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Darth Vader Transforms
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Movies, Toys
What do you get when you cross Star Wars and one of our fave toys? It’s the Darth Vader Transformer, of course. At a height of 11-inches, he will wield his lightsaber and blaster with sounds and lighting. When you want him to change tactics, turn him into a Death Star. Although he will be smaller (about 6 3/4-inches,) he will launch projectiles at anything not belonging to the Dark Side. This baddie/battle station needs 3 AA batteries (included) and is available with 3 Storm Troopers and TIE Fighter mini-vehicles for $49.95.
(Thanks, Jennifer)
Read More 
| Firebox
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Yoda Postage Stamp Unveiled
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Announcements, Movies
So last spring we told you about the Star Wars postage stamps, which could only be purchased as a multi-stamp set. However, you could vote for your favorite character to receive a stamp of his/her/its own. The winner? Yoda! The sage, semi-cuddly Jedi Master’s stamp has been released. Although his pose suggests complete disdain for the honor, we bet deep down he’s quite humbled.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Star Wars Alert! Autographed “Empire Strikes Back” Photo
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Hot Deals, Movies
So you thought your Star Wars collection was complete after buying those Star Wars stamps the moment they were released. Well it’s time to break the bank again, amigo. Truly for the obsessed fan—and we mean that in a nice way—Wireless Catalog is offering a wood-framed still from “The Empire Strikes Back” signed by Billy Dee Williams, David Prowse (Darth Vader), and Jeremy Bulloch (the enigmatic Boba Fett). The collector’s item comes with a certificate of authenticity, measures 21x25” wide, and is currently available for $300 USD. Limited quantities available.
Read More | The Wireless Catalog
Original Star Wars Lightsaber Hits Space
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Movies, Science, Transportation
Who says that astronauts are all work and no play? Luke Skywalker’s actual lightsaber from “Return of the Jedi” was bundled up and taken on the latest trip to the Discovery. Before being packed away in its flight kit and stowed away in an area in the space shuttle, it was personally given a sendoff from George Lucas, Chewbacca, and some Jedi Knights. Ever since Gus Grissom carried a few dimes on his spaceflight in 1961, many items have been taken along for the ride. Although astronauts are not allowed to bring anything personal for profit, sometimes memorabilia will find its way to sites such as CollectSPACE. We prefer to think they they brought the weapon along just in case they need the Force to be with them.
Read More | USA Today
Darth Vader Hangs Out on Your Nightstand
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Household, Misc. Tech, Movies
Let the force be with you, even at night. The Darth Vader Alarm Clock projects the time onto the ceiling, with a red snooze alarm button that doubles as a nightlight. Of course Darth’s lightsaber also lights up, just in case you can’t sleep and want a middle of the night challenge to the evil dude. Available next month, $29.99 is a small price to pay to contribute to your Star Wars collection of useless, yet beloved memorabilia.
Read More | Star Wars Shop
California Extreme Channels a Simpler Time
Posted by Paul Hamilton Categories: Culture, Editorial, Retro
Gamers of a certain age, if given half a chance, will gladly recount grand tales of smoky rooms, dimly lit by a few dozen cathode rays where the only sounds are the white noise of competing digitized soundtracks, crude speech sythesizers, blips and bells, pings and whistles and artificial arpeggios rolling down an electronic scale.
The misty sincerity of those gamers who cut their teeth on the quarter-munching cabinets of Space Invaders, Asteroids, Missile Command and Sinistar is almost enough to make one forget what a mess the modern arcade equivalent has become. The gargantuan interface machines with their elaborate weapon approximations and physical demands juxtapose over a likewise spectacular price per play resulting in a hollow shell of what the old guard knew so well. These are not arcades as exist in those guarded memories, they are interactive entertainment experiences: The kind of branded, marginalized speciality device that has been focus tested and trade-show marketed to get the premium floor space right out front in view of the mall concourse is showpiece here.
Even those arcade machines which can still accurately be described as video games compete for the higher-yield ticket-generating skill games (which ironically involve very little skill). Most of those who recall the days when 3D graphics referred to the vector lines of Tempest pass by these modern emporiums. Perhaps they shake their heads a little or make a disparaging comment. Kids these days. Get off my lawn. They don’t enter; inside is only heartbreak.
