Harjassk Diplomacy
Emambu talks with Matthew Pate
As Emambu fires off the questions, we hear Matthew's responses about one of the oldest running SP projects, called Harjassk Diplomacy. Find out about the planned level of architecture and Matthew's entry intto the single player Jedi Knight community.
Emambu
For starters, tell us a little bit about yourself. Who you are, what got you into Star Wars and editing MOTS
levels?
Matthew Pate
Well, my name's Matthew Pate, I work at a great site called the Admiral's Command Chamber, and I'm 15
years old, since last week. Strangely enough, I 'liked' Star Wars for a pretty long time. I had TIE fighter, which I really enjoyed, and then a
friend bought me 'Heir to the Empire' for Christmas a couple of years ago, and it basically spiraled from there.
Emambu
Have you any past editing experience with SW or other games?
Matthew Pate
Yeah, I edited Descent 2 for a couple years, but I found it pretty limiting. The cube system it uses
is pretty annoying, and it's nearly impossible to make outdoor areas. I liked the idea of customizing games, Quake in particular, and once I started
getting interested in Star Wars, I saw Jedi Knight, and a good review in a magazine I read, and I thought I'd check it out. I actually found
Massassi and JK.net before I bought the game, though.
Emambu
Tell us a little bit about the levels. Out of countless possibilities, why something along the lines of
Harjassk? Also, why a series of multiple levels? Why not one or two like many other authors?
Matthew Pate
I felt that Imperial bases had been done to death, and I really like making outdoor areas, and I
didn't really have a plot until I'd already built the pirate base, and then I just thought up something a little different. Well, I already had 1
level done, another nearly done by the time I actually released the first one, and with a dueling level and an interactive intro level, I only had
to make about 1 1/2 more levels. It didn't seem like much to do...
Emambu
Can you tell us about the plot to Harjassk Diplomacy? Will there be any twists or will it follow the same
plot that we were treated to back in late September of '98?
Matthew Pate
It'll have plots. It explains the reason the Imperials were using the Asteroids to blockade the base
in MotS, as well as other goodies. Lamnin (the main character) also discovers a plot that could mean destruction of the galaxy (sort of). It will
have some plot twisty bits, especially in the third and beginning of the fourth level.
Emambu
Can you tell us a little bit about architecture and overall design of your levels? Will it be different then
a bunch of boxes slapped together?
Matthew Pate
I sure hope so! Well, A lot of it is outdoors, as I find it easier and much more appealing. You can
cleave anywhere and have a nice excuse. It's as easy to make it non-boxy, as it is simple to add extra detail like trees, rocks, canyons etc.
Emambu
Will we be treated to new characters other then the ones that appeared in the first release of Harjassk
Diplomacy?
Matthew Pate
Yep. A new Dark Jedi turned Warlord, and some other minor ones. Drassk and Lamnin have also gotten a
facelift.
Emambu
Will there be any new enhancements: COG's, MAT's, 3DO's, AI's, PUP's, cut-scenes?
Matthew Pate
Currently 65 custom COGs, 147 mats, 37 3dos, 5 ais, and 2 pups at last count. I hope it grows. A lot
of the things I wanted weren't possible so I had to learn COG pretty quickly, meaning it's a little less efficient than you could hope.
Emambu
Since this is MOTS, will we see any colored lighting?
Matthew Pate
Not overly, I use MotS mainly for the extra weapons and 3dos, but I have colored lighting around
consoles, skies and engines etc.
Emambu
What type of mood are you looking to establish in Harjassk?
Matthew Pate
I'm trying to have a 'small-town' feel about the level. Lamnin is trying to get resources at one
point, but it all goes to help wimpy Kyle and Mara on Altyr 5. I haven't given too many force powers, only the simple ones, as Lamnin isn't an
'Uber-Jedi'. I want the player to feel they have to work around problems, instead of destroying everything, and so there are quite a few puzzles,
but not really hard ones like in Warzone II.
Emambu
On your webpage it seems that the level we played back in late September '98 is now level 2 of the series.
Any comments as to why you bumped it back?
Matthew Pate
Well, it's still really level 1. The 'new' level 1 is basically an interactive intro. There are about
3 enemies total, and the aim of the level is only to receive your mission and get to your customized A-Wing.
Emambu
Will there be another revised version of the original Harjassk when your done with your series?
Matthew Pate
I hope there won't be any need, but I don't think I'll be that lucky. If there is an overwhelming
problem, I might fix it.
Emambu
Do you plan to release the levels separately or as a pack?
Matthew Pate
A pack. Otherwise most of it could be released now. I want to do it as a pack, because if I want to
change something about the series, I can quickly change it. If half the levels were already released, I couldn't do that.
Emambu
How many levels will Harjassk be divided into?
Matthew Pate
Err, 5. I've already spoken about the first level, you've played the second, the third is escaping the
prison Lamnin inevitably found herself in at the end of the 'first' level. The fourth is a secret, and the fifth is currently going to be a Jedi
duel. You never know though...
Emambu
Do you have an estimated time as to when this series will be released?
Matthew Pate
Well after my Christmas break, I've found it hard to get back in the mood. I'm doing little things
that needed doing currently. For example, I used print(""); everywhere instead of Cog Strings, and it took the better part of a day to correct that.
I also made a new enemy, so I didn't have to use someone else's.
Emambu
Any final thoughts, comments, criticisms, or reflections towards your series?
Matthew Pate
Not really, who should I criticize? I just hope that the JK community can live long and prosper...
Oops.
Emambu
Thank you for your time. I can't wait until the final release.
Matthew Pate
Neither can I. Pleasure's all mine.