Geekscape Reviews: ‘Star Wars Even More Crochet’ By Lucy Collin

by Natalie KipperApril 19, 2017

With Star Wars being all the rage, now is the perfect time to review Lucy Collin’s crochet kit, Star Wars Even More Crochet. The kit is a sequel of sorts to the popular Star Wars Crochet, which was released in 2015. And while the original kit was dedicated strictly to the classic trilogy, this new release features a mix of characters from the original films as well as those found in The Force Awakens.

The box containing the goods is quite fun by itself, with color photos of the amigurumi (crochet dolls) from the pattern book. Characters can be found not only on the front and back of the box but also two of the sides, giving it a festive air.

Found in the enclosed book are patterns for a Jawa, BB-8, Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, Kylo Ren, Obi-wan Kenobi, Lando Calrissian, Admiral Akbar, Nien Nunb, the four members of the Cantina band, and Greedo.

The kit includes the materials needed to make a Jawa and BB-8, even safety eyes and stuffing.

Sounds great, right? And it is, in theory. However, I encountered several issues with the yarn and the hook. For starters, two important things to keep in mind when crocheting amigurumi is that your gauge is tight enough to keep the stuffing from showing through and that the yarn weights are the same. I noticed right off that the weight for the black and brown yarns for the Jawa were different. I ended up using some yarn from my stash instead (both chosen were worsted weight).

Next off, the crochet hook provided was crooked when I took it out of the box (you can’t tell in the photo because it is facing up). And while the hook was still usable, I did find it very uncomfortable to hold after more than 20 minutes.

It is a shame about the pack-ins because the book for the most part is great. The patterns were well-written and I did not encounter any errors. The only problem was the Techniques and Terminology section, which gives a rundown on the different stitches found in the patterns. I have been crocheting a long time and thankfully knew how to do all of the required stitches already but even I was confused by some of the diagrams used in that section. If you know what you are looking at, you eventually have a moment of “I see what you did there” but I can’t see it being of any help to someone unfamiliar with the techniques. I guess that is where Youtub comes to the rescue.

Here is my finished project, Martini the Jawa. He didn’t take long to make. I did have the split the crochet sessions into bits because my hand really did not like working with that bent hook. But all told, I estimate it took me between two to two and a half hours to finish. Not bad at all.

I am going to give the kit as a whole a 2 out of 5. For $24.99, it should come with usable supplies. The pattern book on its own earns a 4 out of 5. The patterns are relatively simple with a great blend of characters from the series’ past and present. The only problem was the not-helpful Techniques section. Other than that, it was super fun.

[This review is based on a sample provided by Thunder Bay Press. All opinions are my own.]

Watch This Incredible Visual Effects Reel For ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’!

by Derek KraneveldtSeptember 6, 2016

Briefly: This was simply too incredible not to share.

ILM has published a new, Star Wars: The Force Awakens visual effects reel to their official YouTube page, along with the following note:

We are pleased to share a sample of the visual effects work created for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The history of ILM leads all the way back to 1975 and origins of Star Wars and The Force Awakens gave us the opportunity to once again push the boundaries of what is possible in character animation and visual effects while combining cutting edge practical effects and physical sets. ILM studios in San Francisco, Singapore, Vancouver and London each contributed to the film effects as did our partners Hybride, Base FX and Virtuos.

The video showcases just how ILM composited a myriad of scenes, backgrounds, ships, characters, and otherwise, and it’s simply perplexing to see just how many pieces some of these amazing compositions are built from.

Take a look at the effects reel below; you’re likely to watch this one more than one.

‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’ Gets A Tiny Teaser, Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern Join Cast!

by Derek KraneveldtFebruary 15, 2016

Briefly: Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII is now filming.

Disney revealed the news today, noting new cast members, and showing off a quick teaser that features Rey and Luke together once again (right where we left them). It certainly had me reminiscing about The Force Awakens, and had me wondering if I should be headed to one last IMAX showing before the film leaves theatres.

The company also revealed that Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro, Academy Award nominee Laura Dern, and newcomer Kelly Marie Tran have joined the project.

As a huge fan of Johnson’s Brick and Looper, I could not be more excited for Star Wars: Episode VIII. Hell, after simply watching The Force Awakens, I could not be more excited for Episode VIII. Take a look at the teaser and full announcement below, and let us know who you’d like to see the new talent portray!

Star Wars: Episode VIII hits theatres on December 15th, 2017 (because of that delay, remember)!

Rey took her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and will continue her epic journey with Finn, Poe, and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VIII, which began principal photography at Pinewood Studios in London on February 15, 2016.

Star Wars: Episode VIII, which is written and directed by Rian Johnson and continues the storylines introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, welcomes back cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis. New cast members will include Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro, Academy Award nominee Laura Dern, and talented newcomer Kelly Marie Tran.

Star Wars: Episode VIII is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman and executive produced by J.J. Abrams, Jason McGatlin, and Tom Karnowski. Joining the production crew will be some of the industry’s top talent, including Steve Yedlin (Director of Photography), Bob Ducsay (Editor), Rick Heinrichs (Production Designer), Peter Swords King (Hair and Make-Up Designer), and Mary Vernieu (US Casting Director). They will be joining returning crew members Pippa Anderson (Co-Producer, VP Post Production), Neal Scanlan (Creature & Droid FX Creative Supervisor), Michael Kaplan (Costume Designer), Jamie Wilkinson (Prop Master), Chris Corbould (SFX Supervisor), Rob Inch (Stunt Coordinator), Ben Morris (VFX Supervisor), and Nina Gold (UK Casting Director).

Star Wars: Episode VIII is scheduled for release December 15, 2017.

