A BSG machinima comic book fan fiction series in the works.

[Daniel Strickland]

Hello ladies and gentlemen, I am Daniel, and I have been developing a machinima comic book fan fiction series set in the BSG universe titled Battlestar Galactica: Odyssey. The premise involved a group of civilians, starting off as prisoners of war, as they escape their captivity and try to survive on a Cylon-Occupied 12 Colonies' planet. This particular series is using machinima (the means in which a 3-D graphics engine, or video game, to create a medium of story telling).

For the games being used, there's a wide variety including "The Sims 2" (with some of the expansion packs), "The Movies" (with Stunts and Effects EP) and several others that will be used as well. The series will have a four/five "season" run (depending on how many issues per comic "season" there will be).

As of right now, I only need four (4) separate Sims in order to begin work on the series (the four I need are Sims of Cavil, Doral, Leoban and Simon). Though I already have Sims of Tricia Helfer, Lucy Lawless and Grace Park (I have a Sim of her that I feel is rather cartoony, so I'm always on the lookout for a better one), the four listed is definitely something I need before proceeding with making the first comic in the series. I will also need some items later on in the comic series, including Colonial Fleet uniforms (with helmet) and the Opera House lot (or something close enough to the Orpheum Theater's interior).

Below are some earlier test shots I've done. The sims that I plan on using now have been updated, and all the Sims are based on real actors and actresses. Here is the Photobucket page link: http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q94/codebreaker2001/BSGBTR/

Here is a video link for a call for help to all BSG fans who play "The Sims 2" and to any Simmakers who do high quality Sims: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9766MjJW-iU


The "Cast" of Characters (aka the Models of the Characters in the Comic Series, current "Season 1" listing only)
Kiefer Sutherland ... Dr. Fred Cryas
Don Cheadle ... Glen Norme
Sandrine Holt ... Capt. Christine "Sheba" Malfi
Vincent Cassel ... Rollin Phoebus
Monica Bellucci ... Dr. Selena Phoebus
Jake Gyllenhaal ... John Coba
Grace Park ... Kate/Model 8 Variations
Tricia Helfer ... Model 6 Variations
Lucy Lawless ... Model 3 Variations
Dean Stockwell ... Model 1 Variations
Callum Keith Rennie ... Model 2 Variations
Rick Worthy ... Number 4 Variations
Matthew Bennett ... Number 5 Variations
Cylon Centurions ... Cylon Centurions

I haven't yet found a place to be the comic series' website (I'm looking for a free website with a lot of webspace and I have also considered on using a Blog site for the series, but haven't determined anything yet). If anyone happens to know where I can find the Sims I need, or any questions or suggestions about how to host the series, feel free to contact me. Have a nice day and thank you for your time.

[Daniel Strickland]

Well, here's the update. It's not much, but I figured I'd at least attempt to get something out there.

Remember the user I told you about, hehthur, who is suppose to do the Sims I need of the human Cylons? Well, I PMed her over the past few months with links to the screencaps I made of the actors I need for the series. Well, I haven't heard from her in a long while. In act, according to her board profile at The Sims Resource, she hasn't been on since June, when she posted her Boomer sim. And since The Sims Resource doesn't show e-mail addresses, I don't have a means of contacting her other than through TSR. So, I'm pretty much in limbo.

This limbo is beginning to make me wonder if I should proceed with the series. I really want to, but with all the setbacks throughout the five years of development, I'm beginning to wonder if it'll ever get off the ground. I'm also beginning to wonder if I made a mistake by changing the story's medium from typical text based to machininma. Looking at the whole thing, by doing text based, it would have afforded me the option of inviting other users to get involved in the creation of the series and it's entire run. However, by doing it as machinima, it affords me the ability to use the concept of "a picture is worth a thousand words", as I can convey the story through pictures and not have to the problem of finding the right words to describe events as they occur. But the drawback of it is the fact that I cannot invite others to be involved and help expand the story. In short, I'm in the middle of a mid-story-life crisis, contemplating on how and if I should proceed. It sucks, I know... But what else can I do but question my position at the current moment?

That's about it for now. Any feedback is welcome.

