Editing Development of Stinkoman 20X6 Level 10

{{about|[[running gag]] of Stinkoman 20X6's tenth level being delayed, along with information about its marketing and release}} {{for|walkthrough and cutscenes|Stinkoman 20X6 Walkthrough Level 10}} {{for|launch trailer|Stinkoman Level 10 Launch Trailer}}
[[File:Level10Logo.png|thumb|200px|"Level 10" logo from teaser]]
The '''tenth and final level of [[Stinkoman 20X6]]''' was released on December 20, 2020. Although the first nine levels were released over a six-month period in 2005, it would be fifteen additional years before the tenth level's release. This hiatus had been referenced occasionally in the [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]] body of work; when development resumed in late 2017, additional delays resulted in multiple release date announcements and promotional trailers throughout the final years of production.

==Development==
===Early Discussion===
The first nine levels were released between March and September of 2005, with cutscenes foreshadowing level 10 as the final level. In [[Late Nite JengaJam Interview - 4 Oct 2007|a 2007 interview]], the Brothers Chaps attributed the hiatus of level 10 to finding time to work with programmer [[Jonathan Howe]] {{--}} Howe had moved out of [[Atlanta]] which made communication more challenging, and since he charged a lower rate to the Brothers Chaps found it difficult to prioritize work on the game. Despite this, the Brothers Chaps explained that the trio were still actively planning the level and explained "[they] know ... exactly what's going to happen" and that the final boss will be "huge, very epic, and a nice end to the game". They also reflected that the game had a high level of difficulty, and discussed ideas to create an easier mode with mid-level checkpoints and additional extra lives (this would ultimately be implemented upon level 10's release).

[[Sketchbook 2008#SK-2008-04-17|In 2008]], sketches of "proposed stinkoman level 10 baddies" Val Yancey and an unused robot were shared in the [[Sketchbook]].

===Revival and Final Delays===
[[File:TwitterJezzamonnOrigins.jpg|thumb|"It all started with a brave little tweet!"]]
In September of 2017, the [[@StrongBadActual]] Twitter account {{prs|906297547584569344|8|Sep|2017|alt=posted an animated GIF of "Stinkoman level 10 relic[s]"}} featuring multiple enemy sprites. Programmer Jez Swanson ({{@|jezzamonn}}) responded to this Tweet, volunteering to code the rest of the game. @StrongBadActual replied with "{{prs|906354200963112960|8|Sep|2017|alt=You better watch out or Videlectrix gone hire you! How do you feel about Actionscript 1.terrible?}}". Swanson replied that he was familiar with {{wp|ActionScript}}, and went on to become the official programmer of level 10.

====2018====
{{prs|949767712670089217|6|Jan|2018|alt=The first teaser trailer was released}} on January 6, 2018, announcing the game would be released that same year. This teaser also stated that the level would be playable in [[Flash]], and contained elements that would be used as part of the opening cutscene for the level. Gameplay footage was shown days later, in [[The Deleteheads Download#Vol. 1 (January 24, 2018)|the first installment of The Deleteheads Download]].

====2019====
On December 28, 2018, another trailer was released {{--}} announcing a delay to 2019 (humorously blaming [[Boardelectrix]] and [[Trogdor!! The Board Game]] for the delay). This trailer showed new graphics, as well as new Stinkomanual elements. This trailer also showcased a new "edge-fall respawn" feature, finishing with as a clip featuring Stinkoman becoming muscular and making small rocks float up off the ground, which would be used in the cutscene prior to level 10.3.

====2020====
[[File:TwitterStinkoman2020.jpg|thumb|200px|Congratulations to Videlectrix!]]
On December 5, 2019, the level was once again delayed. Stating Videlectrix was "not working on it enough/at all", an accompanying image hinted at a release year of "2020?". Another teaser in February asked for difficulty suggestions, the image showed a portion of the level in which Stinkoman descends multiple floors, each one based on a previous level {{--}} this idea ended up being the entirety of level 10.2.