Perhaps what hurts the most is that it is a heartbreak we chose. We have no one to blame but ourselves, for while the arcade as it was may be dead, ultimately it is us who killed it.
We wanted the more valuable entertainment experience. We asked for and then demanded a perfect replica of our arcade favorites that we could play at home from the comfort of our couches. We pressed for more arcade-quality graphics on our home consoles until our set top boxes had visuals that outpaced anything showcased on a standalone machine. We asked for, and received, greater narrative depth in our games and as a casualty for our insistence we killed the arcade—the very entity we now mourn.
E3 2007: All The Stuff You’ll See On Xbox 360 And Games for Windows In 2007
Posted by Chris Pereira Categories: Activision, Bungie, CAPCOM, Driving, E3, Eidos, Electronic Arts, Fighting, Games for Windows, Games for Windows Live, LucasArts, Microsoft, Namco, PC, Puzzle, Release Dates, Retro, Role Playing Games, SEGA, Special Editions, Sports, Strategy, Take2, Third Person Shooters, THQ, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Arcade
Over on Gamerscore Blog, a list has been posted with all of the games being shown at E3 that will be available this year. Xbox 360 games, Xbox Live Arcade games, Games for Windows-branded titles, and Games for Windows Live-enabled games. It’s a lot to digest, and with big name games like BioShock, Halo 3, Mass Effect, Guitar Hero III, Sonic the Hedgehog (the original, don’t worry), Puzzle Quest, Company of Heroes: Opposing Forces… let’s just say there’s something for nearly everyone.
Read More | Gamerscore Blog
E3 2007: Sony’s Press Conference Recap And Impressions
Posted by Chris Pereira Categories: Action, Activision, Adventure, CAPCOM, Corporate News, Driving, E3, Electronic Arts, First Person Shooters, Hardware, Internet, LucasArts, MMORPG, Mods/Hacks, Music, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Release Dates, Role Playing Games, SEGA, Sony, Special Editions, Sports, Trailers, Ubisoft
I’m going to come right out and say it: I’m coming away from Sony’s presentation more impressed than I was either Nintendo’s or Microsoft’s. They were very straightforward and showed exactly what we all wanted to see: the games.
In fact, this was one of the more impressive E3 press conferences in recent memory – check inside to find out why.
E3 2007: Microsoft’s Press Conference Recap And Impressions
Posted by Chris Pereira Categories: Accessories, Action, Activision, Adventure, Bungie, CAPCOM, Casual, Corporate News, Driving, E3, Electronic Arts, First Person Shooters, Hardware, Microsoft, Party Games, PC, Puzzle, Release Dates, Retro, Role Playing Games, SEGA, Simulation, Special Editions, Sports, Strategy, Survival Horror, Take2, Third Person Shooters, Trailers, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend E3 this year – instead, I’m on vacation in Cape Cod, using awful hotel Wi-Fi to watch streamed press conferences. Not the most glamorous way to take it all in, but exciting announcements, great games and new details are welcome no matter how you hear about them.
Here’s my personal transcription (in very brief form) of all the announcements and showings, along with some reflection on what Microsoft had to show.
Star Wars Stamps Due May 25
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Misc. Tech, Movies
We didn’t know this, but apparently Star Wars fans are in need of even more things to collect! Luckily for them, the US Postal Service is releasing a poster-like sheet of 15 Star Wars stamps on May 25 (the stamps will not be available individually.) The 41-cent stamps—the new price goes into effect May 14—commemorates the 30th Anniversary of Lucas’ classic, and will feature the series’ most popular characters, from Darth Vader to the enigmatic Boba Fett. Even the Millennium Falcon gets some love! Fans will even get to vote for their favorite stamp at the appropriately-named www.uspsjedimaster.com, and the top vote-getter will be released as an individual stamp later this year. Sadly for Billy Dee Williams fans, there’s no Lando Calrissian stamp.
Read More | MSNBC
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