Geekscape 394: Tyler Oakley And Korey Kühl Nerd Out With Us!

by JonathanJanuary 11, 2016

Youtube stars Tyler Oakley and Korey Kühl arrive on Geekscape to talk about their new film ‘Snervous’! Tyler also talks about his new book ‘Binge’ and how its (almost) undefeated rise to the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list. While we’re at it, we talk about the loss of David Bowie and how Tyler really should watch ‘Labyrinth’. Plus, we try and decide which Star Wars droids are the gayest and Will discusses the ups and down’s of TV’s ‘Supergirl’! It’s all on this week’s Geekscape! Enjoy!

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Geekscape 392: The 2015 Holiday Special!

by JonathanDecember 23, 2015

It’s the Holiday Season and the end of the year! And that marks another Anniversary for Geekscape, which started podcasting 9 years ago on Christmas Day! Yup… We’ve got the same birthday as Baby Jesus! This year, Kenny, Will, Jake and I go into a major Non-Spoiler discussion of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ and put the movie in perspective with The Prequels and Original Trilogy! We also share stories of Christmases past and what gifts we wanted! Also… what do we want this year? And has Jake already bought almost everything on his list for himself off of QVC? It’s a Christmas Miracle if he hasn’t!

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Geekscape’s ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Review Special!

by JonathanDecember 21, 2015

Spoiler Warning! Ian Kerner and I get together and talk all of the nitty gritty on ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’! What did we love? What did we want more of? Does it live up to the hype? Will we be getting a Tito spin-off film? We work hard to uncover and discuss all of the details so if you’re looking for an in-depth discussion on ‘The Force Awakens’ look no further!

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Gabe’s SPOILER FREE ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Reaction!

by Gabriel von GrünbaumDecember 18, 2015

So I’ve literally just walked out of the theater. (Side note to theater: This is Star Wars—no one’s in a hurry to get out—please don’t turn up the lights before the credits even start rolling! Party foul!)

How fanatical am I? Not too much—I mean, I don’t go around dressed up in costume or anything—although my hot neighbor (who I’m carpooling to the theater with and who thinks this is film isn’t any more significant than say, The Scorch Trials) immediately asks, “Han Solo?” Guess I nailed it, subtly.

StarWarsTheForceAwakens_Selfie01_600x900 — Here I am, ready to head to the theater.

The real benefit to seeing something as soon as it comes out isn’t just to avoid spoilers, it’s also great because your expectations have been formed strictly between yourself and the film’s marketing team. There have been more than a few times when a film’s accumulated hype left me disappointed with the actual delivery—the product of unchecked adoration from the fanbase. Returning to such a film years later, my expectations palate cleansed, I find it to be much more enjoyable. Sometimes, a lot of bad reviews will having me dragging my feet to see something; only to realize, when I finally do see it, it’s just my cup of awesome.

My aim here is to provide your expectations a solid baseline—something you can hang onto in the oncoming storm of reviews and reactions that will be thrust at you from all sides now—until you’re able to see it for yourself and enjoy forming your own genuine experience and reaction, good or bad.

Again, all spoiler free, cause I hate when the beans are spilled beforehand—Star Wars: The Force Awakens is everything we need it to be. It is an organic extension of the galaxy far far away constructed in episodes IV, V and VI. Satisfaction, excitement and anticipation are the words in play. Some of the more elaborate wish fulfillment that might’ve taken place is instead solid and healthy story development as a new generation rightly takes the reins of the galaxy.

The tropes and mechanics you want are all there. The comedy is fitting with the proper Star Wars tone; as is the drama, story dynamics, character development and interactions—which were sadly all lost in the prequel trilogy. The action and cinematography are taken up a notch without violating what came before. So the production is very solid, any remaining uncertainty is only to what degree the story will resonate with you.

Zero complaints for me—although, the end result feels a bit more “The Empire Strikes Back” in that it leaves you hungry for more—which isn’t a bad thing! My expectations were already at a level where they wouldn’t have been fully slaked unless I left the theater having finally been taught to use the force and handed my very own genuine lightsaber. Again, short of becoming a literal Jedi in just over two hours, it was everything I needed it to be. I’m looking forward to watching it again and again, picking up all the little things I’m sure I missed during this first viewing.

Bottom line? No regrets. Looking forward to seeing it many more times. I think Star Wars: The Force Awakens is very hard to dislike—unless you believe in general that movies pretty much suck and sci-fi/fantasy anything is rather stupid (in which case we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation anyway and I wonder why you’ve read this far in the first place—good luck with your sad life).

Star Wars!

Geekscape Roundtable: Our Favourite ‘Star Wars’ Memories!

by GeekscapeStaffDecember 17, 2015

Can you even believe that December 17th is finally here?

After years of waiting, and what feels like a lifetime of anticipation (not to mention way, way too many trailers and TV spots), Star Wars: The Force Awakens is finally here.

Finally!

So, while we’re all getting our Obi-Wan robes on and Shane readies his sexiest Jar Jar Binks cosplay, we thought we’d share our very favourite Star Wars memories, well, ever!

Now, these aren’t moments of our favourite characters or scenes from one of the ~~six~~ three films, but far deeper than that. Our favourite memory of how Star Wars made us feel, or ways that it brought us closer together with other, like-minded geeks.

In putting this piece together, I definitely teared up more than once (thankfully I had my Star Wars tissues on hand), so we’re beyond excited to be sharing these memories with you!

Read on, enjoy, and may the force be with you, always.

Daniel Campozano

I didn’t grow up with my biological father, and my step father is more of a Western fan, so our similarities in film and TV were simply never in sync.

My friends don’t share my level of dedication to consuming media, let alone having a feverish fandom for a particular series, and my wife falls asleep 15 minutes into any of my picks for movie night.

