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Welcome to my thirty-fifth public report as a Science Officer, a bit later then expected... This second report of this week will not elaborate on the patch releases and updates but on all our other project news:

Science Office News:

1. As most of you have probably become aware Timmay has started on a Total Conversion from Descent Freespace 2 to Star Wars which the Science Office has name "Tie Fighter Empire" (This name has a high possibility of changing).
   The original game is a Space Combat Simulator much like the X-Wing Series. Even though the game is just as old as X-Wing Alliance, if not older, it has impressive graphics, controls and game play making it an excellent game on its own. However, when Timmay recently started to play it again he had a quick go at editing it and discovered how easy it was to edit. Whether it be the models, textures, animations or still graphics, it was remarkably easy.
   After searching around the internet for some editing tools he discovered that Freespace 2 was open source meaning that the games Developers "Volition, Inc." have released the Source Code of Freespace 2 to the public. This was the biggest find, because this now means we are able to distribute the game as long as we don't use anything original and we don't profit from it... This is quite big from the EH as we can have a new flight sim that's:
   • Completely customizable.
   • Available to anyone.
   • Able to run on lower grade computers easily ( 200mhz and greater ).
2. I have started on a "quick" total conversion of the game "Warlords III: Dark Lords Rising" which I have named "Sith Lords: Dark Lords Rising".
   The original game is a fantasy based RPG/RTS game which allows for straight ground forces real time strategy and role playing with loose characters - depending on the mission design. Mission design and adding new units is very easy, as is the actual modding process - which makes it excellent for Emperor's Hammer purposes, more in particular for the Dark Brotherhood because it allows use of the Force.
   At the moment I'm working on changing the interface, which is mostly done now, after which I'll change the terrain, the units and the characters. In the end all data files of the game should be changed. Availability of the original game might be a problem, but I have some ideas how to tackle that so it shouldn't be a problem.
3. Lucasarts has finally started work to release one of my own personal favourite game genres in the Star Wars universe, the Battlefield FPS, with the news of that "SW:Battlefront" is in development.
   "Star Wars Battlefront gives you the chance to play as a soldier in intense multiplayer battles with up to 32 people. Choose your allegiance and pick a soldier from one of four different armies. Fight on ten legendary planets and use a variety of weapons and vehicles, including X-wings, snowspeeders and AT-ST's. Keep your wits about you and victory may be within your reach. Experience the chaos of battle as you fight the greatest wars in the Star Wars universe."
   No release dates have been published, but keep an eye out for this one - several screenshots are available at http://www.lucasarts.com/games/battlefront/. If done well this game should prove most excellent for the Hammer's Fist in particular.
4. Thanks to LT Shinobi we have gained a new "Mutant Ewok Clone" Experiment, this time on the practical use of these furry miracles of science. It has been added to the Project pages for your enjoyment: http://www.minos.net/~sco/project/ewoks/

Science Office Status:

CA:SCO: Admiral Darkhill has been working on getting us a better version of the Free Space 2 exe file, for which we now can use the FS updated code and launcher. He received a Commendation of Loyalty for his continued good work for the office and a Medal of Tactics for his newest TIE mission.

SCOA: CM Tim has been working hard on the Free Space 2 mod, fiddling with the scaling of the craft, the interface and other such good stuff. He received a Commendation of Loyalty for his good work for the Office.

Site: The Science Office site can be found at http://sco.minos.net or via the redirect http://scienceoffice.isCool.net. The mirror can be found at http://www.gimmie.tudelft.nl/homes/blok10b/ender/sco. Updates have been made to fleet manual, patch archive and ewok project.

Science Office Projects:

XvT/BoP/TIE95 Ship patches: This project's goal is to add all the original and Order of Battle craft that are still "missing" from these games, like the SSD in TIE and XvT, the Medium Transport in all etc. Currently all "missing" craft have been added to these games by use of the EHSPs. All remaining freighters, fighters and all but 2 transports of XWA have also been released as loose patches for TIE, XvT and BoP. Coming up are the remaining star ships and platforms.

TIE Fighter Empire: With the release of the freely available source code of FS2, CM Timmay has started on making a Star Wars mod for it. We can freely distribute a finished mod as long as we have all our own data files (graphics, sounds, models etc). Renamed to "TIE Fighter Empire". About all craft from X-Wing have been added and work has started to add the TIE Fighter concourse and to update the exe.

Finishing up:

I think that's it - If I've forgotten anything or if you have comments, suggestions or corrections, let me know via email or look us up at #science_office. Don't forget that all the projects are described in more detail on the SCO site.

(use only mindb_ender@hotmail.com for official SCO mails.) or ICQ (9706474). Preferably do not mail large files to me, but DCC them via IRC I’m practically always online at #science_office, #emperor’s_hammer and #tiecorps using the nick MindB_ndr (or variations.)
 
All my SCO reports are available online as well: you can reach them on the SCO site but they are on the TIE Corps site, CS reports, as well.

Until next time, good luck and have fun!