Posted on May 7, 2010 by Pete

The End of an Era - Hyperspace Coming to an End

An email from StarWars.com yesterday delivered an unexpected bit of news - 2011 will see the end of their online Hyperspace Membership (i.e. fan club). There will indeed be a membership kit issued in 2010, but the club will be discontinued at the end of the year. For long time online Star Wars fans, being a Hyperspace member has been a badge of honor of sorts, especially considering the club existed during an exciting period in Star Wars fandom. After all, it was responsible for delivering lots of news and "insider" info during the prequel trilogy era.

Over the past several years the club's benefits have become somewhat less notable, with "exclusive" online content for club members becoming somewhat non-existent. For a time membership was connected to having a Star Wars Insider magazine subscription, but that is no longer the case. The club does continue to offer a significant discount for members at StarWarsShop.com, but that alone is seemingly not a reason to keep the club alive.

Here's the email from StarWars.com with all the details:

HYPERSPACE 2010 FAN CLUB KIT TO BE THE BEST, BUT LAST

It may have been a dark time for Luke Skywalker and the heroes of the Rebellion, but 1980 marked the triumphant return of STAR WARS to cinemas; THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK expanded the canvas of that galaxy far, far away and introduced OUR galaxy to pop cultural icons such as Jedi Master Yoda, bounty hunter Boba Fett and scoundrel Lando Calrissian. And with the Force still as strong as ever, it's hard to believe that it's been 30 years since the debut of the original trilogy's beloved middle chapter!

Celebrating the anniversary of Episode V, we've put together our biggest and best Hyperspace Membership Kit ever - a tribute to 30 years of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and a look forward to the future of STAR WARS. Some key items include:

- Dark Horse Comics presents "Thank the Maker" comic book
- An uncropped, larger version (18" x 32") of the EMPIRE poster included in the original 1980 kit
- Patch with 30th anniversary Empire Strikes Back logo
- Membership card with Clone Wars art.
- Exclusive Topps trading card
- Pencil with classic Empire Strikes Back art - a recreation from the original 1980 kit
- And more! Look for a full preview of the kit to come soon...

But while this is our best membership kit yet, it is also our last. Due to changing realities of the evolving fanscape, the Hyperspace Membership Community will be discontinued as a paid subscription service in 2011. Today - May 5, 2010 - begins the last year of Hyperspace.

Any new members who sign up now will receive the 2010 kit, while supplies last. Exclusive content will continue to remain exclusive to subscribers through to the end of 2011, and members who were part of Hyperspace on May 4, 2010 will be eligible for fan club perks at Star Wars Celebration V. CV benefits include:

- Dedicated Show Entry Line
- Exclusive Lanyard
- Dedicated Registration Kiosk
- Dedicated Line for Merchandise at the Celebration Shop

We thank you for your continued support. Even without Hyperspace, remember: the Force will be with you... always.

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Hyperspace Membership FAQ

1. Will my account still auto-renew when my Hyperspace membership expires?
No. All auto-renew settings within your account will have automatically been turned off starting May 4th 2010. Your account will not auto-renew when your membership expires. No further action on your part will be required.

2. Will I receive a 2010 Hyperspace Fan Club Kit if I signed up or renewed my Hyperspace membership in 2009?
If you purchased a Hyperspace Membership between May 4th 2009 and May 4th 2010 you will receive a 2010 Hyperspace kit in the mail. You do not need to purchase a 2010 kit.

3. Will I still be able to receive Celebration V perks if I am a current Hyperspace member?
Yes, if you had an active membership on May 4th, 2010, you will be eligible to receive Celebration V perks if you attend the convention. If you did not have a current active membership on May 4th, 2010, you will not be eligible for Celebration V perks. That is, if you are signing up for a new membership today, you are not eligible to receive Celebration V perks.

4. If my Hyperspace membership expires before Celebration V will I still be eligible for CV perks?
Yes, as long as your membership was active on May 4th 2010 you will have access to CV perks if you attend.

5. Will I have access to Celebration V perks if I purchase a 2010 Hyperspace Fan Club Kit?
You will only receive Celebration V perks if your Hyperspace membership was active on May 4th, 2010. If you are signing up for a new membership today, you are not eligible to receive Celebration V perks.

6. What are the Celebration V perks?
Hyperspace members active on May 4, 2010 will be eligible for fan club perks at Star Wars Celebration V, including:

- Dedicated Show Entry Line
- Exclusive Lanyard
- Dedicated Registration Kiosk
- Dedicated Line for Merchandise at the Celebration Shop
For more details about Celebration V, please visit the official Celebration site at http://www.starwarscelebration.com

7. When will I receive my 2010 Hyperspace Fan Club Kit?
Hyperspace Fan Club Kits are sent out once every three months. The schedule for 2010 is May, August, and November. If you purchased a Hyperspace Membership between May 4, 2009 and May 4, 2010, you will receive your Hyperspace Fan Club Kit in the May mailing. If you purchase a Hyperspace Fan Club Kit between May 5, 2010 and August 4th, 2010 you will receive your kit in the August mailing. If you purchase a Hyperspace Fan Club Kit between August 5th, 2010 and November 5, 2010 you will receive your kit in the November mailing. Kits are only available as supplies last.

