Special Star Wars News: Star Wars Projection on WDW DHS Tower of Terror, Details Coming on Star Wars Land, Star Wars Jedi Challenge AR Game, more...

Here is a special "Star Wars news" today, and we'll start by the news that we didn't see coming, i.e the Star Wars projection show which will happen on WDW Tower of Terror facade during the one night only “Star Wars: Galactic Nights” at Hollywood Studios on December 16th!



In addition, guests will enjoy meet and greet with Star Wars characters...



...as well as the Star Wars night show on the Chinese theater, AND panels with discussion with Lucasfilm Doug Chang as well as Star Wars land Imagineers who will tell us more about Star Wars : Galaxy Edge!






We also learn during the Star Wars show - video below - the reissue on Dec 1st of the original soundtrack of Star Wars : A New Hope on vinyl. The set include three vinyls plus a 48 color pages book, the 50th logo on one of the vinyl AND a very cool Hologram of he Dath Star on another one! For more infos check disneymusicemporium.com





Here is the video of the full Star Wars show.




We're not done yet as there is more with the Star Wars: Jedi Challenges Augmented Reality game now available, which let you fight with your own lightsaber as it brings the Star Wars universe to life at home. Star Wars: Jedi Challenges comes complete with a Lenovo augmented reality headset, lightsaber designed controller and a tracking beacon for $199.99 and is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, as you need to place your mobile in the top of the headset.



According to Star Wars.com - full article HERE - "the resulting lightsaber battles feel authentic and surprisingly intense. When a holographic opponent — first Darth Maul, then Darth Vader, followed by Kylo Ren, and then maybe someone else — inches closer, you’ll find yourself going into a combat stance and stepping back. You know when you’ve clashed lightsabers. You know where to block thanks to some smart visual cues. Landing a hit is satisfying and energizing. In all, it’s a powerful illusion. And it bears mentioning that the controller itself is beautifully designed, with a rubber grip, chrome finish, and even a belt clip — nicely adding to the experience. Adventure? Excitement? Sometimes a Jedi craves these things."



"Not to be left out are holochess — Jedi Challenges‘ version of dejarik, the aforementioned game seen in A New Hope in which you’d be advised to “Let the Wookiee win” — and strategic combat. They are far from afterthoughts, both featuring the same graphical quality and attention to detail as the lightsaber battles. Holochess is a true, rule-based game, and yes, you can have your creatures body slam your opponents’" 



"The strategic combat game, in which you command the forces of the Rebellion, Republic, or Resistance in a tower-defense clash with the Empire, Separatists, or First Order, requires that you experiment, learn from your mistakes, and develop a sense of military know-how. Victories are rewarding, and the experience itself benefits from the AR presentation and motion-controls: want to move that gun turret? Just pick it up and drop it where you want on the 3D playfield before you."



Below, the official commercial presenting Star Wars : Jedi Challenges augmented reality game ( and not "virtual reality", the difference is important ). Looks pretty cool to me, the $199.99 price is quite reasonable, may be i'll buy one... 


The whole thing works with your mobile phone, here is the list of those who can work with Jedi Challenges, as listed on the official website: "Compatible with select Android and iOS devices. For use with: iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S7, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel, Moto Z² Force Edition, LG G6." Additional devices will be added to the above list soon. Check back HERE for updates.




Here is another video in which someone test the AR game and watch it till the end as the battle in the middle of your living room looks pretty cool as well as the Holochess, the third game with fight between the gamer and Darth Vader or others looks cool too though more predictable.




Variety also did a review of Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ Augmented Reality Headset and in their first Impressions we learn an important point: "...There’s another key difference to mobile VR headsets: The phone actually gets placed above one’s field of view, with the display facing downward. The picture is then mirrored on a transparent plane, allowing you to see the environment around you, and combining that view with various “Star Wars” games."

I suppose that the fact to be able to see your environment is because Disney was aware of the risk to be sued by any customers buying this and who would have destroyed their furniture if the mobile phone was placed in front of the eyes, not allowing them to see the room... Also, "The lightsaber consists of a realistic replica of the handle with a small LED propped on top. After putting on the headset, this LED gets magically extended with that signature glowing blade." Full Variety article HERE.

And that's it for today's Star Wars news, more coming soon for sure!

Pictures and video: copyright Lucasfilm, Lenovo