GamersHell  posts a press release from Lighthouse Interactive announcing the availability of a game editor for players of their fantasy action rpg, Avencast: Rise of the Mage.

Here's the features list:

 Some key features of the Development Kit include:

The level editor
The graphics import and export tools
Visual effects editor
All the scripting and configuration files in an unencrypted version, so you can modify:
Quests
Monster behavior and attributes
The hero’s skills and attributes
Items and equipment
…all other game content

Due to the complex nature of Action RPGs, the Avencast Development Kit primarily addresses enthusiastic gamers or hobby game designers with basic knowledge of game development and/or programming. The completeness of tools opens up the possibility for gamers to develop an entirely new game of their own.

GamersHell has the download here,  or you can pick it up from one of the other mirrors listed at the official site. 

Lighthouse Interactive sent over this press release on v1.4 of Avencast, which appears to tidy up a handful of minor items:

Lastest Update AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage released

Haarlem, The Netherlands – July 17, 2008 – Leading publisher Lighthouse Interactive and developer ClockStone Software announced today that they have released the latest update for their fantasy-based action RPG for Windows®, AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage. The update adds several new enhancements upgrading the game to version 1.04.

The update is a multi-language version. AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage is available at major retail stores across Europe.

Updates in Version 1.04:

• GUI: Long log messages bound within box
• UTF8 character support for controls
• Dialog Caption: Text truncation bug fixed
• Incorrect mana/health bonus from items bug fixed
• options.exe: Language bug fixed
• Adept03 name changed to "Dead Mage"
• "find my true self" Easter egg removed
• Workaround for telescope quest in Update 1.03 installed during running quest

To download Update 1.04 (file size: 5 MB) visit:
www.lighthouse-interactive.com.

The complete list of new features included in Update 1.04 is available at the Lighthouse forums and at www.avencast.com.

Dark Savant writes in to apprise us of the latest patch for Clockstone's fantasy RPG, Avencast: Rise of the Mage, which brings the game to v 1.03. You can view the changelog and get the download link here  at the official forums.

Many thanks, Dark Savant. 

Gamebanshee  posts a review of Clockstone Software's and Lighthouse Interactive's RPG, Avencast: Rise of the Mage, giving a detailed look at what works and doesn't work in the game, with a final score of 6.8/10:

 Avencast: Rise of the Mage, the debut effort from Austrian developer Clockstone Software, is a difficult game to characterize. It starts out like it’s going to be funny (the first time you see your character, you’re sleeping in class), but then it tries to be serious and overly weighty. It looks for all the world like it’s going to be an action role-playing game, but then it plays more like a tactical one. And it employs a fairly simple point-and-click interface, but then it manages to include some clever and complex puzzles. Sometimes incongruities can be good, because they make you think, but in Avencast I felt like I was adrift in a game that didn’t know what it wanted to be or where it wanted to go, and the journey to find out wasn’t a lot of fun.

The interface gets points for being adaptable and varied:

In fact, the interface in general is nice and configurable. For example, you’re given special slots where you can quaff potions with a single key stroke, but if you don’t like them then you can also pause the game and double click on the potions in your inventory, and quaff them that way. Plus, all of the keys (including the mouse buttons) are configurable, and you’re allowed to map up to eight spells to hotkeys (or mouse clicks), giving you lots of control over your attacks.

The writing, combat and one-time-only quality of the puzzles are less satisfying for the reviewer:

The problem is, the puzzles are only fun to do once. Once you’ve figured out the answer or the trick, that’s it. There isn’t any challenge to completing them a second time, and that hurts the replayability of the game. I’m sort of curious about how the campaign might go for a blood mage, but I have no desire to slog through all of the combat again, I already completed all of the puzzles, and there aren’t any choices to make in the quests, and so there’s not enough left to do in the campaign to draw me back in...

Conclusion:

Avencast: Rise of the Mage is a mid-priced role-playing game that feels a lot like a bargain-priced role-playing game. It has some things going for it, like the interface and the puzzles, but it has some other things going against it, like the monotony of the combat and the clichés of the story. Since the negative influences far outweigh the positive influences, it’s tough to get excited about Avencast or even to recommend it. You’ll probably find a better game in the bargain bin of your local software store. 