I was a lone wolf until 11 year ago when I stumbled upon a podcast where I found fellow enthusiasts of the geek culture: Geekdrome. I found a home. Fast forward a year, Geekdrome was over and my girlfriend was pregnant and I was at this strange place far from home on Christmas day.

My only reprieve, Episode 1 of Geekscape.

I’m home again.

Fast forward another 5 months. My daughter is born and I have a new friend. Someone with whom I can share my love of all things and try to lure her to the dark side. It works, at 10 years old my daughter has become a geek, maybe not of the old guard, but part of a new empire.

For the past four years I’ve been introducing my daughter to world of Star Wars. At three years old we took her to see Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and so started her journey. We would watch the prequels, the original trilogy, and the despecialized original trilogy. Currently we are watching Clone Wars on Netflix while re-watching the despecialized trilogy in between breaks. A Star Wars fan, she has become. It is the one thing that she and I share that is just ours that we really enjoy (besides Doctor Who).

So my excitement for the new Star Wars trilogy is literally not measurable. Whenever I start to think about the date and how close it is and how I’m about to embark on a journey to a galaxy far far away with my daughter and my fellow Geekscapists, I start to tear up. My favorite thing about Star Wars isn’t something that has happened yet. It’s going to be on December 18, 2015, when I’m in a theater with my daughter and our bond will be that much stronger, a force will awaken that we will share for years to come. Our community will come together and once again, for better or worse we are going to lose our shit when we which watch the film.

Natalie Kipper

I come from a family of nerds. I mean, BIG nerds.

The chief nerd of our tribe is my mother, who has a special love of all things sci-fi. For Mother’s Day a few years ago (in a galaxy far, far away), Mom made a special request for the day’s activity: a Star Wars marathon with unlimited popcorn (Mom also has a special love for popcorn).

That day, my younger brother and I spent the morning, afternoon, and early evening, changing Blu-Ray discs from our Star Wars collector set and refilling our Disney Parks popcorn buckets. We may or may not have spent part of Episodes I, II, and III heckling Anakin. (Spoilers: We did.)

Eric Francisco

I think I grew up with Star Wars wrong. I watched the series in “chronological” order, from watching The Phantom Menace with my dad and sister on a Sunday matinee (long after the hype in 1999 had fizzled out) all the way to Return of the Jedi when I got the box set for Christmas a few years later. Which meant the “twist” in Empire Strikes Back wasn’t a major reveal! And because I was such an impressionable kid, I watched the prequels — yes, the prequels — with awe.

Of course they’re awful movies. I’ve gone back and can barely sit through them. But I think the Star Wars magic still worked, regardless if it was the prequels or the “real” trilogy.

Which is all to explain my favorite memory: You know when they go to the Gungan planet and meet the dude who spits a lot, Boss Nass? In the theater my sister sipped her Pepsi and whenever Nass slobbered she spat at my dad and me. We were the only ones in the theater so it was fine, and it was hysterical. (My dad was probably bored anyway.) I know it isn’t an iconic moment, I know everyone wants to forget the prequels, but you know what? That just makes that memory all the more mine.

Josh Jackson

I’m embarrassed to admit, but I spent the majority of my childhood hating Star Wars. My love of sci-fi wouldn’t come along until I was well into high school, but all I remember is that a combination of my mom constantly talking about how the movies were bad, and the SNES copy of Biker Mice From Mars that I rented turning out to be a mislabeled Super Star Wars cartridge made it so I couldn’t care less about the franchise.

Then the GameCube rolled around, and Rogue Squadron II looked like one of the most amazing games I had ever seen on any platform. Combining the stellar game play from the N64 games with updated visuals, sound and missions completely hooked me, and I couldn’t get enough. Suddenly, I just needed to know EVERYTHING I could about this universe and what the context was surrounding these levels that I played over and over again. Around this time, I finally got home Internet, introducing me to a host of new people. When my first, (and one of my best) online friends turned out to be a huge Star Wars fan, it wasn’t hard to get caught up based on all of her recommendations, to the point where I fell in love with the original trilogy.

Since then, I’ve read some of the books, I’ve played other amazing games such as the Battlefront series, Racer Revenge and The Force Unleashed, (the first one at least), and I’ve seen all of the movies and shows. Yet, none of that would likely have happened if I had never come across that GameCube classic. The hours I sunk into that title, and the interactions that followed.

Matthew Rodriguez

I’ve had some interesting friends in my childhood. We were always into nerdy things and video games but couldn’t always afford the latest games and tech because of the impoverished nature of our neighborhood (for example, I had to miss out on the entire eight bit era), so we sometimes found unusual ways to be wacky and have fun.

The Star Wars prequels were pretty huge when I was growing up. A friend of mine, my brother and I, all went to see them together and we always joked that one day Obi-Wan would just snap at Anakin, and slap him in the face. One day, my friend actually did this to us—exclaimed “Anakin!”, slapped us in the face, and ran off. This became a rick roll/prank of sorts between us. When we received a tape recorder as a gift, we used it to dub our voices over Brock Lesnar’s (the wrestler’s) music to exclaim “Anakin!” between the end of the first verse and where you hear the sound “Ough!”

My friend stretched the limits of this joke to others that were somewhat outside of our social circle, until he “Anakined” the wrong person one day and caught a fateful suplex straight into the concrete sidewalk. The joke hasn’t been used ever since.

Gabriel von Grünbaum

I think my favorite Star Wars memory is being alive. I feel extremely fortunate that I’ve never had to live in a world without Star Wars. This isn’t to say that I’m surrounded by Star Wars mugs and blankets and posters all over the place—not that I wouldn’t like that and I do enjoy a couple Star Wars collectibles. . . Okay, they’re Star Wars Legos—a little ship and a little Death Star. Oh, and a few Star Wars tee shirts. But I’m getting off track here.

