It's been a while since my last blog here, and I've got a lot to talk about (which, not ironically, is the reason why I haven't had time to post a blog)! I'll get some of the stuff you might have already heard about out of the way first.

<b>The Reflect Acocunt System has arrived!</b>

As many of you have already found out via various posts Wilco (Fox-NL) made on his own blog, the Reflect Games / Reflect Account System has been launched. Coinciding with the release of Evolites (which I'll discuss later) the Reflect Account Sytem alows anyone who develops a game to use it a quick and easy way to check players, create server lists, incorporate statistics, etc. into a Game Maker game. We had been palnning this system for a while now, but I hadn't had enough time to actually work on it until recently. Since launch, we haven't had too many huge problems, just a few typos in server code, and stuff like that… But it's all running nicely now, and we invite you to check it out! <a href="http://reflect.martincrownover.com">Click here to visit Reflect Games!</a>

<b>Evolites is finished!</b>

A little over a month and a week after starting on Evolites, it is finished! I have submitted the final creation, but it's currently #39 in the queue, so you can download the final version and check out the mini site by <a href="http://reflect.martincrownover.com/games/evolites/index.php">clicking here</a>. The game features simple and relaxing gameplay, a polished menu system, and some basic online functionality, via the Reflect Account System. If you're into basic life simulation games, or want to compete for bragging rights on the online catalog, try it out! The game has earned much praise so far over at the GMC!

<b>Hover Tank 3D - King of the Cage Match!</b>

If you haven't heard already, Hover Tank 3D has been crowned the 'king of the cagematch' after a week long bout with such legendary games as Jumper and Legend of Shadow! Personally, I didn't think Hover Tank 3D would win, but it seemed to continue to receive strong support throughout the match, and ended up on top when the whole thing was ended. I was both surprised and glad to hear that my game had won - it shows that people appreciate the hard work I put into my games, and propels me to continue my work with GM. Congrats to everyone else who had a game featured in the competition… It really was an honor to have competed with so many GM greats, and just to have created a game to be in the Ultimate Cage Match was something I had never planned on achieving.

<b>Ink Link in development</b>

Immediately after finishing Evolites, i played around a bit with surfaces, a part of GM that I had previously not had time to play with, but which I was wanting to work on for some time… Surfaces really are amazing! Using an example of a paint program Wilco created a while back, I came up with a simple paint demo which used a method of drawing that created very ink-like markings. I continued working on it, and eventually came up with the idea of an online paint program, where all the participants can draw on the canvas at once. This 'game,' which I have titled Ink Link, is now in full development, and since it will be such a simple game, should be done in very short time. Currently it allows you to connect up to 8 players, all of whom can draw at the same time on the same canvas! I will be adding a simple chat to the game, and a few other controls, and then will be releasing the final product, complete with a server list and Reflect Account access. I may need beta testers for this soon, but I will post more on that a little later. Either way, start practicing your drawing skills!

Anyway, I'll stop typing now… just wanted to bring everyone up to speed with my current GM news. I spent the last day out in the hot, hot sun at an alumni event for my college and now I'm all burned, so I'll be staying indoors and working on more games. [:P] Thanks for reading!