Klooge Werks and Online Play

[~Johnny~]

Having recently moved to NYC, I've lost access to my old roleplaying group. I've been looking for a way to organize long-distance play. At one point, I was resigned to using Instant Messenger to do it. But then I heard about this:

http://www.kloogeinc.com/werks/

Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any reviews or many mentions of it.

Can anybody tell me:

• Whether you've used the program and if it's any good
• What its failings are, if any, and your workarounds for those problems
• Whether there's a similar program you'd recommend more
• Why the company who made it hasn't updated their site in a year

I'd also be interested in learning if there's a community of players who use the software, or a library of resources for plugging into the software.

I know somebody here has to be familiar with this program. Don't let me down!

 

[shadowlight]

I used this software for the first time last Saturday in a Hero game at the Detroit Gameday. It was pretty fun to use (the GM had a laptop with an additional LCD screen for the players to look at). I liked the fact that you could have large maps and zoom in (for the close) and out (for the bigger picture). Its a neat tool, but I think it could also be distracting and a little limiting (if you don't have an area mapped out in your program already, the PCs can't explore it and that can make it feel like a railroad adventure). I'll stick with my wet erase battlemap.

For the online qualities, I'd recommend asking mudpyr8. His website can be found here:
http://www.narosia.com/

I think he works with the guys developing the software.

 

[~Johnny~]

Thanks for the mini-review. Anybody else?

I'm particularly curious as to the fate of the company that makes the software.

 

[shadowlight]

Thanks for the mini-review. Anybody else?

I'm particularly curious as to the fate of the company that makes the software.

I'm pretty sure they're working on a new version of the software...