A surprisingly good score for Avencast in GameSpot's review, which scores Clockstone's action/RPG at 7.5/10:

Describing Avencast: Rise of the Mage is a bit tricky. This role-player relies on WASD controls, but it doesn't have the nonstop action of a typical action role-playing game. Quests feature standard go-fetch objectives, although they're often jazzed up with adventure game puzzles. And while the plot strays into world-saving Dungeons & Dragons clichés, it begins with a bored teen mage doing the Hogwarts thing. With so much cross-genre experimentation, it's difficult to figure out what the developer was trying to get at, although the one thing you can say is that this grab bag of RPG styles comes together remarkably well.

We received a press release from Lighthouse about a demo contest for Avencast: Rise of the Mage.  Here are the pertinent parts, minus the corporate PR:

What is it about?

One of the features of AVENCAST is a player’s Fame Points. It is a score that evaluates a player’s battle skills as they try to avoid being hit and use their spells with maximum effect to gain lots of points. If players beat the game, their hero will appear in the game’s Hall of Fame. They can compare their scores to those of other characters. If they have their Fame Points Display activated while playing, players can permanently observe their current competence in gaining fame points.
Players will have the chance to win one of the following prizes:

How to participate:

1. Download the latest game demo at www.avencast.com.
2. Download the competition tool at www.avencast.com and save it on your computer.
3. Play the demo to the very end so you hero is found in the Hall of Fame.
4. Enter the competition by starting the competition tool, which submits your hero stats and contact details.

You could win one of the following SoundBlaster© prizes:

1st Prize – 1 qty. Sound Blaster® XtremeGamer™ sound card
2nd Prize – 1 qty. Sound Blaster® XtremeGamer™ sound card
3rd Prize – 1 qty. Sound Blaster® XtremeGamer™ sound card
4th Prize – 1 qty. Sound Blaster® XtremeGamer™ sound card

Plus... 5 winners by random draw, each receiving a deck of Avencast branded cards

TOTAL WINNERS = 9

The 1st and 2nd prizes will be awarded to the top 2 players with the highest "fame scores." The 3rd and 4th prizes will be awarded by random draw among the Top 20 best players. The 5 winners of the Avencast decks of playing cards will be allocated by random draw among the Top 100 players.

To view the full contest details, visit www.avencast.com.

We missed this review of Avencast at CVG a fortnight ago, although there are barely a handful of paragraphs, so it's easy to miss.  The score is an incredibly low 3.4/10 and here's a snip:

Similar to the cold horror of waking up next to a corpse, sometimes a game reminds us all effortlessly that there are still uncreative, dull-edged developers who will gladly rip off anything to make a quick quid.

Avencast, like an excrement-driven Delorian, takes us back to the heady days of Diablo, mixing in various pillaged elements from the rest of the fantasy genre, with every cliché imaginable. While Fate at least tried to be original, Avencast manages to be about as much fun as Gordon Brown reading the Bible.

Avencast has been reviewed at Gameshark in a generally positive article with a rating of B- :

Avencast may not be as flashy as The Witcher or as well written as Neverwinter Nights 2, but there's no denying that it satisfies that action role-playing craving we all get some time. What Clockworks' first major game does do right is deliver a unique action-centric gaming experience coupled with some interesting puzzle solving that sets it slightly above the average Diablo clone. There's no mistaking that the game at least borrows some of those conventions from that classic, but offers it in its own special style.

Clockstone's Tri Do Dinh and Michael Schiestl have penned an enjoyable Wrap Report on Avencast for RPG Vault:

Tri Do Dinh: We had two big goals concerning the design of the game. One was bringing a fresh twist to the genre by trying a new combat system. After all, you're spending a lot of time vanquishing evil, so to speak, so we wanted to create a system that is really able to capture the action and keep it interesting. The other was finding a design that would turn our weakness, our small team, into a strength. Rather than going for sheer scope and complexity, which wouldn't have been possible, we decided to make Avencast smaller, but at the same time as charming and interesting as possible, with real attention to the details.

In terms of art direction, we didn't want to go for the classic orcs and elves fantasy look, so we took a lot inspiration from unusual things... the Mayan civilization, things like that.

IGN has posted a review for Clockstone Software's Avencast:Rise of the Mage,  rating it at 7/10 with a mostly positive slant:

With so many typical fantasy RPGs coming out all the time, it’s nice to see something a little different in Avencast Rise of the Mage. Despite the cliché setting and plot, it manages to differentiate itself well by incorporating environmental puzzles and an action-oriented control system. Even if you don’t always feel terribly invested in the events, at least the thinking and dexterity required provide a more involved experience than your typical hold-the-left-mouse-button hack ‘n slash. Avencast may not be for everybody, but while it could use a bit more spit polish in places, it’s more than the generic box art lets on.

