Celebration Europe newsblasting
Fans at CE will get a first look at the rough cut of Fanboys, along with a Q&A with director Kyle Newman.
Only a week?
- Hip-hop artist to host Platinum Stage
- Production Stars: Don Bies, Lorne Peterson, Norman Reynolds and Robert Watts.
- Verifying Hyperspace status
- TFN has a nice artist roundup
- First look at CE store. So jealous!
- Start planning for PCD: Brits can add a CE-inspired Star Wars rave to your October schedule.
Hyperspace fiction returns!
Nora Mayers’ The Capture of Imperial Hazard is the latest WEG story to gain new life through Hyperspace. According to the Wookieepedia, it originally appeared in the Star Wars Adventure Journal 10.
In other Hyperspace/WEG (OTP!) news, I’ve been lax in reporting the Source Archive, where various bits and pieces from the sourcebooks of ye olden gaming days are being revived. It appeared shortly after C4, and was the result of a request at the con. (See, it pays to come to the Fan Club Lounge!)
Coming soon to a mailbox near you…
Missing your fan club membership kit? Don’t worry – they ship next month.
CIV: The Expanded Universe
First things first: all the EU fans were scrambling for the early copies of Sacrifice, which promptly sold out before noon on Thursday morning. I was working all morning and thus missed out, but enough CJers grabbed copies that I was able to borrow one and check on a few spoilers. The second shipment came in Saturday morning, and I was finally able to grab a copy of my own. I only hope that next time the hotly anticipated book can come out a few weeks before the con, if for no other reason than…
Friday’s Legacy of the Force panel was the major EU event, at least for those of us with a focus on the books. All three series authors, both editors, and Pablo moderating. No Sacrifice spoilers allowed, which is a shame. I can understand the reasoning, but how long will it be before fans have access to that entire lineup again, with the pivotal book of the series hot on everyone’s mind? Hrrm. We did learn that the final LOTF book is titled Invincible. There were the usual allotment of questions regarding Jaina’s harem and the oh-so-hot topic of traditional Mandalorian dance. Quite a few Mando questions, actually – enough to warrant a dedicated panel next time, I’d say. (Please.) There was also some sort of recording going on during the panel, so it may be that audio will go up on the TOS in time.
Saturday was the Publishing/Continuity and Dark Horse panels. Continuity was sparsely attended, but whether that was due to it being the first panel on a day where folks were having trouble getting in or a general lack of interest I’ve no idea. The folks who did show up were quite enthusiastic, and the Wookieepedians were excited to get a look at the mighty and mysterious Holocron. And we learned that Plagueis is still a Muun, even with his book canceled. (Curses!) They also may reprint the Making of books for ESB and ROTJ, adding new photos and material.
The Dark Horse panel, later in the day, was packed, but they’re holding back any big announcements until later in the year. Something big is planned for 2008 and 2009… Let’s hope it’s not just TFU tie-ins. They did, however, talk about reviving the Tales concept as an annual… And there were a lot of Legacy questions, but nothing particularly groundbreaking.
Other EU news
- Hasbro is coming out with a Baron Fel and Hobbie two-pack. I guess Wes and Hobbie’s love is just not pure enough for plastic immortality.
- Karen Traviss and Tom Hodges had a meeting at the con with the new Star Wars Insider folks about original fiction.
- Short fiction on Hyperspace will return.
- Two original web strips, available to all, will start on StarWars.com this summer.
- What’s the Story is being retired, but the concept of letting fans contribute to the EU isn’t.
And of course, the Clone Wars footage…
The price we pay for a decent OS
Hyperspace users may have noticed that ads are back on StarWars.com. (Not that they ever left for free users.) Meanwhile, Pablo updates us on what’s coming, going, and moving about. Long story short: a lot of stuff on the site will be free, and there’s a bunch of stuff they can’t talk about yet.
Didn’t we just leave this party?
Take a look at the new Star Wars Insider. If history is any indication you’ll probably already see most of what’s inside it online, anyway. Speaking of, here’s the downlow on the new Hyperspace… (Why are mentions of new features making me think of Star Wars MySpace lately?) But perhaps the most interesting things will be the ability to ‘test-drive’ new site features and an online membership kit.
Hyperspace splits again
No, it’s not going away, but fan club membership and a Star Wars Insider subscription will be separate, as they were originally. The Insider is also moving onto yet another new publisher.
New webstrip debuts
Hyperspace members: Evasive Action: End Game webstrip starts today.
Belly of the beast
Hyperspace members: Inside ILM’s Halloween party. I can’t watch video at the moment, so comment if you see anyone familiar. Or anyone wearing something really cool. Or both.