If I asked you to name a popular app, which one would come to your mind first? Or if I said "angry," would "birds" be the next thing you'd think of?
Lucasfilm Ltd and Rovio Entertainment Ltd are hoping so.
Following the huge success of the Star Wars version of Angry Birds, these two companies are coming together again to offer a sequel. According to starwars.com, "Angry Birds Star Wars II will follow the story of the three prequel Star Wars movies, including the introduction of never-before-seen Angry Birds Star Wars characters." One of the biggest changes to highlight is that you don't have to just play as Angry Birds. You can also play villainous Pigs like Darth Maul and General Grievous.
Pork Side, anybody?
The original Angry Birds Star Wars has been downloaded over 100 million times since it debuted, and it has some pretty good ratings in various app stores. Lucasfilm and Rovio are hoping that adding new characters (like young Anakin, Mace Windu, and Darth Maul) will continue the appeal of the sequel. Plus the new game will also come with TELEPODS, an interactive system from Hasbro that works a lot like the Skylanders game for Nintendo: place a physical toy representation of one of the characters on the phone or tablet camera to scan it in, and then play as that character in-game.
Angry Birds Star Wars II will be released on September 19th alongside an expected storm of new merchandise, and if you went to San Diego Comic-Con this past week you likely saw the first demo of the game in one of the exhibit halls.
Watch out, Angry Birds. The Pigs have Sith Lightning.
- Edessa, signing off
Showing posts with label Star Wars News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Star Wars News. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Farewell, LucasArts
I heard the big news during my Audio/Visual Production class yesterday afternoon and, honestly, I'm still not happy about it.
Disney shut down LucasArts.
There wasn't any warning. There weren't any rumors about it. They just discussed it quietly and then suddenly laid off over a hundred employees yesterday morning.
And gamers like me are still sitting here in shock at the whole thing.
For those of you who don't know, LucasArts is the video game company that George Lucas - the Maker himself - founded years ago. They've been the publishers and developers behind games like LEGO Star Wars, The Force Unleashed, Battlefront, and so many others. And now it's gone.
By a technicality, LucasArts still exists. According to one of the company's representatives, their position was compared to other similar developer/publishers in the gaming industry, and they've "decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company's risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games. As a result of this change, we've had layoffs across the organization" (Computerandvideogames.com)
Basically, LucasArts will no longer be developing games, just publishing them. It also means that two big games that so many people were looking forward to playing - Star Wars 1313 and First Assault - have apparently been totally cancelled. Supposedly, they're looking for another development company to finish both games, but that may or may not end up happening. It's all rather up in the air at the moment, and probably will be for a while.
Honestly, I'm really not liking this. I mean, I had some initial reservations about Disney taking over the Lucas Empire, but then I figured, "Hey, it's Disney. They do quality stuff, so they probably won't screw this up."
Then they cancelled The Clone Wars.
And now they've totally messed with LucasArts.
I think what makes me the most upset is the fact that over 150 LucasArts employees were laid off because of this decision. I mean, it would have been one thing if Disney had warned them about it, but from everything I've read it seems like the developers just walked in one day and found their jobs gone.
I mean, really, Disney. Couldn't you have at least let them finish making Star Wars 1313 and First Assault before you laid them off? Those guys had been working on those projects for so long, and now they don't have the opportunity to finish what they started. And for a creative person (which game designers, programmers, and developers definitely are) who puts so much time, effort, and imagination into his work, being dropped from that project that you put almost everything into is nothing short of terrible.
But what's done is done. Disney has made its choice and, unfortunately, that choice involved almost two hundred men and women losing their jobs. For me, I know I'll be praying that all those who were laid off will find good work soon and specifically work that they love, and I would encourage everyone else out there to do the same.
And who knows? Maybe one day we'll look back and realize that this was ultimately a good decision for everyone. Right now it feels like anything but.
Expectations are sky high for you, Disney. Please don't mess this up.
- Edessa, signing off
Then they cancelled The Clone Wars.
And now they've totally messed with LucasArts.
I think what makes me the most upset is the fact that over 150 LucasArts employees were laid off because of this decision. I mean, it would have been one thing if Disney had warned them about it, but from everything I've read it seems like the developers just walked in one day and found their jobs gone.
I mean, really, Disney. Couldn't you have at least let them finish making Star Wars 1313 and First Assault before you laid them off? Those guys had been working on those projects for so long, and now they don't have the opportunity to finish what they started. And for a creative person (which game designers, programmers, and developers definitely are) who puts so much time, effort, and imagination into his work, being dropped from that project that you put almost everything into is nothing short of terrible.
