Hyperspace is going away next year.
Started right before Revenge of the Sith began principal photography as subscription section on StarWars.com, Hyperspace went through several incarnations. During the ROTS filming it offered fans extraordinary access to film’s set in Sydney with a live webcam, chats, and a set diary by Pablo Hidalgo. (It also had the nice side effect of effectively ending the cut-throat fansite spoiler-wars that marked the runup to The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.)
However, once Revenge of the Sith was released, Hyperspace had much less to offer subscribers (even the ‘ad-free’ promise eventually expired.) Features were added, like the blogs, but the content over the past few years has been irregular and often only of interest only to those who enjoy fairly obscure parts of the GFFA.
It even merged with the fan club and became part of a package deal with Star Wars Insider for a time. The Insider is no longer included, but the Official Fan Club still uses the ‘Hyperspace’ name. (If Hyperspace is truly being discontinued, will the fan club be getting another makeover in the coming year…?)
I can’t say I’m surprised at this – the ‘exclusive’ content has been sparse for years and StarWarsShop probably brings in far more revenue – but Hyperspace has been around for quite a while in internet times, and it’s entwined with some particularly interesting times in the fandom for me. But it’s clearly been on the backburner for quite a while, so might as well give up the ghost and move on. And hey, what the hell – I renewed my subscription one last time this evening for old time’s sake.
I renewed for the last time as well. My subscription was up in June anyway. I think the only thing I’ll really miss is the cool forwarding e-mail address (I hardly used the blog).
But I am looking forward to what the next incarnation of the club will be. It’s fun being able to show people I’m a card carrying member of the Star Wars fan club! :D
I was just thinking I needed to renew… but I’ve not used the blog in a very very long time. Was thinking it would be great to see some behind the scenes stuff when they get around to the live action… it will be interesting to see what the next thing will be.
http://www.millenniumfalcon.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7156
The link above (and below) is the most accurate “Prequel Spoiler” Background I’ve seen. Futhermore hyperspace didn’t stop andy inter-fansite drama but countinued it.
With that said, I’m sorta disppointed to see HyperSpace Fan Club go because it could have showcased the constantly pushed back Live Action Series.
http://www.millenniumfalcon.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7156
An e-mail was sent out to Hyperspace members.
It looks like the blogs will remain active after next year, but there’s no word yet if the forwarding e-mail addresses will still work.
I was visiting TOS off and on for years before Hyperspace, but the Episode III exclusives really made it my homepage away from home. Kinda sad to see it go, but in this day and age, paywalls simply don’t work, and it’s nice to see that at least one company is acknowledging that.
Here is the most thorough “Spoiler History” out there:
http://www.millenniumfalcon.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7156
HyperSpace was great when it had a webcam during principal photography and Behind The Helmets.
Funny you mention Millennium Falcon Otto, that’s exactly the site I was thinking about.It was fun, seeing the rumours before the film launched, and yes, I joined Hyperspace for one last time last night as well (mainly to get the membership kit)
As ever, keen to see what Pabs, Bonnie, Mary, Pete and the gang bring to us next. For me, a return to Bantha Tracks as the main hub of SW fandom news would be most welcome.
I second Mark’s suggestion – Hyperspace is dead, long live Bantha Tracks :D