- 8 Mar - Penny reports that the third Turtle Puzzle may have "got her this time" and wonders if three is too many.
- 15 Mar - Penny tests "Pokerette" and reports a best score of 39.
Peter is keen to get away from the usual games saving mechanism - the idea of the Xiama "books" is born.
- 19 Mar - Xiama web site created - url sent to family & friends.
- 25 Mar - 11 puzzles now complete - 13 to go!
- 28 Mar - Discover the
Just Adventure web site.
- 30 Mar - Visit
GameBoomers for the first time.
- 1 Apr - The cave is finally starting to look exciting.
" I'm having all sorts of ideas like the Venus Puzzle rising magically out of the water - reflections and all - I think Xiama needs some magic!"
- 3 Apr - A three day power outage - no computer - pages & pages of paper are filled with ideas
... including the ending!
- 11 Apr - Richard Davey's tunnel effect is modified and used for the cave entrance. This uses the 3D capabilities
of Direct X and, so far, is the only part of Xiama to do so.
- 18 Apr - Big photo shoot at Alligator Creek with daughter Nicole ... the trees and the pieces of paper are her idea.
- 24 Apr - Bill Basham says that it's ok to use his midi arrangement of Waltzing Matilda describing it as his
"drunken no worries mate version".
- 15 May - The "Stairs" puzzle is completed.
Penny describes the new "Postcards" puzzle as "very difficult".
- 18 May - The post-its idea is implemented - I had felt for a long time
that Xiama still needed more personal touches.
- 23 May - The crackling of the campfire makes Penny yearn for toasted marshmellows :o)
- 26 May - Pen really doesn't like those green rocks ... BUT ... only 2 puzzles to go!
- 1 Jun - Last two puzzles complete!
- 3 Jun - Successfully negotiate a deal with Listening Earth to use their bird calls and dingo howls.
As a matter of interest, good dingo recordings are very hard to come by.
- 4 Jun - Bill Basham agrees to my use of "The Rejection" remarking that
"Someone used one of the Rock Improv tunes as background music for a PBS
special on gang warfare in L.A. awhile back. Backing up a video game sounds like a step up!"
Bill's e-mails were a real highlight of this project!
- 5 Jun - Finale completed. Decide to use Bill Basham's original piece for the ending.
Another page added to the "book" to accomodate the credits.
- 14 Jun - Penny completes the last puzzle and faces up to the trial of the ending.
- 16 Jun - Receive quote from CD ROM Services - decide to take Xiama through to completion!
- 22 Jun - Decide to use the ClickTeam Installation program.
- 7 Jul - First draft of cd cover completed.
- 8 Jul - Peter: "Yes ... I really believe Xiama is finished."
- 11 Jul - Xiama web site completed.
- 17 Jul - Send pre-release copy to Just Adventure - "Xiama" - a new adventure game from Down Under.
- 19 Jul - Penny's copy arrives - transit time 6 days - we decide to distribute solely from Oz via the Internet.
- 29 Jul - Long e-mail from Mr Bill expressing interest in Xiama.
- 2 Aug - Xiama is added to Just Adventure's "Upcoming Releases" - thanks Harriet.
- 4 Aug - First of many e-mails from Jenny Guenther at Just Adventure who is playing Xiama for review.
This turns out to be a very enjoyable exchange - thanks Jenny.
- 7 Aug - Quandary offers to list Xiama in their "Crystal Ball" section.
- 9 Aug - Shona and I go to Palm Cove for a little break - of course we spend lots of time
at the Internet terminal trying to keep everything on track.
- 15 Aug - Xiama is officially released. Successfully registered with Share*It.
- 16 Aug - a sleepless night - Shona & Penny press Refresh every hour -
the JA review appears!
- 17 Aug - The first shipment of Xiama cd's arrives. Little announcement at GameBoomers. Lots of encouraging responses.
- 18 Aug - Charles Herold from the New York Times requests a review copy.
Bob from GameBoomers offers to list Xiama on the
Independents Day page.
A very exciting time as orders pour in from all over the world.
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