But what's done is done. Disney has made its choice and, unfortunately, that choice involved almost two hundred men and women losing their jobs. For me, I know I'll be praying that all those who were laid off will find good work soon and specifically work that they love, and I would encourage everyone else out there to do the same.
And who knows? Maybe one day we'll look back and realize that this was ultimately a good decision for everyone. Right now it feels like anything but.
Expectations are sky high for you, Disney. Please don't mess this up.
- Edessa, signing off
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
A New Direction
There's some big news circling around the Star Wars world, and it's most definitely worth keeping an eye on.
As all of you (hopefully) know, Disney recently bought the Star Wars franchise from George Lucas, including all of novels, merchandise, and television series. While Disney is working on giving us another Star Wars trilogy - which, by the way, will also have Mark Hamil, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford reprising their iconic roles from the original trilogy - it's also putting The Clone Wars and Detours on new tracks.
After an absolutely wonderful fifth season, Disney has sadly decided to wind The Clone Wars series down. This doesn't mean that they're just stopping with Season Five (there are still a few more story arcs left for them to tell), but it does mean that the series is slowly drawing to a close. It's really sad, particularly for big CW fans like myself, but I guess I also realize that Disney would rather focus its creativity on making an amazing new trilogy of Star Wars films. I suppose I would rather have them devote more of their efforts to that, no matter how much I love CW.
For more information on the CW issue and to see a really exciting clip from one of the upcoming story arcs, check out this video: http://starwars.com/watch/the-future-of-star-wars-the-clone-wars.html
As for the animated comedy show Star Wars Detours, Disney has decided to postpone the series release until an unspecified later date. Their reasoning is that it doesn't "make sense" to release a comedy series before the release of Episode VII. Honestly, that logic doesn't "make sense" to me, but I guess Disney will do what Disney will do. Hopefully the series will release fairly soon because I, for one, am really looking forward to it.
So whether you love or hate or are indifferent to Disney's purchase of George Lucas' iconic franchise, now is still a great opportunity to support that wonderful galaxy far, far away. Change is most definitely hard and many people (myself included) hate change, but the potential for Star Wars' growth as a franchise is very real and very possible.
Let's rally around Disney and Lucasfilm, Ltd., and encourage them to make this the greatest century to be any type of Star Wars fan! Viva la Star Wars!
- Edessa, signing off
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Coming Soon: SWTOR Free-to-Play
It is official. After losing a little over one million subscribers, Star Wars: The Old Republic (or SWTOR) will soon be available as f2p, or free-to-play.
According to Matthew Bromberg, the GM of BioWare Austin, "Players want flexibility and choice. The subscription-only model presented a major barrier for a lot of people who wanted to become part of The Old Republic universe."
Since its launch, SWTOR has had a monthly price tag of $14.99, making it one of the more expensive games to play. Every game purchase does come with thirty days of gameplay free, and it appears as though many gamers leveled their characters all the way up to the 50 level cap and then quit when their thirty free days expired. After reading various articles on SWTOR, most gamers I read about admitted that they would either return to the game or start playing it if there was an f2p option.
If you are one of those individuals, then BioWare has heard your cries and has responded very positively.
An f2p option will bring in a lot of excited new players, but it may also cause a rift between gamers who pay for subscriptions and those who are "freebies." Most - if not all - online games that offer subscription and free options have faced a division between payers and players. Those who pay for a subscription sometimes believe that they are being gyped because freebies are getting the whole game experience free, whereas the freebies wonder why the payers don't like them. It's an unfortunate occurance, but it does happen.
Thankfully, though, BioWare is giving good incentives for their subscribers to continue paying by giving them special perks that freebies can't get without a monthly fee. So what do you get out of monthly subscription and f2p accounts?
If You Pay (Subscriber):
If You Play (Freebie):
If you're a Subscriber or are considering subscribing, you might be wondering what these "Cartel Coins" are. Basically they're a special type of currency that only subscribers have access to, a reward for those who are willing to buy a monthly subscription. These Coins will be used to purchase special in-game items that can only be bought with Cartel Coins, like a Kowakian Monkey Lizard Pet, a Sith Meditation Throne, and the Lost Helm of Darth Nihilus.
