Spidweb

The problem is very unpredictable. It can vary from machine to machine. It can even come and go on the same machine. (I'm hearing a lot about it in the Geneforge 4 beta test).

The idea of modifying all of the Avernum games yet again to Universalize them is excruciating, but it is appearing to be necessary.

- Jeff Vogel

Apple changed the old software emulation in the new version of OS X. This seems to be affecting people with a case of the slows. I'll see what Apple does about Rosetta (the emulation software).

If nothing improves, I'll probably address this after Geneforge 4 is out. I can't do it sooner because I'll be using Geneforge 4 to learn how to make Universal programs.

- Jeff Vogel

The only way to prevent this conflict is by setting Geneforge to take over the entire system. This is possible, but it prevents switching out of the game while playing, which is a greater aggravation.

If Apple gave me a way to turn off Expose while in my game, it would be great, but ... :-(

- Jeff Vogel

Look on the Geneforge 3 support page.

http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/geneforge3/techsupp.html

There is a fix that takes care of most weird sound problems.

- Jeff Vogel

There are 5 classes, each emphasizing different orders of skills. Four are human.

To anicipate a question, I didn't put in the sixth for two reasons. One, I didn't think that skill set worked well. Two, didn't have time to make a sixth PC graphic.

- Jeff Vogel

I strongly discourage testers discussing the game with each other during testing because I find the independence of their opinions to be very valuable. If several people some up witht he same view independently, I will give it a lot more weight. If every report is an echo chamber of everyone else's opinion, less useful.

- Jeff Vogel

This is an oversight on the patch. If you patch an old Avernum 3 to the newest version, the application file expects the new graphics, but the old graphics file remains.

For now, I'm going to remove the patch and just have people with ancient versions download the full version. It's been out long enough that a patch shouldn't be necessary.

- Jeff Vogel

Working on section 50 out of, probably, 81.

By popular request, I have put Khyryk into the game. I didn't originally intend to, but when I saw that people wanted him back, I realized that he really, really should be there. He is the character that introduces the ideas that are becoming very important to the series.

Also, his dialogue is fun to write.

Also, items in your pack no longer contribute to weight. Items you wear do. Your squishy caster type in full plate won't move so good. This was a suggestion made on these boards, and I liked it.

So you see? Sometimes posts on these boards do make a difference.

- Jeff Vogel

For experienced gamers at normal difficulty, these games are not terribly difficult. And for more casual gamers, they can be very tricky. Some people, in particular, find that last third of Geneforge 3 to be very difficult.

Making a game that is properly challenging to all players is pretty much impossible.

- Jeff Vogel

"GF does use a hex grid, underneath the continuously animated movement: you can only stop at places on the invisible hex grid."

Not sure where you got this. Geneforge uses good old x-y coordinates on a square grid, like every other tile-based game ever.

- Jeff Vogel

"Why aren't there any children in Geneforge?"

Part of it is the expense of graphics, as someone mentioned. But, if you'll think on it, you'll notice that there are almost no children in any computer RPGs.

A lot of the reason for that is tactics/cowardice on the part of people in the industry. It's already getting politically and legally tough for us. Nobody wants to open themselves up to someone saying, "Hey! In their game, it's possible to chop up little kids with a sword! Ban it now!"

- Jeff Vogel

I am at the mercy of the DirectX (Windows) and the MacOS here. The calls the OSes provide to watch the keyboard for events, as far as I know, don't provide a lot of support for other keyboard layouts. I think the Mac has some calls that might do this for me, but they have other problems that make them unsuitable for use in games.

I could implement DVORAK keyboards within the game myself. It hasn't happened so far because ... because ... well, I've been lazy, I guess.

Can anyone point me to a good translation chart between QWERTY and DVORAK keyboards? If I had that, I might be able to implement it in Geneforge 4 and later games.

- Jeff Vogel

This is the first time this has been suggested to me, and I think it's actually quite a good idea. I'll give this serious consideration.

- Jeff Vogel

"Jeff, I don't know how coding this would work, but would it be possible to make the game letterbox on widescreen monitors?"

In the preference, tell the game to not switch resolutions. The game area should be nicely centered on the window. Let me know what happens if you try this and it doesn't work.

