the empire strikes back
Latest
Disney axes 4K re-release of 'The Empire Strikes Back' in UK cinemas
Disney is walking back on its promise to show a 4K version of 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' in UK theaters.
Disney+ gets every 'Star Wars' movie in 4K, Dolby Vision and Atmos
We knew Disney+ would be the new home of Star Wars ever since the service was announced, but Disney kept an interesting nugget secret until now. The entire Star Wars series, including the original trilogy and much-maligned prequels, has also been remastered in 4K with Dolby Vision and Atmos support, delivering the clearest look at the twin suns of Tatooine yet. So now, even physical media purists will have a reason to check out Disney+.
Star Wars Pinball being loaded into the 3DS chute
Zen Studios is working to port Star Wars Pinball over to the 3DS, the development studio has told Nintendo Everything. More information on the upcoming port is coming "very soon," Zen Studios promises. Star Wars Pinball is the latest addition to Zen's lucrative virtual pinball business and includes a collection of three tables themed around The Empire Strikes Back film, The Clone Wars television show and iconic bounty hunter Boba Fett. Zen Studios has said that more Star Wars Pinball tables are currently in development.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back's Hoth battle recreated in Minecraft
You can make just about anything in Minecraft – like the classic Hoth battle scene from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
The Perfect Ten: Ways to prepare for the coming of SWTOR
Welcome to a very special edition of The Perfect Ten, the column that my two toddlers contribute to with their awe-inspiring counting abilities! With last week's dropping of Star Wars: The Old Republic's NDA, the internet has exploded with information, testimonials, and poorly spelled flamewars between the camps of believers and non-believers alike. It's a good time to be alive, eh? In the spirit of the NDA drop and the upcoming December 20th launch -- less than a month! -- I've put together a list of 10 excellent ways that a SWTOR fan can prepare him or herself for the coming MMOcalypse. I totally understand that it can be frustrating to be waiting for an anticipated game launch, feeling impotent with your inability to speed up time. However, taking action in other ways can help with the wait and make us feel like we're being productive. That's what I'm here for today. It's OK, there's no need to thank me. I get Light Side points for this.
George Lucas officially announces Star Wars on Blu-ray in 2011
As rumored, all six Star Wars movies will be released together on Blu-ray in 2011 for the 35th anniversary of the release of A New Hope. George Lucas personally announced the set on stage at the Celebration V event, and showed off a deleted scene from Return of the Jedi that will be included (embedded after the break.) While the "highest picture and audio quality" and extensive special features are promised, what won't make it to Blu-ray are the original versions of the movies; Lucas told the New York Times that only the special editions will be included, since restoring the original versions in high enough quality would cost too much. No word on price, release date or any plans to release the films individually, but if you can stand living in a world where Greedo shot first then this will certainly be on next year's shopping list. [Thanks, @thunsaker]
Scott Pilgrim Strikes Back against the Xbox Live Avatar store
So, Xbox 360 owners can't get their hands on Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game for about two more weeks -- however, rather than stew in a broth of your own jealousy, you can recreate all the action of the game by dressing your Avatar up like its mischievous protagonist. Well, maybe not all the action. A whole mess of stylish, Pilgrim-inspired duds were recently added to the Avatar storefront, including Scott's ruby red bass guitar, Ramona Flowers' begoggled outfit and a handful of tees featuring sprites from the game. Also added to the storefront were a whole bunch of Star Wars outfits as part of The Empire Strikes Back's 30th Anniversary celebration. If you felt like shelling out the cash, you might be able to mix and match the ensembles of Scott Pilgrim and Han Solo, thereby creating the raddest fictional character on the planet.
Celebrate The Empire Strikes Back's 30th birthday with Xbox Live Avatar items
Everyone should already be enlightened to the fact that The Empire Strikes Back turns 30 this coming Friday -- didn't you get that Facebook invite to our "Hoth The Chains Birthday Extravaganza?" (No? It's on its way.) If you're in the mood to celebrate the third decade of one of the greatest movies in existence, LucasArts has a pretty fun way for you to do so: by picking up one of the ten Avatar costumes and other miscellaneous Star Wars-themed accessories which will be available for purchase tomorrow on Xbox Live. There's a selection of characters you'll be able to change your Avatar into, including an Imperial Snowtrooper, Boba Fett, Lando, Chewbacca, a Rebel Snowspeeder Pilot, Han Solo, Leia, Bossk, C-3PO, and an AT-AT Pilot. The additional props include a tauntaun pet, a ballcap with Yoda ears, and a lightsaber -- a green one this time around, for all those Qui-Gon Jinn cosplayers among us. %Gallery-93283%
Star Wars Galaxies strikes back, 30 years later
If someone walked up to you on the street and told you that, this month, The Empire Strikes Back is 30 years old, how would you respond? Weeping at the ravages of time? A proud salute to one of the pinnacles of scifi cinema? A quick step away from a stranger who is now looking at you with shifty eyes? For the crew over at Star Wars Galaxies, the response to Empire's anniversary is to lavish players with gifts and goodies. In a recent Producer Note, dev Teesquared was pleased to announce that the entire month of May would be devoted to celebrating this milestone. Each week, all characters over 10 days old will be the recipient of a collection item and an in-game gift -- get all four gifts, and a fifth gift will be tossed in absolutely free! (Wait, is this starting to feel like an infomercial?) You'll also want to swing over to Hoth, obviously, and check out a few special loot drops, including a mystical snow globe that contains the spirit of the Wampa. Other highlights of this article include plans to tune up the Jedi and Beast Master professions, a switch of many no-trade items to make them tradable, and future events such as SWG's 7th Anniversary and the return of Empire Day. Head on over to the Star Wars Galaxies forum for the full broadcast!
Custom-made Luke Skywalker USB drive is impressive. Most impressive.
In response to an Engadget Japan post entitled "Cruel Star Wars USB drives," one incredibly talented reader went ahead and one-upped the entire collection with a custom made Empire Strikes Back Luke Skywalker drive. All you need to know is that the USB input is accessed by severing his hand. Search your feelings, you know this to be awesome. [Via Engadget Japan]
Mass Effect 2 is Empire Strikes Back: totally dark, broody
You've probably already made this inference after viewing the demise-filled teaser trailer (or last week's E3 sneak peek), but BioWare's second space opera installment, Mass Effect 2, is going to be a downer. Much like The Empire Strikes Back (the angsty middle child in the Star Wars trilogy), ME 2 will be the series' "dark act," according to producer Casey Hudson, who sees the game as "an opportunity to really explore the tougher, more brutal parts of the universe."Hudson went on to describe the themes of the Mass Effect trilogy's story arc, explaining, "In the first act you put a guy in the tree, in the second act you throw rocks at him, and in the third act you get him down." And how do you get the guy out of the tree? With a really slow elevator, of course!
