Brand new screenshots for Eschalon: Book I have just been posted! These screenshots have completely replaced the previous ones because so much has changed that the old screenshots were simply not an accurate representation of the game anymore. Please note that even these new screenshots might evolve a bit more before release (hey, what can we say...we're perfectionists). Some of the information about the game has been updated as well.

The State of the Game and The Release Date: We get tons of email asking "how's the game coming?" and "when are you releasing it?". Here's what we can tell you: Book I is progressing very, very nicely. The "To Do" list gets smaller on a daily basis...well, on some days the list actually gets longer, but that's what making a game is all about. Overall though, we are extremely excited with how the game looks and plays at this point.

Unfortunately, we still have a considerable number of things to do, including testing and play balancing, before we can call the game finished. There's also all the great suggestions that you hardcore RPG fans have been sending in to us...we really do consider all your ideas and try to implement any that will help bring Eschalon closer to feeling like a classic CRPG.

So what does all this mean? Well, after a lengthy review of the state of the game, we've determined that despite our best efforts we are not going to be able to meet our previously posted "summer" release date. It is also impossible to accurately determine when we will be finished with it, so we have decided not to toss out another release date until we know we can adhere to it. Don't panic! This is not some major delay for the game; simply put, we are not going to be done with it when we thought we would and we need a little more time. We promise to keep everyone informed on the game's development so that you'll know the release date as soon as we know the release date. The best way to stay in the loop is to check in with us regularly.

What's to come: We're thinking about putting together a FAQ, so if you have any questions about the game, our studio, or indie game development in general, send 'em in! Also, you can expect more screenshots to be posted throughout the summer. The next round of screenies will show off some more of the interface such as the NPC dialog window, the alchemy mixer window, etc.​