Well, it definitely won't be out before EVO 1.0.2.
If someone came up with a reliable Mission Editor that didn't involve you converting everything to EV format it would speed things up.
Right now I've got the plot for the main thread, and the plot for the other main thread. I'm basically creating graphics every evening and playing with EVO features to find stuff I want to do which hasn't been done.
The very last thing I'll be working on will be Quick Time movies -- however, these will not be installed by default, as I don't want to wade through all the QT problems of FH 1.00 to 1.0.3. This may depend a little on whether EVO 1.0.2 has a more stable QuickTime engine.
Right now, the new startup screen (with animations) is done, some of the ''not yet seen" features are done, a load of new worlds have been done, but not half of the new ones which will be, and most of the new ship models have been created but not yet made into spins.
But it's the storyline which is going to be the most exciting bit, and that takes a little time to coalesce in my mind from the plot (which, as I say, I've got) to something which hits me emotionally (which is the only way I have of guessing whether it will get anyone else).
Hope this helps -- I guess the short answer is 'in the summer -- probably of 2000'.
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M A R T I N T U R N E R