Jump To Lightspeed Archive

I just got into space in JtL for the first timelast night, so these comments are very preliminary, but my first impression is that the art team has done a fantastic job on Jump to Lightspeed.

Those of us who were around for the original release of Star Wars back in 1977 will remember the posters, conceptual artwork, and other promotional materials that featured the artwork of Ralph McQuarrie. Well, maybe I'm nuts, but I could swear that space and most ships in JtLlook like they're right off of a McQuarrie painting -- they all have that indefinable McQuarrie"look."

The McQuarrie paintings always conveyed a sense of motion. Everything -- ships, people, environments -- were sharp-edged, long, and angular, but with trailing streaks,almost as though everything was motion-blurred. The McQuarriestyle was perfect for Star Wars;every brush stroke communicated motion and energy. Something very much like this energetic effect is achieved in JtL... and I haven't seen more than the tip of the iceberg yet.

So hats off to an underappreciated group in SWG, the art staff. There are definitely those of us out here who appreciate even the subtle effects,from the color ofa speederbike's engine flamesto steam particle effects to the McQuarrie-like visual excitement in JtL.

Well done!

--Flatfingers

Another word on dynamic lighting effects: wow.

Ships look different in different environments, and weapons fireis alsodistinctive and attractive.

Well done again, art team!

(One thing, though -- some distantobjects, such as space stations, appear to "fade" if you turn to face them, but reappear if you avert your ship away from them. This looks like a lighting issue.)

--Flatfingers