Generation Star Wars

The Rebel Alliance

2012-02-01T13:45:00.002Z

Author Tripp Millican reached out regarding his new book The Rebel Alliance, which is infused with Star Wars references that pop culture enthusiasts will love.

Here's a synopsis in Tripp's own words:

60 hours before his parents’ jointfuneral, 29-year-old Star Wars collector Dennis Harwell finds himselfstranded in the tiny town of Walnut, Iowa, with Star, a brash20-year-old punk rock girl. He is 1,700 miles from his destinationwith little money and fewer options; Dennis is ineffective and Star isa fugitive. As their problems mount, the pair must work together ifthey are going to escape Walnut.

Download The Rebel Alliance (Kindle edition) today! It's free for 2 days only.

LEGO Gollum

2012-01-31T17:28:00.000Z

Cello Wars

2012-01-27T17:45:00.001Z

Cello Wars is one of the most creative Star Wars parodies I've ever seen!

TRON Mondo poster by Martin Ansin

2012-01-18T15:40:00.000Z

This stunning limited edition glow-in-the-dark poster will be available from Mondo this Thursday.

Roku joins Netflix in the UK

2012-01-16T18:47:00.001Z

After restoring my PS3 to its default settings. Over the weekend I signed up for a 1 month free trial of Netflix UK! Was it worth it? The short answer is yes!

The newly launched streaming service outshines LOVEFiLM in terms of usability, playback and platform ubiquity.

For example I began watching dollhouse S2 on a PS3 and effortlessly resumed, later, on an iPod touch (4G). To quote the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs: "It just works." High definition and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound is most impressive.

Content will be crucial and I was disappointed to note that Battlestar Galactica, Buffy and Star Trek were absent at launch. However, the final seasons of 24 and Prison Break will keep me busy for a while.

Netflix will receive a further fillip when Roku launches a range of dedicated set-top-boxes at the end of the month.

“Roku launched the first ever streaming player to deliver Netflix to consumers in the US and now we are among the first to bring Netflix to residents of the UK and Ireland,” said Clive Hudson, vice president and general manager for Europe at Roku. “In addition to Netflix, we are launching with a variety of entertainment channels and look forward to expanding our content selection in the same way that we have in the US where we have more than 400 channels today.”

“Roku players will offer new Netflix members in the UK and Ireland a great streaming experience with high-quality video delivered through an easy-to-use product with an attractive price,” said Greg Peters, vice president of product development at Netflix. “We’re happy to count Roku amongst the devices that stream films and TV programmes to the TVs of our new members in these countries.”

If you're serious about high definition look no further than the Roku 2 XS. You can play Angry Birds between episodes of Firefly. However, a high speed broadband connection is essential for reliable playback.

The battle between LOVEFiLM and Netflix has only just begun. The incumbent LOVEFiLM has responded by adding more film and television series to its unlimited streaming package.

If you're already subscribing to LOVEFiLM are you tempted to switch?

Win tickets to see Star Wars: Episode I in 3D

2012-01-13T17:14:00.000Z

Experience It For The First Time in 3D!

Whether you're an old fan or new, there's no denying that seeing Star Wars on the big screen is an event not to be missed -- especially when it's the first Star Wars movie to ever be presented in spectacular 3D! The duel with Darth Maul, the harrowing Tatooine Podrace, the first meeting of Artoo and Threepio, and the introduction of the Star Wars Saga's tragic hero, Anakin Skywalker, are all back in an all-new 3D presentation of Episode I, an experience that promises to truly surround you with the Force!

To celebrate the release of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D which arrives in cinemas February 9th, we are giving away two pairs of tickets to an exclusive advance screening on Wednesday the 8th February. The screening will take place at a West End venue (this will be revealed once you receive your ticket), in a galaxy far, far away. Stormtroopers will open the doors at 5:30pm, followed by action in the foyer. The saga will begin at 6:30pm.

For a chance to win a pair of tickets, please email your name and address here. This competition closes on Thursday 26th January.

Star Wars® and all characters, names and related indicia are trademark of & © 2012 Lucasfilm Ltd.

Lazy Jedi

2012-01-12T20:37:00.000Z

Casen Sperry contacted me regarding his hilarious Star Wars skit. Witness the power of the force like never before...

Wizards

2012-01-11T10:11:00.000Z

Twentieth Century Fox’s first-ever animated film, created by renowned director Ralph Bakshi, WIZARDS appears in a 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray + Book release on March 13 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the “epic fantasy of peace and magic” stars the voice talent of Mark Hamill (Star Wars Saga). The special edition Blu-ray + Book release is a must-have for fans and collectors, featuring 24-pages of amazing artwork from the film, some of the artwork never-before-seen, and a special message from Bakshi!

Set on a post-apocalyptic Earth, this fantasy adventure follows the story of Avatar, the kindly, eccentric sorcerer-ruler of Montagar, a rainbow paradise inhabited by elves and fairies. Avatar's evil brother, Blackwolf, dominates Scortch, a bleak land of goblins and wraiths. When the power-hungry Blackwolf attacks Montagar, Avatar, accompanied only by a spirited young woman and a courageous elf, must enter the darkness of Scortch to save his world.

Ralph Bakshi would later direct an animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, but was unable to complete the trilogy.

Star Wars: Underworld

2012-01-10T14:31:00.000Z

The long-gestating live-action Star Wars television series has a working title, but no release date!

Underworld.

Before you leap for joy at the prospect of seeing Kate Beckinsale as a bounty hunter. This isn't a cross-over with the actor's storied franchise of the same name.

IGN (owned by News Corporation, which distributes the Star Wars movies) recently interviewed Rick McCallum who is no stranger to episodic television and produced the Emmy Award-Winning The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

"The scripts take place between episodes III and IV," says McCallum. "It's that twenty-year period when Luke is growing up. It's not about Luke, but it's about that period when the Empire is really trying to take things forward. It's called Underworld - that's the working title - and it's underneath what's going on: the criminals and the gangs that are running everything. It's like Wall Street, and the criminals that are running the United States!"

Due to alleged budgetary concerns, Underworld won't be hitting television screens anytime soon.

"The prequels only cost $100m each, which in Hollywood is nothing," McCallum claims, "but this is really tough, because we're trying to put the same effects and technology from those two-hour films, into one-hour episodes, and do it every week for $5m an episode.

"We have fifty unbelievable scripts. Each episode is bigger than any of the prequels were, and they're complex and dark and adult. But right now, technologically, there's no way we can do them for that $5m: there's so much digital animation, because we have so many digital characters. So I think the idea is just that we hold off, wait and see if there are any major breakthroughs in the next year or two, and once we can come up with some virtual set software that allows us to travel anywhere, we'll revisit. We'll get there. I just hope I live long enough!"

What are your thoughts on Star Wars: Underworld?

Netflix launches in UK

2012-01-09T12:11:00.000Z

Netflix has launched in the UK and LOVEFiLM has responded by cutting its unlimited streaming tariff to £4.99 per month, with a 30-day free trial.

Netflix (available now on PS3) has more than 20 million streaming members in 47 countries and territories, and will be a tough competitor in a space that sees it go up against the likes of Amazon-owned LOVEFiLM and Sky Movies.

"We are starting 2012 in the best possible way: by giving consumers in the UK and Ireland an amazing entertainment experience," said Reed Hastings, co-founder and chief executive of Netflix.

"Now, you can enjoy as many great films and TV programmes as you want, when you want, where you want, for one low monthly price with no contracts or commitments."

The US firm said that its UK and Ireland service features high-quality video streaming technology, including high definition and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 sound, as well as "advanced recommendation technology" for users to track down new content.

The company has revolutionised the way Americans watch films. However, it faces stiff competition in the UK.

Last Christmas I started subscribing to LOVEFiLM Instant. I prefer streaming film and television, around my home, to wireless platforms including Sony BRAVIA Internet Video enabled devices and PS3. There's currently no HD content available (as yet), but the service is much more convenient than physical storage media such as Blu-ray disc or DVD. Of course BBC iPlayer already broadcasts selected programmes in HD (720p).

Both companies have inked deals with major Hollywood studios and television broadcasters. So, it may take more than price to differentiate LOVEFiLM and Netflix in the long run.

Do you think Netflix will be successful in the UK? How about in Ireland? Both? Neither???

The Hobbits discover LEGOLAND

2012-01-04T18:03:00.000Z

This summer LEGO will launch official tie-ins for Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and forthcoming The Hobbit. Imagine sets depicting Mirkwood or Mordor?

Given the success of the LEGO franchise in the video game space...

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-16T12:54:00.000Z

This is my final post of 2011! Thank you for continuing to support this blog and sending in news. It's most appreciated.

I would like to wish you a fantastic holiday season, whatever you may be doing, and all the best for the New Year.

Donald Faison talks Star Wars and LEGO on Conan

2011-12-14T16:03:00.000Z

Donald Faison, who plays Turk in the comedy Scrubs, discusses the power of the force and being a blerd with Conan O'Brian.

Microsoft Kinectimals bound onto the App Store

2011-12-13T20:47:00.000Z

After bringing the excellent My Xbox LIVE and Halo Waypoint to the App Store. Microsoft has launched Kinectimals, its Tamagotchi-like sim, which ties-in with the company's Xbox 360 game!

How long before Sony brings its IP to iOS?

Kinectimals (iTunes)

New Girl

2011-12-07T17:54:00.001Z

Critically acclaimed smash hit comedy New Girl makes its UK television premiere, with indie golden girl Zooey Deschanel making her TV debut as Jess Daly. Newly single after walking in on her boyfriend with another woman, Jess is in desperate need of a place to live. Answering a flat share ad, she crash lands in the lives of three single guys she has never met before.

Nursing a broken heart, she arrives on their doorstep with an unusual line in house-warming gifts, including a Dirty Dancing DVD (which plays on a constant loop), a model BFF and a neat line in personal theme tunes.

Jess is an unlikely addition to the digs: Nick is still smarting from his own break-up; Schmidt is a ladies man who thinks it's a winning manoeuvre to remove his shirt at the drop of a hat; and Coach is a personal trainer with serious anger-management issues. But as their relationships progress, Jess and the boys come to realise they need each other more than they ever realised and end up forming a charmingly dysfunctional family.

New Girl takes a fresh and outrageous look at modern male and female relationships. The show premiered in the US with over 10 million viewers making it Fox's highest-rated autumn sitcom debut in a decade. The cast also includes Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris and Hannah Simone.

Look out for my review soon.