The point I’m trying to make is that there hasn’t been any time in my life when Star Wars didn’t exist, when it wasn’t a part of shaping my perspectives, when it wasn’t there for me as a touchstone or reference point in digesting something new and different in my life. Star Wars is as much a part of reality for me as are trees or the moon. . . roast beef sandwiches. So trying to isolate a favorite Star Wars memory for me is akin to trying to remember my favorite time breathing—it’s absolutely all of the times.

Gun to the head? I suppose I would have to go with those very first viewings; the ones where my parents popped the VHS’s into the VCR and plopped me down in front of it to keep me occupied and I took in that galaxy far far away for the very first time in slack-jawed wonder and delight. The best part is that I’m transported back to that moment every single time I see them again.

Karson Braaten

I didn’t plan on sharing a Star Wars memory. I don’t have any significant ones, but then I realized that I think I might be in the middle of one right now!

My dad was always a Star Trek fan, and he had a large collection of VHS tapes that we would watch every few evenings while my parents ate supper. As a child, I don’t even know if I could have told you what Star Wars was. When I was fourteen; I got the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD. We didn’t even have a DVD player other than our computer. Over the next two days, I sat in front of it and watched those three movies. I wish I could tell you they changed my life, but they didn’t.

I haven’t seen any of the movies more than once. I don’t think I could list you a dozen Star Wars characters. However, that didn’t stop me from purchasing a group of tickets for The Force Awakens the moment they became available. I’ll be going with one of my best friends who loves the series. I’m taking a day off work so we can introduce the series to another friend. With any luck, my girlfriend might even tag along. The passionate aura around this series fascinates me and just like an underage teen in a bar; I love sneaking into it.

I view the new Star Wars release as a worldwide celebration of geekdom. The movie captures at scale what all us geeks feel inside, an overwhelming, undefinable, and sometimes even crazy love for things. Star Wars may not be one of those things for you but even if it isn’t, I strongly encourage you to make an effort to participate in this event. Find a friend or two and become a part of the celebration of not just Star Wars, but of how awesome it is to be a geek right now! I have no doubt these next few days will become my favourite Star Wars memory.

Derek Kraneveldt

It’s pretty crazy looking back and thinking about all of the memorable Star Wars moments that I’ve had over the past 25 years. From spending way too many hours playing various Star Wars video games with my friends, to the last decade+ of my father making fun of me for defending Jar Jar Binks when 9 year-old me saw The Phantom Menace for the first time, to arguing with Shane O’Hare over just how bad The Force Unleashed II is.

It’s absolutely insane to think about just how many times the franchise has created a memorable moment in my life. That said, the most memorable Star Wars memory for me is probably not a moment, but many.

As I mentioned in my Star Wars video games feature last month, I’ve had a tumultuous relationship with the franchise, to a point where from my late teens through my early 20’s, I barely thought about it.

Then something crazy happened. Disney bought Lucasfilm, announced that the series would be expanding like crazy and that the dude who developed Lost and made Star Trek cool for non-Trekkies would be kicking everything off.

Before this insane, unexpected development, I’d rarely even hear (or read) the words Star Wars save for deep inside geek circles such as this one. Now, today, at this very moment, I’m sitting in my call centre cubicle at work and I can hear two groups of employees having separate Star Wars conversations, another guy is wearing a Star Wars t-shirt, and someone else is carrying around a Storm Trooper Funko Pop! figure.

On top of that, I’ve had conversations about the franchise with people who you’d never imagine would be interested in it. Hell, I’m more interested in Star Wars now than I was all throughout my childhood (and I thought that I loved it back then).

I remember the outcry of fans shitting on the idea of Disney owning Star Wars. That this was the worst possible outcome in the entire world and that the company that freaking saved Marvel had no business diddling their droids and spreading through the far reaches of this galaxy far, far away.

I believed that was an absolutely nuts thought at the time, and it’s an idea that your rarely (if ever) hear today. It’s damned clear that Star Wars is healthier than ever, and the movie isn’t even out yet.

So, I guess that my favourite memory would have to be that time that Disney saved Star Wars.

So, what’s your favourite Star Wars memory? Sound out in the comments below!

Geekscape Toys: Two New Figures Join Kotobukiya’s ‘Star Wars VII’ ARTFX+ Line!

by Natalie KipperDecember 15, 2015

Hype for Star Wars: The Force Awakens certainly isn’t limited to North America. Japan has its share of fans and some pretty swanky merchandise, too. Two such pieces of merchandise come to us by way of Kotobukiya, producers of the ARTFX+ figure line (and the cutesy Cu-Poche line, among others). The ARTFX+ series are pre-painted statues that you can assemble without glue. Just snap the parts into place and you are good to go.

The first figure is Captain Phasma. Standing at almost eight inches (1/10th scale), this statue is reinforced by magnets in her feet that add stability when paired with the included metal base. Plasma is also armed with her blaster from the film. Interchangeable arm parts allow for two different poses. The Captain Phasma ARTFX+ statue is available for pre-order now, priced at US$69.99. The figure is scheduled to ship in April 2016.

The second figure is the Imperial First Order Storm Trooper, the soldiers under Captain Phasma’s command. Like Phasma, this statue is 1/10th scale but stands a little over seven inches tall rather than their Captain’s eight. The Storm Trooper is packaged with a blaster and three different shoulder pauldrons: black, white, and red. It also comes with a metal base similar to Phasma’s, to match the magnets in its feet. The Imperial First Order Storm Trooper ARTFX+ statue is available to pre-order now for US$54.99. It is also scheduled to ship in April 2016.