8. As a Hyperspace member, I've maintained a StarWars.com blog. Will this go away once Hyperspace ends next year?
No, all Hyperspace blogs will continue to be made available to their owners. Comment

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Pete

GPS + The Force = Never Get Lost Again

(Image via TomTom.com)

Nothing could make a long trip to an unfamiliar destination more interesting than having the voice of Darth Vader or Yoda help you every step along the way. And thanks to a partnership between Lucasfilm and TomTom, you can now have exactly that!

Check the TomTom website to learn how you can get a bit of The Force on your TomTom GPS device. Right now you can have Darth Vader instruct you on your way, and more voices will be added soon: C-3PO is coming in June, Yoda in July and Han Solo in August.

And check out this awesome promotional video of the Dark Lord in the recording studio for this project.



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Posted on Apr 30, 2010 by Pete

Slave Leia Car Wash!

As part of G4TV's Star Wars week, which was part of their "Epic April" promotion, they covered a Slave Leia car wash that occurred in sunny Hollywood, California. With a Darth Vader and a gaggle of stormtroopers from the 501st Legion watching over the day's activities, all proceeds from the event went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation... so all the suds, grins, oohs and aahs were for a good cause!

I only drove my car through and had it washed 47 times in 2 hours. Judge me if you want... I just like giving to charity!

Head on over to G4's event coverage for a full photo set. Something tells me if you hit Youtube you might be able to find about seven million videos to watch. Here's just one for your viewing pleasure.



(Via G4TV)

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Posted on Apr 26, 2010 by Pete

Swagalicious: Precision Cast Replica (PCR) Stormtrooper Helmets from eFx

 

For those of you Star Wars "bucket" enthusiasts out there, the folks at eFX have most certainly made your day. In their most recent newsletter, the company announced the pre-sale of two new precision cast replica (PCR) helmets.

The Stormtrooper and Shadow Stormtrooper helmets (pictured above) are both made of injection molded ABS. The Stormtrooper helmet has "stunt", flat green lenses while the Shadow Stormtrooper helmet has see-through mirrored lenses. The lighweight construction makes them both perfect for trooping.

Both are currently available for pre-order. The Stormtrooper helmet is available via www.elitecollectiblesinc.com and is expected to be delivered in July. Meanwhile, the Shadow Stormtrooper can be pre-ordered via www.cozmictoyz.com and is limited to only 501 pieces.

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Posted on Apr 26, 2010 by Pete

Swagalicious: Jabba's Palace Bookends From Gentle Giant

Jabba's palace continues to be one of the most fascinating sequences in all of the Star Wars universe. We just can't seem to get enough of our favorite space slug and his digs on Tatooine. That entire part of "Return of the Jedi" - from the gold bikini to the Rancor pit - never gets old and holds up viewing after viewing.

Well, Gentle Giant has immortalized some key elements of that sequence with a new set of Jabba's Palace Bookends made of polystone. These bad boys are a bit on the pricey side for the average fan, but they are certainly exceptional pieces. The regular edition version of the set is currently available for pre-sale to members of Gentle Giant's Premier Guild (collecting club) and should soon be available to everyone. Members of the Premier Guild also have the option to purchase an exclusive edition of the set with an extra scavening Jawa accessory for the scene and an interchangeable unmasked Leia head for Boussh.

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Posted on Apr 23, 2010 by Pete

R2-D2 Cake "Charms" Lucasfilm

Did you watch the season finale of "Ace of Cakes" last night on Food Network? If not, boy did you miss out, and you should quickly set your DVR to try and catch a re-run!!!

The gang from Charm City Cakes was asked to create a lifesize R2-D2 cake for Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" season 2 wrap party. Duff and the gang, who are just huge Star Wars fans (as evidenced by their in-bakery lightsaber battles early in the episode), went to town and quite possibly created their most amazing cake ever! Doing most of the prep work in the bakery in Baltimore, Duff and his crew then flew out to Skywalker Ranch in Northern California to finish the assembly and deliver everyone's favorite astromech droid.

Complete with a working, rotating dome (thanks to an assist from a Lucasfilm employee at Big Rock Ranch), the R2-D2 cake had working lights and gadgets and was painted wonderfully well by Duff's staff. He looked JUST like the cartoon version of R2 and apparently was delicious as well. And that's not just me talking here! Near the end of the episode George Lucas himself arrived at the party and had nothing but compliments for Duff, who almost passed out from sheer amazement and joy when Lucas appeared before him!

The folks at Charm City Cakes were nice enough to send us some photos from their special day. Check 'em out!







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Posted on Apr 15, 2010 by Pete

The Emporker Strikes Back

I love bacon as much as the next guy, but apparently this guy LOOOOOOVES bacon. Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, you're looking at a 3 foot AT-AT made completely of bacon.

For the first time ever, when it comes to someting Star Wars related... I'm speechless (and a bit queasy).

(Via Hollywood Reporter's "Heat Vision" Blog)

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