Kinect with LOVEFiLM on Xbox LIVE

2011-12-06T16:47:00.001Z

LOVEFiLM, an Amazon company, launches on the Xbox 360 and Kinect tomorrow giving a million more film fans access to the movies they want to watch in an instant.

The movie viewing experience will be transformed as, for the first time, LOVEFiLM members watching on Kinect for Xbox 360 will be able to use voice commands and gestures to control LOVEFiLM Instant – the movie streaming service – with ease via their Kinect enabled consoles.

Xbox 360 users will be able to watch thousands of movies via LOVEFiLM Instant including exclusive content such as the award-winning drama Gran Torino and teen phenomenon The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, with forthcoming titles The Dark Knight, breakout comedy The Hangover and dark romance Blue Valentine becoming available in time for Christmas.

LOVEFiLM Instant is available from just £5.99 via a huge range of devices including PCs, iPad®, Internet-connected TV sets, Blu-ray players, tablets and games consoles. Becoming an Xbox LIVE integrated film service provider is another milestone in LOVEFiLM’s ambition to bring the service to as many homes as possible.

Simon Calver, CEO of LOVEFiLM, said:

“It is an exciting day for LOVEFiLM customers who have known this was coming. Launching LOVEFiLM Instant on Xbox 360 and Kinect means we are bringing the service to a million more living rooms.

“LOVEFiLM members in the UK can access our content in another exciting, innovative way and all for one straightforward price. The simplicity of our pricing and the ease with which customers can use LOVEFiLM Instant should make us the first choice for those film fans who want fantastic entertainment at great value for money, anytime, anywhere.”

Stephen McGill, Director of Xbox & Entertainment for Microsoft UK said:

“It’s very exciting to see the launch of Amazon’s LOVEFiLM on Xbox LIVE. Xbox owners will be eager to get started, using their Kinect-enabled consoles to interact with LOVEFiLM’s extensive catalogue of movies in ways that will only be available on Xbox 360.”

LOVEFiLM is Europe’s largest subscription service, streaming movies and TV episodes over the Internet and sending DVDs by post.

Not yet a customer? Sign up here, and select the ‘LOVEFiLM Instant’ option.

Stand Up To Cancer this holiday season!

2011-11-29T19:30:00.000Z

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and Lucasfilm will continue their collaboration this holiday season when they release never-before-seen outtakes from the highly popular star-studded video clip that urges fans to Use the Force for Good. The campaign continues to raise funds for groundbreaking cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives. Just in time for holiday shopping and due to popular demand, SU2C and Lucasfilm have added a fourth design incorporating the iconic image of Darth Vader to their line of co-branded tees, which feature Star Wars™ artwork alongside SU2C’s signature upward arrows and slogans such as “Blast Cancer” and “Use the Force for Good.” This new exclusive Darth Vader t-shirt bears the slogan “Do Not Underestimate the Power of SU2C,” and will be available for purchase in late November. The full line of tees is available for purchase at store.standup2cancer.org/shop with proceeds benefiting SU2C.

In addition, a new behind-the-scenes look at the Star Wars video tribute featuring celebrity Star Wars enthusiasts and SU2C Ambassadors— Aziz Ansari, Zach Galifianakis, Bill Hader, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong, Jaime King, Seth Rogen, Andy Samberg and Emma Stone—who were joined by Star Wars alum Samuel L. Jackson, can currently be viewed on the Star Wars YouTube channel, youtube.com/starwars, alongside the original video tribute. This new behind-the-scenes video not only captures funny outtakes from the all-star cast, it highlights candid moments where the cast members express why they participated in the original Star Wars video tribute. With approximately 800,000 hits on YouTube so far, the original Star Wars video tribute encourages fans to Use the Force for Good and join Lucasfilm in donating to Stand Up To Cancer.

“To build a grassroots movement of people determined to end this disease, cancer and references to it have to become part of the pop culture zeitgeist,” said Sue Schwartz, SU2C co-founder and partner at Robertson Schwartz Agency. “Lucasfilm’s willingness to highlight the fight against cancer with an icon like Star Wars is a huge boon to our efforts. Everyone at Stand Up To Cancer is eternally grateful to Lucasfilm and our celebrity ambassadors for ‘Using the Force for Good.’ We look forward to continuing this campaign through the end of the year to raise funds for life-saving cancer research.”

A Charlie Brown Christmas on the App Store

2011-11-17T17:10:00.001Z

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!"

Help Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire Peanuts gang as they struggle to find the true meaning of Christmas. Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown, narrates the rebirth of the 1965 animated classic as an interactive storybook complete with original scenes and dialog and digitally remastered illustrations, animation, and music optimized for your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

Play Schroeder's piano, finger paint with the gang, go carolling with the Peanuts choir, and participate in the Spectacular Super-Colossal Neighborhood Christmas Lights and Display Contest to unlock decorations for your very own Charlie Brown Christmas Tree! With something to discover on every page, this is one interactive Peanuts adventure you won't want to miss this holiday season!!

Features:
* Original dialogue from the 1965 animated classic
* Captivating narration by Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown
* Charming soundtrack featuring music and sound effects from the original show
* Decorate your own Charlie Brown Christmas Tree
* Participate in the Lights and Display Contest to unlock rewards
* Educational features such as word and note highlighting to help improve reading and musical skills
* Hear individual words spoken with the tap of a finger
* Touch and drag objects to make them “spring” to life or tilt to watch them slide and move
* Objects that literally pop out of the page to delight you and your family!

A Charlie Brown Christmas (iTunes)

Spielberg: The Man, The Movies

2011-11-16T12:03:00.001Z

He's the most famous director in movie history, whose creations have poured out of the cinemas into popular culture. But what goes on inside his head? What drives him? What is the key to Steven Spielberg? Covering his career, his movies, his relationships, and his extraordinary gift, Empire Magazine celebrates - with dazzling photographic evidence - Hollywood's most beloved director in this unique special edition.

Updated for 2012, this new iPad edition of Empire’s Spielberg celebration features:

– Original trailers from every single title in the director’s filmography.
– In-depth critical appraisals of all of his films, from 1971’s Duel, right up to the present day.
– Detailed features covering topics from Spielberg’s early Super 8 movies to his experiences in TV, making the Indiana Jones saga and more.
– Behind-the-scenes ‘making of’ features on some of the director’s biggest films.
– Interviews with key Spielberg collaborators.
– A special Q&A session with the director himself answering questions from some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
– Exclusive video interview with Spielberg and director JJ Abrams.
– Selected clips from classic Spielberg movies.
– Exclusive photography

Spielberg: The Man, The Movies (iTunes)

Sony set to battle Apple in your living room

2011-11-14T15:10:00.001Z

Apple TV is seen, by some, as a trojan horse and there's every possibility that it could challenge Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony in the home video game console space! Why? Add a faster processor, the App Store echo system and tether Apple TV to an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and boom! However, imagine an Apple television that acts as a point of convergence with voice control (Siri) and we're in the Star Trek universe as envisaged by conceptual designer Michael Okuda.

Longtime followers of Apple wouldn't have been surprised by the news that Steve Jobs had told Walter Isaacson, his official biographer, that he'd "cracked it".

“'I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use,’ he told me. ‘It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud.’ No longer would users have to fiddle with complex remotes for DVD players and cable channels. ‘It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.'”

Sony has entered the fray and promises to deliver a next generation TV experience to rival Apple. Presumably BRAVIA Internet Video will underpin this and the XMB (ported from its PlayStation brand) is a compelling alternative to Apple's iOS. However, Sony has lost significance in the past decade and Apple is more than capable of delivering Steve Jobs' vision into the living room.

"Siri, Star Trek: The Next Generation series 3. On screen."

Store Wars: Apple vs Android

2011-11-11T12:30:00.000Z

This made me smile. Apple and Android locked in a deadly lightsabre duel for dominance of the mobile space. Darth Mac! Surely a mistake?

Hat tip @HokusBloke.

Star Wars Days at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

2011-11-09T21:12:00.000Z

The force is back in the attraction again for another weekend of Star Wars fun where family and LEGO fans who have always dreamed of having their picture taken with a stormtrooper!

All guests are encouraged to come dressed in costume – guests won’t be alone as there will be experts on hand to show how it’s really done. Other activities will include treasure hunts to spot the Star Wars characters hidden in MINILAND, along with free tickets on offer for the best costume of the day!

Visitors can also take home a limited edition brick – perfect for those with a budding collection.

LEGO Star Wars Days 12 - 13 November. Further information here.

Death Star Jack-O-Lantern

2011-10-24T12:36:00.000+01:00

"I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of pumpkin seeds suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced."

Misfits in the USA

2011-10-20T15:33:00.011+01:00

Last week I attended the Misfits S3 launch and screening at the BFI.

I won't delve deeper into the premiere episode aside from saying that any concerns about the series' demise, with the departure of Nathan, were premature and assuaged by a breakout performance from Joseph Gilgun as Rudy.

During the cast and creator Q&A that followed. Misfits' creator Howard Overman outlined that Superhoodie's identity was decided midway through recording S2 and alluded to a US version, after it was noted that Misfits has garnered a cult following, in North America, since Hulu started streaming S1.

Josh Schwartz (The OC and Gossip Girl) confirmed that a Misfits remake will be produced by his company Fake Empire under Warner Bros.

The combination of Howard Overman and the power of the Schwartz is too compelling to fail! The OC's Rachel Bilson should be cast as Alisha. What do you think?

Misfits S3 starts on E4 Sunday, 30th October, at 10pm.

Watch Misfits online at LOVEFiLM.com today, LOVEFiLM stream a huge collection of movies, also sign up now and get a 2 week trial absolutely free.

Star Wars: A Clone Apart

2011-10-19T15:44:00.001+01:00

Ryan James has chimed in with news that his co-creation 'A Clone Apart' has been rebooted with the aid of the Star Wars: Battlefront II game engine!

What’s in a Clone anyway? DANSON DELTA-40 is the sole survivor of the latest failed batch of Clone soldiers, hurriedly created to provide enough troops so the Galactic Republic can win the war that eats at its very foundations. Unfortunately, Danson isn’t exactly your model soldier. He’s had no training. He even doesn’t know how to fire his rifle. And he questions the rather… questionable practices of the army founded on the “overwhelm them with many in useless plastic armor” principle. Unacceptable.

Fortunately, Danson’s destiny lies elsewhere. When he accidentally steps through a portal in time/space one day, he begins his quest to find a place where he truly belongs… in the underbelly of the events of the original Star Wars Trilogy. The lone representative of the world of the Prequel Trilogies, Danson finds that a lot of things don’t add up, and that he isn’t exactly welcome either. From jobs with both the Imperial and Rebel armies to bounty-hunting with Boba Fett and other private-sector jobs (such as mining lava on Mustafar), Danson and his few loyal compatriots cast a new glance onto a story so familiar, showing what really happened behind the scenes.

