Avernum 5 Wrap Report

Audience Response

As usual, we're too small to get too much media attention - which is a pity, because I think that Avernum 5 is an awful lot of fun. Fan reaction has been really, really positive. Forum comments and e-mails have been very, very positive. And, more importantly, Avernum 5 has sold better than any game we've written in a long time.

All I can say is try it out. The first 10 minutes of the game, where you meet the person who has been sent to help you get started, says a lot about what kind it is. That part still cracks me up.

It's still too early to tell how the game will hold up in the long run, but I'm really optimistic.

Looking Ahead

We are planning to write an Avernum 6. It will be the final game in the series, and I hope to bring the saga of Avernum to a satisfying conclusion. There are story threads and characters that have been building up over the previous five games, and I am finally going to bring them forward and let them be dealt with. It is going to be a pretty violent and chaotic game. I'm looking forward to writing it.

First, though, I have to write the final game in the Geneforge series. It's going to be a big couple years for killing off two of my babies.

Personal Thoughts

It's a gigantic game, and it's full of neat stuff. Huge quest chains. Unique boss fights. Lots of hidden dungeons.

All I can say is try it out. The first 10 minutes of the game, where you meet the person who has been sent to help you get started, says a lot about what kind it is. That part still cracks me up.

Jeff Vogel

Designer, Avernum 5

Founder, Spiderweb Software

Wrap Reports are intended to complement reviews by providing a post-release viewpoint we seldom see, that of the developer and/or publisher. Since introducing this format in November of 2003, we have had the pleasure to publish quite a few, primarily within the RPG and online world categories, with selected action and strategy games also represented. A complete list of the previous ones may be found on the next page. - Ed.