Hey everyone!

Today, we want to share with you our current progress and projected future timeline!

## Ellie's Update
Update of Ellie’s material is currently in progress, and the first draft for the writing has been completed. We're currently in progress of double checking our work, and creating additional stickers to go alongside her case Update.

If all goes as planned, the update should be ready by the end of next month.

## Hootsifer's Update
We finished the storyboard for the animation that will play if you get VERY insistent with the bird, and initial sketching has already started.

This animation is also being utilized to train our new animator, to help speed up future work on animations.

Meanwhile all character sprites for Hootsifer have been completed, but we do not have yet an expected release date for Hootsifer’s update.

## What's after Hootsifer?
Following the release of Hootsifer's Update, we will move into the polishing phase for the Demo Area. Since Hootsifer can be considered the last big content drop for the demo, our team will focus on two major areas:

Area 1 - Code Cleanup
Through the development of the Tutorial, we were able to develop a lot of features to enhance the gameplay and the user experience. Our plan is to share these features in the forms of modules that anyone can include in their own projects.

To do so, we will need to clean up the existing code, which will also be the occasion for us to improve on other aspects of the overall game code.

By the end of the code cleanup process, our goal will be to provide all our backers with these modules, including a thorough documentation, so they can be used in their own project.

We as a community truly believe that one does not grow alone, but rather we build ourselves through each other, and we would be honored to see others take up the mantle of game creation to make their dreams a reality! <3

Area 2 - Art Cleanup
In parallel to the code clean up, we will also review all the unfinished artwork in the game.

Going over all the assets, such as background or menu arts, we will ensure that everything is top tier quality by upgrading or replacing as needed.

## And then what?
Throughout the cleanup process, work on game development will also move forward as we will be writing out the next chapter in the adventure of our three heroes. We have already started working on spritework for the dragons and side characters like Valya. Expressions will be progressively created as we develop the story further.

The story will also progress into the first chapter and the games main setting: The Baron's Castle, where mystery and intrigue run rampant through the halls!

The Castle itself is by and large the real heart and soul of the project, as well as being the main setting of the game. As such, a lot of work will be applied to this location, ensuring every fine detail will meet our criteria for quality. This will result in a prolonged development time frame due to the essential planning of room layouts, items within, and camera angles to properly account for both.

For the initial depiction of the castle beyond the Tutorial, we'll supply the barebones framework for the castle, (flat color backgrounds with only a location at the top) until we are ready to go forward with the sketching of the rooms.

Since this process will be among the most time consuming, we ask for patience while we will slowly get meat on those bones for you to enjoy. <3

# What will the upcoming Cleanup Update include?
The Cleanup Update will see edit and improvement on our present tutorial, as well as offer a sneak peek at the upcoming first proper case to solve. In addition to the revamping of the current systems, we will also include another new feature: Library! You will be able to read at your leisure any book discovered during Sam’s journey, provided you can convince the hound to focus on the scantily pictured word piles without growing bored.

Have a short video preview of this system in action:

https://youtu.be/wcOF16q-YmE

# After the cleanup...
Going forward once the cleanup is completed, this demo will always be free for the public. There should be ample investigation and devourings to satisfy your appetite, before you can help Sam sate someone else's. Beyond this tutorial demo, our future releases on the game will be reserved to our patrons only, as we greatly rely on your help to fund this exciting project. Hopefully what you will see in his demo will make you excited for more!!

# End of Update
We at Fairy Penguin Tales want to offer our sincere thanks to everyone following and supporting this project. We could not have come this far without all of your support! <3

# Current random statistics
- 63,830 words written
- 98 menus used
- 1,855 images displayed
- 10 sketch animations implemented
- 81 accusation stickers provided
- 11 backgrounds used