Clockstone has released a v1.02c patch for their action/RPG, Avencast.  Grab the notes and file link from the official forums.

GamesRadar  posts their short and negative look at Clockstone Software's Avencast:Rise of the Mage, slamming it for lack of originality and scoring it 4/10:

It isn't even just that the game is inherently broken - somewhere within the battered remains of Avencast's ideas lies a middling story, but the entire product feels terrible. Enemies take too long to kill, the dialogue has the tone of a 12 year-old's fan fiction, and the gameplay is of Flash-game quality, but at a full-price premium.

Gamersinfo.net  has reviewed the new action rpg from  Clockstone Software and Lighthouse Interactive, Avencast:Rise of the Mage. The format is scoreless, but the reviewer gives the game high marks for originality and gameplay:

Avencast maintains a very strong story through the entire game, and often weaves video sequences nicely into long periods of combat, mini-quests, puzzles (and boy can they be tough), and a variety of dialog...[The game] is definitely a different breed then the standard hack n' slash or "Action RPG" games out there. Instead of coming up with a ranged class, a mage, and a warrior - you know, the typical set up - they have decided to just focus on making the mage very playable.

..Combat is not an aspect I normally concentrate on when reviewing a title because I love the RPG element far more. However, in Avencast, it is quite spectacularly designed, so I'll delve a little deeper. As the combat focuses heavily on magic, it may begin to feel as if you are going to be playing a standard slow mana regenerating style mage. Nothing could be further from the truth. Combat in Avencast is FAST! You do not slaughter thousands and thousands of enemies, because the enemies you do fight are not fodder for you to blast away; they will dodge your attacks, and counter when you are weak; or even outflank you while you are engaged by others. Some will have immunities to your knock back skills, and resistances to different degrees of freeze, etc. Your mana regenerates quite quickly, allowing you to evade, retreat, find quick cover for a couple of seconds and then attack again. I found myself too often in the middle of a 5 or 6 enemies as a soul based mage not capable of taking damage, diving and dodging, then throwing out whatever freezes and blast waves to push back my enemies...

...Avencast: Rise of the Mage is quite possibly the best Action RPG I have ever played. It combines a very strong main story line with accents via puzzles, quests, riddles and lots of fast paced action. Quite incredibly, it has actually done what it intended to - it connects RPG and action - giving you both in a healthy dose. If you combine the very respectable play length with the chance to play as the other (or a mixed) combat class then this game is a good deal for your dollar. While the controls take a bit of time to get used to, the combat is skillful and fun to play once you get into it... now I think I'm heading back to finish my blood mage character. 

A couple of decent reviews for Avencast are up at AceGamez and RPGFan.  Taking the first, AceGamez awards a score of 7/10 and praises the game for ditching the boring maths:

The gameplay is familiar because it is most definitely an action RPG, perhaps more so than other action RPGs - you have the standard RPG collect, trade and equip fantasy items and then the more unusual action elements - dodging, rolling, blasting away with hugely over-the-top spells and combo-infused melee attacks. It's closer to an action third person shooter such as Shadowgrounds than a RPG, ditching all that boring (and often confusing) maths to get down and dirty with abilities firmly placed on your skill, not your in-game avatar's. This shooter-like feel is demonstrated as soon as you begin the game, as a simple right-click "shoots" a small purple ball of magical energy in the direction your hero is facing - controlled by the mouse. Using the mouse grants quick, smooth movement but takes a bit of getting use to, even when using the so called 'novice' control mode; in fact, all the three possible control modes are a bit confusing and not really explained as well as they could be. For example, novice mode moves your character in relation to the screen - moving right moves your player towards the bottom of the screen sometimes. In my opinion it is best to stick with the third option - a standard chase-cam (a camera that hovers just above head-height and follows behind you, pointing in the direction you are facing) as used in World of Warcraft and Requital, but despite problems it's still nice that you are given a choice of three ways to control your character, and that you can simply switch between them with the V key if you do get in a muddle.

