Spiderweb Software

Last updated
Spiderweb Software
Company type Private
Industry Video games
FoundedSeptember 1994
Headquarters Seattle, Washington
Key people
Jeff Vogel
Products Geneforge
Avernum
Website spiderwebsoftware.com

Spiderweb Software is an independent video game developer founded in 1994 by Jeff Vogel in Seattle, Washington. Its primary focus is on creating demoware games for the Mac, Microsoft Windows, Android and the iPad. The games emphasize storytelling and turn-based gameplay and use a retro style of graphics. [1]

Contents

Games

Developed games

Release timeline
1995Exile I: Escape from the Pit
1996Exile II: Crystal Souls
1997Exile III: Ruined World
Blades of Exile
1998 Nethergate
1999
2000 Avernum
Avernum 2
2001 Geneforge
2002Avernum 3
2003 Geneforge 2
2004Blades of Avernum
2005 Geneforge 3
Avernum IV
2006 Geneforge 4: Rebellion
2007Nethergate: Resurrection
Avernum V
2008 Geneforge 5: Overthrow
2009Avernum 6
2010
2011 Avadon: The Black Fortress
Avernum: Escape From the Pit
2012
2013 Avadon 2: The Corruption
2014
2015 Avernum 2: Crystal Souls
2016 Avadon 3: The Warborn
2017
2018 Avernum 3: Ruined World
2019 Queen's Wish: The Conqueror
2020
2021 Geneforge 1 - Mutagen
2022 Queen's Wish 2: The Tormentor
2023
2024 Geneforge 2 - Infestation

Spiderweb Software is most notable for the following RPG video games:

Distributed games

The company previously provided distribution services and other support for other shareware developers, including Richard White and Crystal Shard . The games included:

In June 2007, Jeff Vogel announced that the company would no longer be supporting games by other developers, and they are no longer available for download through Spiderweb's main site. [18]

Awards

Related Research Articles

<i>Exile</i> (1995 video game series) Video game series

Exile is a series of role-playing video games created by Jeff Vogel of Spiderweb Software. They were released as shareware titles for Macintosh and Windows systems. Exile III was also ported to Linux by a third party. There were four games released in the series. All of the games were later revived in the Avernum series. Common to all games in the Exile series are 2D graphics and basic sound. The graphics in the first versions of Exile I and II had simple textures, colours and outlines, which were then replaced in later versions with Exile III's graphics. The games are designed to be non-linear and long in gameplay length.

Commander Keen is a series of side-scrolling platform video games developed primarily by id Software. The series consists of six main episodes, a "lost" episode, and a final game; all but the final game were released for MS-DOS in 1990 and 1991, while the 2001 Commander Keen was released for the Game Boy Color. The series follows the eponymous Commander Keen, the secret identity of the eight-year-old genius Billy Blaze, as he defends the Earth and the galaxy from alien threats with his homemade spaceship, rayguns, and pogo stick. The first three episodes were developed by Ideas from the Deep, the precursor to id, and published by Apogee Software as the shareware title Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons; the "lost" episode 3.5 Commander Keen in Keen Dreams was developed by id and published as a retail title by Softdisk; episodes four and five were released by Apogee as the shareware Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy; and the simultaneously developed episode six was published in retail by FormGen as Commander Keen in Aliens Ate My Babysitter. Ten years later, an homage and sequel to the series was developed by David A. Palmer Productions and published by Activision as Commander Keen. Another game was announced in 2019 as under development by ZeniMax Online Studios, but was not released.

<i>Escape Velocity</i> (video game) 1996 video game

Escape Velocity is a single-player role-playing space trading and combat video game series first introduced in 1996 by Ambrosia Software for the Macintosh. Two other similar games based on the original, EV Override and Escape Velocity Nova, followed in 1998 and 2002 respectively, the latter of which is also available on Microsoft Windows. In addition there is a trading card game available based on the storyline of the EV Nova universe.

Geneforge is a series of demoware role-playing video games by Jeff Vogel of Spiderweb Software released for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS systems. There are five games in the series: Geneforge , Geneforge 2, Geneforge 3, Geneforge 4: Rebellion, and Geneforge 5: Overthrow. As with all Spiderweb Software titles, graphics and sound are limited because they are not the main focus of the game.

Geneforge is the first video game in the Geneforge series of role-playing video games created by Spiderweb Software.

Avernum is a series of demoware role-playing video games by Jeff Vogel of Spiderweb Software available for Macintosh and Windows-based computers. Several are available for iPad, and were formerly available for Android.

Geneforge 2 is the second video game in the Geneforge series of role-playing video games created by Spiderweb Software.

<i>Realmz</i> 1994 video game

Realmz is a fantasy adventure and role-playing video game first developed and published by Fantasoft in 1994 for the Apple Macintosh as shareware. Fantasoft released a Microsoft Windows-compatible version in 1999, and a science fiction role-playing game based on the Realmz engine, titled New Centurions, in 2001. Realmz was originally written by Tim Phillips on a Macintosh IIsi; he also wrote four game scenarios, including the introductory scenario "City of Bywater". Other original scenario contributors were Jim Foley and Sean Sayrs.

