Been over 2 weeks, and no applications yet. :/

Got another update up: www.playlewd.com/blog/?p=505

I'm too poor to play. XD What version of the game is it up to now?

It's still not up to the first alpha release. When it is, there'll be some kind of public release.

Oh okay. Normally games have a number to them to show what version of the game they are on. So when people check and see a higher number they know there has been an update and new stuff has been added. So I think it would be a good idea to start giving it a number. :)

There's usually an update every week or two. Or sometimes two updates a week.

It's working toward the first alpha release. This is just the test server so it's just a release candidate and not a finished version.

I'll be naming them Alpha 1, Alpha 2, Beta 1, etc. Maybe give them names when beta comes.

A big update is up. This is the 6th major update in less than 5 weeks, and I'm getting close to a stable alpha release. More detail is here www.playlewd.com/blog/?p=519
There's also been a lot more content added. Maybe I'll start doing monthly content update recaps or something.

Most things are almost in order now, except for some more efficiency stuff I need to do to get my costs lowered. Hopefully I'll have the stable release out at the end of this month and the next month or two I can put more time toward adding new features and neat stuff that I have in mind.

Engine changes:
-I did some major recoding that increases efficiency on both ends (a lot less data will be used, as well as less wasted CPU and memory on the client to handle some duplicate network events that could happen.)
-Added some preliminary code to handle some client caching and instancing of things that can come up repeatedly, but it's not fully implemented.
-Also a lot of stream lining of APIs on both ends that further reduces the amount of code that needs to be written to achieve things, including a client API fix that would sometimes make unnecessary calls when game objects are updated, which lowered performance.
--This also helped fix a lot of issues in general, namely with restoring save states.
--Server also sends a lot of updates in batches to improve both network and client performance.

General:
-Fixed a bug with the phallic symbiote sometimes not counting as a penis when it should... sort of (see known issues)
-Fixed an issue with the writing parser that would be problematic with falsey values.
-Fixed equipping and unequipping clothing not working correctly on a restored save. (would still show a top as on when topless, etc)
-Fixed underwear and other previous items not restoring with the restored save.
-Fixed a new issue where sex traits weren't showing as checked on a restored save.
-Fixed the "more info" link on the game connection screen not actually doing anything.
- www.playlewd.com/tracker.php now shows dates for the updates.
-Saves have been wiped since the way some player data is arranged has been changed. After the first alpha release I'll avoid save wipes, but right now it's not like there's a lot of progression lost. There are ways to refractor saves instead of wiping them later on, but I'm just not bothering with that right now.

Those that have successful payments of at least $15 now gain test server access even if they're no longer pledging (previously it required an active pledge)
This will be cut off once the alpha is launched and public. This is just to continue to give access for those that already supported a significant amount so they can keep playing/testing until there is the public alpha to play on. After that, test server access will remain a month-by-month thing.

About 2 weeks left until the deadline for writer applications.

If you know of anyone that's a good writer and wants to work on a game, send them my way.

I should probably make it more clear that while I'll keep writer applications open, the deal for those later additions isn't going to be as good.
The 2 writers that came on 3 months ago when the Patreon wasn't even up have weighted share. Whoever comes on from this phase 2 of applications will be less weighted. After that? Probably no bonus weight. For you know, obvious reason.
I might end up closing the profit sharing thing entirely to any future applicants.

Another list of update notes and other things.
See www.playlewd.com/blog/?p=536 for the main post that has the update notes and much more detail.

In short, I'm not sure if I'll have the main server up with some free access to people by the end of September since I'm super burned out after so many weeks of working 60-100+ hours a week.

But what I will be doing is setting up a stable server once it's at least "good enough" but not quite what I want and giving you all with confirmed pledges keys to share for people to get access to that.

Then over time I'll give out some large keys myself for large access, while Patreons will still have the test server access for more cutting edge stuff and to give your more direct feedback.

www.playlewd.com/blog/?p=543

Another update. Close to having some limited free access available.

Another update: www.playlewd.com/blog/?p=547

Almost there. Mostly waiting on writers to finish things up now.

I'll still have the writing tryout thing open, by the way. An application can be submitted whenever, and I'll take a look whenever more writers are needed.