...and RPGFan likes it even more, with a score of 81%:

Everything you'd expect is there: physical attacks, ranged magic, skill trees, summoning, stat-building, equipment, hotkeys and shortcuts for abilities (as well as unique "combo" input for each and every skill), and some useful dodging skills. Your character can do small jumps in any direction, or double-tap in a direction to do a long-distance roll. Being a mage, the only weapon with which to fight is a staff. But it's amazing what all these mages can do with a staff (think of the "battle mage" class from Bethesda's "Elder Scroll" series). Veteran gamers can efficiently build this mage to fight better with physical or magic attacks (ClockStone called these "blood magic" and "soul magic" growth paths). However, even a novice can come up with unique combinations. For example, a fairly reliable "freeze" spell can stun an enemy for a few seconds, during which the player is free to throw down strong magic, or just bash away with the staff.

With all of that said, there are also puzzles. There could have been a bit more puzzle work and a little less keyboard-mashing mayhem, but generally, for a 20 hour RPG, the puzzles helped to balance the action. Some of the better puzzles included a "beam of light reflecting off of mirrors" area, a "walk on the right tiles to proceed" area, and an "input the proper runic characters at different places in the room" area. If you're not a good puzzle-solver, beware. Regardless of the difficulty level set, the puzzles do not change, and some of them require a bit of thought. Above all else, they require your utmost attention during key dialogue, and a rummaging through your inventory at quest items with explanations of the obstacle at hand may help as well.

RPG Vault has a new Peek feature for Avencast, looking at the magic ssytem in Clockstone's action/RPG:

Hello, and welcome to Part 3 of our series of sneak peeks into Avencast: Rise of the Mage. The last time, we took a look at some of the creatures you'll encounter in the game. This time, we'll introduce you to the tools you'll have at your disposal in the fight against these demonic monsters - your spells.

GameBanshee has posted a press release from Lighthouse Interactive and Clockstone Software saying the action rpg based on a young apprentice wizard's adventures, Avencast:Rise of the Mage, has been released for sale in N.A. and Europe:

Erik Schreuder, CEO of Lighthouse Interactive said, “We are extremely proud that AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage has hit store shelves. AVENCAST is a game that can be thoroughly enjoyed by Action and RPG fans alike. Its combat system is unique to the RPG genre. Players will have fun casting spells and defeating hordes of demonic enemies as they take on each new quest.”

As per the Lighthouse site, there's also a new trailer available at 
Worthplaying, Strategy Informer  and File Front, among others.

GameZone has posted an indepth review of Lighthouse Interactive's new title,  Avencast:Rise of the Mage, giving it a score of 7.8/10 and referring to it as  "...role playing and strategic gaming wrapped up in one":

In some aspects, Avencast is a very limiting game. You only get one character and customization options are not overly abundant. The story is linear and the quest-driven gameplay will have you moving through it at a regulated pace. But the Lighthouse/Clockstone title does juxtapose some of the common with intelligent gameplay mechanics...

...The game plays in an isometric viewpoint, but the camera is not always your friend. You will discover the laborious nature of moving the camera about when you are fighting near the start of the game. Coupled with the fact that you actually have to click on the target to cast a ranged spell at it – even while it is moving – and you have a scheme that is less than perfect. Leading the opponent does parlay into defensive capabilities as well. When you are attacked with a ranged skill, you can move and avoid taking damage. Ah, dodging – it is indeed nice to see the magic missile go by the wayside and give over to the reflexive ability to avoid damage. This makes for a much more strategic game. You can use environmental elements for shielding, as well...

...Avencast has some RPG clichés in it, but it still manages to emerge as a nice bit of armchair gaming. This is a game with some solid concepts that will not only provide a bit of challenge, but a fair share of entertainment as well.

Clockstone's Minh Tri Do Dinh has been interviewed at GamersInfo about their action/RPG, Avencast:

Lighthouse Interactive and Clockstone Software have released a playable demo for their soon to be released action rpg, Avencast:Rise of the Mage. A number of sites have it available. Here are a few locations:

File Shack

Gamers Hell

Computer Games.ro

File Front

Worthplaying

A summary of the game's features can be found at Lighthouse Interactive's game information page   as well as the RPGWatch games database entry.

Worthplaying has put up a preview of Clockstone Software's first title, the action rpg  Avencast:Rise of the Mage, currently still in development. It describes the game as a mix of themes and styles from Harry Potter, World of Warcraft to Diablo. It goes on to give some information on general premise, combat controls and overall gameplay:

Avencast  casts you, the player, as a young boy found by a hermit wizard... The plot unfolds in a series of quests, some required and others optional, all organized in a fashion reminiscent of Neverwinter Nights. What I read of the English version was well-written and sensible, if a tad on the generic side...

