We're still working on it (status: VIGODA). I know, I know, I really have to start posting more news...that way this'll be kinda like a blog, but without all the rambling on about what I had for dinner and what I think about politics and Alan Moore comics and how Alan Moore comics relate in such a deep, meaningful way to both politics and what I had for dinner.

CRATE EXPECTATIONS
This holiday season we were wandering around a certain home-furnishings place with the word "Crates" in it, and it got me thinking about, you know, crates. I had previously said TCFH was going to be crate-free, but once we put this fine establishment in the game, it was only logical that when you smash it up, CRATES come out. And so they do. Lots of them (and you can pick them out of the rubble and throw them).

STATE AND MAIN
We also have a new Tech F/X all about how gas mains and water mains work in the game. "Gas mains? Water mains? What the heck?" you're probably saying. Yes, these things are all under the streets of the cities, waiting for you to stomp all over them. Water sprays out, gas mains explode and the resultant fire spreads, sewer mains gush. Yecch! Hey, I told you everything would be fully destructible, and you didn't believe me! To be fair, I also told you the game would be done several years ago.

Thar she blows!

SIGNS OF THE TIMES
You hear a lot about in-game advertising billboards nowadays. Well, we have billboards in our games, too - lots of 'em. Not real advertisements, of course -- they're just little references from stuff we like. You can't really read them since they're so tiny, but I know what they say...and I laugh and laugh, here at my lonely little desk. Here are a few:

"You'll shoot your eye out kid. Merry Christmas. Ho! Ho! Ho!"
-- Santa Claus, A Christmas Story

We'll be back after the holidays with more news. In the meantime, here's the giant mantis attacking the Christmas tree in SF's Union Square (click to see hyoooge animated gif). I think we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas too much.