Courtenay Taylor is a voice actress from some of our favorite games, including ‘Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic’, ‘Mass Effect’ and the currently super popular ‘Fallout 4’! And now she’s in the Geekscape studio! We talk to Courtenay about her career and how current gamers embrace female protagonists. For sure we talk strategies for ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice’ and ‘Daredevil’ Season 2 now releasing on the SAME DAY and we get everyone’s New Years Resolutions! PLUS! March 25th should be named ‘Frank Miller Day’!

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Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 59 – ‘What The Hell Happened To 2015?!’

by GeekscapeStaffJanuary 2, 2016

Join Derek, Josh, Juan and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

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This Week:

Mostly spoiler free discussion of Star Wars: Episode VII.

Namco-Bandai announcements.

Project X Zone.

New One Piece game announced.

God Eater game coming to the west.

Skylander’s Amiibo’s getting released individually.

Valve servers had a data breach over the holiday.

Tim Schafer and Double Fine Studios are doing some shady stuff over at FIG crowd funding.

Our Games of 2015!

Battlefront.

KOTOR.

Metro 2033: Redux.

Star Wars Force Awakens Disney Infinity.

Fallout 4.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Listener Mission Objective:

What is your favorite Star Wars game of all time?

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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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Captain Phasma Is Unfortunately the Worst Thing About ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

by Eric FranciscoDecember 19, 2015

Obviously, spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens are below.

A few weeks ago I was scouring Target looking for any available Captain Phasma figures in my area. I like collecting 6″ figures and wanted to add what I thought would be the best thing about The Force Awakens to my shelf. Gwendoline Christie is a delight both on screen and off (based on my impressions, I do not know her personally), so I was excited that she would be, in all things, Star Wars.

When The Force Awakens started and Captain Phasma walked on screen I smiled ear-to-ear. That smile quickly faded. For all its high marks, The Force Awakens fumbled Captain Phasma so badly it’s almost embarrassing.

Make no mistake: Star Wars: The Force Awakens is as wonderful as you’d hoped. A bit slavish to the original trilogy perhaps, but I’m thankful to finally see a good, possibly great Star Wars movie (I’ll need multiple viewings) in my lifetime. It will really make you wonder what kind of wasted effort the whole prequel trilogy was, if that wasn’t already obvious. I hope Force Awakens shuts up the grating prequel apologists.

But Force Awakens isn’t without its own missteps, and by far the most glaring is Captain Phasma. There was hope she’d succeed the legacy of Boba Fett, the badass gunslinger antagonist, the “Dragon” who has no other motivation than to get the job done. But she does end up succeeding Boba Fett’s legacy in the worst ways, that is being a total chump.

When Force Awakens begins she’s as ruthless and robotic as anyone wanted, functioning as a scary authoritarian against Finn (then still named FN-2187). Instructing him to see his rifle’s data whether or not he fired on the villagers is an Orwellian nightmare. We’re off to a good start!

But the rug is quickly pulled underneath. The next time we see Phasma beyond standing there for set dressing, it’s when Finn, Han, and Chewie have infiltrated the Starkiller base and hold Phasma hostage. Finn has some bottled-up tension towards her — it’s played for a laugh, and to my delight colors Finn’s character more — but it never had proper set-up. From what we saw, it was only that one time right after the opening village massacre. It makes me wonder what J.J. Abrams cut out that would have maybe really allowed Phasma to be the big scary threat she deserves.

But in the final version of Force Awakens, she isn’t. With a rifle to her head, she begrudgingly lowers the shields to allow the Resistance to enter the planet’s atmosphere. The camera turns their attention away from her for a few seconds, so when she defiantly stands up I thought she had managed to alert the First Order — she’s at a goddamn computer! — but she doesn’t. The shield lowers like Han and Finn want and she basically has a line like Dr. Claw from Inspector Gadget: Next time, Finn, next time! She goes out like a lame-o, with Han slyly suggesting they chuck her out a “trash compactor.” Cue audience laughing, my eyes rolling.

It happens off screen. We never see Phasma again for the rest of the movie.

