapidly is not fun. Not sure why this is still a thing.
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When we release a new game, there is always a 5 minute period when an algorithm burps and we appear on the Cool Kid charts. It's very satisfying, and we're going out to lunch now to coast on the temporary good feelings.
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Not enough things turn out to be mimics. Chests are boring. I want the next 'healing potion' you try to drink to be a mimic.
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The Kickstarter for our next big title starts in just a few days. If you would like to be notified when it starts, you can sign up here ...
#screenshotsaturday
#nervous
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Queen's Wish has been out almost a week, and I am exhausted. LOTS of responses. It's a unique, different game that does a lot of new stuff. This has made a lot of people yell at me. It's made many other people happy. I'll post how it's selling tomorrow. The news is good.
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As a kid, this one was my favorite. If you drink a potion too soon after you drunk another, you roll to see how they interact. Sometimes your character just EXPLODES.
Honestly, I can't think of a better example of the bonkers, homicidal spirit of 1970s role-playing than this.
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Launching our Kickstarter in 3 hours. Nervous.
Also, I should have posted something like this 5 hours ago. Not great at PR.
#indiegames
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#Steam
modified their Popular Upcoming queue to focus on games that are actually shipping soon. As a result, our next game has crept onto the bottom part of the list!
It's a much appreciated and very helpful change.
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Geneforge 2 - Infestation is out tomorrow! It's the highest non-Cozy game on Steam's Popular-But-Doesn't-Exist list!
If you want a unique, innovative, odd RPG that's half as fun as
#BaldursGate3
, made with 1/100 of the budget, take a look!
#indiegame
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Thank you so much for the kind review!
Geneforge 2 - Infestation is a literary RPG that puts player agency above aesthetics, with engrossing results. Our review -
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Just looked at Steam New Releases, and our humble little RPG is one of about 60 games that came out today. So far.
Four of them (not ours) is on New & Trending, where any chance of real success happens. Almost all of the rest will vanish into eternal obscurity.
#indiegame
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Just streamed Geneforge 1 - Mutagen on Steam. As hundreds watched me play my OWN GAME, I cruised to the first dungeon, walked in, and got completely BODIED.
I am so bad at my games.
Next stream is 3 PM PST, Saturday. Everyone can come point at me and laugh.
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Our Kickstarter funded already. I am genuinely surprised and truly grateful. This game is really personal to me in a lot of ways (which I don't want to go into until the series is done), and I will do all I can to create something cool and unique.
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Geneforge 1 - Mutagen is our most successful product quite a few years. Geneforge 1 - Mutagen HD for iPad comes out tomorrow. We're thrilled about how it's going, and I'm thrilled that soon I can forget every single thing about it and work full time on our next game.
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Heard about the UN's report on "cyberviolence"? Here's a REAL QUOTE from its sources (Source
http://t.co/hm6hgHcBQ2)
http://t.co/5rlr312Pu2
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That Twitter was able to make this chart from my "What's your age?" thread is really amazing to me. Like, it feels like magic. I've been online since 1983 and on the Internet proper since 1988, and this just appearing out of the mist shows I can still be surprised. Yay!
@spiderwebsoft
Help with math homework? We're here for you! We ran some numbers too, based on 5000+ replies, and made a graph of our own. Let's see how her random sample compares! 📊
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I enthusiastically support this decision and think all other indies should too, for these reasons:
1. The Steam refund policy has already shown these systems cause a very low % of refunds. People who want to rip you off just pirate your game. GOG is already DRM-free!
We always believed in a 'gamers-first’ approach and with this voluntary update to our Refund Policy you can get a full refund up to 30 days after purchasing a product, even if you downloaded, launched, and played it.
More details –
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Dungeons & Dragons: "satanic." Pokemon: "killing game." I feel like it's 1986 and my relatives are praying for me again.
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We've officially announced our newest epic indie RPG, Avernum 3: Ruined World! Early 2018, Mac Win iPad.
#indiedev
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Crafting systems in RPGs are getting SO intrusive and overdone. Dude, I'm here to take over Mordor, not Etsy.
#cranky
#moremurderplease
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We've announced that our new indie, retro rpg, Queen's Wish 2: The Tormentor, is coming out August 24! Epic story, open world, and intricate, turn-based combat. Wishlist it to find out when it's released!
#screenshotsaturday
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All of Spiderweb Software's indie retro RPGs are on sale! Our cult-classic Geneforge 1 is 60% off. Our empire-building adventure Queen's Wish 2 has its deepest discount yet.
If you're done with
#BaldursGate3
and want more, worth a look!
#indiegame
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Thanks so much to Rock, Paper, Shotgun for picking Geneforge 2 - Infestation as one of their best RPGs on PC. People have been very kind to our humble, odd little game, and we are very grateful!
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We have a release date for our next indie RPG! Geneforge 2 - Infestation is out for Mac & Win on March 27. Open-ended adventure in a unique world of alien fantasy, with your own army of custom-made mutant monsters!
#indiegame
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I finally read On Writing, Stephen King's classic book on learning to write good. It is excellent, and worth it for all hopeful writers, computer game writers included.
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Many thanks to Rock, Paper, Shotgun for picking Avernum as one of the top 50 PC RPGs! We like it too!
Also, it's on sale on Steam this week ...
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About 15 years ago, I copied something VERY important onto this disk and wrote "In Case of Emergency" on it. I have no idea what. I just found it in a drawer. I want to throw it away. But how can I EVER do that?
OH GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE
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Geneforge 2 - Infestation, our new indie RPG, coming March 27! Many paths to victory. Brute force foes with an army of mutant monsters. Or rely on talk & stealth, and sneak through trap-filled dungeons like this one.
#screenshotsaturday
Wishlist here:
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We've officially announced our next fantasy adventure, Geneforge 1 - Mutagen! It's a total remaster of our unique, indie, cult-classic RPG. Explore an alien world in a uniquely open-ended adventure, with your own army of custom-made mutant monsters.
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We've started sending out our hand-signed, hand-singed Certificates of Absolution to our Kickstarter backers. For a price, those who pirated our games when children were able to buy forgiveness. This will be a feature in future Kickstarters, as it is fun.
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Upcoming stream! We're trying something new. This Thursday and Friday, 4-6 PST, I'll stream Avernum 3 and Queen's Wish on their Steam pages. I'll play the games and talk about design and the games biz.
I'll post reminders when the stream happens. A noble experiment!
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