On May 28, 2020, Matt Chapman appeared on a Twitch live stream of the game ''Inhuman Conditions'', and suggested the game could be released by the end of the summer:
<blockquote>
Right now, I'm finally drawing near to finishing a 15-year-old Flash game called Stinkoman 20X6. <!--We made level 9, I think, in 2005 and never finished level 10, which was supposed to be the last one. -->We're actually nearing completion on that, so that's sort of what we're doing right now. Mere months before they kill Flash completely forever. [...] We thought about putting it out, like, literally the day that they [discontinue Flash].<br>
[...]<br>
If you download Flash Player {{--}} which, you should all get ready. Go find it, and find a secure version, 'cause by the end of the summer, you're gonna be able to play a game we should've finished 15 years ago. And not because we took 15 years to add all this awesome stuff, because we literally didn't work on it for 15 years. We're finally just, like, finishing it before Flash dies.
</blockquote>

In a later [[Trogdor!! The Board Game]] live stream on August 9, 2020, Matt shared additional information:
<blockquote>
<!--The big thing we're doing is we're finishing a Flash game that we started fifteen years ago, and trying to finish it before Flash dies forever in your browsers. So we've been working on Stinkoman level 10 for a Flash game that came out in like 2004 or something. But it's fun, -->There's going to be a whole awesome animated intro for it, we're treating it like it's the [[Sega]] {{w|Sega CD|CD}} re-release of this game that finally finished the game. So it'll have a super compressed {{w|QuickTime}}-looking intro, and big end bosses, and some other fun stuff. And as long as we finish it before December 31st at 12:59 or whatever, the day that Flash is supposed to finally die, hopefully people can play it and enjoy it. And then maybe we'll find a way to play it in some other format.
</blockquote>
[[File:Stinkoman20X6 10.1.png|thumb|That didn't take too long now, did it?]]
=== Release ===
The level was finally released on December 20, 2020, and the game was updated with a new [[Stinkoman 20X6 Intro Cinematic|intro cinematic]], optional easier mode, and a number of other small changes.

Initially after the [[Post-Flash Site Update]], the game barely worked through [[Ruffle]] and was accompanied by a warning message stating the game was "currently SUPER BROKE and might crash your browser if you try and play any levels except your favorites 3.1 and 3.2!" A later update to Ruffle made the game "fairly playable" but "still a bit busted", with a promise that they would continue working to improve it.

@StrongBadActual has teased that a [[Videlectrix]] album may be released on [[Music Streaming Profiles|music streaming services]] following Level 10's release.