Are you planning on pre-ordering either (or both) of these figures? What characters would you like to see next? Post your thoughts in the comments but please avoid spoiling as much as possible.

Geekscape 391: Previewing ‘The Force Awakens’ With Yehudi Mercado!

by JonathanDecember 15, 2015

It’s Christmas time! Well, not quite. But it sure feels that way knowing that a new Star Wars movie is only a few days away! To help get us prepped, comic book writer and artist and all around storyteller Yehudi Mercado arrives on the show! Beyond our excitement for ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, we also talk about the new trailers for ‘Star Trek Beyond’, ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ and ‘TMNT: Out of the Shadows’! Also what is Disney Playmation and is ‘Krampus’ an instant Christmas classic?

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‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Red Carpet Live, 12/14 5:30pm PT

by Gabriel von GrünbaumDecember 14, 2015

TONIGHT: Watch the “‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Red Carpet Live” at StarWars.com!

The City of Hollywood is no stranger to big premieres and celebrity events. The Oscars actually shut down an entire city block to make room for the all the celebrities and media covering the event. A whole block!—tonight’s Red Carpet event has four full blocks shut down. Yeah, it’s that big, folks. In addition to the Hollywood police, Disney is ponying up thousands more for additional security to handle the anticipated crowd.

If you have a tough time with crowds of that size or can’t make it out to Hollywood, California you don’t have to surrender to the dark side as your anger consumes you. At 5:30 pm PT (8:30 pm ET) just head over to www.starwars.com to enjoy the event live, hosted by Andi Gutierrez, Anthony Carboni, and David Collins. See you there?

May the force be with you. . .

https://www.instagram.com/p/_FCwyhM_b0/

New Spoilery Footage In Chinese Exclusive ‘Star Wars The Force Awakens’ Trailer

by BigyanksDecember 11, 2015

This new cut of the Star Wars trailer has a bunch of incremental new scenes added into what we have already seen.\

They may or may not be piecing together some of the plot of the film.

One such scene sees Finn and Rey running claiming to have a pilot at the ready which eludes to Han being with them as it cuts to the Millennium Falcon in the same desert scene.

Obviously there is still not too much being shown. With six days left, only time will tell!!

BB-8 Gets An Adorable ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Character Poster!

by Derek KraneveldtDecember 9, 2015

Briefly: Following the film’s latest TV spot (which I still haven’t watched) from just yesterday, Disney has officially debuted a new character poster for its upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

This time, it features everyone’s new favourite character in the entire franchise, the adorable ball droid BB-8.

Yep. Cute as hell.

I swear that each and every time I see a picture of the little guy, it makes it even harder to not buy the incredible Sphero BB-8 toy.

In any case, can you believe that we’re just nine days away from the release? How freaking excited are you? Sound out below!

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Gets Another New TV Spot!

by Derek KraneveldtDecember 8, 2015

Briefly: I stopped watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens marketing a long time ago (ha ha), but if you’re interested, Disney has just released the 4000th TV spot for the upcoming film.

Yes, they’ve been doing a phenomenal job marketing the film (and selling me stuff), but I’ll be happy to head into the film in just a couple of weeks knowing nearly nothing about it.

In any case, the new spot is subtitled ‘Secret’, and is embedded below for your viewing pleasure. Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theatres on December 18th!

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Gets Six Gorgeous Empire Covers!

by Derek KraneveldtNovember 24, 2015

Can you believe it’s almost here?

Yep. We’re officially less than one month away from Star Wars: The Force Awakens beyond-anticipated release date, and to mark the occasion, the latest issue of Empire Magazine is being distributed with six different The Force Awakens themed covers.

The images feature various heroes and villains from the upcoming feature, including Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren, Han Solo & Chewbacca, Gwendoline Christie’s Captain Phasma, Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron, John Boyega’s Finn, and Daisy Ridley’s Rey.

Nope, no Luke Skywalker. What is going on with that guy anyways?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theatres on December 18th!

Hankering For ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’? You’ll Want To Play These Games Before December 18th!

by Derek KraneveldtNovember 19, 2015

As with the majority of geeks all over the world, my relationship with Star Wars has been a long and tumultuous one. I went from absolute love and adoration, being a comic-reading, Shadows of the Empire and Rogue Squadron-obsessed child, to utter confusion and heartbreak as Episodes I and II slowly chipped away at the franchise that I once held so close to my heart.

It wasn’t all bad, of course. Scores of novels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and way too much Episode I Racer (not to mention Battlefront) made the franchise feel like an ex-lover that you still kind of had feelings for; you get constant reminders of why you had those positive feelings in the first place, but then you remember just why things didn’t work out. Maybe I’m just being dramatic.

Now it’s the end of 2015, Disney has owned Lucasfilm for just over three years, and I’m again in adoration of the brand. Every frame that we’ve seen from next month’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been beyond solid, the new comics, novels, and television shows have all been fantastic, and we’re slated to get a new proper or spinoff film every. single. year. And don’t even get me started on that Sphero BB-8.

To quote Ted Danson (or at least his Curb Your Enthusiasm character), it’s “simply heaven.”

I’m a grown-ass man these days (at least physically, mentally it depends on who you ask), and a gamer at heart. Right now, today, I’d say that it’s never, ever been a better time to be a Star Wars fan or a gamer (just look at some of the AAA releases this year), but it’s really never been a better time to be a Star Wars fan and a gamer. Shortly after Disney made the Lucasfilm purchase, it extended its partnership with one of gaming’s biggest publishers, EA, for another (staggering) 10 years.

This week saw the launch of possibly the most anticipated Star Wars game of the last decade; the company’s reboot of Star Wars: Battlefront, but that certainly isn’t all that EA has in store for the license (and gamers) as we roll up to the film’s release.