[Daniel Strickland]

Hey everyone! Sorry for taking so long for new updates, but I've been rather busy. I've got some good news and some ongoing questions I'd like to ask you guys (feel free to chime in with your two-cubits).

First off, I've got great news. I've found a Simmaker who is working on some BSG Sims and she is willing to not only make the Significant 7 Cylon models I need, but will also allow me to use them in the series. The Lucy Lawless Sim I originally selected to be used for the comic will be replaced with a new one by her. So far, for the Cylon Models she has done, she has a D'anna and a Sharon done. Honestly, I feel both look closer to the actresses than the previous Sims I found of these two and plan on going with them. And I have sent pictures for her to do Leoban next. Let me know what you guys think of the D'anna and Sharon:

D'anna: [url]http://v7images.ibibi.com/1177/1177876.jpg[/url]

Sharon:
[url]http://v7images.ibibi.com/1180/1180515.jpg[/url]

The Sims Resource Page for hehthur (the user making the Sims): [url="http://www.thesimsresource.com/members/hehthur/"]http://www.thesimsresource.com/members/hehthur/[/url]

Note: She also has a Helo, a Dualla and an Apollo she's done. All of them are available for download if you want to go with them. :)

I apologize if this has been mentioned before, but I've found quite a lot of Sim pose objects that have opened up a wide possibilities of Sim poses that may be able to use in the comic series.

I'm still putting on finishing touches for the first story in the comic series. I've just got to make sure if I want to include Kate's side of the story in the first story or wait for the second comic, which she shows up again in. I'm also trying to decide to have Selena and Rollin leave their home and then be caught, or to attempt to leave the planet and get caught. Also, trying to decide on how Glen Norme gets picked up. I may have to change Sheba's story a bit, since I've discovered that Cavil didn't just put Ellen on the Rising Star, but stayed with her during the events in "33" (I saw this in a special 30 second preview on the Sci-Fi website). But, needless to say, the series will be coming really soon.

One of the big questions I keep asking is this: "For the Battlestar Athena, will I have her be the TOS Galactica or the new Galactica design?" I definitely need some help here and an opinion: Should I go with the TOS Galactica design for the Athena or the new Galactica design for the Athena? I will admit, I have had one user send me to a couple of websites for designs of RIS BSG inspired vessels, but those models aren't available for the "Orbiter" space sim (to which someone has offered to help out for space shots, though as cool as it would be to have a different design for a Battlestar, the odds of getting a 3-D model to be converted over for the sim may be difficult, while the TOS Galactica and RIS Galactica are already available).

I've still got some "sets" to construct, primarily being some empty streets, "Union Central" subway station, a bus/school bus depot and several others for the first half of the comic series. I'm even looking at utilizing some of the lots constructed by other users. I will also get around to installing "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas", as well as the mods for it in hopes of making some necessary shots as well.

I've come across a site that has allows users to create their own Wikipedia for free. I've considered on opening one for the comic series. But I am not sure about it. For a homepage, I am still not sure of one I can use. I would prefer a free website and utilize a free file host to host the comics.

I know that this is not much of an update, but it's better to have something than nothing. Anyways, submit your feedback when you can.

[Daniel Strickland]

Hey hey! It's me again, and I've got a new update. While in between doing class work and patiently waiting for the Sims I need to start work on the series, I have recently installed a new version of Photoshop as a part of the MasterCollection for Macintosh. So, after taking some "green screen" shots, I have placed a Sim into a screenshot to see if it's possible to do it and it be not noticeable as it would be if I left it normally. By doing this, it will help determine if comic bookizing the pictures will be the true way to go for the series. So, here is the first "green screen" test shots (more may follow)

Original Photo, no filters, Sim "greenscreened" in and light rendered to best fit the lighting in the picture.
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q94/codebreaker2001/BSGBTR/GreenTest1A.jpg[/IMG]

Photo with Find Edge Filters, as well as adding another layer with dodging effect to lower color intensity.
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q94/codebreaker2001/BSGBTR/GreenTest2A.jpg[/IMG]

Let me know what you guys think which of the two blends together and if the filter applications made comes off better than the previous test shots: Using unfiltered shots with Sims greenscreened in or using the filters with greenscreened Sims in.