Artwork by Jeff Murcko
Main Page
4/03/00
Greetings, everyone!!! First, an apology. I know that some of you have been wondering what has been going on with the SAAB shipset. "Is he every going to put up another update? Is he working on it at all? Has he simply abandoned this website without giving a forwarding address?" I've been there too with other artists and other websites. All I can say is that school, work and family obligations have in the past few monthes become so overwhelming, I'm amazed I'm still breathing.
Okay, first the bad news. Due to said obligations, it looks as if I won't be able to work on the shipset for at least a few more weeks until school is over. Thinks will calm down alot once we are into the summer monthes.
Now the good news. One the things that has been taking up so much of my time is my computer animation class. I have been getting better with it with each class seasion and I have recently purchased an animation program to use at home. Originally, I had hoped to do just some cutscenes to spice up the missions I made. But since the program I purchased is capable of rotoscoping (inserting animated sequences into normal video footage) I have recently been thinking of doing something on a more grander scale, such as a SAAB short film with an actual story and special effects.
Of cource, there just some minor details to consider like props, sets, costumes, actors and a CAMERA!
But be assured, the shipset is my first priorty. And the programs I have at my disposal is very effective in creating polygonal ships, so once summer hits, things should pick-up rather quickly.
Thank you for your patience. I promise that it will be rewarded.
Max
1/04/00
Happy New Year! Looks like the apocalypse has been postponed!
Anyway, thought I give you guys a sneak preview of whats to come as far as textures are concerned. I've been able to map Mr. Murcko's textures to my models and as you can see with this test case with the ISSCV cargo hold, the results are far better than I could have hoped. Hopefully, we'll be able to texture all or most of the ships in this fashion. Big tip of the hat to Murcko on this.
I'm still working on the ISSCV itself, which has resulted in a number of problems with regard to docking with the cargo hold. I'm seeking some outside help on this and I hope to get some answers soon.
"Always Faithful, my friend."
12/14/99
Well, the pictures speak for themselves. After months of work and frustration, I finally have the first Hammerhead opt (almost) completed. She still needs engine glow (blue exhaust coming out of the engines) which someone is helping me with, but I finally got her textured. I doubt, however, she will be the final version (more on that in a moment).
As you can see by the trail of scorched metal on this star destroyer, I have found a way to beef up its
rate of fire. It still has problems, though, because everytime you select missles, it won't go back to the guns until your out of missles. The process also does some weird things to AI ships (and I'm not talking Felicity and Elroy-l).
The textures were cobbled together and modified from an IRD fighter. There okay, but hopefully they'll be better for the final version. Mr Murcko, the artist who supplied the artwork for this page, and myself are trying to map textures from his models to mine and import them into Alliance. They'll be converted to 256 color so don't expect it to look as spectacular as Jeff's work, but the ships should look better with individual markings and flight group textures.
Next I'll be working on the Apc, Hammerhead cockpit and then the Chig fighter after that. As soon as I work the kinks out, I'll make the individual opt's available for download with instructions on how to load them. Alot of people have come forward to help on this project. Sometimes I am amazed how much appeal SAAB has to so many people that they would help on this project on their own time. This is really starting to come together now.
"Always faithful, my friend."
12/2/99
As you can see, there have been some improvements to the site. Big thanks to Jeff Murcko for allowing me to use his artwork.
I hope to have the LINKS page up soon. It will include X-Wing editing and SAAB related sites as well as sites owned by contributors to the project.
The Hammerhead is about 3/4 of the way finished with
regard to textures. I've been modifying textures from
an IRD fighter and its been coming out pretty well,
though the textures for the cocpit have been a nusiance.
I'll post an image of it as soon as its finished. Also, it does look like I'll be able make an SA-43 with a
rear mounted turret. I haven't nail down all the
particular's but it looks possible. I won't monkey
around with it now because I feel its more important to
get some ships done and make an actual mission.
I also will be making a hammerhead cockpit. I've
already modifyed an Xwing cockpit to the same dimensions
as the HH. Most of the Xwing textures will work fine, but
I am thinking of putting in some original textures as well.
By the way, if there is anyone out there who is knowledgable in
texturing (even if you don't know anything about 3d modeling)
your expertise would be greatly appreciated.
I will, unfortunatly, be taking a break from the
project for about a week as I have school and
job obligation I need to attend to. But be assured I'll
be back on it as soon as the semester is over.
"Always faithful, my friend."
11/10/99
I know it has been a while since my last update. I've had to learn texturing from scratch, which can be a time consuming process. Be assured that I am hard at work on this conversion and I will see it through.
In addition to myself and Marcos Oliveira, who is working on the Saratoga, we have two new contributors to this project. One is SkiprayBlastboat (named after a type of ship from one of the Zahn Star Wars novels) who is using BinHexEdit to adjust the numbers on the ships that control speed, manuverability, hull strength, etc.
Another is Simon McAuliffe, who has contributed not only images to help me with texturing, but also SAAB sound wav files which will be later used in custom missions to create a stronger feel of authenticity. Simon, by the way, has a very cool SAAB site at http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~simonmc/home.htm. Its worth checking out.
I am currently working on the texturing on the Hammerhead by modifying existing textures from an IRD fighter. As a result, the pace is picking up and I should have a test beta ready soon.
In the meantime, here are some images of the Chig Mothership I recently made. I'm also working on something I call a Chig Orbital Defense Platform for my upcoming Operation Roundhammer: The Battle for Ixion campaign.
9/9/99
The one-and-only SA-43 Hammerhead. Just like on the Apc, I intend to give this ship rapid fire. I will also change the textures on the laser bolts so that they look more like the "rail projectiles" in the show. There is the possibility I can add a rear-mounted turret latter on, provided more research is done on how the turrets work in Alliance.
9/8/99
Here she is, the Inner Solar System Armored Personel Carrier. She is currently equiped with four turbolaser (2 foward, 2 turret) and one Rebel laser which will (hopefully) have rapid fire at some later point. Naturally, she needs to be textured. I plan on making another version with a detachable cargo hold midsection just like in the show.
Email: maxgremlin@aol.com
