Articulate Vlish Kendroxide Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I don't get it, its been months since it came out to mac but its still not available to windows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Lilith Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Spiderweb Software has only three staff, and only one of them is a programmer. There's also a need for an extra round of betatesting to catch any bugs introduced in the port. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Some bugs are specific to the port where the operating system handles things differently than in the original Mac port. Just recompiling the Mac version to use the most recent development tools can produces strange bugs. When Avernum 6 was recompiled to sell in the Mac App Store several monsters suddenly were colored green. Also Jeff makes changes to the game balance to deal with customer complaints that some fights are too hard. A small typographic error in a script for a monster can produce a bug that makes a fatal error where the fight can never end. During beta testing a part of the game that worked fine when it was originally tested can suddenly develop a bug from a change so you can't get experience for a quest. So three months of testing helps to make sure no new bugs have crept into the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fledgling Fyora Boomstars Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Unless it's released early, or at least in the first week of April, it'll be four months. Regular mac users probably know exactly how this guy feels. Originally Posted By: Randomizer Some bugs are specific to the port where the operating system handles things differently than in the original Mac port. Just recompiling the Mac version to use the most recent development tools can produces strange bugs. When Avernum 6 was recompiled to sell in the Mac App Store several monsters suddenly were colored green. Also Jeff makes changes to the game balance to deal with customer complaints that some fights are too hard. A small typographic error in a script for a monster can produce a bug that makes a fatal error where the fight can never end. During beta testing a part of the game that worked fine when it was originally tested can suddenly develop a bug from a change so you can't get experience for a quest. So three months of testing helps to make sure no new bugs have crept into the game. I dont know man, I have a hard time believing bugs and balancing could account for that much time on a port unless things really fell to pieces. I'm not exactly hurting or anything, I'm sure it's coming, but a little more information would be nice. April is also Q2, if that hasnt already been pointed out. e; It's possible I'm just comparing it too closely to Avadon, but I can't think of a Spiderweb game that wasnt ported mac -> pc, and this is a remake! Shouldnt it be faster, if anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Locmaar Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I suspect that of all the people really burning for this game to be released on Windows, Jeff is by far the one who wants it out the door most. Porting a rewrite is probably no faster than a new game since porting the content isn't what eats up the most time. Porting the code is and the code is new. I also suspect that Jeff is already working on Avadon 2 in order to get it released by the end of the year and maybe the time usually set aside for porting this time simply isn't enough. Perhaps the original code base has changed significantly due to the use of new coding tools - the Mac OS certainly has changed. Who knows? But I'm sure he's giving it is best. PS: Welcome to the boards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk nikki. Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Jeff was asking for people to state how they want to be credited for both the Windows and iPad tests last week, so I can't imagine it'll be very long before they're released. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulate Vlish ottakoi Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Why so rush? Be patient please. Rather than play a game full of bugs that may crash down repeatedly and make your monitor blur or what's even worse damage your savegames halfway driving you crazy, I'd wait. Better late than buggy! Only GIFTS appreciate things full of juicy, fresh and yummy bugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulate Vlish Kendroxide Posted March 3, 2012 Author Share Posted March 3, 2012 Any ETA for when it will be released for windows? Side note: Do you think I would have enough time to play through any of the second Avernum trilogy games before A:EftP is released? PS: I didnt want to come off as rude or impatient (well I am a little impatient sometimes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ineffable Wingbolt BMA Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 You'll probably have time to play through all of the second trilogy, maybe even twice if you're good at it. The ETA is 2 years, from what I was told*. Originally Posted By: Lilith Spiderweb Software has only three staff, and only one of them is a programmer. Why, surely Spiderweb is doing well enough right now to hire a couple more people at least. ----------------------------------------------------- * Anyway, nice to see a fellow windower screaming for a quicker release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Lilith Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Originally Posted By: BMA Why, surely Spiderweb is doing well enough right now to hire a couple more people at least. One of the reasons Jeff Vogel runs his own software company in the first place is that he doesn't want to work with a lot of other people. He contracts out art assets from time to time, but that's it. Plus, Spiderweb is not making the mad bank that you might imagine: he blogged a while ago that a game that sells 4,000 copies is considered a success, and that's just about enough to put food on the table for three people for a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Ceiling Durkheim Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Quote: You'll probably have time to play through