The actual formula feels like it was made for a controller more than the keyboard-and-mouse scheme, which is good in that it represents just how fast and furious the action is. Your player moves as if he were in a first-person shooter and controls with about as many keys. WASD moves you side-to-side (and dodges), the mouse turns you around and aims up and down, E uses things and the mouse buttons use your melee and ranged attacks... A few WASD keystrokes and a mouse click (left button for short range, right button for long range) are all it takes to execute one of your many learned spells...

Clockstone isn't trying to make a completely individual work in the much-filled fantasy RPG genre, but they're trying to take existing elements and merge them into a distinct, tightly made effort. From its top-pace combat scheme to its honed magic system, Avencast is solidly succeeding at this objective. 

GameZone has kicked up a short preview of Avencast:

Avencast: Rise of the Mage is an old-school title. The game looks like it harkens back to another timeline in the role-playing fantasy genre, and plays out in the same vein. But is it really a role-playing game? Or is it an action-adventure wrapped up in the pretty ribbons of what could have been an RPG, if that element had been fleshed out more. Avencast certainly has RPG elements, but the game itself (from Lighthouse Interactive and Clockstone) is more like an action adventure than a true RPG.

Worthplaying has put up nine screenshots from Clockstone's action RPG, Avencast:Rise of the Mage, along with a little game information:

 The player begins their journey as an adept attending the renowned magic academy – Avencast – a place of learning in a world of wizardry, wonder and untold mystery.
As an apprentice, the player is expected to complete a number of diverse quests to hone their skills in potions, spell casting, weaponry, and melee combat. As the story unravels, your character's purpose becomes clear –things at the academy are not as they appear and when Avencast is descended upon by demonic hordes the very survival of his world is at stake. Armed with over 60 different combat moves and spells, and over one hundred different equipment items plus variations, the player must fight various nightmarish creatures and transcend dimensions into the past.

Games Radar has one of their trademark short previews up for Avencast.  Here's a bit on the central tenet:

"We're trying to mix the good things from other genres - like the beat 'em up genre - with an action RPG, which hasn't really been done before. So the idea is that you can cast all your spells by pressing combos," says Michael Schiestl, Executive Director of developer, Clockstone.

We're curious to see if casting by combos adds to the dungeon crawling experience, or if it winds up feeling more like a chore. Luckily, if the idea of tapping forward, then left, followed by a left-click to do a fireball sounds too cumbersome, you can opt to map your skills to hot keys for quick casting.

Avencast: Rise of the Mage has been previewed at Hooked Gamers. Here's a summary snip:

Diablo. Need I say more? Avencast undoubtedly possesses the same presence as the old Diablo, which itself was based mainly on even older Rogue-like games (Hack, Nethack, Rogue). You move around in similar dungeons, battling various enemies, performing quests, seeking the main villain etc. etc. However, since Avencast focuses more on player skill rather than character stats, it also reminds me of the old arcade fantasy-themed hack'n'slashes, Gauntlet and Gauntlet II, where you roamed dungeons alone or with friends, killing monsters and picking up treasures. Avencast may be deeper than these old classics, but definitely shares some similarities with them. Thus, it is surprising that Avencast does not offer multiplayer features out of the box. However, the developers have hinted at the possibility of an add-on that would introduce such features and perhaps allow you to play the game in co-op mode.

...and Jolt is informative on the positioning:

Clearly Avencast is aiming to appeal to action gamers with an interest in RPGs, probably more so than RPG gamers with an interest in action games. Certainly there isn’t a huge amount of originality in the characters, environments and spells on offer, but the game does have some unique qualities. We’ll have to wait until next month to see whether or not the game’s depth makes up for the lack of breadth normally found in such games.

RPG Vault's second Peek at Avencast takes a look at some of the enemy creatures players will face:

Gruesome Crystal Crabs
Vibrations of a magical atmosphere pervade the air in the Crystal Caves, filling them with an eerie but enchanting musical melody. When the clattering sounds of assailing Crystal Crabs mixes with these supernal harmonies, it may already be too late for the unwary listener. When the razor sharp shears of these malignant vermin have you in their clutch, they will excise the most succulent parts of your body. Cave explorers who have managed to survive their attacks have reported the horrific encounters with these perfidious crustaceans. It is told that small groups of Crystal Crabs are able to overcome full-grown men and drag them into their slick recesses where they dismember and eat them alive.

