What'da mean it's July?

*eek* so June came and went without an update. I'm sorry to say that I also missed the end-of-June deadline I'd tentatively set to release PipeDreams, now before you all go wagging your fingers at me (that is if anybody actually reads this stuff), there is a very good reason for this...

Unfortunately I decided to part company with the first art guy I was working with, followed by a chance encounter on a forum that lead to me signing an agreement to work with (in my opinion) a very talented husband and wife team from Australia.

Stephen from Silkjade has done some fantasic looking backgrounds and pipesets. There's a title screen grab on the website should anyone be interested. Changing the resources and making stuff more organised so it's easier for the artist to make changes locally and see how they look has caused a bit of slippage, but seeing as this is (at the moment) a part-time gig and I have the good fortune not to have to release the game until I feel it's ready I don't see it as too much of a problem. Obviously if I'd got crowds of people sending me daily emails begging to know when the next update will be released - then that's more of an issue 8-)

However - development continues, the game and all the puzzles are finished and a beta version will be released before the end of July (and that's July THIS year!)

I'm even going to have an pre-release sale and so the first 50 people to send an email to pipedreams@whitetreegames.com with the subject "HOCK A LOOGEY" will recieve a coupon valid for 50% off the price of the game. I'm planning to retail the game at $9.99 so this will not only get you $5 off, but also you'll be entitled to all the other benefits and bonuses that fully fledged WhiteTree Games customers will enjoy (more about that another day).

Until next time (which will hopefully be before mid October *grin*)

Jon...