A Clone Apart is set, for the most part, in the original trilogy following some timey-wimey shenanigans worthy of Doctor Who, and pokes fun at our beloved saga with a comedic flourish.

Star Wars: Dark Resurrection

2011-10-11T11:46:00.000+01:00

Dark Resurrection is one of the best Star Wars fan films I've seen.

Thanks to Ricky Antonino for the tip.

RIP Steve Jobs; visionary co-founder of Apple

2011-10-06T19:45:00.000+01:00

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life ... Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs

RIP Steve Jobs. Thanks for co-founding Apple and changing the way we use technology forever. I'll never own a PC. That is all.

LEGO Star Wars Padawan Menace

2011-10-05T13:30:00.002+01:00

A routine Jedi Academy field trip is turned into a rip-roaring comic adventure in LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace. Tour guide Master Yoda leads a group of rambunctious Jedi Younglings through Senate chambers when he senses a disturbance in the Force. Summoned to help save the Republic, he discovers that one of the Younglings secretly boarded his ship…and has a taste for adventure! Meanwhile, C-3PO and R2-D2 are put in charge of the boisterous group and find themselves in over their heads. As the evil Sith prepare to wreak havoc, it’s up to Yoda and the Droids to ensure that their young charges aren’t torn to bricks!

Featuring situations, characters and locations from throughout the entire Star Wars Saga, the original adventure is written by Emmy Award winner Michael Price (The Simpsons) and produced by Oscar-winning Animal Logic, the production company behind Happy Feet.

To date, Star Wars is the first and most successful LEGO licensed product collection in the company’s history, generating more than 200 LEGO models and approximately 275 LEGO minifigures inspired by the Saga, which has also spurred a blockbuster collection of videogames, selling 25 million units to date worldwide. In addition to its popularity among younger fans, a significant portion of the LEGO Star Wars consumer fan base is made up of adult fans and franchise collectors.

LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace BD/DVD combo pack is available now for pre-order exclusively at WalMart.com.

Drew Struzan: Oeuvre

2011-10-03T14:37:00.001+01:00

Struzan's movie posters informed, and embellished, my appreciation of movie making!

Drew Struzan has created some of the most iconic movie posters of the last 30 years, from Harry Potter to Hellboy, Raiders of the Lost Ark to Back to the Future. This extravagant hardcover edition of DREW STRUZAN: OEUVRE, with a Foreword by George Lucas, film producer, screen-writer, director and founder/chairman of Lucasfilm Ltd., features over 250 pieces of art, including all of Drew’s most iconic movie images, as well as other career highlights, from record album, book, and comic book covers, to stamps, trading cards, promotional artwork and very personal original works. —This right-up-to-date collection of Struzan’s work includes recent and never-before-published pieces including Star Wars: Episode III poster art; Indiana Jones 4 poster art; Walking Dead poster art; Hellboy 2 poster art; Pan’s Labyrinth poster art; Lord of the Rings trading cards; and never before published personal works.

This book is an essential purchase for any film fan. Pre-order from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

LOVEFiLM Player for iPad

2011-09-29T10:46:00.002+01:00

Not content with being available for PlayStation 3, BRAVIA Internet Video or Mac and PC. LOVEFiLM joins the portable fray with its all-new LOVEFiLM Player for iPad. LOVEFiLM already has a presence on the App Store, but nothing like this...

“LOVEFiLM’s debut on iPad is a huge win for our customers as the latest platform to support the service. This is a huge leap in movie watching for the 21st Century – making LOVEFiLM more portable than ever before”, said Simon Calver, CEO of LOVEFiLM. “LOVEFiLM on iPad is the latest step in giving film fans total control over their viewing schedule and our commitment to expanding the ways in which members can stream movies and TV series on a range of devices.”

Hopefully an iPhone/iPod touch version won't be too far behind.

LOVEFiLM Player for iPad (iTunes)

Another World on the App Store

2011-09-22T10:48:00.002+01:00

Beautifully cinematic, impressively coherent, challenging and elegant; Another World (known as Out of this World in North America) is a stellar example of Nineties game design and was the brainchild of one Eric Chahi and his team at Delphine Software.

You play Lester, the young physics professor, who suddenly finds himself in a strange alien world after a lightning striked his particle experiment.

In 1991 Another World became the poster child of Gallic gaming and adoring magazine editorials in C&VG and the official Nintendo magazine elevated it to blockbuster status. I first played this on the Super Nintendo (SNES), which was, somewhat astonishingly, eclipsed by Sega's Mega Drive console port. Too late, I'd already sold the latter to a College friend who was trying to kick the console habit to no avail.

Another World's stylistic cousin, Flashback, arrived in 1992, but never distilled the mood of its predecessor nor its downbeat ending.

The look and feel of Another World is unique to this day. Oddworld's developers clearly derived insperation from Delphine.

The iOS edition has been given an HD makeover, but purists can switch to the original Amiga graphics. This is, arguably, the new touchstone in retro reboots for the touch generation.

Another World - 20th Anniversary (iTunes)

OnLive to bring cloud-based gaming to the UK

2011-09-19T14:28:00.019+01:00

Registered for OnLive yet? The cloud-based video game platform, which is not tethered to proprietary hardware like PlayStation or Xbox, goes live in the UK this Thursday.

OnLive has been available in the US since June 2010 where it has received positive press coverage. The MicroConsole has been praised for its minimalist packaging, build quality and included accessories. If you already own an HDMI-enabled HDTV; you're good to go.

Gamers will be able to play AAA titles including Deus Ex: Human Revolution on their living room TV and resume where they left off on a Mac or PC. The service will also become available for mobile devices including iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

I can see myself investing in an OnLive MicroConsole and playing games both at home and on the road! The caveat being you will need an always-on high speed broadband connection.

Use the Force for Good!

2011-09-16T12:07:00.003+01:00

This week's release of Star Wars on Blu-ray disc has witnessed memorable marketing initiatives around the globe.

From the BT Tower becoming the world's largest lightsaber to Stormtroopers from the 501st Legion protecting New Yorkers from Jawas and Stand Up To Cancer. The latter affects us all, either directly or indirectly. Personally, I've lost family and friends to cancer, which is why I'm compelled to share this...

Lucasfilm has announced that in celebration of the September launch of Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray, it is linking up with celebrities, eBay and Major League Baseball to ask fans to Use the Force for Good to support Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). SU2C funds groundbreaking cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives.

SU2C Ambassadors Aziz Ansari, Zach Galifianakis, Bill Hader, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong, Jaime King, Seth Rogen, Andy Samberg and Emma Stone – along with Star Wars alum Samuel L. Jackson – will each Use the Force for Good as they recreate classic Star Wars scenes to raise awareness for cancer research. The all-star video tribute appears on the Star Wars YouTube channel youtube.com/starwars.

“Lucasfilm joining with eBay, Major League Baseball and a wonderful group of actors is an amazing force for good being brought to bear in Stand Up To Cancer’s fight against this disease, and we are profoundly grateful,” said SU2C Co-Founder Sue Schwartz. “With one in two men and one in three women diagnosed in their lifetimes, cancer affects us all. SU2C’s mission is to persuade each and every person to support the scientists working to end cancer, and this initiative gives legions of Star Wars fans fun and easy ways to do that.”

“We are thrilled to be using the launch of Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray as a call to action for our fans to Use the Force for Good,” said Kayleen Walters, Senior Director of Marketing at Lucasfilm. “We are happy to use the power of Star Wars to support this noble cause.”

Star Wars LEGO Venerator Class Star Destroyer

2011-09-15T20:32:00.004+01:00

This copy of LEGO Master Builder Erik Varszegi's Venerator Class Star Destroyer was constructed using 43000 individual LEGO pieces by iomedes.

Watch the video.

Chess Wars

2011-09-09T15:04:00.007+01:00

Respect the Pact produced an ingenious Star Wars lightsaber duel ignited by a chess match between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi (notice the clothes).

Stormtrooper Super Shogun

2011-09-08T11:47:00.000+01:00

I had no idea such a collectible existed until @stuartwitts posted a photo on Google+!

The Star Wars Stormtrooper Super Shogun stands a whopping 24 inches tall, and includes all of the features that you expect from an authentic Jumbo: free rotating wheels on the bottom of his feet, and a spring-loaded Rocket Punch firing fist!

Only 1200 of these were made.

4oD now available on all iOS devices

2011-09-02T15:00:00.002+01:00

Following the re-launch of 4oD on Channel4.com, Channel 4 launches a free to download, bespoke 4oD iPhone app and updates its existing iPad app.

Available to download from the app store on Friday 2 September the 4oD catch up app will allow viewers to catch up with Channel 4 programmes from the last 30 days wherever they are, on whichever iOS device they own.

Both the 4oD iPad and 4oD iPhone applications can now be browsed in 3G, with video playback only available when a Wi-Fi signal is accessible to ensure the quality of the viewing experience isn't affected.

A search functionality has been included in the 4oD iPhone app and added to the 4oD iPad app, enabling users to find their favourite programmes by typing in the name of the show in the new search menu.

For the first time, there will also be a direct link to Channel 4's content on iTunes, offering users the chance to download to own Channel 4 shows. Costs will apply for this service.

Helen Walker, 4oD Product Manager comments: "We're delighted to bring 4oD to our viewers with iPhones and iPod Touches, and to offer our existing iPad users an update to their app, with a new carousel and ability to now browse the app over 3G".

The app was designed by Nice Agency - specialists in the design and development of innovative cross-platform applications - who were also responsible for the 4oD Catch Up app for iPad.

Download 4oD Catch Up (iTunes)

A BATHING APE®X STAR WARS collaboration!

2011-09-01T15:58:00.000+01:00

To coincide with the upcoming release of Star Wars on Blu-ray disc, BAPE has joined forces with Lucasfilm for an exciting new line of t-shirts available from September 17th.

The collection can be previewed online here.

Han Solo's Day Off

2011-08-23T09:05:00.000+01:00

Travis Kurtz sent in this very cool Han Solo skit.

Review: Super 8

2011-08-14T18:45:00.009+01:00

The monster, ultimately disappointing, wasn't what I loved about Super 8! It was the superlative cast (seemingly plucked from The Goonies, Explorers and E.T.) and JJ Abrams' deft handling of action (showcased in Alias, Lost and M:i:III) and concealment of the monster (see Jaws or Alien for further masterclasses in suspense).