==Appearances==
*[[Stinkoman 20X6]] {{--}} At the end of [[Stinkoman 20X6 Walkthrough Level -0|level -0]], [[Stinkoman]] finds out that [[1-Up]] and [[Pan Pan]] are on level 10. At the beginning of [[Stinkoman 20X6 Walkthrough Level 9|level 9]], [[Z Sabre]] asks if Stinkoman thinks he can fly straight to level 10.
*[[Georgia Tech - 26 Apr 2007]] {{--}} During a Q&A session, [[Matt Chapman]] says level 10 is "totally in the works", and would probably come before a [[Peasant's Quest]] [[Peasant's Quest Proposed Sequels|sequel]] is made.
*[[Late Nite JengaJam Interview - 4 Oct 2007]] {{--}} [[The Brothers Chaps]] say that level 10 will be released before [[homestarrunner.com]] comes off the internet. They mention [[Jonathan Howe]] moving, and that they talked earlier that day about how the end boss would work.
*[[Sketchbook]] ([[Sketchbook 2008#SK-2008-04-17|17 Apr 2008]]) {{--}} The April 17, 2008 sketch shows proposed enemies for level 10.
*[[8-Bit is Enough]] {{--}} [[Strong Bad]] claims there is a level 10.5, with [[Sticklyman]] as the secret boss.
*Email [[sbemail 206]] {{--}} The [[floppy disk container]] reads "level 10". Also notable is the fact that this email was similarly teased and anticipated, being the first [[Strong Bad Email]] in over five years.
*{{postref|891516427890458625|29|Jul|2017}} {{--}} Strong Bad says he was saving a fan's fanart to use in level 10, which he jokes has been delayed "to the ACTUAL year 20X6".
*{{postref|906297547584569344|8|Sep|2017}} {{--}} Strong Bad says the [[End Boss]] from the [[Skills of an Artist]] episode of the same name wasn't a "level 10 relic", and posts a GIF of several enemies.
*{{postref|949767712670089217|6|Jan|2018}} {{--}} A teaser trailer for level 10 is posted, saying it will be released in 2018. The video pokes fun at the gap between level releases by revealing that, in the time between level 9 and 10, Stinkoman has fallen asleep, 1-Up has grown a "prodigious beard", and Pan Pan had a hundred babies.
*[[The Deleteheads Download#Vol. 1 (January 24, 2018)|The Deleteheads Download Vol. 1]] {{--}} [[Strong Sad]] posts a GIF of level 10 from [[Videlectrix Guys|Videlectrix Two]], featuring the destructible floor block.
*{{postref|982586862241042432|7|Apr|2018}} {{--}} Strong Bad Tweets a GIF from Twitter user {{@|jezzamonn}} (the new programmer for Stinkoman 20X6) of a Stinkoman game sprite punching a picture of Bubs off screen (referencing [[The Next April Fools Thing]]). Strong Bad thanks the user and tells them to "get back to work on level 10".
*{{postref|1037111351209025541|4|Sep|2018}} {{--}} Strong Bad Tweets some inspiration for level 10 enemy names.
*{{postref|1078803198125723648|28|Dec|2018}} {{--}} Another trailer for level 10 is posted to announce the delay to 2019, revealing new graphics, [[Stinkomanual]] drawings, and enemy names.
*{{postref|1202631603228426242|5|Dec|2019}} {{--}} A second delay is announced, with the level tentatively planned for a 2020 release.
*{{postref|1232082655447068678|25|Feb|2020}} {{--}} A teaser image is posted, alongside a request for suggestions on how to make the game easier.
*{{postref|1325946582433476608|9|Nov|2020}} {{--}} Another teaser image is posted, this time seemingly depicting the aforementioned animated intro, with the caption "You peoples have no idea what's in store..."
*{{postref|1329442761536319488|19|Nov|2020}} {{--}} An image is posted of the pile of Stobats in level 10.2.
*{{postref|1333919966484172803|1|Dec|2020}} {{--}} Another teaser image is posted of the intro cinematic, in response to doubts that the level would release.
*{{postref|1340863605621862400|20|Dec|2020}} {{--}} Level 10 is officially released.
*[[Stinkoman 20X6 Walkthrough Level 10|Stinkoman 20X6 Level 10]] {{--}} The opening cutscene references the long gap between levels 9 and 10, as does the level's [[Stinkoman Level 10 Launch Trailer|launch trailer]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:lastleveltocome.png|"Last level to come!" 2005 end screen
File:SK-2008-04-17.png|Proposed level 10 baddies
File:Floppy level10.png|"level 10" floppy disk (from [[sbemail 206]])
File:TwitterLevelTenemies.gif|Level 10 relics
File:TwitterLevel10Preview.png|January 2018 teaser trailer
File:Stinkoman level 10 preview.gif‎|Preview GIF from The Deleteheads Download
File:TwitterLevel10Preview2.png|December 2018 teaser trailer
File:TwitterLevel10Medley.jpg|Teaser screenshot
File:TwitterWhatsInStore.jpg|First teaser for the intro cinematic
File:TwitterLevel10ChickenPile.jpg|Good graphicked "chicken piles"
File:TwitterStinkoTeaser.jpg|Final teaser for the intro cinematic
File:StinkomanLevel10LaunchTrailer.png|Launch trailer
</gallery>

==External Links==
*[[twitter:StrongBadActual/status/906297547584569344|View enemy GIF on Twitter]]
*[[twitter:StrongBadActual/status/949767712670089217|View teaser trailer on Twitter]]
*[[twitter:StrongBadActual/status/1078803198125723648|View delay trailer on Twitter]]
*[[twitter:StrongBadActual/status/1202631603228426242|View second delay on Twitter]]
*[[twitter:StrongBadActual/status/1232082655447068678|View teaser image on Twitter]]
*[[twitter:StrongBadActual/status/1340863605621862400|View release announcement on Twitter]]

{{Stinkoman 20X6}}

[[Category:Stinkoman 20X6|Level 10]]
[[Category:Video game references]]