Despite its imagination, Star Wars has long had a remarkably narrow representation of gender and ethnic diversities. Yes, there are aliens, but there are real people in our real world who deserve to be inspired by the images on screen. I never felt like Luke Skywalker no matter how many times I watched Star Wars. Even if he was written like cardboard, I was still attached to Adam the Black Ranger from Power Rangers, because he looked like me. I don’t look like Luke.

When it comes to women, Star Wars has been embarrassingly devoid, almost to the point where I wonder how anyone in that universe is born. Name five prominent women — name them, off your head, no Wikipedia — from the other six movies. You can’t, right? And that’s what makes Force Awakens almost like fresh air. I can’t sing the praises of Daisy Ridley’s Rey nearly enough. Beyond the stellar performance of Ridley (who is without a doubt the breakout star of Force Awakens), Rey is extremely capable and complex. This isn’t “Girl power!” feminism, though I’ll be happy when little girls watching Star Wars say she’s their hero. Rey is legit character, a modern textbook example aspiring screenwriters should study.

And there’s more than just her! Carrie Fischer is back as Leia, who has become a grizzled general. There’s Maz Kanata as a comforting guide, and played by Lupita Nyong’o who is stunning in her role despite being a cartoon. There’s another really cool side character, an X-Wing pilot played by Christina Chong. We don’t really get to know her and most of the heroic action is taken up by Oscar Isaac’s Poe, but her close-ups in the pilot seats give enough of a look that she might be someone’s favorite.

And there should have been Captain Phasma, but she’s so lame. I can actually think of a great scene that would have been perfect for her: Right around the second act before Leia and C-3PO arrive, the First Order attacks and Finn holds Luke’s lightsaber. He uses it for the first time against a random Stormtrooper with a really, really fucking awesome weapon that looks like a giant tonfa. Finn and this Stormtrooper go at it in one of the first fist-pumping moments in the entire movie. While I wouldn’t want Phasma to have lost the fight like the Stormtrooper did, it would have been damn near perfect for hers and Finn’s arc. Yeah, it came before the Starkiller base stuff, but still. That scene begs for Phasma to show off what she could do.

The silver lining (no pun intended — get it, she’s in chrome armor?) is that Phasma is still alive. If they actually chucked her into a garbage chute (ugh), it’s barely crippling so she’ll get out, unlike Fett and the sand butthole. I hope she really comes to her own in Star Wars VIII, but that movie is some 500+ days away. And I’m tired of waiting for Star Wars to give me the good stuff.

On the upside: I get to save like $30 on eBay buying a Captain Phasma figure.

Side note: Boba Fett was an interesting demonstration of using telling, not showing that was effective. His introduction had Darth Vader, the baddest motherfucker in the galaxy, finger lecture Fett with “No disintegrations.” One line establishes how much of a loose cannon Fett was, and that one line filled the imagination for decades. Phasma does not have that moment one bit, which further makes her appearance in The Force Awakens a bummer.

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!

Is “The Force Awakens” A Serious Oscar Contender?

by MCDaveDecember 17, 2015

I don’t have to tell you what today is. By now everyone is fully aware that tonight marks the first public showings of J.J. Abrams’ beyond anticipated release, The Force Awakens. And while everything seems to be perfect for Disney’s recently acquired sci-fi universe, critical adoration has been robust and public hype is astronomical, one question still hovers around the film. Is The Force Awakens a legitimate Best Picture contender for the Oscars? In order to fully wrap our heads around this fair, albeit unpredictable, question, we must consider many criteria both past and present.

Let me be frank, no science fiction film has ever won a Best Picture statue from the Academy Awards. That means J.J. Abrams and company are pitted against some serious odds. Now, that doesn’t mean the latest adaptation of George Lucas’ groundbreaking creation can’t weasel its way into the final dance. In fact, if The Force Awakens is as triumphant and comparable to the original trilogy as many critics have suggested, then perhaps it has a real chance at a Best Picture nomination and, dare I say, more.

After the 1977 release of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, the epic feature went on to capture a robust 10 nominations from the Academy, 6 of which it won. Although Lucas’ film cleaned up in the technical categories, as well as John Williams’ symbolic score, A New Hope also earned recognition for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay and Supporting Actor. Those are some major accolades and, even more noteworthy, a level of respect unmatched by any other sci-fi film to date (although James Cameron’s Avatar came awfully close with 9 nominations and 3 wins).