If you're a current subscriber, you might also want to consider looking at what special rewards you can start receiving today. Visit the link below for more information on all the stuff you can start getting today. If you're interested in more specifics concerning the f2p option for SWTOR, you can also click on the link for more information: http://www.swtor.com/free
Physical copies of SWTOR will also go on sale in the U.S. for $14.99 just prior to the launch of the f2p option. SWTOR goes f2p sometime this Fall, though the exact date has not been released yet.
As for the reason why SWTOR has decided to go f2p so soon after its launch, BioWare wants to bring its subscriber base back up. Losing one million players is disastrous, even for a game as popular as SWTOR. According to Jeff Hickman, the game's Executive Producer, on the official SWTOR blog: "We [at BioWare] feel that flexibility and choice in playing our game is important for all current and future players. For that reason, we began the exploration of expanding the game to include a Free-to-Play option." If you would like to read more of his post, please visit http://www.swtor.com/info/news/blog/20120731.
If the inclusion of an f2p option is as successful for SWTOR as it was for LOTRO, I wonder what kind of effect it will have on other popular MMOs, such as World of Warcraft. WoW introduced a "play free to level 20" option in response to SWTORs original launch, but will Blizzard Entertainment cave in and go f2p if SWTOR is successful with its inclusion of freebies? I'll keep tabs on that and let you know if anything like that develops over at WoW.
What do you think of this new step for BioWare and SWTOR? Do you think more gamers will join and stay on? Is this a good financial decision for BioWare? And is the coming f2p option affecting whether or not you will start playing, or whether you will continue to play?
Personally, I believe that f2p is how all online games will function eventually, and I like that BioWare is going to allow more players to join with the inclusion of an f2p option. True, freebies will have restrictions on parts of their game, but I don't think that will ruin their overall gaming experience. And by giving subscribers special rewards for paying, BioWare is giving payers more new reasons to keep buying monthly subscriptions and to stay on even when the rush of freebies start charging in. In my opinion, I think this is a good step forward for BioWare and SWTOR, but I would love to know what you all think of this!
For more information of the f2p option, please visit the links I posted above. And if you would like to know more about SWTOR itself, please visit the official website at http://www.swtor.com/. SWTOR can be purchased physically from stores like Target, Walmart, and GameStop, or ordered online through places like eBay and Amazon, or downloaded digitally from Origin at http://buy.swtor.com/us/.
- Edessa, signing off
According to Matthew Bromberg, the GM of BioWare Austin, "Players want flexibility and choice. The subscription-only model presented a major barrier for a lot of people who wanted to become part of The Old Republic universe."
Since its launch, SWTOR has had a monthly price tag of $14.99, making it one of the more expensive games to play. Every game purchase does come with thirty days of gameplay free, and it appears as though many gamers leveled their characters all the way up to the 50 level cap and then quit when their thirty free days expired. After reading various articles on SWTOR, most gamers I read about admitted that they would either return to the game or start playing it if there was an f2p option.
If you are one of those individuals, then BioWare has heard your cries and has responded very positively.
An f2p option will bring in a lot of excited new players, but it may also cause a rift between gamers who pay for subscriptions and those who are "freebies." Most - if not all - online games that offer subscription and free options have faced a division between payers and players. Those who pay for a subscription sometimes believe that they are being gyped because freebies are getting the whole game experience free, whereas the freebies wonder why the payers don't like them. It's an unfortunate occurance, but it does happen.
Thankfully, though, BioWare is giving good incentives for their subscribers to continue paying by giving them special perks that freebies can't get without a monthly fee. So what do you get out of monthly subscription and f2p accounts?
If You Pay (Subscriber):
- Access to a new currency called Cartel Coins
- Full access to levels 1-50 (the level cap will be raised soon)
- Full access to the Character Creator
- Full access to all Warzones
- Full access to all Flashpoints
- Full access to all Space Missions
- Full access to all Operations
- Full access to all travel features
- Priority access during login (subscribers will get into the game faster than freebies)
- 50 available listings on the Galactice Trade Network
If You Play (Freebie):
- Full access to levels 1-50 (the level cap will be raised soon)
- Limited access to the Character Creator (some species are only available to subscribers)
- Limited access to Warzones (access is limited to a certain weekly cap)
- Limited access to Flashpoints (access is limited to a certain weekly cap)
- Limited access to Space Missions (access is limited to a certain weekly cap)
- No access to all Operations
- Limited access to all Travel Features (no details available)
- Normal access during login (subscribers who login at the same time will get into the game faster than a freebie)
- Limited access to posting on the Galactic Trade Network (no details available)
If you're a Subscriber or are considering subscribing, you might be wondering what these "Cartel Coins" are. Basically they're a special type of currency that only subscribers have access to, a reward for those who are willing to buy a monthly subscription. These Coins will be used to purchase special in-game items that can only be bought with Cartel Coins, like a Kowakian Monkey Lizard Pet, a Sith Meditation Throne, and the Lost Helm of Darth Nihilus.
