After six long years in production the Quest for Glory 2 remake has finally commenced its alpha testing phase! This is the second-last stage before releasing the game to the public. Alpha testing began last week and a steady stream of bugs are currently being reported and fixed. This is an exciting time and we're looking forward to showing the results of our hard work to eagre QFG fans and gearing up for the release of one of Sierra's most loved classics.

We'd also like to share a new music piece, composed for the game Tom Lewandowsi and based on the original QFG battle theme by Mark Seibert. Click here to listen to the new and improved TerrorSaurus Battle Theme in mp3 format!

Adventure Gamers has exclusively released the Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine demo. Be sure to download it at Adventure Gamers.

At midnight tonight, the official Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine website, beautifully designed by the talented Eriq Chang, will be launched! The Himalaya Store is also open for pre-orders!

Well, it's been a long time in between updates! No doubt, this has caused many a conspiracy theorist to question whether the fabled "Quest for Glory 2 VGA remake" has ever been in development at all. The word 'vapourware' seems to be popping up on the forums with increasing frequency lately.

Now, before you push Devon Aidendale into the same boat as Mr Nukem and prepare to send them both packing, we have something which you just might be interested in!

In an attempt to quell any disbelief that QFG2VGA's release is not on the agenda, to prove that huge progress IS being made... and also just because we felt like it; we've decided to release a QFG2VGA teaser video trailer! After all, "bug-fixing" progress reports posted on irregular months get a little dull after a while. And what better way to indicate that progress is being made, than to show that progress is being made?

Check the teaser out below!

What news update wouldn't be complete without a plug for our other game project, "Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine". We have worked devotedly over the past several years to finish a top-notch adventure game to join the ranks of all your other favourite classics. With the end now in sight, you'll soon have a chance to see our work for yourself!

We'll be releasing a sneak peek "Al Emmo" demo to whet your appetites in June! It will initially be exclusively available at the Adventure Gamer's website. The demo includes the entire first act (of nine in the full game), suppying a generous dose of gameplay and providing an overview of the humour, style, and gameplay. If you liked AGDI's revamped version of King's Quest 2 VGA+, it's safe to say that you'll probably like "Al Emmo" too, as it was developed by exactly the same team members, working in exactly the same fields. So take a peek at the demo when it's released later this month, and see for yourself!

Additionally, we'll be choosing five members from the Himalaya Studios mailing list to receive a FREE copy of Al Emmo upon its release! So if you want to be in the running, sign up today.

Adjustments to the QFG2VGA remake code and bug-fixes continue on a daily basis as our to-do list shrinks in size. Several background screens are also in the process of having advanced lighting techniques applied to make the end results more visually appealing. There are still a large number of bugs involving the combat system and wilderness (desert) areas of the game, which will be our next major focus.

We're also in the process of preparing somewhat of a surprise for the future (two of them, actually) which fans of the first two King's Quest remakes should enjoy, but to say any more at this point would be telling.

WANTED: Beta testers for Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine.

After several years of production, our first original game is nearing completion! For those of you who don't know, we've been working hard on our first commercial game, "Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine" for the better part of three years, and our hero is ready to tackle anything the Wild West can hurl at him -- anything except for bugs. It's our duty to track down and eliminate these pesky showstoppers. We'd ask the local exterminator to aid us in our search, but his insistence on using "force" in the form of explosives has prompted us to look elsewhere. Therefore, we've decided to invite a small group of qualified, daring, and responsible individuals to join us in the arid region of Anozira to embark on a bug hunt!

Himalaya Studios is currently on the search for qualified beta testers to help us track down these bugs. You may be exactly who we are looking for!

Desired Qualifications:

• Do you have a tendency to interact with everyone and everything in an environment?
• Do you tend to play a game in a way it's NOT meant to be played?
• Do you like to break things?
• Do you feel a need to correct other peoples spelling and grammer? Did you find the spelling and grammar mistake in the previous sentence?

If you answered yes to most of the previous questions and would like a coveted position on our beta testing team, please complete the following application:

Application:

• First and Last Name
• Date of Birth
• Your System Specs
• Education and/or Job History
• Favorite Game
• Why you'd like to beta test our upcoming release
• Any additional information about yourself that you feel we should know

Please email your completed application by February 1st, 2006 to beta@himalayastudios.com with "Beta Testing Application" as the subject.

Chosen beta testers will be contacted, and the final team will be announced on the official Himalaya Studios website. Beta testers will be granted access to our official beta testing forums, and will be responsible for reporting spelling/grammar errors, glitches, crashes, and design oversights. This process of reporting and bug fixing will continue until the game is deemed suitable for public release. All beta testers will receive a free copy of "Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine" after its release as well as a spot in the game credits.

Best of luck, and see you on the frontier!

The Himalaya Team