It’s also important to recognize that A New Hope wasn’t the only Oscar darling from the franchise’s original trio of installments. Although each of their subsequent nominations either pertained to technical aspects of the film or John Williams’ score, The Empire Strikes Back was victorious with one of its three nominations and Return of the Jedi went home empty handed in all of its four inclusions. Therefore, a look at history would suggest that if The Force Awakens is as good as the general critical consensus claims, then J.J. Abrams’ work could very well stand as a viable Oscar contender.

After catching up on the history of Star Wars, now it’s essential to place the franchise’s latest effort in the context of this year’s Oscar race. Following Disney’s lavish red carpet premiere on Monday that spared no expense, it was reported by Deadline’s Pete Hammond that, not only will Disney make a viable Oscar push for its long-awaited release, but The Force Awakens is also screening for Academy members at their prestigious Goldwyn Theatre not once, but twice! Typically, the voting body attempts to illustrate complete transparency and fairness by simply giving all other films one chance to screen for members. This will be the standard protocol for other weekend Oscar hopefuls scheduled to screen, such as The Revenant and Anomalisa, however this extra opportunity could prove to be very advantageous for The Force Awakens‘ Oscar prospects.

It’s no secret that the Academy Awards grasps for ratings at their annual event, and a reunion with the Star Wars saga would clearly draw a massive number of fanboys to their program. Furthermore, 2015 has been a decent cinematic year but no film has separated itself from the pack as a formidable Best Picture frontrunner. With The Force Awakens opening this weekend, we’ll all see if it’s as good as advertised. And if it is, then perhaps the stars have aligned for history to be made at February’s Academy Awards.

Catch other work from MCDAVE at his host site

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.

‘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!

Gallery: Disney’s ‘Star Wars: Season Of The Force’ Is A Wonderful Way To Ring In The Holiday Season!

by GeekscapeStaffNovember 22, 2015

Briefly: It’s times like these that I wish I didn’t live all the way up in Canada.

Star Wars: Season of the Force is now on at Disneyland in California, and ever-growing crowds and Star Wars fans have been headed to the park in droves. A variety of new and adapted attractions are currently on display at the Happiest Place on Earth, including:

– Star Wars Launch Bay – This new area will offer opportunities to visit with favorite Star Wars characters, special exhibits, peeks at the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens and much more.

– Star Tours – The Adventures Continue – This popular attraction will feature a new scene inspired by the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

– Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple – Coming in December, a twist on the Jedi Training experience will introduce new characters and a new villain from the popular Disney XD series, Star Wars Rebels.

– Hyperspace Mountain – For a limited time, guests will join an X-wing starfighter battle in this reimagining of the classic Space Mountain attraction.

– Other limited-time experiences include:An opportunity to revisit favorite scenes from classic Star Wars films at Tomorrowland Theater.

– Special themed food and beverage, merchandise and entertainment.

The sights and sounds were all absolutely incredible, and we’re happy to bring some photos from our pal Andrzej’ phenomenal visit to a galaxy (not that) far, far away.

Take a look at the gallery below, and let us know if you’ll be visiting Disneyland this holiday season.

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!

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?

Let the Final ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Trailer In You

by Eric FranciscoOctober 19, 2015

This just aired moments ago during the Giants vs. Eagles game (Come on, Big Blue, WTF are you guys doing?), but it’s here now for your viewing pleasure. Meanwhile, did you get your tickets for The Force Awakens? Because I didn’t, and I’m resigning myself to seeing it the second weekend. Can’t win them all.

I’ve watched the first trailers ad nauseam and this was like 90% new footage so I’ll be happily watching this on loop until December 18. Or December 25, now. Oh God, will I actually see it on Christmas?

Quick thoughts: So it’s clear that Kylo Ren is some kind of Ren pack leader. It was unknown where in the hierarchy he was, but now it looks like he’s got some command. (We all kind of just assumed, didn’t we?)

