All staff members should email me from a valid email address I can reply to. At that point, I will email you guys your FTP logins and passwords. All hosted site owners should do the same.

If you're not on the staff, and don't have a hosted site here, but DO have (or have had) an @massassi.NET email address, please email me so I can give you your new logins. Please Note: This does NOT apply to people that use the free, web-based @massassi.COM email addresses. Those should not be affected by this move.

I just got the initial login for the new server. Hopefully all the files and the domains will be transferred by the end of this coming weekend. I would like to thank Digital at Recon Gamer.

The Frequently Asked Questions page for Star Wars Galaxies, the upcoming multiplayer online RPG being developed by Verant, was updated yesterday, addressing some critical questions about continuity between the game and the films, and why you won't find any Sith Lords running around online. If you haven't seen the page in a while, they've really added a bunch of info on there. If MMORPGs tickle your fancy, be sure to check it out.

LucasArts announced recently they'd be teaming up with Ensemble Studios to create another Real-Time Strategy game titled Star Wars Battleground (official press release). If you'll recall, Ensemble are the guys behind the Age of Empires series of strategy games, so you know good things are going to be coming out of this partnership. Let's all cross our fingers. Thanks go to Matt_M for spotting the story and posting on our discussion board.

Update: I just found this Q&A posted over at Stomped with Bruce Shelly, Ensemble's head game designer who'll be involved in the development of Battleground. It's rather terse, but hey, it's a start...

MikeC's done it again with another update to Have Lightsaber, Will Travel. This time he's added another level idea, and some more to the editing help section, including information about 16-bit mats and how to change the default startup weapons.

As many of you know, the contest@massassi.net email address is not functioning, and therefore we cannot receive any entries for the contest. The entire email service on the current server is acting up, so we cannot fully trust setting up a new address for the submissions. Because we want to be absolutely sure we receive every entry, the deadline is extended until we are fully stationed on the new server. I apologize for any inconvenience this may present.

Yes, the deadline for the CTF Contest draws almost to a close, and we, obviously, need judges to bring about this contest into a great CTF level pack. This, also obviously, is a call for people to help judge. However, there are some notes I want to lay down before you apply.

• First and foremost, not everyone will be able to judge. Right now, I'm thinking we'll need around 8 - 15 judges. That means that a lot of applicants are not going to be accepted. Please note that if you are not accepted, it is nothing personal against you at all; we only want what's best for the contest.
• I'm going to put this as frankly and as politely as possible: We want professional people. Please do not send in an application consisting of text similar to "i want 2 b a judge 4 the contest". In my frank and somewhat uncordial opinion, if someone cannot take the time to speak and present themselves in a professional manner, then why should I believe they will take the time to do what it takes to be a forthcoming judge for this contest?

With this in mind, please send applications stating the name you go by on Massassi, whether you plan to enter the contest (it will not be held against you, but you will not be allowed to vote for your own level), what experience you've had with CTF (do you play a lot of JK CTF? Do you play CTF on another game?) and a paragraph or so on what you think makes a great CTF level. Please send all applications to me at archimedes@massassi.net. Please note that though I am receiving the applications, they will be discussed with the rest of the staff.

Thank you all for your time and talent in regards to this contest, which I am sure will come out a great success.

SavageX has posted more updates on SS3, so head on over to the SS3 site and take a look.

As you may or may not know, Massassi is and has been going through troubling times lately. First, UGO broke contract and basically cut the advertising revenue that was guaranteed to us. At that point, the site almost closed due to lack of funding for our server and bandwidth. We then signed a contract with eUniverse, under which, they would provide hosting and banner advertising for the site. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, eUniverse sent notice that they were suspending their affiliate program, which basically means they gave all their hosted and network sites the axe. As far as I can tell, this is also against the contract that they signed, but since none of the affiliates have the money or resources to force the issue, both of these companies (UGO and eUniverse) will get away with it. I find this absolutely ridiculous, but unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it.

So what comes next? I have secured a deal that should provide Massassi.net hosting services for some time to come. Operations here at Massassi should stabalize once we move servers (yet again). Here is the latest word:

Alright, the new server is guaranteed to be online by either Monday evening or Tuesday evening. You will have access to the new server by Wednesday at the absolute latest. New server is a Dual PIII-850, 1024 megs of ram and dual 18 gig SCSI hd's. You may want to let your members know that the site will be back up in working order shortly :)

I'm sincerely hoping this is the last time we have to move, because frankly, I have better things to do with my life than spend days and days moving a site from server to server. So, expect us to be back in full operation by next weekend, and also expect some service upgrades, new features, and the full return of our hosted sites.

Slashdot.org announced this interview with Hiroshi Yamauchi, president of Nintendo. While not JK or even PC related, I found it a very interesting read, considering he discusses Nintendo and Enix, two of the companies responsible for some of my favorite games of all time (Zelda series, Dragon Warrior series, Metroid series). He also goes into a couple of the companies I don't like all that much (Sony and Square).

Well, the Holonet channel has been fixed thanks to oSiRiS asking prophet to fix it, so the chat page has been changed back to the Holonet room.

The chat page has been updated to point to the DS2 server.

