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

You can do big things!

The concept behind the Kickstarter program is for a lot of people to contribute a little bit to make great things happen.  Artists, musician, writers, explorers, even game developers all find a warm welcome in this community of aspiring creative minds. This is your opportunity to help with the final push to get Visions to open beta!  We just launched our very own Kickstarter page today.  Check it out!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1799801709/visions-a-christian-mmorpg

Thank you for supporting us!

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

Skate boards and neck ties and t-shirts! Oh my!

Tons of new stuff available to fans on our new Zazzle store! The usual t-shirts, buttons and stickers can be found, plus a variety of unusual items as well, such as skateboards, coffee mugs, beer steins, and neck ties. There is even a pair of Chariots specific Keds brand shoes!

http://www.zazzle.com/tinyzoo*

Get your game gear! Sure to be something to please everyone! All purchases from the tinyzoo* store go to benefit our volunteer game development team. Thank you for your support!

And God said, “let there be trees”…

New screenshots from Visions development. Can’t see the forest for all of the trees!

Would you like to get in on the action? Help us make Visions! We are working to grow our development team and we need Manager level leaders as well as dedicated developers in Programming, Art, Quest team, Marketing, Research, Administration, Music, and Worldbuilding. If you’re interested in volunteering as a game developer put in your application online today!

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

We are developing a Christian MMORPG. Make the dream come true! Many said it could not be done, but “with God, all things are possible!”

New Music Director added to the Visions team!

Heaven’s Blessings Tiny Zoo has accepted Rick Lane as the new Music Director for the Visions game development team!  Rick began working with sound and lighting in 1976.  Over the many years since he have worked in the studio, theater and motion picture industry with both lighting and sound.  He is a song writer/ composer, plays several instruments but guitar is his main instrument. Rick played music professionally for six years around southern Arizona and has worked as a studio musician for Parr Sound Studios in Corvallis, Montana . He has been a worship leader in various churches in Tucson, Arizona; Salt lake city, Utah; and western Montana for the past 13 years. He is currently working with the artist development department for the Incubator group out of Cheshire , Oregon as one of their new Christian artists.  As the new Music Director for Visions, Rick has made a commitment to see the game development through launch at least.  We are excited to have him as the newest leader on our game development team!

We are still recruiting for other Leadership positions on the development team. Quest Director and Art Director are still open as well.  We are actively seeking to build and strengthen our leadership structure to prepare for the growth of our team to a much larger game development staff.  We are of course still accepting applications for non-management positions as well.

We have filled 3 Director positions on the Visions team. Mark Dynna has been promoted to Programming Team Director, and Tim Wright maintains his position as the Marketing Director.  Other manager level positions still open!  Are you looking for Game Development experience? Apply to our volunteer team today! http://www.visionsgame.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=3995#3995

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About the author: Laurene Wells is the Designer and Producer of Visions.  She registered her company Heaven’s Blessings Tiny Zoo in 2003 and lives in Oregon with her husband and four children. Laurene has been leading her volunteer development team for more than 5 years now, they have released the racing game Chariots and are back to working on their flagship project, Visions, a Christian MMORPG. More information about Laurene’s company and game development projects can be found on the http://tinyzoo.com website.

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.