My apologies for the long hiatus. As mentioned previously, I had a large, very technical freelance 3D animation project that ballooned to about 4-5 times the original scope. Coupled with my regular, very demanding job, my free time became nonexistent. I finally completed the freelance project about a week and a half ago. At last I can return to what I really enjoy: continuing the adventures of Nikki, Pita, Ashley, Flitter Pim and the rest of the gang!
My plan was to update, reorganize and re-launch NikkiSprite.com when the comic resumed. Unfortunately, the core software behind this comic –WordPress and ComicPress- are both far out of date. Upgrading requires several steps. First, I have to change ComicPress into a child theme of WordPress. Doing so means that the customization I’ve done to the vanilla ComicPress theme will have to be redone. Then, I have to migrate from ComicPress to ComicEasel, and from WordPress 3.3 to 3.8. When all of that is complete, I can re-organize the comic into chapters in ComicEasel.
I attempted to upgrade the comic during the Thanksgiving holiday. It did not go well. I ended up restoring the site from a backup. I decided that I should spend what little free time I have working on the comic, not on the backend, so I got in touch with Phil Hofer, the programmer who took over the development of ComicPress and who is the author of the ComicEasel theme. For a very reasonable fee he agreed to handle moving my comic into a child theme and then updating the software. I sent a partial payment on November 25 via PayPal and looked forward to launching a new and improved site to start the New Year. But unfortunately, Phil’s schedule is apparently not much better than mine was. I’m still waiting for him to make the changes to my comic. As a result, I’m going to resume work on the comic pages, but a revamp of the site will have to wait until Phil’s schedule permits.
The comic will resume on January 2. Sometime in 2014, I will restructure the comic into chapters, add a members-only section, create a separate section for Zoey, and possibly launch a Kickstarter for print versions of the comic with an expanded storyline.
Again, I’m sorry for this long delay, and for not delivering (yet) on my promise for a revamped site. But I can’t wait to resume the story. I know that Nikki and friends feel the same way! 🙂 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you. I appreciate all of the support and encouragement you’ve given me over the past few years, and hope that the comic will continue to entertain you in the year ahead. -TK
What will be in the members only section? Can’t decide to subscribe if there is going to be nothing new.
I’m curious as well about the members-only section. I’m usually not really a fan of those.
Well, I for one am glad to hear the outline of what comes next. And I’m psyched for a Member’s Only section, especially if that is where we’ll get to see Nikki and her friends move into more, err, uninhibited activities. Hopefully this will allow you, TK, to please all your fans – those happy with the comic as is, and those who would like to see your characters in a more adult setting.
Consider me signed up!
Works for me. Merry Christmas!
As long as al the ‘fun’ bits don’t end up in the Pay-to-Ogle section, leaving everyone else with watered-down censored fluff
And please, do not switch to Disquis
Thanks for the update and the explanation – much appreciated. I’ll be glad to follow you wherever you go.
Thanks for the update! Looking forward to the return of Nikki Sprite!
“Again, I’m sorry for this long delay,”
Don’t worry about it, I kept coming back for almost 2 years without an update, a couple of months is nothing.
My schedule has-been-hell! especially during xmas ;/ people want their stuff done by the 1st (the big jobs)
It’s opening up real fast with everything I do though, so very soon; sorry for the delay;
Tk am happ to know u r alright but am MAD that u putting member only pages because am poor and that meqns i cant pay to be a member and i also think its UNFAIR am sorrry for being rude but its true.
zoeyt828: it all depends on what he puts in the Paid Supporters section, and if that affects what we have been getting so far
I don’t think it’s unfair at all. TK provides this comic to us free of charge; yes there are adverts on the site but he has stated before that these don’t even cover the costs of running the site. He has a regular job and does freelance work on the side, yet still takes the time to produce this comic and make it available for us all to read. All this without asking anything from us in return. I think adding a member’s only section is very fair indeed.