Unlike the mechs, the ships will be in one piece (im going to give the user the ability to build their own chassis out of premade parts). So they will probably have a distinct style. Right now, I am working on designing the story and gameplay, so I have no real concrete designs for anything. All I want are good looking ships that can not be called a copy of anything (I dont want to be sued ).

Levels are pretty much covered. Its all mostly outdoor or in space, so it will be pretty easy with a level designer (Im working on that right now as well). All of my graphics problem all pertain to the models: the core, the skin, and animation. That and I need lots of them:people, mechs parts, space vehicles, land vehicles, aircraft, and seacraft (for the water-style fights.. they are going to be great). I want a lot of depth to the game but the models it requires are going to take a lot of work. And since my budget is whatever I can rummage together, its not going to be easy. If you contribute some models, Id be very appreciative. Skins arent too important (one of us has some experience witht them), and for space-ships animation is mostly with the particle engine (the rockets, and the motion of everything around it. So go nuts, and come up with crazy but feasible designs.

On a kind of related note ... does anyone know of any good 3D Max 3 tutorials?