Super 8's finest moments are reserved for the interplay between childhood friends, as they shoot a zombie movie in the summer of '79, and the emergent romance between Joe (Joel Courtney) and Alice (Elle Fanning) in the wake of his mother's recent death - magnificently punctuated by visual nods to producer Steven Spielberg's sci-fi oeuvre replete with lens flare. Mise-en-scènes that transported me back to the first time I saw Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, in the theatre, not long after I'd suffered a serious head injury at Primary School; two movies that have profound familial significance; Star Wars received special mention at my mother's funeral service in 2007.

None of this should be surprising given JJ's penchant for intimate human drama as evinced by the director's innumerable hit TV series. All eloquently underscored by long time musical collaborator Michael Giacchino (Alias, Lost and Star Trek). Giacchino's soundtrack evokes the celestial yearning of John Williams' scores for Spielberg's early career.

Not since WALL-E has a film so successfully distilled a sense of enigmatic wonder; even if it falls short of Spielberg's greatest cinematic achievements in the final reel! Star Trek II and Cloverfield II can't come soon enough...

Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray Trailer

2011-08-12T12:38:00.006+01:00

Yahoo! has exclusively premièred the trailer for Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray disc.

Episodes I-III and IV-VI will also be available as distinct Blu-ray Trilogy collections.

Pre-order Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray and the Star Wars: Trilogy Sets at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk today! Alternatively purchase one of the selected Panasonic Blu-ray products and receive IV-VI for free.

Anne Hathaway's Catwoman

2011-08-06T10:01:00.000+01:00

Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, apparently stealing a Batcycle, in The Dark Knight Rises. The conceptual design is consistent with Chris Nolan's technoir vision for his Batman trilogy.

How does Hathaway's Catwoman compare with her celebrated predecessors? Triumphantly based on this photo.

Nintendo 3DS Ambassador programme for early adopters

2011-07-28T12:37:00.006+01:00

In a move that echoes the price drop of the N64, due to poor consumer demand, only weeks after release, Nintendo is offering free bonus content for customers who purchase a 3DS prior to August 11 and register the console with eShop. This maybe a preemptive strike against Sony's PS Vita, prior to the lucrative holiday season, but the announced games are AAA titles.

Since Nintendo 3DS launched in the United States on March 27, more than 830,000 people in the U.S. alone have purchased one to enjoy 3D visuals without the need for special glasses. These Nintendo 3DS owners represent some of Nintendo’s most loyal customers, and Nintendo is rewarding them for getting in on the action early with 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop.

These free games are available to anyone who owns a Nintendo 3DS system and uses a wireless broadband Internet signal to connect to the Nintendo eShop at least once before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 11. These users will automatically be registered in the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program. The program contains two elements:

Starting Sept. 1, Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES™ Virtual Console™ games at no charge and before they are available in the Nintendo eShop to the general public. These games, including Super Mario Bros.™, Donkey Kong Jr.™, Balloon Fight™, Ice Climber™ and The Legend of Zelda™, are slated to become paid downloadable games, but Ambassadors get them early for free. Once the paid versions of the games are posted to the Nintendo eShop later in the year, the updated versions will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost.

By the end of 2011, Nintendo will provide Ambassadors with 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games. These include games like Yoshi’s Island™: Super Mario™ Advance 3, Mario Kart™: Super Circuit, Metroid™ Fusion, WarioWare™, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs. Donkey Kong™. These games will be available exclusively to Ambassadors, and Nintendo currently has no plans to make these 10 games available to the general public on the Nintendo 3DS in the future.

More details about this program will be announced in the future.

The package is available in North America, Europe, Australia and Japan.

Did you buy a 3DS at full price? Is this incentive enough to compensate? For the record I bought my 3DS during the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend sales for £160; 20 free downloadable games and a copy of 3D Classics Excitebike; I'd be churlish to complain.

Read Nan Braun's insightful 3DS review here.

Lucasfilm loses to Rebel Stormtrooper prop maker

2011-07-27T15:19:00.014+01:00

In an ironic twist, worthy of the Star Wars saga itself, British prop designer Andrew Ainsworth has won the right to continue selling Stormtrooper props, based on the original moulds he produced for Star Wars (1977), in the UK!

In 2004 George Lucas's company, Lucasfilm, sued for $20m (£12m) in damages, claiming that Mr Ainsworth did not hold the intellectual property rights and had no right to sell them. The argument was upheld by a US court but could not be enforced because the designer held no assets in the country.

Judges at the Supreme Court upheld a 2009 Court of Appeal decision allowing Mr Ainsworth to continue selling them after he argued the costumes were functional not artistic works and not subject to full copyright laws.

Lucasfilm told the BBC that the Supreme Court’s decision preserved “an anomaly of British copyright law” and that the studio “remains committed to aggressively protecting its intellectual property rights.” But Mr Ainsworth said, “This is a massive victory, a total victory, we’ve already got the champagne out.”

This landmark decision could set a precedent and cause concern for Hollywood giants! The claim was supported by Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and Peter Jackson.

The missions of Clone Trooper TG

2011-07-26T14:43:00.011+01:00

Can't get enough of The Clone Wars during the series hiatus? Then you're in luck because fellow Star Wars fan Tanya Glittenberg presents Clone Trooper TG for your entertainment.

Clone Trooper TG chronicles the missions of 'Trooper 8769' prior to the devastating intergalactic events that follow Order 66! This means there's Jedi, lightsaber battles and more...

Start your Clone Wars collection at Toys R Us today.

Limited Edition Star Wars Kinect bundle with R2-D2 Xbox 360

2011-07-22T15:56:00.009+01:00

At this year's San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), Lucasarts and Microsoft jointly announced the first custom Xbox 360, based on the Star Wars franchise, for the upcoming holiday season.

Get the Xbox 360 Limited Edition Kinect Star Wars bundle, with the first ever white Kinect Sensor and custom-designed console and controller based on popular Star Wars characters R2-D2 and C-3PO. Use the Force like a Jedi and immerse yourself in the Star Wars experience you’ve always dreamed of, in ways you never imagined possible.

The Xbox 360 Limited Edition Kinect Star Wars bundle will include:

*Kinect Star Wars game
*Custom R2-D2-themed Xbox 360 Console with custom sounds
*White Kinect Sensor
*Custom C-3PO-themed Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
*320 GB Hard Drive
*Xbox 360 Wired Headset
*Kinect Adventures game
*Exclusive downloadable content

Pre-order the Limited Edition Star Wars Kinect bundle here.

Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access

2011-07-21T18:05:00.004+01:00

This is an awesome announcement from San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC)! Unlike similar iOS marketing initiatives, this should be worth checking out.

Before you bring the Saga home, get an exclusive first look at some of the special features from STAR WARS™: THE COMPLETE SAGA - coming to you on Blu-ray September 16th! The Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access highlights a varied sampling of bonus materials featured in the collection, including never-before-seen content sourced from the Lucasfilm Archives! Begin to explore the farthest corners of that distant galaxy, and dive deeper into the creation of the Star Wars universe.

Witness the evolution of the wild concepts that became pop culture icons. Celebrate the spirit of innovation that pushed the boundaries of special effects - as described by the men and women who pioneered the new methods that made Star Wars possible. And pull back the curtain on the Lucasfilm Archives to reveal never-before-told stories about the making of the Saga. Offering an insightful cross-section of what the THE COMPLETE SAGA has in store, Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access is your first look at the most anticipated Blu-ray collection - of all time!

Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access (iTunes)

Stanford Students duel 'JediBot' with lightsabers

2011-07-19T11:34:00.005+01:00

Robotics students at Stanford University have created their very own General Grievous to battle! Let's hope that unofficial mashups (including Star Wars music, sound effects and special effects) follow soon.

Hat tip @stuartwitts.

Tron: Uprising

2011-07-14T13:02:00.009+01:00

While Tron: Legacy was a frothy diversion; bereft of plot, drama and replete with reference audiovisuals to sell 3D to the masses. Disney XD's forthcoming animated series, starring genre stalwarts Elijah Wood, Mandy Moore and Lance Henricksen, promises to be much more compelling...

Tron: Uprising, set between events in the original Tron and first sequel, combining CGI and traditional animation techniques that owe much to anime, maybe this generation's Batman: The Animated Series. However, that's a lofty comparison.

Get back onto the game grid in summer 2012

Dark Knight Rises teaser poster

2011-07-12T14:42:00.001+01:00

The first official teaser poster for Chris Nolan's upcoming Dark Knight Rises is evocative of the director's movie Inception!

Doctor & Amy vs. Darth Maul!

2011-07-05T14:20:00.006+01:00

Thought it would be fun to pit the Doctor and Amy against one of the most feared Sith Lords to stalk the Star Wars galaxy!

Who would win?

LEGO Star Wars at Argos

2011-07-04T16:11:00.004+01:00

Originally founded in Europe in the 1940's, LEGO has become one of the most popular brands among children of all ages.

In 1999 LEGO began to produce Star Wars sets and figures to coincide with the release of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Since then over 200+ LEGO Star Wars sets have been made traversing the prequels, original trilogy and expanded universe.

From Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder to the Empire's dreaded Death Star; every corner of the Star Wars universe has been lovingly immortalised in brick form.

LEGO Star Wars is undoubtedly one of the most successful spin-offs in recent years and shows no sign of stopping as the Clone Wars begins its fourth season on Cartoon Network this Autumn.

Start building your LEGO collection at Argos.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon hits the App Store!

2011-07-01T17:53:00.002+01:00

Transformers fans should get a kick out of this official tie-in even if Michael Bay's latest movie collapses into migraine-inducing nihilism! Read the review on Film4 here.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (iTunes)

Jurassic Park bows on Blu-ray disc this October

2011-06-27T20:43:00.004+01:00

How's this for serendipity! Last evening I was watching Jurassic Park on ITV2 and lamenting the lack of a Blu-ray disc release with remastered picture and sound. Viola! Here's the news that Steven Spielberg fans have been waiting for.

