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This required a number of cosmetic changes to the craft since the scale of the ship changed significantly. The familiar conical cockpit of the Falcon was removed, and replaced with a hammerhead design. Back in its Falcon incarnation, the ship's cockpit sported a cheeky accessory that fits a smuggler vessel much more than an ambassador's ship -- a tiny cheesecake pinup of partially nude model. An homage to that poster eventually found its way into the Tantive IV's cockpit, along with poster art of the original Star Wars.

The inside of the cockpit, though, remained unseen for decades. Illustrators attempted to define the interior in a number of guide and gamebooks, but it wasn't until late in Episode III production that the Alderaanian cruiser's bridge would require a set. Supervising Art Director Peter Russell oversaw the construction of the enclosed set during pick-up photography at Shepperton.

"When we were in Australia we built the ship's corridor and that was a complete lift from the original Star Wars," recalls Russell. "It was really more like archeology and not film design. It was wonderful to do that. When we came to Shepperton and we found that we had to reproduce that again, obviously there was a language that we reestablished: a very, very shiny white vacuformed slightly '70s look to it, which was graphically very strong, but in a strange sort of way slightly simplistic."

In an odd move for pick-up photography -- which tends to favor mostly blue or greenscreen shooting environments to insert the actors into backgrounds gathered earlier -- the Tantive IV cockpit was a full, four-walled set, with ceilings and floors, and external camera access afforded by the cockpit window and back doorway.

"When you film the cockpit, no matter what it looks like, it usually comes down to control surfaces and the chairs because the characters are in foreground and that's what they're filming," says Russell. "We invested as much time as we could. We gave the company that made the chairs as much of a head start. In fact, we drew the chairs first, prior to even drawing the set, just to give them half a chance at creating something that would really stand up to close-ups. And they used every minute that we gave them, but I think it was worth it. They look great."

Star Wars Galaxies-Path to the Force-Episode 122

Be sure to check back next week for the one-hundred and twenty-third episode of Star Wars Galaxies-Path to the Force. Then join us every week as we continue to follow the adventures of the Wookiee E'nac from the Star Wars Galaxies videogame in the form of Gamics!

Poster 2

I really struggled with how I was going to show Tarc crushing Torel Vorne's windpipe with the use of the Force. I decided to have them far apart in the drawing instead of Tarc's victim clinging to his killer's cape. That way I could also throw in the bounty hunters who appeared to allow Tarc's escape. We could not get him; and as his ship left, this view of the bounty hunters appeared as the ship's wake blew dust and sand around them. Just before he left, Tarc threw Velexa a data pad that said BOUNTY: paid in full. Velexa had placed a bounty on Torel Vorne; Tarc killed him, taking away her chance to get revenge. Later on in subsequent adventures, Crovax becomes her mentor as well as her love, and he teaches her the way of the Force and starts to help her steer clear of the Dark Side of the Force.

Be sure to read the rest of the article about Poster 2 in the Holly's Sketches section. Thanks Holly for a great walkthrough of how this poster came to be! Enjoy!

Join The Empire was a fan film created in 1998 by Marco Spitoni. It is staged like a commercial to get you to join the Empire like in the old World War II ad campaigns. I noticed that this fan film had pretty much disappeared from the Internet, but it is still one of my favorites. Don't forget to stay around during the credits to see the 3D models and meshes.

Join The Empire was originally in a Bink Smacker format, but I converted it to a more widely used file type. This film is a true testament to Marco's creativity because you will notice the CG has stood the test of time. That is a hard thing to do these days and in terms of computer graphics, 1998 was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... Be sure to see Join The Empire. It is really cool! Enjoy!

In the award-winning and best-selling Star Wars: Empire at War, players controlled an entire war for the Star Wars galaxy as the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire. Now, they will face off against both of them in Forces of Corruption as a brand new third faction. As Tyber Zann, players will stop at nothing as they seek to further the sinister agenda of the Zann Consortium and become the most notorious criminal leader since Jabba the Hutt. With all new tactics like piracy, kidnapping, and bribery, players can control the shadowy forces of corruption in their attempt to rule the Star Wars underworld.

"Star Wars Empire at War: Forces of Corruption allows fans to experience the Star Wars universe in an entirely new way," said Nancy MacIntyre, Vice President Global Sales and Marketing for LucasArts. "People have always wanted to peek inside the shady underground of the galaxy -- home to the spies, bounty hunters and smugglers -- and Forces of Corruption finally gives them the chance to do so. The illicit technologies, black-market goods, and underhanded tactics in Forces of Corruption allow players to become gangsters in the wretched hives of Star Wars scum and villainy."

"Creating a completely new faction in Forces of Corruption gave us the opportunity to add a remarkable amount of new content and gameplay to the Empire at War story," said Mike Legg, president of Petroglyph. "In addition, the decision to add to the Star Wars lore gave us the freedom to create unique and fantastic units and characters. We believe that all Empire at War players, and Star Wars fans alike, will find something new and exciting in Forces of Corruption." Go get yours today!

Star Wars Galaxies-Path to the Force-Episode 121

Be sure to check back later this week for the one-hundred and twenty-second episode of Star Wars Galaxies-Path to the Force. Then join us every week as we continue to follow the adventures of the Wookiee E'nac from the Star Wars Galaxies videogame in the form of Gamics!