all of the second trilogy, maybe even twice if you're good at it. The ETA is 2 years, from what I was told*. Did you mean 2 months? Or were you meaning to talk about Avernum: Crystal Souls? Because it is extremely unlikely that it will take two years for AEftP to come out for Windows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast The Mystic Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Originally Posted By: Kendroxide Side note: Do you think I would have enough time to play through any of the second Avernum trilogy games before A:EftP is released? Fairly easily, depending on how much of your free time you're willing to spend on your computer each day. In fact, if you really have a lot of time on your hands, you might be able to play all three of the second Avernum trilogy games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulate Vlish Kendroxide Posted March 4, 2012 Author Share Posted March 4, 2012 I average about 6 hours a week spent on video games (until I'm done finals in May). So I don't have enough time to play the whole trilogy. Would I have enough time to finish one game if I can only spend 60 hours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 A game lasts 30 to 60 hours depending upon difficulty level and how much you want to complete everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fledgling Fyora DaBuddaDa Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Take your time Jeff: Mass Effect 3, Xenoblade and now apparently Diablo 3 are all coming out in the next 60 days. I can't handle it all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ineffable Wingbolt TriRodent Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 It isn't so much the months & months of waiting, it the always missing out on the new release excitement. I've been a faithful follower of Jeff's since the E2 days & loved every minute of playing in his universe (Mrs TR isn't quite so happy about all that time but...) playing & replaying his games. In the pre-forum/online community days it really didn't matter what time frame the games came out in. Unless you happened to be friends with a Mac user who also liked Spiderweb's spelunking expeditions, it was just you & your computer. Then came the internet & the discovery that no matter how obscure your personal obsession was, there were others out there just like you. Suddenly everything changed. Regarding Jeff's/Spiderweb's policy of Mac first & then work on the Windows, from a practical standpoint it makes sense (do what you know best/are most comfortable with first & then go to the others) however it still sucks. For years now whenever Jeff announces a new game there is a tremendous amount of discussion & excitement building up & building up, finally reaching a crescendo on release day when people giddily race to their computers to download the demo (& hopefully immediately call Seattle to register/pay for the game). The message boards explode with threads upon threads & pages & pages of comments, criticisms, stories of lizards vanquished & maidens rescued, towns looted (don't those people ever put two & two together to realize that the gems hidden in their dresser probably left with the pack of adventurers suddenly wandering around their house?), roads cleared of bandits, & dungeon upon dungeon cleared of beasties making room for more of the Empire's rejects being tossed into the pits. It's like a flood of adventurers washing through the cave system & through the boards talking about it (a quick & dirty count today showed about 250 threads in the AEftP area). Most are progressing at roughly the same rate & are talking/typing their way through problems right as they are happening. It's a great time to be a Mac user & part of the excitement. Windows users get none of that. By the time we're able to join the party, the tidal wave of excitement is long past. People on the boards don't want to talk about/help solve issues that they've worked their way through months ago (not everyone to be sure, but it's nothing like it was a few months past). Down in the caves merchants are giving every new face the stink eye trying to figure out who's going to loot them next. Townspeople are locking their daughters up at night. The mayor is wondering who the joker was who tied her cat to the ceiling fan. The local priest has given away all of his goodies except for a couple of +1 ace bandages of renewal. Etc, etc, etc. It really isn't much fun knowing that there is a big celebration going on but also knowing that you can't participate until much later. You don't want to read the threads for fear of too many spoilers being given out. You can't join in the discussions on how to solve a certain puzzle/way around an area. You really can't do much more than stare in the window at the party going on in full swing & know that, while you may be welcomed in, you really don't belong. I love Spiderweb/Jeff's games & will always buy whatever he puts out, but it really does suck not being able to participate in the initial fun of a new release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Kreador Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Originally Posted By: TriRodent I love Spiderweb/Jeff's games & will always buy whatever he puts out, but it really does suck not being able to participate in the initial fun of a new release. And now you know how we in the Mac community feel about 99.99999% of game releases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Originally Posted By: Kreador Originally Posted By: TriRodent I love Spiderweb/Jeff's games & will always buy whatever he puts out, but it really does suck not being able to participate in the initial fun of a new release. And now you know how we in the Mac community feel about 99.99999% of game releases. When the companies even make a Mac version. Although now with newer Macs using Intel CPUs it's possible to run Windows and its games unlike the old days. Welcome to Spiderweb Software. Please leave your sanity at the door. If you have any left waiting for a Windows game release. It's shouldn't be more than two weeks based upon comments from testers. At this point it's mostly making sure the game installer and registration system both