I am currently wading through my list of stuff to do before GTB ships. The list is huge, but not colossal, and I’m now measuring time to beta + pre-orders in weeks not months. Some of the stuff still to do:

• Auto-updating functionality (hopefully better than GSB’s), both version-checking, and also downloading of updates and installing.
• Checking mod support works as expected. (not started yet, but likely to be similar to GSB’s installs system.
• Checking the game runs and is functional on a range of different screen resolutions.
• Putting together the scripted AI attacks for each mission
• Finish off the metrics stuff which helps me detect and gameplay imbalance or difficulty spikes.
• Finalising what is unlocked and what is locked at the game start, and checking the unlock system works as expected.
• Gameplay testing for obvious exploits and weaknesses, such as overpowered units or silly tactics that somehow work.
• Getting the final manual text done
• Getting the final sound effects & sound balance done.
• beta-release launch trailer, press release and screenshots
• Website improvements ready for taking orders.

What will happen post-beta:

• Fixes to any crash bugs
• Implementation of any awesome must-have ideas from beta feedback
• Some further optimisations for performance
• balancing of units and maps based on feedback
• release-video and promotional stuff.

The stuff that will take time will be the gameplay testing, auto-updating and metrics stuff. I can’t see a February release, but maybe early march? That’s only beta, so hopefully a full release not long after that. Eventually, I will need a BIG holiday…