It’s been about a month since our last update, mostly due to the nature of the progress we are making. Specifically, it’s hard to give updates on the coding progress being made; we will of course update you on big landmarks, but the everyday progress in coding the game that goes on by iteself is not often newsworthy.

First off, Velociryx and the rest of the staff are continuing to work on game design points, from the population model to fate cards in the game. Vel is currently updating a design document to reflect these clarifications and additions. Though not all of the suggestions will make it in the game for time and complexity reasons, it gives us an outline of where we are and where we would like to be, as well as flesh out specific issues for when the coding reaches that point.

Velociryx has also begun a "design journal" open to public perusal and comment over at Apolyton Civilization site. Come visit at the attached link.

In the area of graphics work, Dale, Hexagonian, and gasdd have been tackling zooming in the staff forums, and are circulating some nice looking zoomed maps. Army markers have been added to our graphics collection, and we hope to have some new screenshots for you soon.

Once again, any comments or questions are welcome on our forums.

  Cyclotron, Writer and Website Editor

Vel’s Apolyton Journal

The actual coding of Candle’Bre is progressing nicely, and recently build 0.01.1 (a first code version) was announced by our programming staff. This is an internal source code release, but Dale did have this to say about coding:

Coding is progressing nicely. The skeleton of Candle’Bre is complete. Gasdd has been working hard to get the game database designed and running while Dale begins work on a script engine for the game. We can say at this point it looks like the LUA script language will be used and accessible to help create scenarios.

In other news, our graphic artist Hexagonian has been experimenting with some ideas for the basic "look" of Candle’Bre interface screens. Polls have been posted in the Candleworks section of our forums, so come and vote!

  Cyclotron, Writer and Website Editor

Expect semi-regular news updates like these, where I tell you about the stuff happening behind the scenes and how the game is progressing. From time to time I’ll be posting some short interviews here with coders or artists, or just noting milestones in the progression of game development.

Today is the first of April, and the lead programmer Dale had this to say about coding progress:

Nearly all the base game elements are completed. I’m currently finalizing the modding engines (so people can add their own scenarios) and then I’ll be onto the message system.

After these elements are completed, the programming staff says they will be able to launch into the actual playing components.

  Cyclotron, Writer and Website Editor

Yes, that’s right, blastoff. The long wait is finally over; while this site is still under construction, we have made it available to all of you folks out there. We hope to showcase here the progress we are making on the project, and provide all of you with an opportunity to check up on CB and get in contact with our staff.

Admittably, we have had to drastically push back our release schedule, for the reason that our chief coder dissappeared some time ago. New coders have been enlisted, however, and we are now making some very significant progress on the programming of the game. I’ll let the coders speak for themselves beyond that, but we are all very confident that we will finish and we’re very proud about the work we’ve done so far. I think I can speak for all the staff when I say we’re having a blast working together, and we are looking forward to releasing Candle’bre in all its glory.

Take a look around, the website is divided thusly:

  News: Right here, right now, where yours truly and the other staff members will give you a regular digest of what’s going on and where in the production of Candle’Bre. Be sure to check out the screenshot section, too.

  Candleworks: Here, you’ll find our summary of the game and what we hope to accomplish, some frequently asked questions, and general game information.

  Screenshots: Includes both screen mockups, which are artists’ renderings of what we are aiming for with the graphics, as well as current and actual in-game screenshots.

  Team: Our staff roster, dramatis personae, whatever. The list of the good men and women who have given their time to this project.

  Contact: We are open to suggestions, comments, and questions, and we encourage you to drop us a line by e-mail or through the forums.

  Forums: The heart of the site, the Candle’Bre public forums are where we go to show you new and developing parts of the world of Candle’Bre, whether game mechanics or original writing and storytelling. There are private forums for the staff as well, so if you don’t see us working in the public area we’re probably back in our staff foxhole working on the game.

All of us here at Velocigames hope you enjoy yourself here, and hope that you’ll be a part of the Candle’Bre project. Feel free to contact any of us via contact information or the forums (I’m a forum prowler, I’ll pick it up pretty quickly if you post it). Thanks for stopping by!

  Cyclotron, writer and website editor