Lighthouse and Clockstone sent out a press release announcing a new Avencast combat trailer.  Here's the list of mirrors from them:

To download the gameplay video please visit one of these mirrors:

Gamershell
Worthplaying
Spawnpoint
Clockstone
Local FTP

...and for those interested enough, here is the entire press release:

AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage Gameplay Video Featuring Intense Combat Situations

Haarlem, The Netherlands – August 8, 2007 – Leading Publisher Lighthouse Interactive today released a new gameplay video (based on the July 2007 build) for its upcoming fantasy-based Action RPG game AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage. Scheduled to release in October 2007 on the PC, this new RPG successfully combines fast-paced and dynamic combat elements with a solid RPG foundation to create a compelling story-driven gaming experience. AVENCAST will also be Windows® Vista™ compatible.

Watch the battle for Avencast unfold in the latest gameplay video showcasing AVENCAST’s unique approach to combat. As his world is ravaged by demons and all appears lost, our hero must develop his combination of skills in both spell casting and melee combat to destroy demonic enemies and liberate his World.

GAME SUMMARY:

As the sun rises over Avencast, the renowned academy of magic; a young adept begins his perilous journey. In a world of wizardry, wonder and untold mystery, you must undertake some of the most diverse quests to hone your abilities in spell casting, weaponry and melee combat. Your martial skills are soon put to the test as demonic monsters of unknown ancient origin descend upon Avencast turning the academy into a horrific state of chaos and destruction.

Armed with over 50 combat moves and spells, and a vast arsenal of equipment items, you must uncover the source of these ominous happenings while vanquishing an onslaught of fiendish enemies. Treachery and deceit reveal themselves as the vicious army of adversaries beleaguers your frail haven threatening Avencast’s very existence. Amidst the mayhem, an astonishing truth unfolds which will forever change the battle scarred Wizard.

AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage is accessible to novice RPG game players, but it will also challenge core RPG and Action fans. Both combat and non-combat interactions create a perfect balance between brains and brawn. By requiring players to bring their own combat and strategic skills to the forefront, they will have the excitement of crafting a powerful character unleashing their hero’s potential.

FEATURES:

• Cast Lethal Spells from Different Skill Trees – Surrounded by vicious foes, unleash a mighty soul magic spell. The pure agglomeration of energy alone produces a warp in the surrounding atmosphere before the catastrophic nova demolishes your enemies. Blood Magic (elementally charged blows with varying speeds, ranges, and damage properties) and Soul Magic (covers all kinds of ranged magic spells allowing better area control) – both allow players to summon reinforcements during combat.
• Perilous Quests – While brawn and agility will win most battles, acumen and strategic thinking are necessary to survive challenging quests.
• Fluid Combat System – Chain together spells and easily execute lethal attacks using an innovative system that favors skillful gameplay over dull mouse clicking. Unleash your hero’s potential as you bring your own player skills to each intense battle.
• Strong Player Personification & Character Development - Acquire new equipment, armor, weapons and spell casting skills to craft a powerful character.
• Over 30 Nightmarish Monsters with Advanced AI – Each with versatile combat strategies, attacks, and defensive moves dependant upon the player’s behavior and attack strategy.
• State-of-the-art 3D Engine – Stunning graphics enhanced with advanced visual effects make for an impressive display of devastating spell casting.
• Many Hours of Exciting Gameplay – Set in diverse worlds with both indoor and outdoor environments to explore.
• Attractive to a Broad Range of Players – An Action RPG at its core, but dynamic gameplay and adventure-like quests make AVENCAST attractive to a broad range of game players.

To download the gameplay video, visit www.lighthouse-interactive.com.

To find out more about AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage and to keep up with the latest news on the game, visit www.lighthouse-interactive.com and www.avencast.com.

Lighthouse and Clockstone have released a trailer for their upcoming action/RPG Avencast: Rise of the Mage - here is the accompanying press release, which contains the link:

Haarlem, The Netherlands – July 25, 2007 – Leading Publisher Lighthouse Interactive today released a teaser for its fantasy-based Action RPG game AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage. Scheduled to release in October 2007 on the PC, this new RPG successfully combines fast-paced and dynamic combat elements with a solid RPG foundation to create a compelling story-driven gaming experience. AVENCAST will also be Windows® Vista™ compatible.

