Hi out there to all of our wonderful backer folks. It’s time for our bi-monthly SpaceVenture update! First off, things are moving along really well right now. We have made a good deal of progress in getting certain scenes close to the finish line. Multiple game puzzle sequences have also been completed in the past two weeks, including the crazy pipes puzzle I mentioned in the last update.

As a side note, I posted some more information about that scene in a developer diary on the SpaceVenture Rewards website for you $30 and up backers. Don’t forget that all the developer diaries will be available to all backers once the game is shipped. You can check out that post HERE. WARNING: If you can’t log onto the rewards website, please contact pcj@andromedanpost.com

I have a couple of cool things to show you today, one of which you might be able to help us come up with some funny content for.

INTRODUCING THE WONDERFUL TASTINESS THAT IS A SOYLENT SMOOTHEE!

We’d love for you to help us come up with 101 uses for a frosty cup of Soylent Smoothee! Some of the best lines might just get mentioned in SpaceVenture itself 😉

Submit your comments HERE

Another thing I’d like to show you involves a certain ship that we’ve already introduced you to in the demo. Warning, this may be a little spoilery! It’s no secret that people are trying to escape the ship called Nostrodomus right in the intro of the game. See here:

Well we’ve been sitting on this epic explosion scene for quite some time now, but recently our Principal Composer and Sound Designer Ken Allen put some SFX on the scene to make it even more epic! See video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KACC_-B3608&feature=youtu.beIf you’re wondering when the game will be available, we don’t have an estimated date yet, but please see this update for more details on why that is.

EPISODE 9 OF THE BI-WEEKLY PODCAST BY THE SPACE QUEST HISTORIAN

Something happened last week that put this week’s planned podcast topic on hold. Well, that, and some unforeseen complications. So this podcast is all about the freeware game Serena and what a very special collaborative experience it was making for and by the adventure gaming community. We’ve also got some startling news from Pete Toleman, who was last seen fleeing from some rather unsavory types and who had a Kickstarter out to save his company; the amazing Chris Pope regales us with some more news about the SpaceVenture; and, to cap everything off, we’ve got the fine gentlemen of rock, Brandon Blume and Ken Allen, with part 2 of their New Year’s chat. It’s a very special episode, unlike all the other episodes which weren’t special at all.

 OTHER SIERRA ALUMNI PROJECTS

The amazing Josh Mandel / Al Lowe’s Leisure Suit Larry Reloaded

Jane Jensen’s Moebius and Pinkerton Road Studio / GABRIEL KNIGHT: SINS OF THE FATHERS 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption by the Quest for Glory designers – Corey Cole and Lori Cole

Under The Half Dome: An Album by Sierra Composer, Ken Allen  

Thanks for all of your support everyone!

Chris Pope a.k.a your humble local intergalactic SpacePope

Well, it’s been an exciting couple of weeks here at Hero-U HQ.  With some serious help from Ken and Sue at Pugsly’s Trading Post, I managed to mail out about 3/4 of the “soft goods” packages. Then we ran out of one type of box, while having about 150 extra of another type.  Somehow I missed that lecture in applied post office mathematics.

We also ran into a slight snag with t-shirts, leading to a reorder.  So here’s the scoop:

• If your tier rewards were exactly one meep toy and a Hero-U baseball cap, we probably haven’t mailed them yet. They should go out next week.

• If you requested an XXL or XXXL t-shirt, your package is also likely to be delayed until next week. I think we were also short on about five other shirts.

Hero-U Key Ring

Missed Out?  Perhaps Not…

If you feel sad that you missed your chance to own an authentic piece of Hero-U history, Lori and I have decided  to make the Rogue to Redemption Softwear Collection available for a little longer.  I’m sure it has nothing to do with the 400 or so meep toys crowding our garage.  Still, they are really cute, and we’d hate to find out the bats ate them all.

Until we add our pre-order store to the Hero-U web site, you may use the Donate button at www.hero-u.net/KS-store to purchase meep toys or the whole soft goods set.  (Why a “Softwear Collection”?  When Lori and I married, I had her wedding dress sent to Olivetti, where I worked.  I told the dressmaker to send it to the “Software Dept.”, which she wrote as “Softwear”.  The company had a policy of inspecting all incoming packages, and I was much mocked for my apparent taste in women’s clothing.  Lest you think, “Oooh, fancy, custom wedding dress!”, well it was… from a stall at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.)

Rogue to Redemption Softwear Collection

Our price list:

• Meep 8″ plush toy or T-Shirt or Cap – $30 + shipping, add $5 more to also get a key ring
• The Softwear Collection:  Meep toy plus Hero-U t-shirt, baseball cap, and a key ring – $85 + shipping.  Add $5 for each additional key ring and $25 for each additional soft item. Make sure you specify your t-shirt size (S / M / L / XL / XXL / XXXL).
• US/Canada/Mexico shipping – $5 First Class (Meep only) or $10 Priority Mail (either).  US customers also please add 8% Sales Tax on the product (not shipping) cost.
• Worldwide shipping – For either item, $20 First Class or $40 Priority Mail.  You may also be subject to VAT when you receive the shipment.  (First Class is much more reasonably priced, but can take several weeks.  Priority Mail should arrive within one week.)
• Make sure you send your order details, your full name, mailing address, and (if you’re getting the Collection) t-shirt size to support@hero-u.net when you order.  Phone number is also helpful for our international customers.

Our profits on these sales will all go into completing the development of Hero-U.  If you have any questions, send email to support@hero-u.net

Shawn’s New Moves

Last night we received the first set of animation for Shawn from Concept Art House.  We’re very excited about finally getting to see him move around in 3D in the game.

We have an art meeting every Tuesday, usually the first time Lori and I see some of the new creations.  It’s getting more amazing every week!  The artists have especially had fun with some of the crazier requests for in-game portraits.  Wizard about to be eaten by a bear, anyone? Or the… well, that would be telling!

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone – This is the year of the Horse. To honor that tradition, there will be a horse in Rogue to Redemption. Of course, it’s a horse of a different color – It has been dead for decades. We could say more, but that would be beating a dead horse.