Weekly update no 8:

Hi hi!
Whereas last week I didn't have a lot to say, this week it seems almost as though I have too much :)
First things first. The results are in and it looks as though poor Becca is in it for it... Actually, I'm rather pleased as it allows me to try all sorts of effects such as compressing skin, using overlays and also will let me experiment with page layouts. So a win for me! Less so for her...Although I promise it won't be too harsh. We're talking spanking not anything nasty.
I'll start work on this in the next day or so and send out a link to all patrons once it's done.
Turning attention to Chapter Three, I've finished the script :) - and it's the biggest chapter yet with the following highlights:

• seventeen scenes;
• Ensign Kelly finally says hi as does Walker,
• three animations planned; 
• some Ophion fauna for those of who who decide to go on the mission to rescue Walker; 
• another chance to go VR with our gamer girl (although this time she thinks it might be wise if you both knew what you were doing before heading into the game itself...) - and with Barbarian Bob unlocked this time; and
•  several opportunities to be a very, very, bad officer indeed.

As well as the fun stuff I've also been playing around with some of the technical behind the scenes bits and bobs to try and make your experience a little bit more pleasant - including the ability to name your save files. With a game as big and complex as this, I can appreciate that perhaps the usual Renpy saves aren't going to be that useful going forward. By chance I'd been working on this for a couple of days when someone gave me a nudge towards a solution so it seems somewhat fated. I'll look to have it in place for Chapter Three.
What else?
Well, I'm also looking to expand bonus content this month. With the increase in productivity through the leap from 2GB to 6GB it seemed only fair to pass that on this month with a larger chapter and additional content so that we all benefit. So the PDA will finally have it's unlocked game and *drum roll*, Bored Pilot is getting a new feature...

Yurp! It's the Intrepid's agony aunt... (rough mock up only - final version may well vary)
Three more things then I'll finally shut up. Promise. :)
Firstly something about the game mechanics. One of the things to bear in mind is that the other characters will have their own agenda's which will/can change depending on what you do. So, for example, those of you who got the "bad end" with Annie in Chapter Two...well it might not be as bad as you first think depending upon your relationship with our little engineer. After all, what does she make of it all? Those of you who decide to stick with that result and have a good enough relationship with her may well be in for surprise next chapter...
A number of you have also raised with me my decision to not upfront charge. I appreciate the concern and am keeping an eye on it. Obviously it doesn't impact upon any of the existing patrons but we have had a few scamps sign up, get up the link then cancel in very short order - which I concede is both slightly tiresome and not really fair to any of us. I'll keep this in view.
But the biggie? What to do about Mike?
I don't mean overarching plot wise but relationship wise.  When I originally wrote the overarching plot for H5 it was with male and female MC options in place and Mike was there as a female romance option. Obviously I dropped the female MC option for now due to production constraints. However, I've had a couple of questions over whether he is/will be a potential romance option for males. 
I think because I had already pinned him for a certain romance path, the option to have him as a male romance did slip my mind.
So, given it's fairly easy for me to retrofit this, Mike will be the subject of this weeks poll for the top tier.
I -think- that's it for now.
Laters!