Also, I’m fascinated how the adventures of Luke, Han, and Leia are apparently legend, not history. That’s going to be verrrry interesting to see play out. I always imagined those three go on to become war heroes (Remember, all the post-trilogy EU canon was wiped clean by Disney). That they become myth is both depressing and exciting.

Yeah, of course I’m excited. Are you too? Where are all the Star Trek fans?

‘The Force Awakens’ Final Poster Is Your New Phone Wallpaper

by Eric FranciscoOctober 18, 2015

There are exactly 60 days left until Star Wars: The Force Awakens awakens us, forcefully. And the promotion is ramping up hardcore, but you’d be surprised to realize there hasn’t been an “official poster” or an actual trailer quite yet. But here we are, with the official Force Awakens movie poster.

It’s everything you expect Star Wars to be, but with some neat surprises.

https://twitter.com/starwars/status/655775390691033089/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

For one, I’m surprised at how much prominence Daisy Ridley has on the poster. Not that I doubted her place as a lead, but I thought that would have been given to, say, Boyega or hell Harrison Ford. It’s really great that Star Wars has another prominent female lead in its mythology. I hope there will be more!

The more I look at the poster the more I get excited, as if I weren’t already. The red/blue contrast really pops. I kind of like this better than the Dru Struzan variant from D23, which is sacrilege!

A new trailer is supposed to premiere tomorrow night during ESPN’s Monday Night Football. You mean it won’t air during Monday Night WWE RAW?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens premieres December 18th.

EA Says No In Game VOIP For ‘Star Wars Battlefront’

by Shane O'HareOctober 13, 2015

File this under “Odd Decisions”. EA has just confirmed on their Twitter that Star Wars Battlefront will NOT feature in game VOIP.

@RaiderGaming15 You can choose your favorite third party software to communicate with friends on PC

— EAStarWars (@EAStarWars) October 13, 2015

They go on to say that the only way you will have voice chat on consoles is if you use the built in party system on either the PS4 or Xbox One.

In previous “Battle” titles (BF4 and Hardline) there was in game VOIP on the PC versions of the games, though in all my hours of playing Battlefield 4 I only used squad chat ONCE. That’s not to say that it was an unused feature by some, but if it is something that DICE and EA saw little usage of, then cutting it from the features list makes sense.

What doesn’t make sense is the lack of inclusion on consoles. You have to have a premade party to be able to chat, which this particular geek thinks is absurd. Games like GTA Online and Metal Gear Online have built in team chat, so it not being added to Battlefront seems odd.

Battlefront, unlike other DICE titles, does not feature a squad function. Where multiple players join a five man group, where a squad leader can designate objectives as targets and is a mobile spawn point. They do have an option to have a “partner” but it is a max of two players, so if you run with two other buddies then someone is getting left out.

Is the lack of VOIP dissuading anyone from getting the game? Let us know!

The ‘Star Wars Battlefront’ Beta Now Has A Release Date!

by Derek KraneveldtSeptember 24, 2015

Briefly: Yes!

Pretty much every single gamer I know has been waiting (and waiting) patiently (or impatiently) for EA to reveal just when we’ll be able to jump into the Star Wars Battlefront beta.

Now we know, and it’s really freaking close, guys.

EA announced today that gamers will have the opportunity to play the walker assault on Hoth, a co-op survival on Tatooine, and drop zone on Sullust. The beta will begin on October 8th, and conclude on October 12th.

The beta is thankfully open to everyone, and will be available on every single platform that Star Wars Battlefront is releasing on. Yep, all three of them. That’s PS4, Xbox One, and PC, of course.

So, how many hours to you plan on putting in over the four day period?

These ‘Star Wars Samurai’ Figures Are Freaking Amazing! And You Can ACTUALLY Buy Them!

by Shane O'HareSeptember 21, 2015

Every once in a while there comes along a perfect chocolate peanutbutter situation. Today we have the newest Reese’s on our hands.

Tamashii Nations and Bluefin have teamed up to bring us the Meisho Movie Realization Star Wars line of figures, and holy crap they look absolutely amazing! Check them out below!

The Meisho Movie Realization Star Wars line pays homage to the Samurai aesthetic and artfully reimagines several Empire characters from the legendary films with feudal-style Japanese armor and weaponry. Each figure is exquisitely crafted by some of Japan’s top sculpting talent and constructed with hybrid materials featuring up to 15 points of articulation to create endless posing possibilities.