The teaser features nightmarish enemies in tense combat situations as the hero unleashes vicious melee and spell casting attacks. However, AVENCAST is not only about combat. There are strong adventure elements involving a multitude of dangerous quests, exploration of vast environments to unearth powerful relics, puzzle solving, and interaction with various non-playing characters (NPCs) to advance the engaging story.

GAME SUMMARY:

As the sun rises over Avencast, the renowned academy of magic; a young adept begins his perilous journey. In a world of wizardry, wonder and untold mystery, you must undertake some of the most diverse quests to hone your abilities in spell casting, weaponry and melee combat. Your martial skills are soon put to the test as demonic monsters of unknown ancient origin descend upon Avencast turning the academy into a horrific state of chaos and destruction.

Armed with over 50 combat moves and spells, and a vast arsenal of equipment items, you must uncover the source of these ominous happenings while vanquishing an onslaught of fiendish enemies. Treachery and deceit reveal themselves as the vicious army of adversaries beleaguers your frail haven threatening Avencast’s very existence. Amidst the mayhem, an astonishing truth unfolds which will forever change the battle scarred Wizard.

AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage is accessible to novice RPG game players, but it will also challenge core RPG and Action fans. Both combat and non-combat interactions create a perfect balance between brains and brawn. By requiring players to bring their own combat and strategic skills to the forefront, they will have the excitement of crafting a powerful character unleashing their hero’s potential.

FEATURES:

• Cast Lethal Spells from Different Skill Trees – Surrounded by vicious foes, unleash a mighty soul magic spell. The pure agglomeration of energy alone produces a warp in the surrounding atmosphere before the catastrophic nova demolishes your enemies. Blood Magic (elementally charged blows with varying speeds, ranges, and damage properties) and Soul Magic (covers all kinds of ranged magic spells allowing better area control) – both allow players to summon reinforcements during combat.
• Perilous Quests – While brawn and agility will win most battles, acumen and strategic thinking are necessary to survive challenging quests.
• Fluid Combat System – Chain together spells and easily execute lethal attacks using an innovative system that favors skillful gameplay over dull mouse clicking. Unleash your hero’s potential as you bring your own player skills to each intense battle.
• Strong Player Personification & Character Development - Acquire new equipment, armor, weapons and spell casting skills to craft a powerful character.
• Over 30 Nightmarish Monsters with Advanced AI – Each with versatile combat strategies, attacks, and defensive moves dependant upon the player’s behavior and attack strategy.
• State-of-the-art 3D Engine – Stunning graphics enhanced with advanced visual effects make for an impressive display of devastating spell casting.
• Many Hours of Exciting Gameplay – Set in diverse worlds with both indoor and outdoor environments to explore.
• Attractive to a Broad Range of Players – An Action RPG at its core, but dynamic gameplay and adventure-like quests make AVENCAST attractive to a broad range of game players.

To download the teaser, visit:
ftp://ftp.lighthouse-interactive.qhosting.be:12321/

To find out more about AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage and to keep up with the latest news on the game, visit www.lighthouse-interactive.com and www.avencast.com.

The first of a series of Peeks for Avencast: Rise of the Mage kicks of at RPG Vault:

Hello and welcome to part one of a four-part sneak peek into Avencast: Rise of the Mage, where we'll introduce you to some of the unique and interesting aspects of the game. This article will cover play features, focused mainly on the combat system and the design decisions that led to its conception.

Six new Avencast screens can be found at Worthplaying.

Wow, interviews galore today.  RPG Vault has posted the second part of their Avencast interview with ClockStone:

Jonric: What about quests? Will there be many optional ones? What's notable about this aspect of Avencast?

Michael Schiestl: In addition to the main story, the player can complete numerous side quests. These are much more than just simple "go, kill and get" tasks. Each of the optional quests has been individually designed, and most of them reveal exciting details in the charming world of Avencast.

Jonric has the first interview we've tracked with Austrian studio ClockStone on their action/RPG Avencast.  The intro blurb mentions adventure elements such as deciphering riddles but that isn't covered in this first part of the conversation, so here's a general quote:

Jonric: What core strengths will differentiate Avencast from other games that might seem similar in terms of their play? What kind of individual will find it most appealing?

Minh Tri Do Dinh: What differentiates Avencast most from other games would be the combat and general style of action, which draw heavy inspiration from beat 'em ups, shooters and the like, rather than classical RPGs. We strived to create a type of gameplay that is more dynamic and varied.

