Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy

If you want to know what the coolest thing about Jedi Academy is go back and read my post from when Jedi Knight II came out. Essentially I said it was cool but the multiplayer blew. I said what the game needed was mission based objectives that pitted rebels against imperials. Well that is exactly what they delivered. The gentleman delivering the demo told us that each mission will require players to select certain roles such as demolitions expert, Scout Walker pilot or even Jedi in order to complete the objective. He described how a Jedi might have to provide cover for a trooper as he planted a bomb that would destroy an imperial facility. Or how Imperial soldiers would need to blow open a wall protecting a rebel base allowing another player to pilot a Scout Walker in and start tearing **** up Endor style. It's got a single player mode as well that looked neat but I'll be buying this game for the multiplayer.

Yes, you read it right. DBZ: The Destruction is Real has gone Gold. What does this mean? Well, there will be one more beta handed out amongst the team, and if all goes well with it, then TDiR will be packaged up and uploaded for your downloading pleasure. I do believe that this is a first for the JK editing community in the sense that TDiR will be the first true total conversion to be released. It's not your typical cog replacement shoot 'em up TC, but an entire rewrite of JK as a game. No stone has been left unturned. We've taken JK.exe, trashed the rest and started from scratch. Mind you it's only a Multiplayer Total Conversion, but to release this before the end of time, Single Player wasn't even conceived. Also, on a side note, during a server transfer, the subdomain tdir for hellraiser64.com doesn't work right. However, the site is back up in it's entirety at http://www.hellraiser64.com/tdir so update yer bookmarks.

"Hello Massassians! Upon reading the UR news post I decided it was time to get my thing some public recognition.

JKRPGNET 2, Yes, 2. reason being JKRPGNET The Original one died last year, Now its been reborn.

Let me explain what JKRPGNET is, JKRPGNET is Jedi Knight Role Playing Network. It was originally the Brainchild of Syrax, a Great friend of mine, whom had this idea that a Site for Jedi Knight role playing. People could get information, Guides, etc.

But the first site was low quality and loosely managed. So I have redone it with PHP Nuke (phpnuke.org) in the reincarnation of JKRPGNET2, The much more elite JKRPGNET and Much more interactive, Its still in its infancy, So please take a look and if you want to join, Email me because I'll add you to the members, the Registration is broken for now so don't try.

http://www.JKRPGNET2.tk
Oberfeldwebel@gtcom.net

When you email me I'll try to get back to you as fast as I can. Thanks and enjoy the site!"

It will be based on the Unreal engine and available for X-Box and PC.

A press release and a trailer can be found here.

"Hello, Fellow Massassians.

Me and the #MassGames boys were playing a fun game of JKRPG when we realized how much we really loved to RPG. After some pill swallowing and renewed connections, we got a small gaming group together, a group we call Underground Resistance.

The group isn't like most groups. Instead of just playing a game every month, we actually are always playing. We use mIRC to delve even deeper into our RPG experience. Choosing a character, and sticking with it throughout your entire career in UR. Everything, from respecting superior officers, to signing off is done in character, rather then out of character. More about the actual storyline and rules will be available at the site once Ober gets back, and Kedri (Yes, Kedri) finishes the website.

What I'm really trying to accomplish is a Jedi Knight Mod, built specifically for UR, with a specific Class System for the Special Forces side, along with class specific weapons, Character specific weapons, Character Specific skins (3 Skins for everyone) and class specific Keys and Items. For the other side, the Children of the Saber, we'll have Character Specific force powers, Character specific skins (2 Skins for everyone), Character Specific sabers, and Character specific Moves. The biggest problem about this mod is, although it may only require a minimal amount of Scripting, it still needs it, and that's something I cannot possibly do. SU_Mega_ZZTer is providing a small amount of scripting, but he's not certain all of it is within his skills. We're also in need of a skilled Texturer, especially for weapons and skins.

If you're interested at all, in anything pertaining to editing, E-mail me at jEDIkIRBY007@hotmail.com and if you're interested in joining the group, stop over to #UR, or talk to Lt_myn_Skyhopper. Thanks guys!

JediKirby AKA d-_-b"

Computer
100% DirectX 9.0 compatible computer

Operating Systems
Windows 98 SE, Millennium, 2000, and XP

CPU
Required: Intel PIII 933 MHz or AMD Athlon 900 MHz
Recommended: Intel P4 1.5 GHz or AMD Athlon XP 1500+

Memory
Required: 256 MB RAM
Recommended: 512 MB RAM

Graphics Card
Required: 32 MB 3D Graphics card with Hardware Transform and Lighting (T&L) Capability
Recommended: 64 MB 3D Graphics card with Vertex Shader and Pixel Shader (VS/PS) Capability

Sound Card
Required: PCI, USB or Onboard Audio Device

CD-ROM
Required: Quad Speed CD-ROM drive

Input Device
Required: Keyboard and mouse

Connectivity Requirements
Required: 56K modem or faster Internet connection

Monitor
1024x768 capable monitor required

DirectX
Microsoft DirectX 9.0 is included on this CD. NOTE: DirectX may require the "latest" updates for your operating system. This may also include the latest drivers for your particular motherboard, sound and video hardware.

Installation
Installation requires 2.0 GB of free hard drive space. It is recommended that you have at least an additional 500 MB of free space available after installing the game for the Windows swap/page file and additional patch downloads.