If you're a current subscriber, you might also want to consider looking at what special rewards you can start receiving today. Visit the link below for more information on all the stuff you can start getting today. If you're interested in more specifics concerning the f2p option for SWTOR, you can also click on the link for more information: http://www.swtor.com/free
Physical copies of SWTOR will also go on sale in the U.S. for $14.99 just prior to the launch of the f2p option. SWTOR goes f2p sometime this Fall, though the exact date has not been released yet.
As for the reason why SWTOR has decided to go f2p so soon after its launch, BioWare wants to bring its subscriber base back up. Losing one million players is disastrous, even for a game as popular as SWTOR. According to Jeff Hickman, the game's Executive Producer, on the official SWTOR blog: "We [at BioWare] feel that flexibility and choice in playing our game is important for all current and future players. For that reason, we began the exploration of expanding the game to include a Free-to-Play option." If you would like to read more of his post, please visit http://www.swtor.com/info/news/blog/20120731.
If the inclusion of an f2p option is as successful for SWTOR as it was for LOTRO, I wonder what kind of effect it will have on other popular MMOs, such as World of Warcraft. WoW introduced a "play free to level 20" option in response to SWTORs original launch, but will Blizzard Entertainment cave in and go f2p if SWTOR is successful with its inclusion of freebies? I'll keep tabs on that and let you know if anything like that develops over at WoW.
What do you think of this new step for BioWare and SWTOR? Do you think more gamers will join and stay on? Is this a good financial decision for BioWare? And is the coming f2p option affecting whether or not you will start playing, or whether you will continue to play?
Personally, I believe that f2p is how all online games will function eventually, and I like that BioWare is going to allow more players to join with the inclusion of an f2p option. True, freebies will have restrictions on parts of their game, but I don't think that will ruin their overall gaming experience. And by giving subscribers special rewards for paying, BioWare is giving payers more new reasons to keep buying monthly subscriptions and to stay on even when the rush of freebies start charging in. In my opinion, I think this is a good step forward for BioWare and SWTOR, but I would love to know what you all think of this!
For more information of the f2p option, please visit the links I posted above. And if you would like to know more about SWTOR itself, please visit the official website at http://www.swtor.com/. SWTOR can be purchased physically from stores like Target, Walmart, and GameStop, or ordered online through places like eBay and Amazon, or downloaded digitally from Origin at http://buy.swtor.com/us/.
- Edessa, signing off
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Rancho Obi-Wan Coming to Celebration VI
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| A replica of the Episode IV Bith band is part of Rancho Obi-Wan |
For those of you who don't know, Rancho Obi-Wan is a non-profit museum that houses the world's largest private collection of Star Wars memorabilia. Everything from costumes, to props, to original concept art, to prototypes, to even stuff made by fellow fans. The museum is owned and operated by Steve Sansweet, a Star Wars novel author and Lucasfilm's official fan Ambassador for fifteen years, and is located in Petaluma, California.
The Rancho isn't open to the public - though private tours can be scheduled (see http://www.ranchoobiwan.org/tours.php for more information) - but Star Wars fans at Celebration VI will be able to visit the exhibit, see the world-renowned collection, and even speak to Mr. Sansweet during the conference.
If you're going to Celebration VI, don't forget to make time to see this one-of-a-kind exhibit! This is a very rare opportunity that I don't think many fans will want to miss out on. And if you're passing though Petaluma, CA, you might want to consider a private tour of the Rancho. For more information on the Rancho, please visit http://www.ranchoobiwan.org/.
- Edessa, signing off
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
"Clone Wars" Season 4 on DVD and Blu-Ray
Season 4, arguably, was the best season of The Clone Wars TV show, and on October 23, 2012, you can own this amazing season on DVD and Blu-Ray.
"Bonus materials include a collectible poster and five new video commentaries, which include director, cast, and crew interviews. Exclusive to the Blu-ray disc, the Jedi Temple Archives provides in-depth access to an extensive database of creative materials -- including early test animations, concept art, 3D turnarounds and more than twenty deleted/extended scenes" (Star Wars.com). The five video commentaries include The Battle of Mon Cala, Darkened World of Umbara, Obi-Wan Undercover, Slaves of Zygerria, and Darth Maul Returns.
