The game is going to take longer than expected before it really takes the shape of a playable game.  I estimated the current release date about 9 months in advance, and guessing these things is never easy.  So I've learned my lesson and I'm making a nice new vague date of early 2010. 

BUT because I promised and got everybody's hopes up I'm going to release the current version on the forum sometime this week.  There won't be much to it, and I recommend not downloading it and waiting for the official release, but I can also get bug reports and feedback on the combat system this way.  It will be kind of like playing dungeon siege if it descended into chaos and had only one set of armor and weapon to choose from.  All the modding tools will be there.

Muhahaha!  Your suffering sustains me!