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Luke, I am your smartphone (video)
NTT DoCoMo recently launched the Samsung Galaxy S in the Japanese market and now we've come to discover that it's chosen a very forceful personality to represent the product to its discerning audience. Darth "roundabound" Vader has been starring in the carrier's latest round of "always with you" ads, wherein he serves as a (sort of) human representation of the phone, thus lending some anthropomorphic qualities to the cold slab of technology awaiting you in the shops. This whole outlandish idea really shouldn't work, but somehow it does -- we want a little Vader in our lives too now. Video after the break.
TomTom strikes back with Darth Vader voice pack (video)
We guess TomTom was listening when we said it had to respond to Nokia's Own Voice app for custom turn-by-turn navigation instructions, as the Dutch company has announced a new Darth Vader voice pack. Following in the footsteps of such luminaries as Homer Simpson and Burt Reynolds, the Sith Lord has contributed his vocal stylings to the cause of guiding the lost and confused down the right path. Though it wasn't without hiccups -- check out the video after the break for the recording session -- the pack is now complete and ready for download, provided you have $13 handy to smooth the transaction. Yoda, C3PO and Han Solo packs are set to follow in the coming months. May the farce be with you.
NSF backs development of laser-guided robot wheelchairs
It's been well over a year since we last saw the laser-guided, self-docking wheelchair developed by folks at Lehigh University, and now the team is back with an altogether more ambitious project. According to associate professor John Spletzer, the recipient of a five-year CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation, the goal is to "extend the autonomy of the wheelchair so it can navigate completely in an urban setting and take you wherever you need to go." This will be done by equipping robotic chairs with laser and camera sensors (which the team developed for the 2007 DARPA Grand Challenge) as well as exhaustive, Google Street View-esque maps of the city where they will be operating. Of course, these guys will be operating in a busy urban environment, so in addition to large-scale 3D maps, they must be equipped with motion planning features for operating in dense crowds and a changing environment. It's too soon yet to say when these things might become available commercially, but if you're a resident of the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Allentown, PA, you might have your chance to test one soon enough. [Via PhysOrg]
The Force Unleashed sells 1.5 million copies in its first week
It looks like we should've taken those book sales as an indication of how hungry Star Wars fans were for something new. The latest game to bear the Star Wars name, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, has managed to sell a whopping 1.5 million copies in its first 5 days on shelves. The Force is strong with ... uh, yeah. Sorry.Darrell Rodriguez, president of LucasArts, didn't expect such high numbers, apparently. "We're blown away by the response to the game." So, how many of you picked up the game? Did it blow you away or have you found it to be sub-par? Gallery: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Wii)
Wii Warm Up: Does being able to play as Vader sell you on The Force Unleashed?
You all probably know that we're already sold on the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts. Last night, it was revealed that the game will also feature an exclusive level where you control Darth Vader. This undoubtedly caused much excitement for some. Are you one of those people? Or could you care less about this game?
Star Wars unleashes Wii-specific features?
Upon its inception, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed has been a title mostly about displaying the destructive power of the force and explaining the origins of Darth Vader's apprentice. Oh, and there has been the dream of every fanboy to wield the Wiimote as a lightsaber.Now, it turns out there is more incentive for Wiimote-swinging wannabes as it's been revealed by Krome Studios' Ed Tucker that the title will have five exclusive levels on the Wii. "On the Wii we have places where the story veers off and we go and explore something, take the game in a different direction, like the Jedi Temple level," he explains.Wii owners looking to lose control with the Force can look forward to that come this August when the title releases.[Via Joystiq]
Soul Calibur IV creator gives details on game, justifies Vader
We appreciate Soul Calibur IV director Katsutoshi Sasaki's candor. In a recent CES interview with GameTrailers, the Namco Bandai bigwig explained the bizarre inclusion of Darth Vader and Yoda as playable characters in his upcoming game, simply stating that he's giving gamers what they want. Here at Joystiq HQ, we appreciate nonsensical pandering more than the average bear. How about Jack Bauer as the protagonist of the next Resistance game? Chuck Norris in Street Fighter IV? Or an unlockable Ron Paul in Super Smash Bros. Brawl? (Actually, no news about Brawl would shock us at this point.)
One Shots: Vader seems to like me...
Reader Gary sends in this Star Wars Galaxies shot with no further explanation. Thus, while Vader's praise seems to reference some important event, we can't tell you where this shot was taken or anything about the events leading up to it. However, our readers are a clever bunch: would any of you like to fill in the how and why behind this shot?We're looking for One Shots submissions and hereby challenge you, good readers, to send in your screenshots and stories! Were you there when Morpheus walked among us in The Matrix Online? Do you have screens of when Luclin came in EverQuest? Were you around for the opening of the Dark Portal in WoW? Send your screenshots to oneshots@massively.com and you could find your shot and story featured here for all to see! %Gallery-9798%
One Shots: Meet Vader
One of the most entertaining aspects of any MMO is the many places to go and people to see -- but few games have places and people as well-known as Star Wars Galaxies. Michael Zenke shares this shot showing off his character chilling with the infamous Darth Vader at the Emperor's Retreat on Naboo. Smile for the camera, Mr. Vader!Do you have a screenshot of your own that you think expresses a unique or memorable moment in your favorite MMO? Send them to us with a description (including game name and location) and you may see it posted here for tomorrow's One Shots. %Gallery-9798%
ATRS to make entering / exiting vehicles easier for handicapped individuals
While there's certainly smart enough wheelchairs to get you around town without mauling a lamppost or taking out a crowd of bystanders, a Pennsylvania-based team has developed a system to get wheelchair-bound individuals in and out of their cars a lot easier. Engineers at Lehigh and Carnegie Mellon have partnered with robotic startup Freedom Sciences LLC and Freedom Lift Corporation to unveil the Automatic Transport and Retrieval System, which will supposedly "enable wheelchair users to drive while sitting in standard automobile seats that meet federal safety regulations." Currently, motorists are forced to use cumbersome, bolt-in attachments that typically require heavy modifications to the car in order to operate; the ATRS system, however, uses remote controls, wireless technologies, and "lasers" to assist drivers into a standard seat, roll their wheelchair "autonomously" to the loading dock, and close up the rear door, all while parked in the driver's seat. Sensational as it may sound, the system doesn't come cheap (nor with a wheelchair), and will cost handicapped individuals (or insurance companies) between "$15,000 and $20,000" when it goes on sale next spring.
Japanese GC version of Zelda to be sold online only
First, it was to be the pinnacle of all Gamecube games. Then, it would be released on both the GC and the Wii simultaneously. Then Nintendo went ahead and added a new control scheme to the Wii version. Then they had the gall to release the Gamecube version almost a month after the Wii version. Finally, in this final heinous act of treason, Nintendo of Japan has announced that the Gamecube version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be sold exclusively from their online store, for around $57 USD. We're all for the Wii version, folks, but this is a little ridiculous. Gamecube owners are getting the short end the stick in an attempt to push the Wii hardware as far as humanly possible. We do not approve, Nintendo. It should be noted that no specific announcements have been made for the US release plans of Twilight Princess, but a similar treatment would hardly be surprising.
Voice Candy 1.0
The developers of Voice Candy pitch is as doing for microphones what Photobooth does for webcams. It is a clever little app that can change the sound of your voice using a variety of effects (including the popular Vader. I imagine lot of people saying, 'iMac, I am your father.'). But it doesn't stop there! You can also set up voice reminders.All of this for $12.95 (there is a 15 day demo).