work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chittering Clawbug AaronC Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Yes its very painful...still not used to it after so many years. But it is my penitence for being a glorious Windows gamer. I have to feel solidarity with the lowly Mac-beings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ineffable Wingbolt TriRodent Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Originally Posted By: Randomizer Welcome to Spiderweb Software. Please leave your sanity at the door. If you have any left waiting for a Windows game release. It's shouldn't be more than two weeks based upon comments from testers. At this point it's mostly making sure the game installer and registration system both work. Thanks for the welcome although actually it really isn't needed. I've been hanging out here (well, the old boards...) on an occasional basis since about '03 (with a long forgotten login & an even longer out of business ISP/email). I don't think that anyone had over 2500 posts when I first found you guys. Sadly much of that time was (& probably will remain) lurking as I really don't have the time to do more than pop in for a few minutes every few weeks (more when I'm stuck somewhere ). And I know that the windows version is very close, it was just a combination of actually having time this week to some serious spelunking & the pent up frustration over many games of not being able to participate in the pre/early release buildup/excitement. Ah well, in a couple dozen days at the most Jeff will have a few more of my ha'pennies, Mrs TR will again be grumbling over my time spent mentally underground, I will once more be happily sleep deprived, & the world will be right again.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ineffable Wingbolt BMA Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Yes, its difficult not being able to join in when the mac-users are celebrating. But it would be much better if, when the windows version comes out, a new, fresh & from-the-start forum is begun, exclusively for windows, instead of us having to use the existing one which already has 259 threads. This way, we are not deprived of the the pleasure of posting. Someone begins to say something and then a mac user, who has been following the Aeftp forum from its infancy, puts in some full-stopping post like "We've already discussed this issue.Check before you post." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Most of the information is repeated from the Mac version, however Slarty sometimes does an analysis of changes between the two versions. It happened in Geneforge 4 where damage types for some creations were changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenderfoot Thahd Maestro Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 I hope all of this porting is completed soon. Not that I care about the Windows version Honestly I hate to bug a guy who's doubtlessly working hard to do a job he loves in order to feed his family, but... feel free to finish off that iPad port so I can take it to Afghanistan with me. Pretty please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Soul of Wit Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Look at being a Windows user as a glass half-full thing. The odds of truly nasty bugs are much lower. The sticky thread with basic info is fully populated. Many Mac users are more than willing to answer the same question again--they've got to inflate that post count. It's all good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Mea Tulpa Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 There are RARELY signficant changes; the only one I can think of, ever, is the change in the Drayk's damage type in G4 from physical (an advantageous bug) to fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulate Vlish blackwight Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I know, why doesn't he just use SDL or something? He must have his portable code written already from other stuff... I don't get it. There's not even an endian issue anymore. The last time I did such a port it took 1 month, and that was PPC -> intel, openGL -> directx, mac -> windows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Jeff programs in C++. The time isn't for making the port, but getting testers to check that it works right with no errors creeping in that cause the game to hang in special boss fights, the graphics work, and that it will run on different computer configurations without too much slowing down for older computers. Just look in Tech forum at all the problems people have once it has been tested where it won't work on their specific computer. The Windows version has to support both OpenGL and Direct X. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Enraged Slith Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Didn't Jeff take a vacation or something before starting to port this? I thought the development time for Windows versions was usually a little lower than this, but I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenderfoot Thahd ChronoTravis Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 I'd rather it take a while and come out mostly bug free, than get a rush job . I just finished Avadon: The Black Fortress, which I got on Steam. It's my first Spiderweb game, and I really loved it and I wanted to start Avernum next, but I only use windows. It's just as well, since I can just get Geneforge to play until it is released I want to get it on Steam anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 For those of you that don't get the Spiderweb News Letter, and why don't you since it's free, the iPad and Windows versions will be released in April. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrulous Glaahk K.I.L.E.R Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Hopefully first week of April, as I have the Diablo 3 jitters, and need something to do in the meantime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curious Artila Propaganda Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Yes, Diablo 3 will dominate my game playing time. None the less there will be enough time to play Avernum. =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulate Vlish corallus Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 As Randomizer has said "It will be released in April", it is on schedule for the date that given, I have beta tested windows versions for Jeff for years.. And as others have said no one wants it out he door quicker than what Jeff and the rest of Spiderweb do.. All good things to those who wait.