Look for Season 4 at your local video store, retail stores, and online on October 23rd, and don't forget to watch Season 5 of the Clone Wars on Cartoon Network or online this fall!
(Trailer for Season 4 on Blu-ray and DVD.)
- Edessa, signing off
"Bonus materials include a collectible poster and five new video commentaries, which include director, cast, and crew interviews. Exclusive to the Blu-ray disc, the Jedi Temple Archives provides in-depth access to an extensive database of creative materials -- including early test animations, concept art, 3D turnarounds and more than twenty deleted/extended scenes" (Star Wars.com). The five video commentaries include The Battle of Mon Cala, Darkened World of Umbara, Obi-Wan Undercover, Slaves of Zygerria, and Darth Maul Returns.
Look for Season 4 at your local video store, retail stores, and online on October 23rd, and don't forget to watch Season 5 of the Clone Wars on Cartoon Network or online this fall!
- Edessa, signing off
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Updated Guest List For Star Wars Celebration VI
The closer we get to the Celebration, the more celebrity guests get added to the list. The newest guest is none other than the amazing Temuera Morrison, who played one of Star Wars' most iconic bounty hunters, Jango Fett, and was the face and voice of the most elite army of all time. Morrison will be "greeting fans and signing autographs in Official Pix Autograph Hall" (Star Wars.com).
Here is the list (so far) of all of the guests who will be attending Celebration VI in Orlando, Florida, this August:
Dave Filoni - Star Wars: The Clone Wars director
Joel Aron - The Clone Wars CG supervisor
Carrie Fisher - Princess Leia
Seth Green - Robot Chicken
Ian McDiarmid - Emperor Palpatine
Matthew Senreich - Robot Chicken
David Acord - The Clone Wars sound designer
Jon Berg - ILM Modelmaker
Ben Burtt - Star Wars saga supervising sound editor/designer
Bill George - Star Tours visual effect supervisor
Lorne Peterson - ILM Modelmaker
Tom Spina - sculptor/special effects artist
Matthew Wood - supervising sound editor
And here is the list of celebrities who will be signing autographs:
Amy Allen - Aayla Secura
Kenny Baker - R2-D2, Paploo
Dickey Beer - Boba Fett stunt double
Jeremy Bulloch - Boba Fett
Trevor Butterfield - Lt. Blount (Return of the Jedi)
Anthony Daniels - C-3PO
Garrick Hagon - Biggs Darklighter
Jake Lloyd - Anakin Skywalker
Daniel Logan - Boba Fett
Chris Malcolm - Zev Senesca (The Empire Strikes Back)
Nick Maley - makeup artist
Peter Mayhew - Chewbacca
Temeura Morrison - Jango Fett
John Morton - Dak Ralter
Bonnie Piesse - young Beru Lars
Tim Rose - Admiral Ackbar
Paul Springer - Ree-Yees
And, finally, these last four men will be hosting Celebration VI:
James Arnold Taylor - Obi-Wan Kenobi
Pablo Hidalgo - Author/Lucasfilm Star Wars expert
David Collins - voice actor/director/musician/designer
Chris Hardwick - Nerdist Founder
You can still buy tickets for Celebration VI. Head on over to this link for more information about the biggest party this side of Coruscant: http://www.starwarscelebration.com/
- Edessa, signing off
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
"The Clone Wars Season 5" Trailer
Star Wars.com has finally released the official trailer for Season 5 of The Clone Wars. I've posted the video below:
So who's excited for Season 5? Personally, I am so psyched!
And I think I'm also liking Lux's hair longer. *nods* =D
- Edessa, signing off
So who's excited for Season 5? Personally, I am so psyched!
And I think I'm also liking Lux's hair longer. *nods* =D
- Edessa, signing off
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
New Co-Chair of Lucasfilm, Ltd. Announced
George Lucas is finally looking to retire, and his successor will be Kathleen Kennedy.
"Seven-time Academy Award nominated Kathleen Kennedy is one of the most succesful and esteemed producers and executives in the film industry. As a producer she has an impeccable record with a robust filmography working with such filmmakers as Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Martin Scorsese, Robert Zemeckis, Barry Levinson, Clint Eastwood, Davind Fincher and Gary Ross. As a testament to her standing in the film community, she previously held the position of governor and officer of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and currently serves as a member of the board of trustees. She is also a former President of the Producers Guild of America" (Star Wars.com).