Supported Chipsets at the time of release:
ATI Radeon 7200/7500
ATI Radeon 8500/9000
ATI Radeon 9500/9700
ATI Radeon 9800
Matrox Parhelia
NVIDIA GeForce 256
NVIDIA GeForce 2 family
NVIDIA GeForce 3 family
NVIDIA GeForce 4 family
NVIDIA GeForceFX family

Additional Chipsets supported.

For the official scoop, head over to Sony's Official FAQ page.

Alas, it would seem these reqs are just slightly past the specs of my trusty old comp, the SupaFly 5000, and planning my friend's bachelor party, needless to say, has me allocating funds elsewhere for the time being. I won't be joining the party for a while, so be sure to me save a seat at the cantina guys, 'cause when I get there, the first round's on me!

Ok, we gotta do something about the lack of MotF servers.
As such, we are introducing the MotF Server Challenge.
Basically, this is a simple concept. In exchange for hosting a dedicated 24/7 MotF server for a given amount of time, we'll put your reasonable feature(s), with 100% priorty, into MotF.

Want certain emotes in the game? Host a server and we'll put them in!
Want a subadmin kick/ban system? Host a server and we'll work on it for you!
Wanted to help out the mod? Now you can!

Details:
We'll add anything that the MotF team feels would be a fair server time for work exchange and fits into the MotF mod. The server time required will be based on the difficulty of adding the feature. Probably based on a 10 manhours per month uptime system.
The server can have whatever settings you want as long as it's running one of the more recent MotF releases and isn't too off the wall. We will be checking to be sure the server is actually online and running MotF during the agreed upon time.
You must contact us before "serving the time" so we can work out details. Server time must be done in advance to the addition to the feature(s). Sorry, but we've been screwed over too many times with promised exchanges to give feature advances.
Part of the deal is that we'll work on your feature exclusively (well, during our MotF work at least) unless it's done.
In addition, you'll get your name in the MotF credits and our thanks.

Please note that this doesn't mean we'll be ignoring everyone else. It just means that Server Challengers get priorty.
If you're interested, contact the team today at razorace@hotmail.com!

"Hello,
I've updated my Web page over at http://jedidreams.codealliance.ca/ with a new plug-in I wrote that imports Ghoul2 models into 3ds max Release 4.x or 5.x."

"Lightsaber – The player will start with a lightsaber he creates choosing from different hilts and blade colors.  The player will be able to use the lightsaber for the entire game, eventually earning the right to wield a saber staff, or one lightsaber in each hand.  A full range weapons and Force Powers is also available to the player, as in Jedi Outcast.
Player Character – As the player, you get to create a custom Jedi character to play through the game with, choosing from hundreds of potential combinations.  As a student at the Jedi Academy, you will train under Luke Skywalker and Kyle Katarn.
Timeline – The game takes place one year after the events of Jedi Outcast; fourteen years after A New Hope.
Game Engine – Jedi Academy uses a heavily modified version of id Software’s Quake III: Team Arena engine.

New features added since Jedi Outcast are:

• Character customization system - allows players to create their own Jedi in both SP and MP (estimating 2160 combinations currently)
• Ghoul II enhancements including the Ghoul infinite Model modification system - Allows for modular model enhancements, custom colorization, and expanded animation support
• New ICARUS II scripting system for Single player and Multiplayer.  Now allows for scripted events in multiplayer matches.
• New map creation tools allowing for models to be used as in world objects instead of just textures.  Creates richer 3-D environments.
• New non-linear mission progression system.
• Raven’s ARIOCHE terrain system.
• Portal skies
• Rag doll skeletal system
• Enhanced vehicle system.  Allows for new ride-able vehicles in addition to previous drive-able ones
• Character and vehicle enhancements designed to enable expanded mod support.  Modders will be able to design their own Jedi, character outfits, sabers, etc. Development – Jedi Academy is being developed by Raven Software in conjunction with LucasArts and Activision.

LucasArts is publishing and distributing the game in North America.  Activision is distributing the game in all non-North American territories."

===

Jedi Academy Q and A:
A Brand New Interview on GameSpy

Jedi Academy Info:
The Ravensoft Forums

Our current plan is to go to Open Beta in early May. This all depends on how polished we are. I realize lots of you want to play but it is important that we make your play experience an enjoyable one.

From the author:

JK2 Review is a new map review site covering both SP and MP maps for Jedi Knight 2. Our review team currently consists of: Eldritch, Kal El, Kastraelie, Kengo, Leslie Judge, Louis, SunBurN, Tigris, Wedge, who between them have a fair deal of mapping and gaming experience. We already have reviews on the site, with many more on the way! Work on the site is ongoing, with other features planned soon including articles on the world of mapping and interviews with members of the community. JK2 Review can be found here: www.jk2review.com

From Geoff:

ForceRemap will allow you to re-align the textures on 3do models. This tool is intended to complement JED and is for texturing purposes only. Basically i decided to create this tool because stitching in JED won't allow you to wrap a texture seamlessly over a complex shape. ForceRemap allows you to do this. While it's true that Milkshape can be used for this purpose, i belive that FR is easier to use, and it's free.

Two skins that were textured with it are included as examples and to illustrate its capabilities. Please visit the homepage and view the readme for more information.

http://www.thecia.net/users/garcher/forceremap/

NOTE: This is the first public release, and while it appears to be stable i expect there will be bugs. So please report them to me with as much detail as possible if you find them. Special thanks to Friend14 for beta-testing this program.

Check it out.