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenderfoot Thahd Maestro Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Originally Posted By: Randomizer For those of you that don't get the Spiderweb News Letter, and why don't you since it's free, the iPad and Windows versions will be released in April. Much love <3 Hopefully it arrives before I ship out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenderfoot Thahd Antione Villia Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Who's getting hyped. I know there is no need to bump both of these threads but i just could help myself. I had to express my anticipation! I first played this game when I was 9, it was my first rpg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk adc. Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Originally Posted By: Lilith Spiderweb Software has only three staff, and only one of them is a programmer. There's also a need for an extra round of betatesting to catch any bugs introduced in the port. Wait what?! only three staff? I thought they were like 12 and more... =========== Originally Posted By: Lilith has only three staff I need to grow up faster... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Spiderweb is Jeff Vogel, his wife Mariann Krizsan, and their office manager (whatever that means) Linda Strout. Jeff does all the coding, and I believe all the design. Mariann and Linda do some of the town layout and maybe some dialogue, but mostly they handle the business side. —Alorael, who doesn't think Jeff wants more staff. He doesn't want to work for anyone, but he also hasn't sounded very enthusiastic about having to manage anyone either. Quite probably he just wants to be left alone to make games exactly the way he wants them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk adc. Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Originally Posted By: Alorly —Alorly, who doesn't think Jeff wants more staff. He doesn't want to work for anyone, but he also hasn't sounded very enthusiastic about having to manage anyone either. Quite probably he just wants to be left alone to make games exactly the way he wants them. Only solution=Buy their games Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 That's not really a solution. It doesn't change Jeff's need or desire for staff, unless he needs more office people to deal with the volume of sales. But it would make him pretty happy! —Alorael, who has had his name humiliatingly mangled by the UBB. Alas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 When Jeff needs more of something it's usually artwork that he contracts out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrulous Glaahk K.I.L.E.R Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Is Jeff really GN in disguise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulate Vlish Kendroxide Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 Hey, I know this is kind of off topic, but did Jeff use the same artist in the Avernum remake as he did in Avadon (BTW is much improved as compared to his older games)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Jeff recycles graphics enthusiastically. Many from Avadon showed up in A4-6 and Geneforge first, although they've gotten some facelifts. A:EftP uses the same graphics style and most of the same graphics as Avadon, at any rate. —Alorael, who thinks this should be apparently from the screenshots. And the way Jeff generally works, too: he rarely looks back on old engines and old graphics. The Nethergate remake is the only exception. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk adc. Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 I was browsing through Jeff Vogel's blogspot when I found this: Q: You didn't do the ports yourself? A: No, they were ported by skilled third-party developers in close consultation with us. My increasingly old brain doesn't have the space to learn to develop for any new platforms. It doesn't even have space to hold everything I need to know now. The number of things I need to do for my job that I need to relearn from scratch every time I do them is already really high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Lilith Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 That's only in reference to the Linux and Android ports, not to the Windows port. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 With the increased income per game, it might be worthwhile to Jeff to offload porting duties entirely and speed up his new game development cycle by those few months. That way he could remember less and do more. —Alorael, who isn't sure how much he'd have to pay someone to port, though. It takes Jeff months, and he'd probably rather not give up quite that much money. But if experts can do it faster, maybe it becomes a good decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 The Mac to Windows port doesn't take months, it is the beta testing to make sure Jeff didn't make a mistake in doing the port. One typo can ruin the whole game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Kreador Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Originally Posted By: Randomizer One typo can ruin the whole game. Avernum: Escape from the Pot would transform it completely. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Rowen Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Originally Posted By: Kreador Originally Posted By: Randomizer One typo can ruin the whole game. Avernum: Escape from the Pot would transform it completely. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Mea Tulpa Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Avernum: Escape from the Pet. A little known side-scroller spinoff in which you control Solberg, who is being chased by Cheeseball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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