The Introversion Software Blog has word from Chris Delay that preproduction is underway on Chronometer, as the independent developer is collaborating with the UK's Channel 4 to produce a project they have long hoped to undertake, but knew would be beyond their means (thanks Eurogamer). Here's a bit, including Chris' admission that this game may never move into full production:

There is one document in this vault which has been edited and revised and updated more times than any other, and that document is called Chronometer.

It’s one of our more recent ideas, and was first written down during Defcon’s beta phase. I specifically remember the moment I explained it to Mark – in a KFC in London of all places, and he just stopped and stared at me while I was speaking. He genuinely couldn’t continue eating. By the time I’d finished I went back to my food and Mark just sat there silent for a few minutes before uttering “fuck me”, slowly shaking his head in disbelief.

It’s always been clear to us that it’s not a project we could ever afford to make ourselves. So the project sat there in The Bespokery all this time, a fascinating thought experiment in ambitious game design and nothing more, until Channel 4 approached Introversion and asked us if we had any game ideas we’d like funding for.

Our initial response was something along the lines of No. But the more we thought about it, the more we found Chronometer actually fitted the requirements extremely well, and their deal on offer was something we hadn't seen before. We pitched the idea to them and they approved the first exploratory phase pretty soon after.

So around three months ago, despite being busier than we’ve ever been, Introversion Software began work on its sixth game. Channel 4 funded an exploratory pre-production phase of three months work, which we have now almost completed. We spent a long time looking for a fulltime writer, and worked through nearly 50 applicants until we hit on the right guy for the job – a writer named Chris Hastings, who's sample work was a league ahead of the competition. Chris and myself have been working closely together in Cambridge during this three month period and that Chronometer document has now expanded into a whole project folder with scripts, pictures, maps, flow charts, production plans, budgets, the whole lot. We’ve spent a lot of time moving post-it notes around on a giant board, trying to piece together the structure of this new game.

Ultimately we don’t know for certain if Chronometer will be going into full production – the conditions would have to be right for Introversion and for Channel 4, although they’ve been fantastic to work with during pre-production. We’re pretty much finished with this phase of Chronometer for now, and we’ll keep you updated about this interesting sixth game project as decisions are made.