To transition her into the role of full-time Chair of Lucasfilm, Ltd., Kennedy and Lucas will Co-Chair. Lucas will also remain as CEO once Kennedy finally takes over the Chair position, while "Micheline Chau will remain as President and COO of Lucasfilm, and continue to focus on the day-to-day operations of the business" (Star Wars.com).
- Edessa, signing off
"Seven-time Academy Award nominated Kathleen Kennedy is one of the most succesful and esteemed producers and executives in the film industry. As a producer she has an impeccable record with a robust filmography working with such filmmakers as Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Martin Scorsese, Robert Zemeckis, Barry Levinson, Clint Eastwood, Davind Fincher and Gary Ross. As a testament to her standing in the film community, she previously held the position of governor and officer of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and currently serves as a member of the board of trustees. She is also a former President of the Producers Guild of America" (Star Wars.com).
To transition her into the role of full-time Chair of Lucasfilm, Ltd., Kennedy and Lucas will Co-Chair. Lucas will also remain as CEO once Kennedy finally takes over the Chair position, while "Micheline Chau will remain as President and COO of Lucasfilm, and continue to focus on the day-to-day operations of the business" (Star Wars.com).
- Edessa, signing off
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Celebration VI Guest Update
![]() |
| The ultimate Celebration guest! |
I'll give you a moment to totally hyperventilate.
............
Done? Good. :)
For most Star Wars fans, Darth Sidious/The Emperor is the very face of cunning evil, the masterminding Sith who not only conquered most of the galaxy but almost totally eliminated the whole Jedi Order as well. While McDiarmid doesn't usually attend conventions, he has agreed to be part of Celebration VI this August. He will be at autographing sessions in the Autograph Hall, and "he will also appear on stage in special behind-the-scenes programming, offering attendees a rare opportunity to hear about the making of Star Wars from his perspective" (starwars.com). If you plan on attending the Celebration (which is August 23-26 in Orlando, Florida), remember to take the opportunity to meet the actor behind one of the best evil masterminds in film history.
To see the whole guest list, go to this link at the official Celebration VI website:
http://www.starwarscelebration.com/Whos-Coming/?campaignid=61687247&iusercampaignid=71283868
- Edessa, signing off
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
New "Star Wars" Novel By Timothy Zahn
One of the best things about Star Wars, in my opinion, is the EU (Expanded Universe). The novels, guides, graphic novels, and video games all add so much to the overall experience of Star Wars, immersing fans even farther into that wonderful galaxy far, far away. There are so many stories in Star Wars, and it doesn't look like we're going to run out of tales anytime soon.
Timothy Zahn is probably the most well-known Star Wars writer this side of Coruscant. He wrote the Thrawn trilogy in the early 1990s, the Hand of Thrawn duology in the late '90s, as well as various other stand-alone novels, comic books, and short stories. His newest novel, Scoundrels, has been much anticipated by his fans, but here is the basic information for those of you who didn't know about it.
Scoundrels, the newest novel by Zahn, concerns everybody's favorite scoundrels Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian as they attempt to pull off a huge heist for a high-paying stranger. The synopsis (from Star Wars Books): "The Death Star has been destroyed. The Rebellion has had its first big victory. And Han Solo, newly conscripted to the Rebel cause, is on the run from the Empire and the bounty hunters eager to turn him in for the huge reward being offered by Jabba the Hutt. Now a mysterious stranger offers Han the resources to execute a daring robbery from a major crime lord. The mission is impossible, but the prize will make Han a free man. With no choice but to accept, Han Solo and his Wookiee partner, Chewbacca, set out to assemble a cast of rogues, knaves, and cons with the right combination of wits, skills, and derring-do to pull off an operation of this complexity and scale -- the best scoundrels the galaxy has to offer."
The novel has been described as a "rip-roaring, intergalactic, Ocean's Eleven-style heist adventure" (Star Wars Books), and that sound like a lot of fun to me.
The book will be in stores on December 26, 2012, but you can read the whole second chapter at this link: http://www.starwars.com/media/downloads/ebooks/Scoundrels_CHAPTER%20TWO.pdf
Do you think you'll read Scoundrels when it releases this December? What is your most favorite book, guide, graphic novel, or video game from the EU?
