Greetings!
In the RO world, myself and VA Manijak are working hard to get the application packet in before the deadline of December 9th. I would like to thank GA Ronin and SA Ast in thier assistance with all the details that are required for this packet. Thanks Sirs!
This is actually taking up alot of time. If you don't belive me, check out the Celebration III website at starwars.com. :P
For all you SoCal people, special for you at the bottom of the news section is the largest peice of information I could find on GenCon SoCal. Take a look at it, and if ANY of you go, write back to myself and my CA:RO and tell us about anything Star Wars going on at the event.
That's it right now. As soon as this packet is rocketed away from my hands by FedEx the Recon Office should kick back in full swing. I will be tasking my CA:RO with a few duties that he will make into his specialty. Look out Manny. :P
Now, to the news.
SW NEWS:
***EP3: Jim Ward Talks 'Revenge of the Sith' Game***
Yahoo News/Hollywood Reporter features an interview with Jim Ward about Star Wars gaming. Here's an excerpt relating to ROTS:
The Hollywood Reporter: Where are you in developing the "Episode III" game?
Ward: It's going to provide the ultimate Jedi action fantasy fulfillment that we've hinted at in previous games. We brought in Nick Gillard, the stunt coordinator for the film, to work with the game animators and the entire team to ensure that the Jedi action moments are as real and true to the performances in the film.
Hayden Christensen came in and worked with the game development team to show them the style of his light-saber fighting. We've had the team fully integrated into the production of the film from beginning to end.
If you haven't already, be sure to check out the trailer for the 'Revenge of the sith' game at LucasArts, as it contains more spoilers than the teaser trailer. Thanks to Danny and Conor for the alert.
***EP3: AICN Reviews First 7 Minutes of ROTS***
AICN has posted a description of the first 7 minutes of 'Revenge of the Sith'. Here's a clip:
... the scroll began, setting up the movie, describing (highlight to read) how Palpatine had been kidnapped.
The screen cuts to a planet we all recognize a Coruscant, very quietly a star ship begins to come into view. There is almost no sound except for the engines of the ship. We follow this in until it fills the entire screen and slowly we rotate "underneath", between the ship and the planet. Once we get here the noise starts in and we get our first view of the battle in progress.
The camera follows in Anakin and Obi-wan's Jedi fighters. However, you can plainly see that Anakin has modified his. The front part of his cockpit has been replaced with a view window that looks like a Tie-Fighter. He and Obi-wan then spend the next 5 minutes in a desperate attempt to get to the ship holding Palpatine.
Let me just say that if you took all of the space battles from all of the Star Wars movies they would not come close to what I saw in the first 7 minutes of this film. Epic is the ONLY word I can use to describe what I saw.
***EP3: Jeremy Bulloch's Role in Episode III***
Carbonitekid sends in the following update to our story about BBC Wiltshire's interview with Jeremy Bulloch (click here for that story):
As the person in the Boba Fett costume pictured with Jeremy on the BBC site you have provided a link to, I can confirm he discussed his upcoming "bit part" as a pilot on board the Tantive IV.
***EP3: Natalie Portman Talks Episode III***
IESB interviewed Natalie Portman at the premiere of her new movie 'Closer' on Monday night (November 23rd).
Here's what she had to say about 'Revenge of the Sith':
So what's Natalie's favorite of the Star Wars prequels? "They are all so very different, Episode III is very dark and much more demanding, we all know that Anakin becomes Darth Vader but to actually see this transition is very painful. So when you have such a dark story to work with it demands you as an actor to work harder. So even though I haven't seen the film yet I would suppose that the last one is my favorite".
And here's a quote from Natalie about 'Revenge of the Sith' at MSN Movies:
"It was much darker than the other two that we worked on," she said. "You can sort of piece it together, since it fits between episodes II and IV. Yeah, we worked very hard on it and I think it's great."
***Gen Con So Cal***
Hobby Game Convention Gen Con So Cal Announces Its Unmatched Roster of Game Events and Show Highlights
The 2nd annual Gen Con So Cal Convention, the West Coast's largest annual consumer hobby game convention, is firing up this year with an incredible roster of events and tournaments, some brand new and others tried and true.
