Joystiq has posted a new interview with Spiderweb Software's Jeff Vogel about his long career as an independent game developer. In the interview Vogel discussed the keys to his success, his current work on rebooting the Avernum/Exile series, and his plans for the future.

"I'm proud of survival," Vogel says. "I've been doing this for seventeen years, working for the same company and making the same genre of game in the same way. The list of people who have done that is very short."

Part of Spiderweb's success may stem from its reputation as an engaging storyteller, which Vogel notes says has been a major focus in his development process . There's more to it than a "good" story, though.

"I have always tried to fill my games with cool stories and intriguing game systems," Vogel says. "However, I think that the single aspect that pleases me the most is the level of detail. I hate bland areas. Whenever I make a cave or room or clearing in the woods, I try to come up with something interesting to put there."

Joystiq: Jeff Vogel Interview

Spiderweb Software (add to watch list)

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