I’ve found myself obsessing over Star Wars for the first time in as long as I can remember, trying to eat up as much lore and content as I possibly can before The Force Awakens finally hits, and what better way to lean more even more about such a vast and complex franchise than playing video games?

We’ve got a hotly anticipated shooter, a gorgeous mobile RPG, and a huge new expansion for one of today’s hottest MMORPG’s. Unfamiliar? Or looking for some great holiday gift ideas (hint, hint, mom), here’s a little more information about each

Star Wars: Battlefront

This one probably doesn’t even need an introduction; it’s EA’s reboot of the beloved and addicting series first developed by Pandemic Studios back in 2004. Fans had been clamoring for a new title in the series for nearly a decade when EA finally gave us a brief (yet exciting) teaser trailer for the title back in 2013. Now, it’s two years later, and after some incredible trailers, some memorable hands-on time, and a lot of excitement and hype, the game has just launched.

It’s arguably the very best looking game on the PS4 and Xbox One, and critics have noted just how accessible the game is for players who may not be used to, or may not have the time to keep up with an online-focused title. This is freaking perfect for me, as I’m lucky to get a few hours of gaming in per week. To be able to jump back into a title and not instantly be at a disadvantage because I can’t play all the time made me infinitely more excited for the title.

If you’ve been listening to the Geekscape Games Podcast, you’ll know just how much fun the hosts have been having with the incredibly well produced title, and with a lot more Battlefront content in the pipeline (like 16 more maps, among other things), you can be certain that fans will be playing this one for a long, long time (but probably not on December 18th).

Take a look at the gorgeous gameplay launch trailer for Star Wars: Battlefront below, and let us know if you’re already playing!

Star Wars: Galaxy Of Heroes

Galaxy of Heroes hasn’t actually launched here in the great white North just yet (that’s Canada, if you weren’t aware), but as I’ve been desperate for another mobile Star Wars RPG ever since I played through Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic far too many years after I should have.

This one is ‘a collectible RPG experience giving players the ability to create powerful teams made up of 60 iconic Star Wars characters, and take them into battle.’

Galaxy of Heroes mixes the biggest Star Wars characters from every era, including Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Darth Vader, and many more. Each character has (naturally) different abilities, so you’ll mix and match different complimentary heroes (or villains) in order to create teams to fight through missions on the likes of Hoth, Bespin, Tatooine, Coruscant, and even more.

According to the game’s description, you’ll also ‘unlock special leader abilities to buff your team and unleash moves like Darth Sidious’s Force Lightning, Chewbacca’s Wookiee Rage, and more.’

I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on this one. As a big mobile gamer, I’m always on the lookout for made-for-mobile experiences that I can quickly jump in and out of when I have a few minutes to play, and from the looks of it, Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes will fit the bill perfectly.

So far, the game is only available in Australia, but it’s headed elsewhere this holiday season, and with its current 4.5 star rating on the iOS App Store, it’s definitely a title that you’ll want to be on the lookout for! Take a look at the trailer below, and be sure to let us know what your ideal Star Wars team would be!

Knights of the Fallen Empire

This one looks damned cool. I’ve been interested in Star Wars: The Old Rebublic since long before it even launched, though without a dedicated gaming PC, I’ve never actually been able to play it. Sure, the game had a bit of a troubled launch, but consistent improvements, and awesome added content have made The Old Republic one of the very best MMORPG’s online today.

The game’s newest expansion, Knights of the Fallen Empire launched at the end of October, which ‘marks a renewed focus on cinematic storytelling by introducing a new personal story arc where player choice will shape the journey.’

I’ve heard a ton of feedback from current players of the game that this new expansion has them more hooked than they’ve ever been, and it’s also brought a lot of my pals who had left the game for one reason or another right back in.

With Knights of the Fallen Empire, you’ll ‘step into an epic story-driven adventure as your character becomes The Outlander, a veteran of the Great Galactic War. A third faction threatens the galaxy as we know it, and your choices will determine the fate of both the Sith Empire and Galactic Republic. Knights of the Fallen Empire includes the first nine chapters, fueled by BioWare-style cinematic storytelling, that kicks off a new player-driven story arc that puts you at the center of a conflict where your choices have impact on outcomes including unexpected twists and betrayals. Choose your path…join or betray companions, old and new…and shape the future of the entire galaxy as well as your own. Best of all, this is only the beginning…’

The new expansion is FREE to all subscribers, and includes a myriad of new enhancements, including eight class stories to offer a deeper, more accessible experience, the ability to assemble a ‘team of hand-picked allies to join your alliance’, and it also marks the beginning of a consistently evolving story, as new chapers will be released on a regular basis, among other things.

Hmm. Maybe it’s time to build that gaming PC after all.

With just a month to go until The Force Awakens finally (finally) releases, Star Wars fans, I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s time to get gaming!

How many hours have you put into Battlefront so far? Does Knights of the Fallen Empire pique your MMO interest? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

EA Finally Details ‘Star Wars: Battlefront’s Pricey Season Pass!

by Derek KraneveldtNovember 16, 2015

Briefly: It’s about damned time.

Following last week’s weird-as-hell live-action trailer, EA has finally (on the eve of the game’s release, no less) detailed just what Star Wars: Battlefront‘s pricey season pass will contain.

The pass will run you $50, and will, first of all, give you a two-week head start on each of the game’s four upcoming expansions. It also includes:

-Over 20 new pieces of galactic tech including weapons, vehicles, and Star Cards for both Rebels and Imperials (what the heck is a Star Card)
-4 more heroes and villains for you to fight as or against
-16 additional multiplayer maps featuring new locations
-4 exciting new game modes
-Exclusive “Shoot First” emote

Seeing as the core Battlefront experience features just 13 maps (and only one large map for each planet), it seems like a fairly substantial expansion. That being said, is Battlefront just coming out of the gates light with content?