Mine would have to be the Republic Commando series by Karen Traviss, followed closely by the LEGO Star Wars games. :D
- Edessa, signing off
![]() |
| "Scoundrels" cover art |
Scoundrels, the newest novel by Zahn, concerns everybody's favorite scoundrels Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian as they attempt to pull off a huge heist for a high-paying stranger. The synopsis (from Star Wars Books): "The Death Star has been destroyed. The Rebellion has had its first big victory. And Han Solo, newly conscripted to the Rebel cause, is on the run from the Empire and the bounty hunters eager to turn him in for the huge reward being offered by Jabba the Hutt. Now a mysterious stranger offers Han the resources to execute a daring robbery from a major crime lord. The mission is impossible, but the prize will make Han a free man. With no choice but to accept, Han Solo and his Wookiee partner, Chewbacca, set out to assemble a cast of rogues, knaves, and cons with the right combination of wits, skills, and derring-do to pull off an operation of this complexity and scale -- the best scoundrels the galaxy has to offer."
The novel has been described as a "rip-roaring, intergalactic, Ocean's Eleven-style heist adventure" (Star Wars Books), and that sound like a lot of fun to me.
The book will be in stores on December 26, 2012, but you can read the whole second chapter at this link: http://www.starwars.com/media/downloads/ebooks/Scoundrels_CHAPTER%20TWO.pdf
Do you think you'll read Scoundrels when it releases this December? What is your most favorite book, guide, graphic novel, or video game from the EU?
Mine would have to be the Republic Commando series by Karen Traviss, followed closely by the LEGO Star Wars games. :D
- Edessa, signing off
Labels:
Books,
EU,
Scoundrels,
Star Wars News,
Timothy Zahn
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Celebration VI Updates: New Guests
Just in from starwars.com, a few more very famous celebrity guests will be coming to Celebration VI this August.
Carrie Fisher: The actress behind the tough, witty Princess Leia in the Original Trilogy will for sure be at the Celebration. She will greet fans, sign autographs in the Autograph Hall, and even have a question-and-answer session onstage with host James Arnold Taylor (voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Clone Wars).
Joel Aron: You may not recognize the name, but this guy is the CG Supervisor for The Clone Wars TV show and has worked in Industrial Light & Magic (arguably the best visual effects company in the world) on films such as Jurassic Park, Men In Black, and Pearl Harbor. At the Celebration he will be on the Clone Wars panels "sharing both behind-the-scenes knowledge and spectacular new sneak peeks into Season Five" (starwars.com). He also will be teaching sessions in the Star Wars University lecture hall.
Lots and Lots of Boba Fetts: Every actor who has played the most famous bounty hunter in the galaxy will be at Celebration VI. While there, they will be onstage, will sign autographs, and meet fans. Jeremy Bulloch (Fett from the Original Trilogy) will be there, as well as Daniel Logan (teenage Fett in Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars), Dickey Beer (Bulloch's stunt double during the infamous Sail Barge scene), and John Morton. Adding more to the Fett hoopla will be The Dented Helmet and the 501st Legion who "are hosting an art helmet charity project. Artists are creating one-of-a-kind masterpeices to benefit the Make-A-Wish charity, with roughly hald the exhibit and art dedicated to clone trooper helmets, and half to Boba Fett helmets" (starwars.com). These helmets will be on display and auctioned off at Celebration VI.
More guests and hosts may be announced closer to the Celebration, but, for now, you can add all of those guys to the ever-expanding list of Star Wars celebrities that will be attending.
And, of course, the year that all of the Fett actors are at the party is the very year that I can't go. :(
Ah, well. Maybe I'll get Mr. Bulloch's and Mr. Logan's autographs some other time. :D
- Edessa, signing off
Carrie Fisher: The actress behind the tough, witty Princess Leia in the Original Trilogy will for sure be at the Celebration. She will greet fans, sign autographs in the Autograph Hall, and even have a question-and-answer session onstage with host James Arnold Taylor (voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Clone Wars).
Joel Aron: You may not recognize the name, but this guy is the CG Supervisor for The Clone Wars TV show and has worked in Industrial Light & Magic (arguably the best visual effects company in the world) on films such as Jurassic Park, Men In Black, and Pearl Harbor. At the Celebration he will be on the Clone Wars panels "sharing both behind-the-scenes knowledge and spectacular new sneak peeks into Season Five" (starwars.com). He also will be teaching sessions in the Star Wars University lecture hall.
