The hype around 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' is kicking into high gear - here's what Disney just announced
Whether you're picking up the merch (some stores are doing midnight releases of the toys), or just waiting for the next trailer to drop, "Force Friday II" means that "Star Wars" mania is here, and may the Force be with us.
And while you're at the store to pick this stuff up, Disney has another augmented reality surprise up its sleeve. Retailers including Best Buy and Target will have special posters you can scan with the "Star Wars" app, and then use to take selfies with virtual versions of the classic characters.
...and then encourages them to customize it with parts they can find around the home. It can follow pre-set patrol paths, spin the "drill" on its chest, or make a ruckus when it detects an intruder (or a sibling).
And then there's littleBits, a Disney-backed startup that makes Lego-like kits that make it easy for kids to get started with basic robotics. On September 1st, littleBits will start selling a $99 "Droid Inventor Kit," which lets kids build their own, functional R2-D2...
These drones come in a variety of styles, from the legendary X-Wing to TIE Fighters and Imperial speeder bikes.
What makes them combat drones? Well, they can fly around and shoot at each other with (harmless) laser beams. If you shoot the other ship (or ships) a few times, they float to a landing for a few seconds. A smartphone app keeps score. And sorry about the motion blur, but these suckers can move: Each one hits a top speed of about 13mph.
And speaking of spaceships. Drone company Propel is releasing these neat, palm-sized "Star Wars" combat drones for $179 each, starting later this year.
...while this Resistance A-Wing whooshes and fires lasers.
These toys have a high-tech twist, too. Hasbro is selling the "Force Link," a $25 child-sized armband. If you hold any of the new "Last Jedi" action figures, vehicles, or playsets, they make appropriate noises. So Rey makes lightsaber sounds...
Away from the smartphone, Hasbro is preparing its usual lineup of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" action figures for launch later in the fall. Fortunately, the women of the "Star Wars" universe are well-represented, with our hero Rey joined by new characters Rose and Paige.
Sphero is also launching a $179 R2-D2, also controlled with your phone. It can emote, too, including a cute little routine where it shakes and falls over like a Jawa shocked it.
Sphero, the makers of 2015's hit BB-8 app-controlled droid, is back at it again with the $149 BB-9E — marking the debut of a new, evil droid in the "Star Wars" universe.
You need an Android or iPhone to make it work. Slide your phone into the headset, place the purple glowing beacon on the ground in front of you, pick up the lightsaber, and you're officially a Jedi, like your father before you. The headset will be available by the holiday shopping season.
Beyond lightsaber battling, "Jedi Challenges" offers a tactical mode that casts you as a Resistance general, ordering troops into battle against the evil First Order. Better yet, it also includes the Holochess game made famous in "Star Wars: A New Hope."
In the demo I tried, it let you challenge Kylo Ren to a lightsaber duel, using the controller to block his blade and strike back. The battle is projected over the real world, giving the illusion that Kylo is in the room with you. It's neat, and it works well, apart from a few glitches where the system lost track of where I was holding my saber.
I'm just gonna start with my favorite thing. This is "Jedi Challenges," a $199 headset that Disney developed in conjunction with Lenovo. It projects the world of "Star Wars" all around you, using what Silicon Valley types call "augmented reality."
On Friday, September 1st, Disney is kicking off "Force Friday II," officially marking the beginning of the hype cycle for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." To celebrate, you'll be able to use the "Star Wars" app to see Imperial Star Destroyers hovering over world-famous landmarks. Check it out.
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