Jeff Vogel returns to games development

Independent RPG developer Jeff Vogel will continue to make games for iOS after a much-needed sabbatical and a complete re-working of his game engine.

Back in April, Vogel lashed out against Apple, claiming the firm’s leading mobile platform causes untold problems for developers that Apple “doesn’t care” about. He pulled his most recent title from iOS and claimed he would no longer develop for the platform.

However, in a very lengthy blog post explaining the full context of his troubles, Vogel has now announced he has resumed work on the Avadon series for iOS. The indie cited his age and health as part of his reasons for pulling away from game development, but says his situation has improved greatly.

“After I cancelled all of our iPad stuff, I lost several days to depression and self-pity,” he wrote. “It was the first time, in a long, solid career, I’d said, ‘I have to stop doing stuff I was doing because I just suck now’. Declining ability is something everyone faces at some point, but it is still hard to face.”

After a visit to the doctor and dedicating time to his health, Vogel’s energy returned.

“The first thing I did when I could do things again is begin a massive assault on the design of our next game, Avadon 3, to finally fix the problems that have been in the Avadon games from the start,” he said. “I wanted to fix them for Avadon 2, but I was tired. Exhaustion forced me to spend over two years writing that game even in its flawed state.

“Once I convinced myself I could do things again, I went back to fighting with the iPad. I had to. Not for money or PR, but for simple pride and self-confidence. I don’t want to have to run in fear from challenges yet.”

Vogel rewrote the engine that had powered the previous Avadon games and learned how to program for iPad – something he had previously negated by licensing an engine.

“It took days of basically constant, family-neglecting work, but I have a working engine and a working game again,” he wrote. “I still need to do some planning and testing, and it’s pretty humiliating to go back on my word. But being an indie developer means that you get to look stupid to the world occasionally.

“The people who make the games you love? They are human too. They will age. They will falter. Be tolerant. Be supportive. Forgive them.”