Lots and Lots of Boba Fetts: Every actor who has played the most famous bounty hunter in the galaxy will be at Celebration VI. While there, they will be onstage, will sign autographs, and meet fans. Jeremy Bulloch (Fett from the Original Trilogy) will be there, as well as Daniel Logan (teenage Fett in Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars), Dickey Beer (Bulloch's stunt double during the infamous Sail Barge scene), and John Morton. Adding more to the Fett hoopla will be The Dented Helmet and the 501st Legion who "are hosting an art helmet charity project. Artists are creating one-of-a-kind masterpeices to benefit the Make-A-Wish charity, with roughly hald the exhibit and art dedicated to clone trooper helmets, and half to Boba Fett helmets" (starwars.com). These helmets will be on display and auctioned off at Celebration VI.More guests and hosts may be announced closer to the Celebration, but, for now, you can add all of those guys to the ever-expanding list of Star Wars celebrities that will be attending.
And, of course, the year that all of the Fett actors are at the party is the very year that I can't go. :(
Ah, well. Maybe I'll get Mr. Bulloch's and Mr. Logan's autographs some other time. :D
- Edessa, signing off
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
"Star Wars"-esque Socializing? There's An App For That
Not so very long ago at a retail store close to you, the video game Kinect Star Wars was released, and to celebrate its launch a new app has been created that will allow you to see all of your Facebook and Twitter feeds using the Crawl (the opening sequence of words that crawls up the screen before every Star Wars film).
This is a free mobile app, called the Kinect Star Wars Social App, that will be available for the iOS, Android, and Windows phones as well as for the iPad. Not only will you recieve your usual Facebook and Twitter feeds but you will also be sent updates about the Kinect Star Wars game.
I found this screenshot on Google that shows what the app looks like:
So show your Star Wars geekiness with this free social app, and let the Crawl begin!
- Edessa, signing off
This is a free mobile app, called the Kinect Star Wars Social App, that will be available for the iOS, Android, and Windows phones as well as for the iPad. Not only will you recieve your usual Facebook and Twitter feeds but you will also be sent updates about the Kinect Star Wars game.
I found this screenshot on Google that shows what the app looks like:
And this is what the iOS version looks like:
So show your Star Wars geekiness with this free social app, and let the Crawl begin!
- Edessa, signing off
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Let's Celebrate!
Star Wars Celebration VI is returning to Orlando, Florida, this year. I really wish that I could attend, but, sadly, Florida is in the Outer Rim from my location. :(
For those of you who are considering going or who would like to know more about the biggest party this side of Coruscant, then this is the post for you!
QUICK HISTORY:
The very first Star Wars Celebration was in Denver, Colorado, and was put together in honor of the theatrical release of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Since then there have been a total of five Celebrations in America (including this upcoming one), one in London, and one in Japan. The last Celebration was in 2010 and was attended by about 30,000 people - from hardcore to casual fans of all ages. All Celebrations have included panel discussions, exhibits, a show floor for various merchandise, exclusive screenings, celebrity guests, autograph sessions, the 501st Legion, etc. etc.
It's no wonder that it's "the biggest party this side of the galaxy!"
WHEN/WHERE IS CELEBRATION VI?:
Celebration VI will begin on Thursday August 23rd and end on Sunday August 26th. It will be at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, this year.
WHAT WILL BE AT CELEBRATION VI?:
Lot's and lot's and lot's and lot's of stuff! The fan-favorite Costume Pageant, collector's merchandise, Her Universe, 40 artists at the Art Show, panel discussions, autographs, a chance to see what Lucasfilm is working on, Star Wars video games, seminars, performances, huge exhibits, Meet and Greet sessions, and then quite a few surprises.
Yeah. It's a lot!
WHO WILL BE AT CELEBRATION VI?:
Hosts: Pablo Hidalgo (author), James Arnold Taylor (voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Clone Wars), David Collins (voice actor/director), and Chris Hardwick (Nerdist founder)
Guests: Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars supervising director)
Autographs: No names have been released yet, but keep checking www.starwarscelebration.com for updates.
COST:
Individual Adult Passes: $55.00 a day ($65.00 on Saturday)
Individual Adult Four-Day Passes: $135.00
Kid's One-Day Passes: $27.00
Under 6 - Free
Family Packages - multiple packages to choose from: http://www.starwarscelebration.com/Buy-Tickets/Family-Packages/
You can also buy your tickets at the door but, of course, they will be more expensive.
And that's the basics of Celebration VI. If you want more information, you can head on over to www.starwarscelebration.com.
So have you ever been to a Celebration? What was your favorite part, if you did? And do you think you'll go to Celebration VI?
- Edessa, signing off
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