The newest addition to the Meisho Movie Realization Star Wars product line is the “Ronin” Boba Fett, which debuts in December and depicts the intergalactic bounty hunter as a “lordless” Samurai warrior via the sculpting talent of artists Takeyuki Takeya and Junichi Taniguchi. The “Daisho” Darth Vader depicts the Dark Sith Lord as a Samurai General clad in sinister black “Death Star” armor and will debut in January 2016. It will be followed in May 2016 by the imposing Akazonae Royal Guard, outfitted with a Japanese-style katana and pike and resplendent in beautiful crimson-robed armor. Pre-orders for these figures are available now.

Fans that want to dive into the Meisho Movie Realization Star Wars line immediately can select from a trio of figures – available now – that includes the “Ashigaru” Stormtrooper, and the Samurai General “Taisho” Darth Vader. Each is clad in a unique set of armor and comes with an array of weapons and other accessories.

These look absolutely INCREDIBLE! We’ve all seen the pictures of Samurai Stormstrooper cosplays from Comic Con, but to see a bunch of other characters realized in the same fashion, this geek is ecstatic!

Star Wars and the Samurai motif go together perfectly, and even a lot of fans have drawn the similarities between the Star Wars films and early Japanese films from the likes of Akira Kurosawa.

The figures range in price from $82 – $93, these are obviously not for the youngsters. You can snag the Taisho Darth Vader and the Stormtrooper figures right now, and the rest can be added to your collection starting January 2016! For more information check out Bluefin’s official website!

Force Friday! We Review ‘Star Wars: Rebels’ Season 1 On Blu-Ray!

by Gabriel von GrünbaumSeptember 4, 2015

With the release of Star Wars: Rebels season one on blu-ray (yes, and DVD for those trapped in the previous decades), now you can make every day of the year #ForceFriday!

After getting the generous opportunity to preview the disks and dive deep into the extras, I’m finally prepared to confidently provide you with what you can expect. Here’s the quick and dirty: Firstly, if you’re a Star Wars fan, anywhere within six years of the age 12, this show is bulletproof! I would’ve sold my grandmother to Tusken raiders at that age to have a show like this! I settled for re-watching The Empire Strikes Back after school each day—which wasn’t bad. The next question is; how does it stand up for everyone else? Not bad. . . Believe it or not, the characters and dialogue is often better than the three recent Star Wars prequel films. It also does a far better job of introducing cute and/or fun alien creatures that play a part in the storyline without giving you that creepy Jar Jar effect. I still can’t get enough of these Loth-cats!—I want one! So, for adult Star Wars fans, I’d say it scratches that Star Wars entertainment itch but you’ll still be hungry for more—after all, this show is clearly geared toward kids.

Full disclosure; this is really the first non-feature film Star Wars entertainment I’ve gotten into—with like three exceptions: that ’80’s Christmas special (the main reason I got gun-shy about straying from the films), The Empire Strikes Back game for Super Nintendo (loved it!) and Captain EO in 3D at Disneyland (magical—and probably the closest comparison I can make, entertainmentwise, to Rebels; minus the music, dancing and Michael). So I can’t draw comparisons for you with Clone Wars, except to say that I’d now like to see Clone Wars.

For those that are new to the series—like me—it’s the story of a teenage punk, Ezra Bridger (Taylor Gray), who’s scrounging and pilfering from the powerful Empire—now that they have taken control of his home planet—when he runs into a band of outlaws doing the same thing but with a more “Robin Hood”-style agenda of aiding those under the boot heel of the Empire. It isn’t long before it’s revealed that one of these outlaws, Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), was training with the Jedi until they were all hunted down by the Empire and he escaped into the underground. When he recognises that “the force is strong” with our young protagonist, he feels it’s his duty to take the kid on as his padawan and train him in the ways of the force, even though he never finished the Jedi training himself(?). Many adventures ensue and the season-long story arc results in the first event that is the official formation of the Rebel Alliance.