Gen Con So Cal, set for December 2-5 in California's Anaheim Convention Center, is a huge gathering place for enthusiasts, designers, authors, artists, manufacturers and distributors of games, whether electronic, tabletop, role-playing or paper based hobby games.
Gen Con LLC's flagship show, Gen Con Indy (Indianapolis), is North America's largest hobby gaming convention, which has been successfully held for the last 37 years in the Midwest. In 2003, the company launched a Gen Con show for the West Coast, creating Gen Con So Cal to reach a broader audience and build on the popularity of Gen Con Indy.
"Gen Con So Cal was by all measures a success in its first year. Attendance beat our expectations and game manufacturers enthusiastically participated," said Peter Adkison, CEO of Gen Con LLC. "This year we anticipate an even better show, with events and show highlights unmatched on the West Coast. We look forward to making Gen Con So Cal The Best Four Days in Gaming! especially for all those game lovers living on the West Coast."
At Gen Con So Cal, gaming enthusiasts don't simply "walk the show" they can actually participate in over a thousand gaming events. These events include interactive game play, hobby-related events, and computer gaming. Attendees also join in card games, board games, role-playing games, live-action role-playing games, seminars and workshops ranging in topics from how to develop games to how to paint miniatures.
The four-day event will feature appearances by celebrity guests, events such as Upper Deck Entertainment's Pro Circuit featuring the new Superhero Vs. system and Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments, Wizards of the Coast's Magic: the Gathering Trading Card Game tournaments, True Dungeon, a life-size dungeon adventure, True Heroes, a life-size walk-through Marvel super heroes experience, Dungeons and Dragons role-playing adventures, a collectible auction (with lasts years' big ticket going for $95,000), a costume contest, anime room, and a Kids area, to name just a few.
Gen Con So Cal will be open to the public Thursday, December 2 through Sunday, December 5, with gaming events offered 24 hours a day. The convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center, a 933,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility just steps from Disneyland.
Attendees must purchase a badge to gain entrance to the show. Badge registration starts at 5 PM on Wednesday, December 1 on-site at the Anaheim Convention Center. A four-day badge is $55 and a one-day badge is $20. Children 8 and under are free with an accompanying adult. For more information and to register, visit www.gencon.com or call (800) 529-EXPO.
Show & Event Highlights:
Exhibitors and sponsors alike are presenting the best in events and show highlights in Anaheim this year.
Media Guest of Honor Autograph Area: Meet this year¹s Media Guests of Honor right in front of the Exhibit Hall. The talent spans the spectrum of genres from both the big and small screen:
Ernie Hudson, Winston Zedmore in Ghostbusters;
Catherine Bach, Daisy Duke in Dukes of Hazzard;
Daniel Logan, Boba Fett in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones;
Sandra Taylor, Under Siege 2;
Ray Park, Toad in X-Men & Darth Maul in Star Wars: Phantom Menace;
Cassandra Peterson, who plays Elvira;
Nathan Fillion, Captain Malcolm Reynolds in Firefly;
Adam Baldwin, Jayne Cobb in Firefly.
"Rock the Con": The first ever "Rock the Con" concert and party in Gen Con history all attendees are invited. Enjoy the music of four great acts: The Great Luke Ski, The Phenomenauts, Raptors Away and Warp 11 on Saturday, December 4th at 9 pm.
True Dungeon: Real dungeon, real props real cool! True Dungeon gives players a chance to experience an adventure in a full-size, walk-through dungeon. The scenario "Return to Hommlet" is a tribute to the long history of Dungeons & Dragons. True Dungeon is sponsored by Wizards of the Coast.
True Heroes: Sponsored by (and developed with) Upper Deck Entertainment, the event allows players to experience the world of superheroes within a life-size, walk through "superhero" environment.
Costume Contest: A night of fun awaits anyone with an imagination. Follow along in the parade through the Anaheim Convention Center on Saturday, December 4 from 6:30-8:30 pm.
Electronic Game and XBOX Arena: The Game Arena will have a NCsoft-sponsored 24 PC LAN, featuring City of Heroes and Lineage III and an XBOX arena with 4 system-linked XBOX's shown on 42" Plasma HD TV's. Play Halo 2, Crimson Skies, SSX3 and Mech Assault.