In any case, it’s still going to sell like crazy, and seeing as EA hinted at Battlefront sequels today, it’s pretty clear that the franchise is (this time) here to stay.

Take a look at the game’s launch trailer below, and let us know if you’re going to be picking up the season pass!

The Gorgeous ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ IMAX Poster Puts BB-8 & Rey Front And Center!

by Derek KraneveldtNovember 12, 2015

Briefly: Just hours before we get another new look at Star Wars: The Force Awakens on ABC tonight, Disney has debuted the official, officially gorgeous IMAX poster for the film online.

It’s a simple image, featuring Rey, our new favourite droid BB-8, and a massive Jakku sun (that I imagine would look stunning on that giant IMAX screen), and it’s yet another piece of The Force Awakens art that I would absolutely love to have on my wall.

Take a look at the poster below, and be sure to let us know what you’re most excited to see in the film! Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theatres on December 14th!

Freaking beautiful, isn’t it?

Source: StarWars.com

A New Look At ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Is Headed To ABC This Thursday!

by Derek KraneveldtNovember 10, 2015

Briefly: When the ‘final’ trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens debuted back in October, fans everywhere (me included), expected Lucasfilm and Disney to go dark, and, well, to stop releasing new footage for the film.

Since then, we’ve seen a few TV spots and a spoilery new international trailer (which I still haven’t seen), and today Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes took to Twitter to let us know that Disney is still not done with us yet.

How there will be any new footage left when the movie actually releases I have no idea.

As a big @StarWars fan, I’m excited for Thurs, as #TGITAwakens with a special look at Star Wars: The Force Awakens! pic.twitter.com/gfYKPTfTEq

— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) November 10, 2015

I’ve stopped watching the marketing for the film, as I’d like to be as surprised as possible when The Force Awakens finally hits on December 17th. That said, I’ve heard nothing but good things about the footage released thus far, and it’s beyond tempting to take a look.

Are you down for yet another look at the film? Would you prefer to be left in the dark at this point? Be sure to let us know!

Geekscape 388: Going To The Dark Side With Andrew Duvall

by JonathanNovember 10, 2015

Longtime Geekscape friend Andrew Duvall comes on the Geekscape podcast to talk about his new project ‘Mystery Weekend Package‘! While he’s here, we try and get him to do some “script rewrites” and we talk the latest ‘Force Awakens’ trailer. Is Luke a bad guy? Also, is the Xbox One’s backwards compatibility backwards compatible enough? And is Kenny ready for Fallout 4? Plus! We talk about the new ‘Warcraft’ trailer and hooking up with someone with big teeth!

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The New Live-Action Trailer For ‘Star Wars: Battlefront’ Is The Weirdest

by Derek KraneveldtNovember 9, 2015

Briefly: I… don’t know what to make of this trailer.

Yep, the fact that we’re even getting a new Star Wars Battlefront all these years later is pretty amazing (even with all of the game’s apparent limitations), and while I can’t wait to get my hands on it, I can’t help but feel as though this trailer is far more weird than it is interesting.

It’s essentially more than one minute of watching people get raptured… followed by everyone’s beloved Anna Kendrick awkwardly delivering a Star Wars line before getting raptured herself.

The music builds throughout the trailer, and its then revealed that they’re all being raptured to a far better world than our own; one filled with endless Star Wars battles.

In any case, you can take a look at the odd-as-hell video below, and be sure to let us know if you plan to pick up Star Wars Battlefront when it launches on November 17th!

Japanese ‘The Force Awakens’ Trailer Offers New Insight

by Natalie KipperNovember 6, 2015

[POTENTIAL SPOILER WARNING: If you want to avoid being spoiled with additional plot information on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, hit the back button on your browser now.]

Star Wars fans got a treat today as a brand-new trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was uploaded to Youtube’s Japanese channel for Walt Disney Studios. Let’s take a look.

https://youtu.be/SdAUiyeJMFQ

Wow! What mostly sets this one apart from previous trailers is the way it is laid out. More scenery and locales are depicted with slightly less action shown.

One line that stood out was a variation from what was shown in earlier teasers. Before, Han Solo said “It’s true,” seemingly referencing “the Dark Side, the Jedi, all of it. They are real.” But in this trailer, he says “The Force … It’s true. All of it.” The first trailer had no mention of the Force. Curious.

Did anything jump out as significant to you? Post your theories and reactions in the comment section!

Take a Tour of the Planets Featured in ‘Star Wars Battlefront’!

by jake108November 5, 2015

Whether you’re ready or not, Star Wars Battlefront is just around the corner. Along with keeping the hype train rolling with character posters for The Force Awakens, EA is doing their part by steadily release promos for their upcoming game.

Each tour takes you though one of four planets. After choosing a planet, you’ll be prompted with an interactive menu that allows you to explore aspects about the gameplay and maps.

Check it all out here!

Star Wars Battlefront is set to release on November 17th!

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Character Posters Revealed!

by BigyanksNovember 4, 2015

FULL STEAM AHEAD!! The ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ media blitz is on. Just the other night I saw a Star Wars make up commercial, I now can get that perfect shade of Max Rebo Blue eye shadow. Anyways, we are 43 days (42 for France) away from the premiere and today we were given a nice treat.

