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Tag Archives: Star Wars
Disney Closes LucasArts Studio
Today, the Walt Disney Company laid off the staff of LucasArts and cancelled all of their current projects. Approximately one-hundred fifty staff members were informed of the decision this morning and lost their jobs. This decision also forces the company to cancel both of LucasArts current projects- Star Wars: First Assault and Star Wars 1313. The Walt Disney Company is keeping the LucasArts name to license games, but the studio will no longer exist.
Disney has reported that their current games could be licensed out to a different publisher or developer, but according to some sources, that’s unlikely. Rumor has it that Lucas has pursued the option for one or both of these games, but nothing came of it. It appears that these games will probably be gone forever.
“After evaluating our position in the games market, we’ve decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company’s risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games,” LucasArts parent company LucasFilm said in a statement. “As a result of this change, we’ve had layoffs across the organization. We are incredibly appreciative and proud of the talented teams who have been developing our new titles.”
LucasArts actually stopped all hiring last September and product announcements also ceased at this time. LucasFilm is still in business though and this decision should not affect any of the Star Wars movies in the makings.
What do you think will happen with the LucasArts projects? Do you think they will be licensed out to another publisher?
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First Look at Star Wars Weekends 2013 Merchandise at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
I was delighted to see the logo for Star Wars Weekends 2013 as shared by author Gary Buchanan. He said the artwork gives a nod to the 30th anniversary of “Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.” I vividly recall seeing the film in theaters with my parents in May 1983. I was completely obsessed with Star Wars at the time, so I love this poster as it reminds me of my childhood. Disney Design Group artist Tyler Dumas said they had some different poster concepts, like Mickey Mouse in the Rancor pit, before selecting an iconic scene from the Battle of Endor.
Here is a look at some new items with this year’s logo coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 17, 2013.
“First Look at Star Wars Weekends 2013 Merchandise at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Including a Disney Pin, a Coffee Mug, a Photo Frame and More”First Look at Star Wars Weekends 2013 Merchandise at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Star Wars Invades Atlanta Braves Spring Training at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
No, it’s not a galaxy far, far away. It’s Atlanta Braves spring training at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Last weeks Braves-Mets game saw the first mash-up of Disney, Star Wars and Major League Baseball spring training at Walt Disney World Resort.
To catch all the fun, check out the photo gallery below.
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Star Wars Land at Disneyland?
A long time from now in a city not so far away we may all get to visit Star Wars Land at Disneyland. The Disney-verse has lit up more than a Death Star explosion with the news of a survey being addressed to Annual Pass Holder and Fanatics. This survey includes a number of references to a Star Wars Land and asks what the respondents think of this expansion idea. What do you think? Would you like a Star Wars Land at Disneyland?
We’ve known of plans to add a Star Wars Land to Disneyland Paris since last year when the imagineers let that out. The Star Wars Land is said to include Star Tours, Jedi Academy and a Mos Eisley Cantina. Without any ground breaking yet, we don’t know for sure where it will go. However, the rumors state that likely it will take over Pizza Planet and Captain EO which are next to Star Tours. They will then expand it to become its own Star Wars Land.
Here’s what we know:
- Disney spent $4 Billion to buy Star Wars
- Disneyland Anaheim is asking guests to take a survey about Star Wars
- Disneyland Paris Star Wars Land planned opening in 2015
- Star Wars VII is planned for release in 2015
- Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
As my imagination runs wild, here’s what I predict, Star Wars Land will open in both Disneyland Anaheim and Disneyland Paris around the same time as Star Wars VII comes out. Disney didn’t get to where they are without knowing how to do things big.
We all know that Disneyland Resort doesn’t have a lot of unused space. So the question becomes, where does it go? Everyone has their own ideas and most are pretty good thoughts. I’ve read that perhaps it will replace Tomorrowland, or maybe it will go in the much alluded to “Third Gate” that is supposed to open sometime in the next few decades. Maybe, just maybe Disney is holding out on us and has already been purchasing up additional space around Disneyland that we haven’t heard about yet.
While we don’t have a lot of solid evidence to give yet, we do know that Star Wars Land at Disneyland is a real possibility. Don’t book your trip just yet, but do keep checking back with us for any new information. What do you think of a possible Star Wars Land at Disneyland? Let us know!
One last juicy bit of gossip to share, just read that perhaps, maybe, just maybe Walt Disney World will get a Cars Land & Star Wars Land combined at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Now that’s a big stretch, but hey we can all dream right? Didn’t Walt teach us all to keep dreaming and reaching?
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Star Wars Launches “This Is Madness” Tournament
Fans of The Force need not feel left out of the March Madness… er Madness. StarWars.com has just launched the ”This Is Madness” tournament to decide the galaxy’s most popular Star Wars character. Cast your votes and daily for new matchups and results, and be sure to visit the site on Tuesday, April 9, to see who wins!
Vote for your favorite NOW! http://starwars.com/this-is-madness/index.html
The participants have been cast very interestingly. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top this time out. Who do you expect to win the tourney? Let us know!
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