Jurassic Park will bow on Blu-ray disc in three editions:

Ultimate Trilogy
Ultimate Trilogy Limited Collector's Edition
Limited Ultimate Collector's Edition (see above photo)

ALL-NEW BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY™ & DVD
“Return to Jurassic Park” – this six-part documentary features all-new interviews with many of the cast members from all three films, the filmmakers and Steven Spielberg.
Dawn of a New Era
Making Pre-history
The Next Step in Evolution
Finding The Lost World
Something Survived
The Third Adventure

ADDITIONAL FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAY™
· BD-LIVE™: Access the BD-Live™ Centre through your Internet-connected player to watch exclusive content, the latest trailers, and more!
MY SCENES: Bookmark your favorite scenes from the film.
pocket BLU™: The groundbreaking pocket BLU™ app uses iPad®, iPhone®, iPod® touch, Android™, PC and Mac® to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray™ player. Plus iPad® owners can enjoy a new, enhanced edition of pocket BLU™ made especially to take advantage of the tablet’s larger screen and high resolution display. Consumers will be able to browse through a library of Blu-ray™ content and watch entertaining extras on-the-go in a way that’s bigger and better than ever before. pocket BLU™ offers advanced features such as:
ADVANCED REMOTE CONTROL: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
VIDEO TIMELINE: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
MOBILE-TO-GO: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
BROWSE TITLES: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
KEYBOARD: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.

Amongst others, the following bonus features also appear on the both the Blu-ray™ and DVD:
The Making of Jurassic Park
The Making of The Lost World: Jurassic Park
The Making of Jurassic Park III
Steven Spielberg Directs Jurassic Park
Early Pre-Production Meetings
The World of Jurassic Park
The Magic of Industrial Light & Magic
Location Scouting
Phil Tippett Animatics: Raptors In The Kitchen
The Jurassic Park Phenomenon: A Discussion with Author Michael Crichton
Industrial Light & Magic and Jurassic Park: Before and After The Visual Effects
Industrial Light & Magic and The Lost World: Jurassic Park Before & After
The Industrial Light & Magic Press Reel
A Visit to Industrial Light & Magic
Hurricane in Kauai Featurette
Dinosaur Turntables
The Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park III
Montana: Finding New Dinosaurs
Animatics: T-Rex Attack
The Special Effects of Jurassic Park III
The Sounds of Jurassic Park III
The Art of Jurassic Park III
Tour of Stan Winston Studio
Feature Commentary with Special Effects Team
Production Archives: Storyboards, Models, Photographs, Design Sketches and Conceptual Drawings
Deleted Scenes
Theatrical Trailers

Jurassic Park may have spawned two inferior sequels and paved the way for George Lucas' controversial Star Wars prequels. But, this is a day one purchase for me while we wait for Jaws.

Bring on the T-Rex attack in DTS-HD Master Audio...

Michael Bay's open letter to theatre projectionists

2011-06-26T16:44:00.000+01:00

In a self-publicising letter that would make James Cameron envious, Michael Bay opines the 'perfect' viewing conditions for theatrical 3D playback of his latest Transformers movie.

With escalating ticket prices, in the midst of an economic recession, audiences should demand the highest standards of theatrical presentation - properly calibrated home cinemas can easily best most multiplexes. That said, it's not just about the technology, it's the story that truly matters... Try certifying that with THX?

Source: Deadline Hollywood

Celebrate 20 years of Sonic on the App Store

2011-06-23T16:26:00.019+01:00

Has it really been 20 years since Sega first unleashed Sonic the Hedgehog onto the Genesis/Mega Drive and started a videogame war with Nintendo that would rival Coca-Cola vs Pepsi!

The cool kids only had eyes for the hedgehog...

Sonic was a brash, slicker, upstart and upended Mario within the space of a year with uncredited assistance from Michael Jackson both musically and in the design of Sonic's footwear, which was inspired by the Bad video.

Sega bundled every Mega Drive with a Sonic the Hedgehog game pack-in from day one! A business decision that would be anathema in today's market. With the console's reduced price point, the company was giving away its killer application in an effort to overthrow Nintendo.

Sega - with Sonic as its mascot - dominated the early 1990s and had to do nothing to maintain an unassailable industry lead. Instead the company imploded as told here.

Nowadays Sega is fair weather friends with the likes of Nintendo and Sony. This is all to the good and gamers everywhere can play the Sonic franchise on their platform(s) of choice.

What better way to mark this anniversary then with these Sonic titles on the App Store!

Sonic the Hedgehog (iTunes)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (iTunes)
Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I (iTunes)
Sonic and Sega All-Star Racing (iTunes)

If you buy only one Sonic game from the Mega Drive era; choose Sonic the Hedgehog 2!

Final Cut Pro X on the Mac App Store

2011-06-21T16:20:00.010+01:00

For years I've used iMovie and wanted to upgrade to Final Cut Pro, but couldn't justify the hefty price tag - Final Cut Express has been an excellent stopgap. Today that's all changed with the arrival of Final Cut Pro X on the Mac App Store!

£179.99 is a compelling argument to switch to Final Cut Pro; combined with Motion 5 and Compressor for £29.99 each. Like the upcoming release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Final Cut Pro X is only available from the Mac App Store!

Final Cut Pro X (Mac App Store)
Motion 5 (Mac App Store)
Compressor (Mac App Store)

Is Mac App Store exclusivity good or bad?

Are You #TeamStarWars or #TeamStarTrek?

2011-06-20T21:14:00.000+01:00

Obsessed with the intergalactic worlds of Star Wars and/or Star Trek? Only a true fan can fully appreciate a quiz that separates the Star Wars fans from the Trekkies, straight from Matt Forbeck’s Star Wars Vs. Star Trek; Could the Empire kick the Federation’s ass? and other galaxy-shaking enigmas.

Filled with details about aliens, technology, story points, weaponry, and heroes from the two great science fiction/fantasy stories of our age, Star Wars Vs. Star Trek serves as an encyclopaedia for trusty fans.

Here, the ultimate quiz from the author, Matt Forbeck!

12 Ways To Tell If You’re A Star Wars Or A Star Trek Fan:

1. When you see a puffle, you wonder if Club Penguin is a kids’ version of Star Trek Online, and you marvel at this strange new world in which tribbles come in so many bright colors.

2. You regularly tell your kids, “Don’t make me destroy you.”

3. Every time start your car, you say, “Engage!”

4. When landscaping your yard, you think about how much easier it would be with a lightsaber.

5. When someone starts debating logically with you, you shout, “Are you out of your Vulcan mind?”

6. You know if a parsec is a unit of distance or time—but you don’t really care.

7. When you hear “O Captain! My Captain!” you think “Kirk or Picard?”

8. You wonder if C4 is an (explosive) kind of droid.

9. Impulse control seems like something Mr. Sulu or Wesley Crusher should be good at—even if you’re not.

10. Hyperspace is where you send your kids rather than Timeout.

11. Mr. Spock is a science officer, not a pediatrician, dammit.

12. May the Fourth (“be with you”) isn’t just a day to prepare for Cinco de Mayo.

So are you TEAM STAR WARS or TEAM STAR TREK? Follow @adamsmedia on Twitter, then Tweet your team + WHY with one of these hashtags: #teamstarwars OR #teamstartrek. You’ll have the chance to win a copy of the book – on June 23, we’ll pick 6 random Tweeters, 3 from each team!

Thanks to Adri Cowan for bringing this to my attention. Follow @adrileya.

Star Wars 'Returns' in Old Republic trailer at E3!

2011-06-10T16:14:00.000+01:00

Protected by the legendary Jedi Order, the Galactic Republic stood as a bastion of peace in the galaxy for a thousand generations. Several centuries ago, the greatest threat the galaxy has ever known emerged in the form of the dark Sith Empire. After a volatile war, the Republic emerged victorious and the Sith were assumed to be extinct. Nonetheless, the Jedi have maintained a constant vigil over the ancient Sith homeworld, to protect the galaxy from the darkness that still resides in the planet’s tombs.

The latest cinematic looks like it was taken from a movie. That is all.

Thanks @richardmackney for the tip off.

PS Vita to steal iPod touch crown?

2011-06-09T20:19:00.026+01:00

Casting aside memories of the much-maligned PSPgo. Sony lifted the wraps off its successor to the PSP at this year's E3. PS Vita.

“Successively launching in the global market for $249 starting the end of this year, PS Vita incorporates a beautiful 5-inch multitouch organic light emitting diode (OLED) as the front display and a unique multitouch pad on the rear. Two analog sticks enable a wider range of game genres. Together with the front touch screen and the rear touch pad, PS Vita offers new gameplay, enabling entirely new experiences.”

Not sure about the nomenclature, but the hardware is on par with the PS3 and this could pose a serious threat to the iPod touch and Nintendo 3DS. The entry level machine is competitively priced at £229 to match its rivals and there's a Wi-Fi/3G option for £279! Retailers are aggressively discounting the 3DS from £229 to as low as £159. I snapped up a 3DS (Cosmos Black) over the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend along with a copy of Dead or Alive: Dimensions (review to follow).

First and third-party support is integral to a successful launch and Sony's looking to inhouse franchises for a fillip. LittleBigPlanet (translated to the portable medium with such aplomb that I prefer the PSP version over its larger sibling), Uncharted: Golden Abyss and WipEout 2048 lead the charge.

Unlike Nintendo's draconian policies, you'll be able to download/transfer previous purchases from PSN onto the new machine without incurring additional costs. So, don't delete those PSOne classics just yet. UMD collectors will be left high and dry. Sony is abandoning optical media storage in favour of removable memory cards and there's no internal memory like the 3DS.

I'd suggest buying the Wi-Fi model as free wireless hotspots are in the ascendance or you could tether it to MiFi.

Pre-order PS Vita today.

First look at Wii U

2011-06-07T20:48:00.019+01:00

During Nintendo's media briefing at this year's E3, the company's next generation console was conspicuous by its, apparent, absence.

You had to be closely watching the promo video for the Wii U's touchscreen controller add-on to spy what looked like an iOmega Drive sat next to a HDTV!

The new controller incorporates a 6.2-inch, 16:9 touchscreen and traditional button controls, including two analog Circle Pads. This combination removes the traditional barriers between games, players and the TV by creating a second window into the video game world. The rechargeable controller includes a Power button, Home button, +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons and ZL/ZR buttons. It includes a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, rumble feature, camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, a sensor strip and a stylus.

On Twitter I posited whether or not the Wii U add-on was tantamount to Sega's ill-fated 32X? @joshshabtai made a compelling point that Nintendo could pull off a gaming paradigm that an Apple TV and iPad combo can't!

The Wii U hardware supports full 1080p, via HDMI, and features a bespoke multi-core PowerPC processor from IBM. As with the GameCube and Wii, the Wii U's optical drive will playback proprietary optical discs (including Wii) to prevent piracy. Incidentally, there will be no GameCube support. Is this a good move in an era of digital downloads?

Nintendo is serious about courting casual and gaming enthusiasts alike. Third-party titles announced include Tekken, Batman: Arkham Asylum and LEGO City Stories.

What are you thoughts on the Wii U and touchscreen controller add-on? Will you be lining up to buy one in 2012?