Industry Insider Track: An expanded program of seminars includes new topics like jobs in the gaming industry and the skeletons that some industry insider¹s have kept hidden in the closet. Every seminar features an all-star panel of industry insiders that know the ins and outs of the gaming industry.
Anime: The Anime Room will be open 24 hours a day for the show's duration. The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation will exhibit the latest and greatest from Japan and the U.S.
Art Show: The Art Show is one of the premier showcases for fantasy, gaming and sci-fi art.
Auction: Buy and sell games and paraphernalia at the Auction. You never know what treasure you will find.
Miniature Painting and Workshop: At the Paint & Take area in the main hall, attendees can paint minis provided by top manufacturers. Free and open to all attendees.
Kids Area: Supported by Nintendo, this spot is devoted to games of all types for kids. Art classes, Gameboy SP tabletop interactive with playmats and cards, and much more. Free to all attendees.
Writer's Workshop and Q&A: Author Guest of Honor Tad Williams talks about the process of writing his first novel, Tailchaser's Song, finishing his bestselling trilogy Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, and then traveling the mountains, waters and cities of the Otherland series. Learn how to build a career, develop characters and plots, or become a better writer from best-selling author, Mike Stackpole. A host of other writers will be conducting seminars as well.
AEG will be hosting all of the favorite games at Gen Con So Cal like the L5R CCG World Championships, Warlord CCG World Championship and "The Gauntlet" Premiere Spycraft CCG Tournament to name a few.
Premier Tournaments to participate in: Magic: The Gathering² Unhinged Release Tournaments: Wizards of the Coast is sponsoring tournaments featuring the latest Magic: The Gathering² set, Unhinged. These tournaments will feature special prizes paid out in a very unconventional manner. Each tournament will be four Swiss rounds with no playoffs.
Magic Pro Tour Atlanta Qualifier: Bring your best team of three. Swiss rounds, with the top four teams playing in single-elimination finals. Sponsored by Wizards of the Coast.
Magic Pro Tour Nagoya Qualifier: This Champions of Kamigawa Limited (Sealed Deck) event features Swiss rounds, with the top eight playing in single-elimination Rochester draft finals. Sponsored by Wizards of the Coast.
Duel Masters 2004 Gen Con So Cal Championship: Be a part of the first Gen Con So Cal Championship for this hot new game. Sponsored by Wizards of the Coast.
Star Wars Trading Card Game Lightsaber Tournament: Bring your Constructed deck. Sponsored by Wizards of the Coast.
Vs. System Tournaments: Upper Deck Entertainment (UDE) is hosting the second installment of the $1 Million Vs. System Pro Circuit Tournament, Friday through Sunday. On Saturday UDE hosts the $10,000 Vs. System Championship Tournament in which top winners will get invited to the next Pro Circuit Tournament.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournaments: UDE will also host the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Regional Tournament Advanced Format and the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Gen Con So Cal Championship Advanced Format.
Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) will host the L5R CCG Storyline Tournament and the Spycraft CCG Hydra Sanction Events.
White Wolf: White Wolf presents a special preview of Werewolf: The Forsaken, the second game in the all-new World of Darkness (due out February 2005). An exclusive Werewolf: The Forsaken RPG Preview Tournament will run in three rounds over the course of the show. Also play in "Escape from San Diego," a Vampire: The Requiem scenario run by White Wolf's Camarilla Fan Club. Also, the Vampire Elder Kindred Network hosts two constructed deck tournaments.
"The World Series of Gen Con" Poker Tournament No Limit Texas Hold em known as The Cadillac of Poker" will be the format for this huge tournament. Players will have the chance to compete multiple times for the grand prize.
Visit the Wizards of the Coast website at www.wizards.com.
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Ooooooooooooook. That's it from me this week. Happy Holidays to everyone who celebrates, well about anything going on!
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RO/AD "Six" Joe/CA-12/SSSD Sovereign IC/GOE/GS/BSx3/PCx2/ISMx6/MoI/MoT-1gh/MoC-6BoC-7SoC-4GoC-27PoC-3DoC/CoL/CoB/OV-7E
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"It's God's Responsibility to forgive Bin Laden, It's our Responsibility to arrange the meeting..." -United States Marine Corps