Heavens Blessings Tiny Zoo

1st stage Beta launch delayed

I’m sorry to bring the bad news on the last day of the month but we must postpone the launch of the 1st stage beta test of Visions which was planned for this month. We just have not been able to get our server issue sorted out. And without a valid server connection we can not open the Beta test, it’s just technologically impossible at this moment in time. We are still working on it, fear not. As soon as we get this server issue sorted out and are sure that people will be able to log in successfully, we will open the 1st stage Beta test of Visions to approved testers. Be looking for the tester application on the www.visionsgame.com website in the next few days. This 1st stage beta is not a full-scale game, it is a tech beta, so please be expecting to test functionality and mechanics, not gameplay. Thank you for your patience.

~The Visions Team

LAST DAY!

Have you registered for the CGDC Winter Retreat?  The theme this year is “Keeping the Light shining in the darkness” and TODAY Feb 6th is the last day to register.  Don’t miss your chance for this elite Christian Game Developers Conference event in the Oregon mountains just outside of Portland.  CGDC Winter Retreat is Feb 25-27. Hope to see you there!

http://cgdc.org/conference.asp

Come meet fellow Christians who are passionate about game development. Speakers, workshops, round tables, and networking opportunities and the chance to get face time with CEOs, developers, and artists of other game development companies.  The only conference in the world where you can talk about game physics, game mechanics and spiritual ramifications of game content all in one conversation. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Register NOW!

-Laurene

2 chances to help us win!

Still have 2 contests in the running. And people can vote once a day.

This one at startup nation is for a publicity package:
http://www.startupnation.com/homebased100/contestant/7272/index.php

This one at Idea Cafe is for a small business grant:
http://digg.com/d31788K

(Remember to Click the DIGG button!)

Both would be helpful to our efforts. We’re really close on the Startupnation contest, I have no idea how we’re doing on the Idea Cafe contest. Thank you for voting for us!

Laurene answers Q&A for Idea Cafe

Laurene answered some questions about Visions and our company, Heaven’s Blessings Tiny Zoo, presented by Idea Cafe in relation to the Small Business Grant contest that we are participating in.  They have published my responses on their blog. You can read them here:

http://blog.ideacafe.com/semi-finalist-qa-heavens-blessings-tiny-zoo

Please be sure to vote for us!  You can vote once a day.

Visions on Mt Dew Cans!!! Make it happen!

My contest entry was accepted to the DEWmocracy competition.  Please vote for me!

http://apps.facebook.com/dewdesigngallery/?ref=nf

Look for this image on the cans when voting!  I used a screenshot from Visions as the backdrop for my design. A vote for me is a vote for Visions!

http://apps.facebook.com/dewdesigngallery/?ref=nf

I made the design by myself, this was not a team effort.  But it was my hope that if I won the $10,000 grand prize, I could use some of the funds to buy some development software, specifically Ecstasy Motion for 3D art and animation, (as well as pay for braces for my son, and get Dentist and Eye Dr. appointments for the whole family).  I am thrilled about the recognition we’re getting and hope you all will vote for me!

Thank you!

-Laurene Wells

EDIT: Here’s a screenshot from the voting page.  Wouldn’t it be cool to hold a can like this in your hand?

Small business grant? Vote YES!

We made it to the Semi Finalists on Idea Cafe!

This is a competition for a small business grant which will be used to benefit the production of Visions.

Please vote for Heaven’s Blessings Tiny Zoo!

http://www.businessownersideacafe.com/small_business_grants/grant_vote.php

If you would like to read the publicized application of our contest submission, you can find it on this page.

http://blog.ideacafe.com/and-semi-finalists-eighth-idea-cafe-small-business-grant-are#33

Thank you for voting for Heaven’s Blessings Tiny Zoo! We really appreciate it!

God bless you,

-Laurene

HBTZ converts to LLC structure

On September 11, 2009 Heaven’s Blessings Tiny Zoo converted the business structure from sole proprietor to LLC. This is yet another step in taking action to build a larger stronger team, and preparing for bigger things to come in the near future. This conversion to LLC was made for legal purposes, and has no effect on the actual work that we are doing at Heaven’s Blessings Tiny Zoo, which is making great family friendly games for Christ! Thank you for your support.

——-

Laurene Wells is the owner of Heaven’s Blessings Tiny Zoo and the Producer of both Chariots and Visions. To learn more about her company and the games they make please visit the website www.tinyzoo.com

New website is LIVE!

We’ve been working behind the scenes for the last few months to update our website. Tonight we pushed the site LIVE!  (Our apologies to anyone who may have experienced any hiccups!  The chariotsgame.com site is still down temporarily, we’re working on it!  Should be up again in the next few hours.)  We hope you like the new look!  All of our websites will be getting some overhaul love so keep coming back for more updates!

And yes, work on Visions is progressing!  We’re excited about the changes that are happening!  We are growing our development team to meet the demands of our advancing project.  We are especially looking for people with leadership experience, but will accept applications for all positions.  We need programmers, artists, writers, musicians, marketing and PR, and worldbuilders.  If you are interested please apply online:

http://www.visionsdev.com/adminforms/Volunteer-Application.htm

If the website seems to be down for maintenance (it is not currently but could be in the near future) please feel free to contact us by email jobs@visionsdev.com or support@tinyzoo.com and we will email you an application.

Theater built in Kourion

Visions development continues with the construction of a theater in Kourion last night!

To see more screenshots from tonight’s worldbuilding expedition, see the album on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=120038&id=515014605&l=19742049b2

New Visions screenshots! Kourion harbor

You can see a glimpse of the work I did on the game last night!

I have more screenshots uploaded to facebook if you want to see them there.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=120038&id=515014605&l=19742049b2

Thanks for your support!

God bless you,

-Laurene