Star Wars turns 30 and the merchandising continues

Stephen Withers
Friday, 25 May 2007 08:16

Your IT - Home IT

Star Wars fans around the world are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the movie that started it all, and Lucasfilm and its partners are keeping the products flowing.

The Web 2.0 generation weren't born when Episode 3 hit the big screen for the first time, but a major revamp of the StarWars.com site to be launched later today will allow them to create mashups of officially-sanctioned movie scenes and their own footage.

"[Fans] have long shown their enormous creativity and desire to have fun and express themselves through Star Wars. Our new site brings our fans innovative tools like the Eyespot editor that let them just that in exciting new ways," said Jeff Ulin, senior director of distribution and online at Lucasfilm.

Eyespot provides technology to protect content from movies, tv shows and other entertainment while allowing people to remix it with their own material.

The new StarWars.com site will also feature a library of user generated videos, fan films and short documentaries relating to the movies.

If your tastes run to games, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga has been announced for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS. Combining the first two Lego Star Wars games with new levels, characters and features, The Complete Saga allows players to cover the events of all six movies in one game.

Platform-specific features include high resolution graphics and online two-player mode for Xbox 360 and PS3, and motion-sensitive controls on Wii (anyone for a lightsabre battle?) and touch-screen control for the DS.

Can't wait until the northern fall for the release of Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga? Hop across to the US Postal Service's online store where you can order a souvenir sheet of 15 Star Wars stamps for just $US6.15.

The stamps feature a variety of characters including Darth Vader, Luke, Anakin, Han, Chewbacca, Leia, Yoda, Obi-Wan, the droids and a squad of stormtroopers.