Star Wars meets The Muppets

2011-06-03T12:10:00.000+01:00

Disney is no stranger to crossovers and has released Star Wars characters, based on original IP, before. However, this is genius.

When these fully poseable action figures are launched at Disney Parks, this Fall, expect to see them packaged two to a case. There'll be Kermit the Frog as Luke Skywalker with Miss Piggy as Princess Leia, Link Hogthrob as Han Solo and his buddy Fozzy as Chewbacca, Beaker as C3-PO and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew as R2-D2, and Sam Eagle as Obi-Wan Kenobi with Gonzo as Darth Vader with an accessory Camilla as a Stormtrooper.

If the Star Wars The Muppets line continues, what figures would you like to see sold at Disney Parks? How about Dr Teeth as Boba Fett...

X-Men arrive on the App Store

2011-06-02T17:05:00.001+01:00

Konami has unleashed arcade classic X-Men (iTunes) onto the App Store. Uncannily timed to coincide with X-Men: First Class.

This is a Universal application and unreservedly recommended for fans of the X-Men. Downloaded the PSN version a few months ago and maybe tempted to double-dip.

Today in History: Star Wars Premieres in 1977

2011-05-25T17:27:00.009+01:00

Has it really been over three decades since George Lucas' space opera began?

Star Wars created its own cottage industry and spawned five sequels, various animated TV series and, most recently, The Clone Wars, which is about to start its fourth season!

Thanks Lomography for the reminder! You can read the full story of the premiere here.

Buy Star Wars merchandise from The Entertainer.

Transformers turn to the dark side

2011-05-24T21:33:00.008+01:00

Readers will know that the Transformers were a huge part of my childhood and may recall how much I enjoyed Transformers: A popcorn movie that deftly mixed Spielbergian hijinks with Bayhem until that, troubled, final reel.

The first sequel crashed and burned (ashamed to admit that I own the IMAX Edition, a Wal*Mart exclusive, on Blu-ray disc). But, for some inexplicable reason, I'm looking forward to Dark of the Moon sans Megan Fox. How about you?

Buy Transformers: Dark of the Moon merchandise from The Entertainer.

Star Tours - The Adventures Continue

2011-05-23T18:36:00.003+01:00

Join Star Wars: The Clone Wars star Ashley Eckstein for an interview with Walt Disney Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald about Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.

Watch the opening ceremony webcast on Facebook!

A galaxy of Star Wars eBooks announced

2011-05-13T18:18:00.000+01:00

The entire library of Star Wars fiction titles under the Del Rey and Bantam Spectra imprints will be available in eBook format as of June 28, 2011.

All Star Wars eBooks from Del Rey and Bantam Spectra will include additional content at the back of the book. The extra content will include the following:

An updated Star Wars novels timeline
An introduction to the six major Star Wars eras: The Old Republic, Rise of the Empire, Rebellion, The New Republic, New Jedi Order, and Legacy
Over half a dozen additional excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years

"Readers and fans have been asking for the Star Wars novels to be made available digitally, and we're excited that we can finally make this happen," said Howard Roffman, President of Lucas Licensing. "We're committed to providing fans with great Star Wars stories that can be enjoyed on any reading platform. We're thrilled to see the extensive backlist of Del Rey and Bantam titles made available electronically."

"Over 30 years ago, Del Rey Books published the novelization of the very first Star Wars film," said Gina Centrello, President of the Random House Publishing Group. "Since that time, the Star Wars Saga has grown to become a worldwide phenomenon. We're exceptionally proud to have been at the helm of such a rich and vast literary universe, and thrilled to be working with our partners at Lucasfilm as we move into the future with eBooks."

The announcement was made on the official Star Wars website.

Will you be downloading Star Wars eBooks to Kindle, iPad or similar reading device?

Mexican Stormtrooper

2011-05-11T11:30:00.003+01:00

A reader sent in this awesome Star Wars-related photo (credited to Bonnie Burton).

For more on the Mexican Stormtrooper and Spaghetti Westerns in space visit here.

See the stars, join The Empire!

2011-05-10T14:34:00.000+01:00

Misfits cast Joe Gilgun as new recruit Rudy

2011-05-09T10:47:00.001+01:00

As filming begins on Series 3 of E4's Bafta-nominated smash hit drama series Misfits, Joe Gilgun (star of This Is England '86) enrols for community service as new guy Rudy. He lines up alongside Misfits resident delinquents Bafta nominee Lauren Socha, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Antonia Thomas and Iwan Rheon in the super-sized series which sees its run extended to eight episodes.

New kid on the block Rudy gets a rude awakening in his first few days of community service, learning that with the keys to the infamous locker comes a great deal of running and screaming and, in some instances, bloodletting. But that really is the least of his worries. More pressing is just how to keep his secret superpower, well, secret. And is it super? As in from the A- List?

The rest of the gang are also back with all-new powers. But just how did that trade off with Seth (Matthew McNulty), the superpower dealer, go down? You would hope that at least one of them has a power approaching something halfway useful. You would hope... Is Simon any closer to fulfilling his destiny as Superhoodie? And just where does he learn to do all that nifty parkour?

With Seth still trading powers, zombies on the loose, havoc being wreaked with events from the past and even more havoc being wreaked in the present, things haven't got any quieter for our gang...

The 8 x 60 min series will be produced by Clerkenwell Films (Afterlife, Persuasion) for transmission on E4 later in 2011. And it's not just a new look cast - the production team get their very own make-over. Matt Strevens (Skins) produces while Alex Garcia and Wayne Yip (Coming Up, Secret Diary of a Call Girl) take on co-directorial duties.

Writer Howard Overman (Misfits, Merlin) will be writing five of the eight episodes and executive producers for Clerkenwell Films Murray Ferguson and Petra Fried both return. The new series has been greenlit by Drama Commissioning Editor Robert Wulff-Cochrane.

THX inventor to join Apple

2011-05-05T14:14:00.001+01:00

Leo Laporte tweeted that Tomlinson Holman (inventor of the THX sound system) is purportedly joining Apple to head up the Cupertino-based company's audio division.

This is amazing news!

ClamCase announces Limited Edition Trooper Case

2011-05-04T21:20:00.002+01:00

Hollywood, CA. - May 4, 2011 -- In conjunction with the celebration surrounding, “May the 4th Be With You”, ClamCase® - The All-In-One Keyboard Case and Stand for iPad announces the upcoming launch of its first release from the Limited Edition ClamCase® Inspired Series.

The Trooper Limited Edition ClamCase® is space-inspired keyboard case for the Apple® iPad. Featuring a black hinge, keyboard, base, and ergonomic rubber feet, the imperial white protective case provides contrast. Collectors and fans will enjoy the high-quality fit and finish of the latest ClamCase®.

In addition, ClamCase® is gearing up for the launch of the ClamCase® for iPad 2. This all-new version builds on the features that made the original ClamCase® an instant global success. ClamCase® for iPad 2 has been designed with an all-new light and sleek design, and will be available in both black and white models.

ClamCase® products offer an incredibly practical solution for those who have experienced the magic of the Apple® iPad, and are looking to take their device to the next level. ClamCase® is the only tablet case on the market today that not only enhances the mobility of the iPad with a highly functional keyboard and durable hard-cover case, but also maintains the freedom of the tablet design with its patent-pending 360 hinge.

ClamCase® products are in high demand worldwide for their desirable features and ability to enhance FaceTime®, Facebook®, YouTube®, Netflix®, online gaming, endless apps, and web surfing. In addition to the growing popularity with professionals, educational institutes, and other organizations, ClamCase® products are used to protect the iPad investment, while greatly increasing mobility and productivity.

ClamCase for iPad is currently available for purchase, with a retail price of $149 and a special clamcase.com online price of $119. For a limited time purchase a ClamCase® Gift Card for $99 and receive $119 store value. This discounted gift card can be used for any product(s) from within the ClamCase online store.

The Limited Edition ClamCase® Trooper and ClamCase® for iPad 2 will ship this summer.

Review: 3DS – 3D is the Key

2011-04-27T14:52:00.002+01:00

Guest post by Nan Braun

Although brewing much controversy, 3D is the key killer feature for the new Nintendo 3DS. The hardware is beautiful and shiny (I got the Aqua), and the curved edges sit comfortably in your hands - but that is not a reason to upgrade. The real joy in my 3DS has been 3D, especially the 3D Augmented Reality. I have to admit that in my family of geeks, the new system has gotten mixed reactions - some of which surprised me...

My youngest step-son (11) - the biggest gaming enthusiast - was won over slowly. His first reaction was “Whoa, this is weird!” and he almost put it down. But he was just as intrigued and he was soon shooting dragons that were popping out of his knee and bargaining for more time on the system. He moved to Ridge Racer3D and thinks he can actually drive now. His older brother (13) was sold immediately and took the Street Fighter IV game for a wild run. My second daughter (16), a purposeful non-gamer, who retired her DS and her PSP years ago, picked it up and played for hours. She is enthralled with the 3D effects. Her favorite games are Face Raiders and Pilot Wings Resort, although she has put in some good time with the Ridge Racer3D game as well. My oldest Daughter (19), a long time DS and Mario fan picked it up and almost immediately put it back down again, declaring that she “hates it”. None of the other kids were too heartbroken to find out they would have more time to split amongst themselves.

Me? I am still boggling at the possibilities: both for gaming and real world application that the 3D AR brings to the table. I am not an AR newbie by any measurement, but had never found an AR application that really “hooked” me (Weather Reality on my Android probably comes the closest). The combination of 3D and AR is immediately engaging and Nintendo has done a great job of building example applications of how this could be leveraged for other games and applications.

Face Raiders gets users up and active. It surface maps pieces of the immediate environment onto game pieces in addition to a simple AR overlay approach. The AR Games, that are "?" card triggered, do the best job of showing off the full possibilities for game developers. They require full 360 interaction with the 3D AR images (targets behind or underneath part of the view). I am especially hoping that designers of puzzle and RPG type games are taking notes, as this could potentially push those genres to levels of interactivity that users had not previously dreamed of.

In the real world, I see potential for businesses (can you image a business card that launches an AR game or 3D view of a product?). As a bonus, the 3DS can be used as a pretty decent (although awkward) 3D camera in well lit environments. I have used it in my gardens as well as at a recent art show.

Summary? Thumbs up for great potential and immediate fun. Holding my breath with hope that Game Designers leverage this the way it deserves.

Buy Nintendo 3DS today.