Vanessa Marshall, Tiya Sircar, Steven Blum, Ashley Eckstein and Jason Isaacs (excellent as the Inquisitor) round out the voiceover cast, turning in some really good performances. The character animation is likewise impressive—several times I found myself reviewing a shot or scene just to examine the excellent, and sometimes subtle, motion choices. (That said, I was surprised to find a few half-baked herky-jerky walk-cycles.) When it comes to the modeling, lighting and texture mapping, I understand much of it is done for style but I think a little more detail would’ve been fitting. It would’ve been nice to see shapes and surfaces with a little more character and lighting with a bit more range (when you’re in space, I’m sure some shadows would be fully dark and direct sunlight might wash things out a bit more). Atmospheric effects cost rendering time/money, so I won’t hold the lack of such visuals against them. . . but if they ever have the budget, it really could push the visual style over the top.

As an adult, for the first few episodes, the experience was a bit like being invited to a Thanksgiving dinner and being served Tofurky with a smile—you just sort of grin and bear it while trying to connect with what the real thing tastes like. Then, with the episode 5 (on the disks), “Rise of the Old Masters”, things suddenly seem to click into place and Rebels becomes its own distinct story. Characters, dialogue and relationships gel and become compelling on their own without the need of Star Wars features’ memories to fuel them. That said, there are some truly excellent cameos that were well worth the price of admission—including one Mr. Lando Calrissian in a revealing encounter that was a fun enrichment of my connection with the Star Wars universe.

If you’re an adult, chances are that you won’t find the dialogue or character arcs particularly compelling but you will get a satisfying sense of a fuller experience with the Star Wars galaxy as it continues to become more colorfully defined. If you’re physically or mentally anywhere near the age of 12, this is an absolute must-have! The character development and challenges faced are tailored to opening up the world of a young mind. For the older, more jaded and cynical brains, the connections may form around the unfortunate recognition of the tyrannical bureaucracy of the Empire and the vague memory of adolescent dreams where anything was possible. Either way, Rebels finds its way under your skin in a pleasant way. Kids will love it for years on end—adults will find it very pleasant and enjoy confidently re-gifting it to a niece or nephew. (If you’re a parent, I think you’ll both feel like winners.)

The extras are a lot of fun—shorts that inform references and sequences in the episodes; behind the scenes interviews with artists, writers and actors; summaries; overviews and excellent teases of what’s to come in the next season (lots of action, development and more fantastic appearances of vital Star Wars characters!).

Recommendations: If you’re within spitting distance of age 12, convince your parents, guardian or doting uncle/aunt/grandparent to get it for you—loads of fun. If you’re an adult Star Wars fan, find a kid in your family/neighborhood that you can sit and watch it with as an excuse to pick up this fun show.

Now that I’ve seen this, I’m looking forward this fall to season two of Star Wars: Rebels and looking forward to spending more time with my nephews as I head out to pick up Star Wars: The Clone Wars for us to watch together. That Christmas special from a long time ago in a galaxy far far away has finally been cleansed from my palate.

From Lucasfilm/Disney:

In the first groundbreaking season of Star Wars Rebels, young hero Ezra Bridger joins the clever but motley crew of the starship Ghost in their resistance against the Empire. As the series begins, Imperial forces have occupied a remote planet, ruling with an iron fist and ruining the lives of its people. Ezra and his new rebel friends — Hera, Kanan, Sabine, Zeb and Chopper — embark on daring adventures in their fight against oppression across the galaxy, receiving help from familiar heroes such as Lando Calrissian, Ahsoka Tano, and Jedi Master Yoda. Pursued relentlessly by the Imperials and a Jedi hunter called the Inquisitor, this tenacious ragtag band of rebels will find itself in the crosshairs of none other than Darth Vader when season one closes in a shocking two-part finale.

Bonus Features:

Blu-ray:

Rebels Infiltrates Star Wars Celebration (Exclusive to Blu-ray)

Season One shorts: “The Machine in the Ghost,” “Art Attack,” “Entanglement,” “Property of Ezra Bridger”

All DVD Bonus (see below)

DVD:

Rebels Recon: 14 behind-the-scenes featurettes

Star Wars Rebels – The Ultimate Guide

Star Wars Rebels Season 2 – A Look Ahead

‘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.