Some renegade personage did something stupid and locked the channel that we had on Holonet with a pass and a restricted access option. I have no way to get in, and I don't think anyone else does either. For now, point your mIRCs to irc.ds2.net. The jIRC won't point there, and you won't be able to use it until it is updated or someone helps me get the chat room fixed. Sorry about the inconvenience.

Snookey is hoping to spread the word about his site, Editors Heaven, by launching an image contest. All the details and contact info can be found on their Contest Page, so if you're interested in flexing your graphical skills, be sure to drop on by.

MikeC has updated Have Lightsaber, Will Travel with a new enemy pack for download and a new level idea. So head on over and check it out.

I have very little doubt that most of you have heard about this, but I thought I would post the complete rendition of it that I found at TheForce.net. Here it is:

Poison^ and ilya popov send word of a new title from LucasArts. Ever heard of the first title, the little-known Jedi Knight? :) The sequel is on it's way: I was just doing my daily browse of http://www.voodooextreme.com/#11632, and i noticed that Activision has an updated release list, containing Jedi Knight II on it. According to our French gaming connection at GameData Jedi Knight II is in the works. They recieved Activision's latest release schedule and guess what was listed? Star Wars : Jedi Knight 2 (january/march 2002). No, this isn't Obi-Wan, but from early indications it looks like LucasArts has sold the rights to Jedi Knight to Activision and they're publishing it (no word who is developing it, however). Update - Jcal pointed out that Activision has secured the rights to publish/distribute LucasArts games in Europe, so there's a chance that the game could be developed by LucasArts. Stay tuned as futher details unfold... If LucasArts is not developing the game, I'd hazard a guess and say Nihilistic will make it, since they comprise mostly of ex- Dark Forces/Jedi Knight developers. Another Update: It is _not_ Nihilistic. I can't say who it is, but trust me, you know them, and they have done very, very good stuff in the past.

I find that a very exciting thing, though I do doubt it a bit, and I'm trying not to get my hopes up. I'm thinking "Dark Forces 3: Subtitle" would be better than Jedi Knight 2, seeing as Jedi Knight is just a subtitle for Dark Forces 2. I'll keep this updated if anything new arrives.

I was checking around Star Wars Gaming sites today when I came upon Jedi Knight.net. One of the recent news posts has info on a program called "The Skin Machine". Mine is still downloading, but I thought I would give you the info that I got from the site.

I recieved this information about a new editing program for Jedi Knight users: "TSM" (The Skin Machine) From the readme: This program was created to help users of the game, "Jedi Knight Dark Forces 2" to create their own characters that can be used in single player or multiplayer with ease and speed. If you have any questions besides the ones listed below, please email me at Notrix@usa.com. You can try out this program here.

Its all in there, folks, so go check it out.

Zymotico has created a 3do exporter plugin for Milkshape. You can see some examples of exported models in the thread on the Showcase. Download the plugin at Zymotico's Realm.

This looks like quite a helpful thing for JK editors, so be sure to check it out.

While browsing Slashdot.org, I saw a very interesting link. This page contains in depth instructions on how to create your own white vacuumformed plastic stormtrooper armor. Seems like a very in-depth process, but the final product looks great. They also have a link to buy some if you don't want to make it yourself ($500).

Update: Imperial Imposters shows you how to do the same thing with paperboard, and this site has details on what was actually used in the movies.

Despite all our difficulties with both UGO and eUniverse, despite all the pains in finding new homes, we still live. Click here to read more.

Space Soldiers 3, the home of the ever popular mod, has added a few quick beta 8.7 updates. Here are some new features I found especially interesting.

• New Powerup: Infinite Ammo! This powerup allows the player to have infinate supply of ammo (read: no reloading either) for 30 seconds. I plan on adding in another one called the "Damage Doubler" that is basically the same as Quake's Quad damage except it only doubles, not quadrouble the power.
• Added 5 new crosshairs to the mix. You can use the "change crosshair" button to toggle between the 6 different crosshairs. The Crosshairs that SS3 features are:
  • Sniper crosshair
  • Plus crosshair
  • Triad crosshair
  • Dot crosshair
  • Angle crosshair
  • X crosshair
• New blood effects: Now when a player's health drops below 25 percent, he can now bleed to death. Other players can see them bleed because they leave a blood trail whereever they go. This is done by dropping blood spots on the ground. Your vitality can help decrease your bleed rate (and also decrease how low your health has to be before you begin to bleed)

There are also a few new screenshots regarding these new updates, so all in all, be sure to head on over to Space Soldiers 3 and check it all out.

Have Lightsaber Will Travel has updated its level ideas section with some new ideas. As always, if ever you find yourself in JED with nothing to do, this is the place to be.

The Rites of Xanthus TC has updated its main page with some excellent screenshots of axes, swords, hammers, and other objects of pain infliction.

The Star Wars Galaxy Offcial Site has announced the first two species that will be available for play in the upcoming title, Star Wars Galaxies. To quote the species page:

The first title in the Star Wars Galaxies line will feature eight playable species. On Monday, February 12th we will officially announce the first two species and unveil concept art for them. Every 8-9 days thereafter we will reveal another PC species.

In addition, starting in late February, we will begin a "Guess the Next Species" contest. Look here for details on official rules and prizes!

Be sure to head on over and check it all out. Many thanks to Jedi Legacy for the news.

Our hosted cog site, Millennium, is back up. Be sure to drop by and participate in Hideki's latest poll.