That philosophy of keeping things dynamic is also reflected in the fact that Avencast is a fairly straightforward game. We want to make sure people can just jump in and enjoy it as much as possible, without worrying too much about endless rules and choices. The key, of course, is striking the right balance between keeping things simple and fresh, and offering enough content and depth as a classical RPG to keep players interested.
Players it will appeal to? Those who like their RPGs with a distinct flavor of fast-paced action. These players don't want to give up their role-playing, but still might want to take a break from the usual diet of almost overwhelmingly large RPGs that take a good chunk out of their time once started.

Four new screens from the action/RPG Avencast: Rise of the Mages are online at Gameguru Mania.

Those who have been with us since RPGDot may remember the indie action/RPG Avencast: Rise of the Mage, which had a very low profile but we posted a couple of newsbits for it.  Lighthouse Interactive has now signed the title for a Q3 release and here's the press release:

Haarlem, The Netherlands – March 22, 2007 – Leading Publisher Lighthouse Interactive today announced it has acquired the worldwide publishing rights to Austrian based developer ClockStone Software’s action RPG, “AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage”. Scheduled to release in Q3 2007 on the PC, this new RPG successfully marries the dynamics of an action game with strong adventure elements creating an enthralling and unique gaming experience.

What’s unique about AVENCAST? “It effectively balances both combat and non-combat interactions for a perfect combination of both brains and brawn,” says Erik Schreuder, CEO of Lighthouse Interactive. “By drawing from player-skilled action games like shooters and beat-em-ups, and combining those elements with the game mechanics of an RPG, AVENCAST offers players the excitement of crafting a powerful character, but also requires them to bring their own skills to unleash their hero’s potential.”

Michael Schiestl, CEO of ClockStone Software promises: “Avencast will finally bring some fresh air into the present action RPG genre with a combat system that favors skillful gameplay over dull mouse clicking.”

AVENCAST is not only about combat. There are strong adventure elements involving numerous perilous quests, scouring vast environments for powerful items, solving riddles, and engaging with various NPC’s to advance the compelling story.

GAME SUMMARY:
The player begins their journey as an adept attending the renowned magic academy – AVENCAST – a place of learning in a world of wizardry, wonder and untold mystery.

As an apprentice, the player is expected to complete a number of diverse quests to hone their skills in potions, spell casting, weaponry, and melee combat. As the story unravels, your character’s purpose becomes clear –things at the academy are not as they appear and when Avencast is descended upon by demonic hordes the very survival of his world is at stake. Armed with over 60 different combat moves and spells, and over one hundred different equipment items plus variations, the player must fight various nightmarish creatures and transcend dimensions into the past. The intriguing plot thickens revealing treachery, deceit, the tragic destiny of a forgotten people, and an astonishing truth that will forever change the battle scarred Wizard.

AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage is a game accessible to both novice RPG players while still challenging core RPG and Action fans with a great variety of skills and strategies. To find out more and to keep up with the latest news visit www.lighthouse-interacive.com. or www.avencast.com.


FEATURES:
• Many hours of exciting gameplay set in diverse worlds
• Over 30 Fantasy Based Monsters with Advanced A.I.– Each with their own combat strategies, attacks, and defensive moves, their reactions are dependant upon the player’s behavior, attack strategy, and even health
• Strong Player Personification – In third person view, the character’s appearance changes as they acquire new equipment, armor, and weapons
• State-of-the-art 3D Engine not only allows for a fluid combat system but also generates special lighting and shadowing effects for a fully engaging experience. Players are immersed into ominous settings like dark dungeons with looming pillars and large corridors; creatures are more imposing with their highly detailed silhouettes
• Learn Special Moves from Different Skill Trees – Blood Magic (elementally charged blows with varying speeds, ranges, and damage properties) and Soul Magic (covers all kinds of ranged magic spells allowing better area control) – both allow players to summon reinforcements during combat
• An RPG by mechanics, but also a game that can be enjoyed by a broad range of players – RPG, Action, and Adventure

About ClockStone

ClockStone Software GmbH is an up-and-coming Austrian company specialized in developing games and multimedia applications for the PC. Located in the beautiful town of Innsbruck, Austria, their growing team of artists, programmers, and game designers together with numerous freelancing partners seeks to create innovative, state-of-the-art software and graphics at the highest level. Please visit www.clockstone.com.