The official character posters for Rey, Leia, Kylo Ren, Han Solo, and Finn were revealed today. Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, and John Boyega each revealed their own posters via Twitter and Instagram. Each character is juxtaposed with their weapon of choice, Rey holds her staff defiantly; Leia confidently peers through a data screen; Kylo Ren’s lightsaber crackles; a grim Han Solo holds his blaster at the ready; and Finn looks stoic with a blue-bladed Jedi weapon.

They are are cool looking and any little bit of glimpses into the new movie is welcomed, but I just don’t get the covering of the right eye. Am I missing the significance of that visual cue?

‘Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes’ Announcement Trailer!

by jake108August 31, 2015

Just in time for Star Wars Battlefront and Star Wars: The Force Awakens comes another EA video game installment for mobile devices.

I’ve always fallen victim to mobile games that involves some level of collecting. Since this game will be released sometime during the holiday season, I expect we’ll see some new character additions from The Force Awakens. Other than that, I’m sure the avid fan will spot a few familiar faces from various Star Wars installments.

Spoilers: The Force Awakens For This New Character!!

by BigyanksAugust 27, 2015

Artoo says that the chances of SPOILERS AHEAD are 725 to 1!!

Star Wars has just shared this new clip on its Instagram today showing Finn (John Boyega) wielding a blue light saber. The background is in the woods and follows the scene of Kylo Ren wielding his light saber. So it leads me to believe that they might possibly face off in a light saber duo!! Its yet to be confirmed whether Finn is an actually Jedi or not but this looks so bad ass it gave me GOOSEBUMPS.
https://instagram.com/p/65PhxOs_RH/

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ premiers December 18, 2015

D23 2015: Disney Interactive ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ for Infinity And More

by BigyanksAugust 16, 2015

Disney Interactive’s presentation at the D23 Expo 2015 was filled with great Disney gaming news. At one point the presentation focused on Star Wars.

Disney Infinity

It was already previously announced that Star Wars was going to a be a big part of 3.0 of Infinity but the big surprise came when cast members of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ come out during the presentations to introduce their Infinity characters.

Co-stars John Boyega and Daisy Ridley gave away their character figures, Finn and Rey, for the upcoming Play Set based on the film.

In addition, select “Star Wars” figures for Disney Infinity were shown off to have light-up light sabers that light up when placed onto the Disney Infinity Base. Figures include Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Kanan Jarrus.

Star Wars Battlefront

Concept art was revealed for the upcoming Star Wars Battlefront game is DLC from ‘The Force Awakens’ called the Battle of Jakku that was previously announced during Star Wars Celebration. It will be free to download.

If pre-ordered, the DLC will be available on Dec. 1. Otherwise, gamers will have to wait until Dec. 8.

The news that had me stoked and mad at the same time was the announcement of a limited edition Darth Vader-inspired Battlefront Playstation 4. I was a PS4 hold out until last year when the all white Destiny edition was released. Now i wish i knew this was coming out because this edition is a whole lot sweeter looking.

It will be available in two separate bundles, one for Battlefront and one for Disney Infinity 3.0. to sweeten the deal even more it was also announced that both bundles would come a digital voucher to download four classic ‘Star Wars’ titles – Super Star Wars, Star Wars: Racer Revenge, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter and Star Wars Bounty Hunter – playable for the first time on PS4, with enhanced graphics and Trophy support.

D23 2015: New ‘Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens’ Poster Revealed!

by jake108August 15, 2015

We have our first real look at a Star Wars The Force Awakens poster and it is glorious:

The poster obviously invokes a sense of nostalgia, mostly due to Drew Struzan‘s artwork, along with some new details for those of us staying away from descriptions and spoilers, namely details regarding Finn. Those keen on the details will also notice at least two suns, with another possible sun located in the bottom left. Could it be possible Jakku is actually Tatooine? I guess we’ll have to wait and see!

EW Reveals So Many New ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Images!

by BigyanksAugust 12, 2015

ALL ABOARD!!! The Hype Train to Star Wars: The Force Awakens is pulling out the station. With four months left for the premier Entertainment Weekly is dropping behind the scene photos and some new action shots from the film. I am so hyped I can barely contain myself!!!

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 1 — This weeks cover of Entertainment Weekly features Kylo Ren.

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 12 — Director J.J. Abrams and actress Daisy Ridley in a behind-the-scenes shot.

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 11 — Director J.J. Abrams on the set of The First Order’s Starkiller Base with his co-writer Lawrence Kasdan.

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 10 — Oscar Isaac in his Rebel Pilot outfit with a black X-wing Fighter.

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 9 — Kylo Ren (played by Adam Driver) in a action pose with his modified lightsaber.

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 8 — Rey (Daisy Ridley) rescuing the fan favorite BB8 from a scavenger’s net. Also a good indicator of the practical effects in the movie with the big creature and its rider. LOVE IT!!!

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 7 — John Boyega’s Finn runs from the wreckage of a TIE fighter, probably the aftermath from the scene in the trailer where he wakes up in the desert looking all confused.

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 6 — Finn and Rev runaway from Stormtroppers of The First Order on the desert world Jakku.

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 5 — Kylo Ren and a team of First Order stormtroopers laying waste to a village on Jakku.

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 4 — Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, a cruel leader of The First Order.

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 3 — Captain Phasma (played by Gwendoline Christie) looking super bad ass.

Star Wars - Force Awakens - 2 — R2-D2 and C-3PO are back and Threepio is sporting a red arm this time.

Are these pictures getting you as excited as I am?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiers December 18, 2015.

Check out the newest TV spot for The Force Awakens

Watch the New ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ TV Spot!

by jake108August 10, 2015

Disney has decided to premiere The Force Awakens‘ first TV spot in South Korea, and it does not disappoint.

There’s a few new shots to look out for, as well as some new music. Hopefully we lay off the TV spots until we get closer to December. Regardless, this was a nice treat.