<i>Nethergate</i> 1998 video game

Nethergate is a computer-based historical fantasy role-playing game published by Spiderweb Software for the Macintosh and Microsoft Windows platforms. The game was released in 1998 by Jeff Vogel, and was Spiderweb Software's first game to feature a 45° isometric viewing angle. Nethergate offers players the choice to play on either side of the story, as Celts or Romans. The game's plot allows for several endings and many side quests, which accompany the main story. Spiderweb Software released a remake called Nethergate Resurrection in May 2007.

Fantasoft was a computer game company which programmed and promoted a number of shareware games with a primary focus on the Apple Macintosh platform. Fantasoft has been dormant since about 2005. It was founded by Sean Sayrs, Peter Hagen, and Tim Phillips. Fantasoft was created to develop, market, and distribute the shareware game Realmz, which was MacUser Shareware Game of the Year in 1995–96. Following the success of Realmz, Fantasoft created or marketed other Macintosh and Microsoft Windows platform games, most notably Spiderweb Software's early Exile series.

<i>Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic</i> Video game series

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) is a media franchise of space western role-playing video games created and developed by BioWare, which have seen releases on the original Xbox, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, IOS and Android. The franchise takes place in the fictional universe of Star Wars by George Lucas.

<i>Commander Keen</i> (video game) 2001 video game

Commander Keen is a side-scrolling platform video game developed by David A. Palmer Productions and published by Activision in June 2001 for the Game Boy Color. Part of the Commander Keen series, it was released ten years after the first seven episodes in 1990–91. The game follows the titular Commander Keen, an eight-year-old child genius, as he journeys through three alien worlds to collect three plasma crystals to prevent the weapon they power, built by several enemies from previous games, from destroying the universe. The game features Keen running, jumping, and shooting through various levels while opposed by aliens, robots, and other hazards.

Avadon: The Black Fortress is a single-player role-playing video game developed by Spiderweb Software. It is the first game in the Avadon trilogy. The game was released for Mac OS X in February 2011, and for Microsoft Windows in May. Version for the iPad was released on June 18. It was later released for Android and Linux, and included in the Humble Bundle for Android 2.

<i>Avernum: Escape from the Pit</i> 2011 video game

Avernum: Escape from the Pit is a role-playing video game developed by Spiderweb Software. It is the first game in the remade Avernum First Trilogy and the second ground-up rewrite of Exile: Escape from the Pit, released in 1995. The game was re-released as a graphics and game engine update, and it addressed Avernum incompatibilities with newer versions of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and newer.

Avadon 2: The Corruption is a single-player role-playing video game developed by Spiderweb Software. It is the second game in the Avadon trilogy. The game was released for Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows in October 2013, A version for the iPad was released in 2014.

<i>Avernum 2: Crystal Souls</i> 2015 video game

Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is a role-playing video game developed by Spiderweb Software. It is the second game in the Avernum trilogy. The game was released for OS X and Microsoft Windows in January 2015, The iPad version was released on the App Store on April 15, 2015.

Avadon 3: The Warborn is a single-player role-playing video game developed by Spiderweb Software. It is the third and final game in the Avadon trilogy. The game was released for Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows in September 2016, A version for the iPad was released in late 2016.

<i>Avernum 3: Ruined World</i> 2018 video game

Avernum 3: Ruined World is a single-player role-playing video game developed by Spiderweb Software. It is the third game in the Avernum trilogy. The game was released for macOS and Windows in January 2018. An iOS version was released on April 18, 2018.

<i>Queens Wish: The Conqueror</i> 2019 video game

Queen's Wish: The Conqueror is a single-player role-playing video game developed by Spiderweb Software. It is the first game in the planned Queen's Wish series. The game was released for macOS and Windows in September 2019. A version for iOS was released in December 2019. Queen's Wish: The Conqueror was announced as a Kickstarter in May, 2018 and was fully funded on the first day. Queen's Wish was released simultaneously on Steam, GOG.com, itch.io, and the web site of Spiderweb Software.

References

  1. The Bottom Feeder: How Many Games I Sell, Part Two
  2. Spiderweb Software Older Games
  3. Avernum Series Main Page
  4. "Spiderweb Software's homepage" . Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  5. Vogel, Jeff (February 26, 2010). "Avernum 6 For Windows Released" . Retrieved March 24, 2010."I am making a whole new game world, game engine"
  6. "Spiderweb Software Inc" . Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  7. RPGamer Interview
  8. PC Gamer Article
  9. Avernum 3 Press Release
  10. "VentureBeat Interview"
  11. Geneforge at Spiderweb Software
  12. Spiderweb Software forums
  13. "Download Galactic Core for Mac Free Trial". Mac.softpedia.com. 2004-05-15. Archived from the original on 2013-04-07. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  14. Mariann Krizsan. "Galactic Core Home Page". Spiderwebsoftware.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  15. Mariann Krizsan. "Lost Souls". Spidweb.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  16. "Ocean11.hqx". Info-Mac. 1998-10-31. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  17. Mariann Krizsan. "Ocean Bound". Spidweb.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-10. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  18. Announcement of end of SubTerra distribution from Spiderweb Software's website
  19. Inside Mac Games Article