Nan Braun has been working in the IT industry for over 2 decades, but has been a geek all her life. She attributes part of that to watching moon landings as a child, and part to the librarian who first pointed her in the direction of the science fiction section. She enjoys gadgets (OK, she is addicted), gaming, science fiction (in all media formats), beta testing and general tinkering. One of the highlights of 2010 for her was spending time at the Maker Faire in Detroit.

Nan has been an active blogger on different sites for nearly a decade and loves social media platforms. You can find Nan on twitter @roguepuppet and her current blog is at http://roguepuppet.blogspot.com.

LOVEFiLM - How does it work?

2011-04-19T14:05:00.001+01:00

LOVEFiLM is a simple way of enjoying new releases and your favourite classics without having to leave the comfort of your own home. At the click of a button you can have films and television series or games posted directly to you with a pre-paid envelope for their safe return. Or now, even watch the movie online, streamed to your PC, TV or PS3.

All you need to do is register at LOVEFiLM and you can experience their easy to use service for free for a trial period. You can order new and old films, series box sets and games for various consoles. There are no hidden fees, just pay a fixed fee after your free trial if you've enjoyed it so far and choose whichever package is most suited to you. If you're a serious movie buff you can have multiple films sent throughout the month. Returning them will mean your next movie is dispatched in record time and you can watch as many films as you can fit in. If you want a basic package just pay the lowest amount and opt for two movies a month.

You can even prioritise your list of rentals by adding low, medium and high priorities, this means you will receive your most wanted before anything else. Make sure you are the first to catch things on DVD by reserving items due for release so there are no delays.

LOVEFiLM operates smoothly and you will receive discs in good condition, quickly and without fuss, so you can enjoy a night in with friends or family or on your own whenever you fancy. It means quite simply that if you're ever stuck for plans you will always have a night at the movies on the cards. All you need to do is sign up, place your order and wait for the postman.

There is no easier to way to keep on top of your movie or game, just sit back and relax and wait for your entertainment to be delivered to your door.

Star Wars the Musical

2011-04-10T17:37:00.005+01:00

No, it's not Star Wars performed by the cast of Glee! The hit US series, shown on E4 in the UK, has been replete with Star Wars references and I wouldn't mind seeing Lea Michele play Princess Leia...

This unofficial musical journey was originally staged in 1996 before Lucas issued a cease-and-desist order on the stageshow's creators.

You can watch Star Wars the Musical, in its entirety on Salon.

Free Jodo Kast when you spend £20 on Hasbro Star Wars

2011-04-08T17:14:00.003+01:00

In the comic "Boba Fett: Twin Engines of Destruction", Jodo Kast is a bounty hunter who wears Mandalorian armor. He pretends to be Boba Fett to take advantage of Fett's reputation as the galaxy's most notorious bounty hunter. However, the real Boba Fett is not flattered by Kast's impersonation and makes plans to stop him.

This great Jodo Kast action figure comes complete with removable helmet and weapons. A must have for any Star Wars Fan.

Get Jodo Kast free when you spend £20 on Hasbro Star Wars at Toys R Us this Easter.

Atari's Greatest Hits on the App Store

2011-04-07T12:33:00.011+01:00

Early this morning Atari unleashed the most significant retro gaming collection onto the App Store! Why? A generation of video gamers cut their teeth on the Atari 2600 VCS.

For a modest outlay you can own a hundred of Atari's classic arcade and cartridge-based video games or purchase themed packs, which is much more expensive. Plus you get Pong for free and there's an Aladdin's cave of multimedia memorabilia, including arcade cabinet art and flyers, to explore.

I won't list all the gaming gems, but you'll find Yar's Revenge, Combat, Crystal Castles, and, my favourite, Star Raiders (remember the game controller pack-in?) in all their anti-aliased glory on Retina display devices.

Atari has made a big splash in the portable gaming space with this collection. If successful, I hope the company considers releasing a Lynx emulator in the not too distant future.

Atari has raised the bar on how to package games for the App Store. Over to you Sega...

Atari's Greatest Hits (iTunes)

Create your own LittleBigPlanet avatar on Facebook

2011-04-05T12:14:00.000+01:00

I'm going to say it! LittleBigPlanet 2, narrated by everyone's favourite polymath, Stephen Fry, is the most charming and creative of adventures for the PS3, or any video games console for that matter, from Sony! And embodies the company's philosophy of make.believe.

LittleBigPlanet's genesis lies in a conversation between Media Molecule co-founders Mark Healey and Dave Smith following a cinema visit to see Howl's Moving Castle by Studio Ghibli. They created a prototype of their idea, a game called Craftworld, a physics-based, 2D side-scrolling game, with a place holder character called Mr. Yellowhead and successfully pitched the idea to Sony. LittleBigPlanet was released in 2008 to critical acclaim.

Play. Create. Share. Who wouldn't be enthralled by LittleBigPlanet 2's infinite world of possibilities? A puzzle platform video game based on user-generated content - its scope only limited by your imagination. A community-made and semi-official level pack named Hansel and Gretelbot was released in February. The series of levels, based loosely on the fairytale of Hansel & Gretel, was created by a team of community members who were approached by Media Molecule and asked to collaborate and attempt to make a set of levels that could match the quality of the game's story levels. The series, created using only in-game tools, features original music, voice acting and prizes.

Now you can create, customise and share the star of LittleBigPlanet 2 with your family and friends on Facebook. To quote Blue Peter, the world's longest-running children's television show, here's one I made earlier: Good times!

Why not create a Sackboy or Sackgirl, yourself, and just by using the Facebook application you can enter a competition to win a Sony experience pack, which includes a Sony BRAVIA TV, a PlayStation 3 and a Sackboy plush toy!

Sponsored Post

Cyber3PO & R2Dalek

2011-04-04T11:32:00.001+01:00

Doctor Who Star Wars mashup for the win.

Tinchy Stryder and Jameela Jamil launch Xperia PLAY

2011-04-01T12:21:00.001+01:00

Yesterday, Tinchy Stryder and Jameela Jamil emerged from the wreckage of a crashed helicopter set at the Xperia™ PLAY Rooms in London to launch Sony Ericsson’s groundbreaking new handset Xperia™ PLAY.

The Xperia™ PLAY Rooms popped up for one day only to immerse consumers in a surreal fusion of gaming genres. Visitors were subjected to a world that featured everything from a fluorescent blue forest, burnt out helicopter, American muscle car and a Shanghai street bar.

Commuters arrived bright and early to be among the first in the world to try out their gaming skills on Xperia™ PLAY, with some gaming enthusiasts swapping their suits for Spiderman or Stormtrooper costumes. A select few also got their hands on tickets to Sony Ericsson’s private launch party, with performances by Tinchy Stryder and The Nextmen.

Tinchy Stryder commented, “I’m a big gamer so it’s great to be involved with the launch of Xperia™ PLAY. I spend a lot of my time on the road, so to have a mobile with a PlayStation gaming pad is cool.”

Jameela added, “I got to launch an awesome gaming phone and hang out with Tinchy, although he needs to learn to be a little bit less competitive when it comes to playing games.”

The Xperia™ PLAY goes on sale globally on the 1st April 2010. The Xperia™ PLAY Rooms were open to the public for one day only on the 31st March until 5pm.

Buy Xperia PLAY now.

For more information about Xperia™ PLAY, visit www.sonyericsson.com/uk

Star Wars games being pulled from the App Store

2011-03-30T17:03:00.004+01:00

Josh Shabtai, Falcon Gunner’s creative director and head of Vertigore, recently wrote in a blog post that due to THQ’s deal with Lucasfilm coming to an end, THQ will have to withdraw Star Wars: Falcon Gunner from the App Store.

"In the end, I shouldn't be upset: I'd literally been dreaming about making a Millennium Falcon arcade machine for more than 27 years. THQ and Lucasfilm gave me and Vertigore the chance not only to realize this vision, but also to produce the first augmented reality Star Wars game, um, ever.

"But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad. Especially when I knew what we had planned: An awesome iPad 2 version. An Android version. Visual interaction in AR mode. And last but not least, a Battle of Endor update, complete with an interactive backing track from Nien Numb."

Shabtai speculates that other developers, tied to the THQ deal, may also find their titles disappearing from the App Store in the coming days, suggesting Lucasfilm is planning a franchise-wide reset for Star Wars on iOS. Perhaps EA will handle future tie-in games? The company already works with Star Wars franchisee Hasbro. Or LucasArts may go it alone on the App Store.

Whatever the outcome. You may want to download Star Wars games, published by THQ, before March 31st.

Download Star Wars Arcade: Falcon Gunner (iTunes) before its gone forever...

3DS breaks Nintendo UK pre-order record

2011-03-19T21:30:00.002Z

Speaking to trade mag MCV, Nintendo UK sales director, Andy Yates revealed the handheld is fast approaching 100,000 pre-orders in the UK.

"We're very encouraged that it's going to be a big launch," he said. "Our target was to get over 100,000 pre-orders - and we're in line with that. So far, we've already beat our personal best for a console launch. With three weeks to go, we're in a great position, as pre-orders are still building."

He added: "Retailers tell us that things are good, and they're pretty relieved to have a big launch in March; they need something of that magnitude."

Nintendo UK Marketing director Dawn Paine added that Nintendo's gunning for a "Wii-style" launch for 3DS, something the pre-order numbers certainly suggest it will do.

"I don't think you can underestimate peoples' hunger for new technology - the performance we're expecting comes from the quality of the product. The pre-order numbers are a testament to that," she told MCV.

"We are building towards Wii-style launch proportions. That has been our ambition all along: to get the UK into a 'feeding frenzy' situation. We feel we've picked the perfect time to launch the 3DS."

This claim is backed up by Amazon.co.uk's statement which asserts that the 3DS is the highest selling games console pre-order in the company's history.

Earlier this week reports claimed that 185,000 3DS units will be ready for UK launch on March 25. Get your pre-orders in.

Star Wars: Heir to the Empire 20th Anniversary Edition

2011-03-16T12:06:00.015Z

Is it really 20 years ago that Timothy Zahn's first instalment of his Star Wars trilogy graced the shelves of bookstores around the globe?

I remember buying a copy of Heir to the Empire, from WHSmith, and avidly reading the introduction, whilst listening to John Williams Conducts The Star Wars Trilogy, on my Sony Super Walkman, during a lunch break at College...

This official tie-in, notable for introducing Grand Admiral Thrawn and Mara Jade to the Star Wars galaxy, ignited a mainstream renaissance in the franchise: propelled by stellar video games, comics, toys, more toys and culminating in those problematic prequels.

The 20th Anniversary Edition of Timothy Zahn's Star Wars: Heir To The Empire isn't released until June 21, 2011. But, you can follow Star Wars Books on Facebook for exclusive previews.

