The end is actually in sight.  Today I compiled a list of remaining issues and tasks to be completed before SMS 2.5 reaches the RC (release candidate) stage.  The list shouldn’t be too tough to hammer out in a few days, so I’m hoping that the end of the weekend will see the RC and the final step toward gold master.

The list that keeps getting longer at this point is the list for release.  Skins have to be converted, MODs have to be converted, skins have to developed, site and forum updates, FAQ updates, skin conversion guide has to be written, and a skinning tutorial has to be written.  That list determines the release of 2.5 as much as the product itself does.  Once the code his RC, it’ll be easier for me to focus my time on those things rather than finishing up coding, but either way you slice it, there’s still a lot to be done.

At this point, I’m targeting mid-July for the release, but things may get pushed back to coincide with the 1-year anniversary of SMS 2.  It’d be a fitting release date, that’s for sure.  We’ll just have to see how my to do lists shape up in the coming weeks.