- Jeff Vogel

Thank you for your feedback. Sadly, whenever I change anything, there will be some people who don't like it. Hopefully future games will be more to your liking.

- Jeff Vogel

"The basic idea of the apprentice Shaper encountering the rascally rebels was indeed getting old,"

That is a very kind way to put it. About a month into Geneforge 3, I slapped my forehead and went, "Wait! I'm doing this AGAIN!?!?" It's one of the disadvantages of designing mostly alone.

A lot of stuff in Geneforge 4 is changed around.

"So does the cryptic reference to "alert level 8". It sounds as though Jeff is building a system whereby guards, etc., can gradually become more suspicious of you, depending on what you do."

Another debug thing I forgot to take out. In Geneforge 4, a creature notices you when you are close enough to it for long enough. Creatures have different thresholds for when they "see" you. It should make stealth work a lot better.

- Jeff Vogel

Early pics often have unpleasant stuff that will be fixed later. I will try to redo those later to be closer to reality as I get more art.

The automap will also look nicer.

The kyshakk is one of the three new creation types in Geneforge 4. I have also revamped the secondary creations types to hopefully make them more interesting. For example, some creations will be unstable. They're much stronger, but they rapidly decay after they are created.

I'm working on the 31st area today, btw. It's coming along.

- Jeff Vogel

"I really hope it bombed."

Avernum 4 has been a huge success for us. And it just earned us, after 11 years of trying, our first 4 mouse review in MacWorld. We're pretty proud of that.

I think it's pretty weird that, because I wrote a game you don't personally care for (if you, in fact, tried it), you would wish bankruptcy on me and my family. But I suppose online anonymous forums bring that sort of behavior out.

Anyway, question asked, question answered. Topic done.

- Jeff Vogel

I have never been shy about saying that Fallout was a big influence on me. It strongly influenced both Avernum and Geneforge.

Man, I hope Fallout 3 actually becomes reality.

- Jeff Vogel

I am hesitant to enlist civilians to make graphics. After all, it's not their job to fix my games, and the format of the graphcis to work in the game is pretty exacting.

The Geneforge graphics/elements in Avernum 4 are being reevaluated on a case by case basis. Some were problems. (The chitrachs and spawners, which were mistakes.) Some were minor problems but inevitable. (The re-rendering of Geneforge PC designs without the Shaper symbols.) Both of these things will be better in the next game.

And some of the Geneforge graphics will stay in because I think they fit well with Avernum. For example. I think the cave worm (using the artila model) looks nice in the underworld. Believe me, if I had the artila graphic eight years ago, I'd have put it in Avernum right away. Same with the roamer/hellhound.

And I think the new sliths and nephilim look awesome. So there. :-)

- Jeff Vogel

Many characters in my games are named after people I know in RL and in games. Abisynthe was a really cool person in my last EQ guild, so I named a character after her.

- Jeff Vogel

"I don't remember the dialog exactly now, and the files are on another machine, but I think they must not have made these kinds of points explicitly, or even hinted at them, or I wouldn't have felt disappointed."

I made an effort to convey the anger at the Shapers in general. Whether I succeeded is up for debate.

There are MANY cases in these games where I have not included dialog choices which would be reasonable. There are two reasons for this. First, I am defeated by my lack of time and foresight. My reach does often exceed my grasp.

Second, I only want there to be so much dialogue in any one location, because I don't want the ratio of reading to adventuring to be too high. I, personally, get irritated when a game makes me wade through too much text. This preference makes itself felt when I design.

- Jeff Vogel

A lot of these objections are based on the assumption that regular people are happy with Shaper rule. In fact, the secretiveness, high-handedness, and power hoarding the Shapers practice are a source of enormous resentment. Lankan's hatred of the Shapers began long before the events in Geneforge 3.

The rebels provide a way besides Shaper rule. Most people will reject it. Some won't. This is a major factor in what happens in Geneforge 4.

- Jeff Vogel

"something else?"

That one.

- Jeff Vogel

"Maybe tie things together so that there is a pairing of a word set with an action set, the combination having a greater cumulative effect? And perhaps with a great negative effect if words and actions don't jibe?"

Too clever by half. It would be very difficult to both balance that system properly and make it not be too opaque to the player. I like my faction systems nice and clean.

- Jeff Vogel