Pre-order Star Wars: Heir to the Empire 20th Anniversary Edition now.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's Star Wars

2011-03-15T20:41:00.001Z

Simon Pegg, self-confessed geek and Star Wars fan, teams up with Nick Frost, during the making of Paul, to re-enact a famous scene from Star Wars.

Watch their hilarious video here.

Alice: Madness Returns

2011-03-14T12:15:00.000Z

Sarah Michelle Gellar may never get to play Alice in the on-off movie adaptation of American McGee's Alice. However, this summer gamers get a chance to reprise the role, eleven years on, in the first sequel to McGee's macabre masterpiece, which remains one of my all time favourite video games (I still own a copy for Mac OS).

Alice: Madness Returns delves deep into the dark and violent side of the imagination, creating a nightmarish Wonderland where Alice must face the demons that haunt her visions. Visit the grim reality of Victorian London and then travel to the beautiful yet ghastly Wonderland to uncover the root of Alice’s madness and discover the truth behind a deadly secret, kept hidden for years.

Eleven years ago a horrific fire took Alice’s family from her and left her mind horrifically scarred. Afterwards she was confined to Rutledge Asylum, where she struggled to confront her demons by slipping further into her fantasy world of Wonderland. Now, after ten years, she has finally secured her release—yet she still bears the heavy psychological burden of that tragic event.

With her mind in tatters, she is unable to resolve the fear prompted by her strange memories, dreams, and visions. Perhaps she’ll do better in Wonderland. She always has. She travels there, seeking what the “real” world can’t provide: security, knowledge, and the truth about the past. But in her absence, Wonderland too has suffered. Something has gone horribly wrong, and now a great evil is descending upon what once was her beautiful refuge. Can Alice save Wonderland—and herself—from the madness that consumes them both?

Those with an artistic bent should pickup a copy of The Art of Alice: Madness Returns.

Pre-order Alice: Madness Returns for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 now.

Flare for Mac

2011-03-11T17:10:00.003Z

Flare is a fast, easy, and beautiful darkroom for your Mac OS X desktop.

With Flare, you can apply photographic effects to your photos, then save them to your Mac, upload them to Flickr, or send them in an email. Flare comes with over twenty high-quality presets to easily apply a wide range of different effects. But that’s only the beginning because Flare also gives users the power to edit existing presets or build all new ones completely from scratch.

Here are just some of the notable highlights of Flare for Mac:

*Fine tune effects in real time via live preview
*High quality 12 Megapixel Textures, Borders and Frames
*Temporarily save edits as Snapshots for later use
*Drag and drop images from iPhoto, Aperture, Photoshop & Lightroom
*Export photos in JPEG, PNG and TIFF formats
*Share creations on Flickr or by e-mail
*Unlimited Undos
*Helpful online user guide and video tutorials

Download Flare from the Mac App Store. The regular price is $20, but Flare is on sale right now in the Mac App Store for just $10.

Star Wars in 3D

2011-03-03T18:19:00.010Z

Following years of speculation, the Star Wars saga is getting a 3D makeover and, alas, the original trilogy is far, far away...

Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox announced today that the 3D theatrical launch of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace now has an official release date — February 10, 2012! Set against the thrilling and exotic backdrop of a “galaxy far, far away,” Star Wars is perfectly suited to the immersive 3D theatrical experience, and Episode I delivers some of the Saga’s most stunning and spectacular sequences — from the Naboo invasion to the Tatooine Podraces to the climactic lightsaber battle between Darth Maul and the Jedi.

I sincerely hope the press release was written with a sense of irony!

Supervised by Industrial Light & Magic, the meticulous conversion is being done with utmost respect for the source material, and with a keen eye for both technological considerations and artistic intentions.

The Phantom Menace marketing campaign overshadowed the finished film and suggested a much darker narrative as evinced by 'The Omen' teaser poster.

Will you be queuing up to see this or have you had enough of being nickel and dimed by George Lucas?

iPad 2: the ultimate authoring tool on the move?

2011-03-02T21:05:00.000Z

Will you be buying an iPad 2 (or 1.5 as I prefer to call it)?

It's slimmer, lighter and faster than its predecessor and runs iMovie and GarageBand. A scaled down version of iMovie (iTunes) is already available on the App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch (4G).

This marks a departure from the iPad as predominantly a point of consumption and, with the addition of two cameras, repositions it for authoring, too. Such a device would be compelling for on location use.

Although reading digital comics on its larger screen would be preferable to an iPod touch, I'll be skipping iPad 2 and await Retina Display support, which is rumoured in September. Plus, I need to replace my ageing iMac (early 2007) when Mac OS X 10.7 Lion ships!

X-Men: First Class

2011-03-01T10:56:00.002Z

Genre film of the year?

Did Jar Jar Binks ruin Star Wars?

2011-02-28T18:33:00.003Z

Did Jar Jar Binks ruin the Star Wars franchise? His LEGO peeps seem to think so in "You Ruined Our Franchise!!!"

Troops of Doom

2011-02-24T20:13:00.001Z

Kraig Furtado's free web comic Troops of Doom chronicles G.I. Joe versus Star Wars in a battle for control of LEGO technology and the galaxy!

New comics are added 3-5 times a week, Monday to Friday. It's hilarious.

Star Wars Super Deluxe AT-AT

2011-02-22T20:33:00.001Z

Capable of accommodating over 20 Star Wars figures, 6 of which can fit in its head alone, the colossal AT-AT (All Terrain Armoured Transport) features various lights, sirens, battle sound effects and voice clips from the movie.

Possibly the best toy ever! Buy from The Entertainer today!

Batman x MIMOBOT USB Flash Drive Collection

2011-02-17T15:31:00.000Z

The first wave of the Batman x MIMOBOT memory devices feature classic hero and villain assortments of Batman, Robin, Catwoman and The Joker.

Want.

Xperia Play the PlayStation phone

2011-02-13T17:24:00.002Z

February 13, 2011, Barcelona, Spain – Sony Ericsson today announced the game-changing Xperia Play, the latest phone in its Xperia range of Android-based smartphones.

Xperia Play delivers the smartphone functionality that the most serious power users could need, teamed with the immersive gaming experience that any gamer would want.

In portrait mode, the Android smartphone offers all the benefits that users have come to expect from Sony Ericsson’s existing range of Xperia smartphones with best-in-class entertainment experiences, a great 5 megapixel camera, a brilliant 4” multi-touch screen and great social networking features.

However, slide out the gaming control and users enter a new world of immersive mobile gaming. The slide out game pad reveals a digital D pad, two analogue touch pads, two shoulder buttons and the four PlayStation icons: circle, cross, square and triangle. Qualcomm’s optimized Snapdragon processor with a 1Ghz CPU and embedded Adreno GPU graphics processor deliver silky smooth 60fps play-back 3D mobile gaming and Web browsing with minimal power consumption so Xperia Play users can enjoy long hours of battery life and game time.

Tactical displays in Star Wars

2011-02-07T20:24:00.000Z

Phil Laver, a designer, recently got in touch to let me know about a collection of Star Wars tactical displays that he's been working on here.

These are in tribute to the work undertaken by Dan O'Bannon (Alien) for Star Wars (1977) and would look pretty cool on a t-shirt don't you think?

Star Wars: Sounds from a galaxy far, far away

2011-01-26T15:41:00.004Z

Star Wars is a multimedia experience, replete with sounds that continue to reverberate through its ever-expanding universe. Nothing proves that better than this dazzling large format hardcover and sound module package.

Written with New York Times best-selling author J. W. Rinzler, with a foreword by Ben Burtt, The Sounds of Star Wars tells the intimate details behind your favorite Star Wars sound effects. From the majestic hum of a lightsaber to the lowly chitter of a Jawa, every effect has a story.

This lavishly illustrated book is required reading for Star Wars fans and anyone with a remote interest in the art of sound design.

The Sounds of Star Wars is currently on offer at Amazon.co.uk.

Amazon to acquire LOVEFiLM

2011-01-20T16:14:00.001Z

LUXEMBOURG & LONDON – January 20, 2010 – Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire the remaining shares in LOVEFiLM International Limited (www.LOVEFiLM.com). LOVEFiLM is a leading European subscription entertainment service which combines the benefits of online DVD and games rental-by-post as well as streaming films and TV shows instantly over the internet to PCs, internet enabled TVs and Playstation®3. LOVEFiLM operates today in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Amazon already has a significant minority shareholding in LOVEFiLM and does not itself operate any similar business in Europe.

“LOVEFiLM has been innovating on behalf of movie rental customers across Europe for many years and with the advent of the LOVEFiLM player, they are further delighting customers by streaming digital movies for their immediate enjoyment,” said Greg Greeley, Amazon’s Vice President of European Retail. “LOVEFiLM and Amazon have enjoyed a strong working relationship since LOVEFiLM acquired Amazon Europe’s DVD rental business in 2008, and we look forward to a productive and innovative future.”

“The deal is a winner for the members who love LOVEFiLM because of its value, choice, convenience and innovation in home entertainment,” said Simon Calver, Chief Executive of LOVEFiLM International. “With Amazon’s unequivocal support we can significantly enhance our members’ experience across Europe.”

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011.

Glee goes Star Wars in 3 Minutes

2011-01-11T20:49:00.000Z

Glee’s Harry Shum Jr. shows off his lightsaber skills against Stephen Boss in this short film directed by Ross Ching.

Watch 3 Minutes. Trust me, it's cool.

Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray

2011-01-07T13:52:00.008Z

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and George Lucas announced, in the Panasonic booth at CES, that the Star Wars saga will bow on Blu-ray disc this September.

The studio is releasing three boxsets to meet the expectations of fans:

Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray (9-disc set)
Star Wars: Prequel Blu-ray Trilogy (3-disc set includes Episodes I-III)
Star Wars: Original Blu-ray Trilogy (3-disc set includes Episodes IV-VI)

Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray will feature all six live-action Star Wars feature films utilizing the highest possible picture and audio presentation, along with three additional discs and more than 30 hours of extensive special features including never-before-seen deleted and alternate scenes, an exploration of the exclusive Star Wars archives, and much more.

There's no news regarding 3D Blu-ray disc editions. However, I'd be most surprised if Panasonic doesn't have an exclusive deal as part of a VIERA 3D TV pack-in.

Pre-order Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray and the Star Wars: Trilogy Sets at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk today!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2010-12-24T15:38:00.001Z

This is my final post of 2010! I would like to wish you all a fantastic festive period, whatever you may be doing, and wish you all the best for the New Year.