Good evening everyone!

So I've been chipping away at the ground work for Alpha 7, mostly preparing assets so I don't have to stop programming mid-flow to make something I already knew I'd need!

I wanted to take a moment to outline the plans for Alpha 7 though so you can judge for yourselves if this is a project you wanna carry on following or if this sounds lame as hell and you wanna jump ship now! (also feedback is always welcome).

So lets begun!

• Save/Load
  An important addition to Alpha 7 will be the ability for the game to save progress in the background so you don't have to start unlocking everything fresh each time you boot up the game. I don't know if this feature will be in the web version of Alpha 7 but it'll 100% be in the downloadable final product and the games far enough along that a save system seems important now.
• The Shop
  Earning points is fun for showing off your score, but what if those points converted to coins you can spend or save? :D The plan is after each fun a shop will be offered which you can use to buy upgrades. The game will start without the Preview Shape or the Hold Ability, those will be (fairly cheap) unlockables, you'll also be able to buy multiple free passes on the Mutation Window which don't add a cursed line, some cool power-ups like the Ion Cannon which burns out 2 collumns of blocks in a blast, the bomb block which will blow up all blocks around it, and the Antimatter Block which will delete every block with the matching pattern from the play area.
• Cosmetics
  Upgrades are fun, but you know buying Tet a nice fancy hat is even more fun! These will only be cosmetic, fun things to save up for. These will include silly hats, characters, and even a nod to every Millennial's Teenage pastime; RuneScape with an insanely expensive party hat which does nothing but let you brag about how much you no life'd the game!
• Options
  The game has been over due these for a while, the ability to change volume, set full screen or windowed, wipe the save data for a fresh start, even the ability to tweak the white fade on the background of the game! (example below)

(LEFT: Standard Fade / RIGHT: Zero Fade)

• More Blocks!
  Yup, even more shapes and blocks in the works! I'm even looking into guest block designs! :D

(Examples of up coming new shapes with no Block texture yet)

• Timer
  A simple addition but as some achievements require you to survive X amount of time, I plan to add a timer to the play area and game over screen to show you how long you lasted (another stat to brag about between friends too!)
• Game Over Screen Overhaul
  The game over screen has been using basically the same template since development began, I think it is over due a nice clean up with lots of useful stats and a nicer look!
• Key Rebinding
  I've introduced the official Tetris control scheme to the game as requested by some but I've noticed others dislike the new controls. Knowing I can't please everyone I'm hoping to add key rebinding to the game in Alpha 7 so you can play exactly how you wanna play! :D

That's About It!

Once these things are done Alpha 7 will be complete and released. Then begins Beta 1! Beta is when all the key features are in the game and I can fully focus on cleaning stuff up, adding new content, and making the experience more refined. One of the big plans for Beta 1 will be developing the mascot Tet, more reactions to stuff, have him comment on things, and maybe even have him do a quick tutorial for people confused by the concept!

Right, I better get back to work!

-Timbo