Some dumbass spent $US240,000 on Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber from the first two Star Wars movies. Didn’t that guy realise that there’s no such thing as a lightsaber and that it doesn’t work??
newVideoPlayer("/colbertlightsaber_gizmodo.flv", 506, 305,""); After Jon Stewart trashed Black Friday, talking about his C-3PO and Lego Millennium Falcon, Stephen Colbert strikes back brandishing a lightsaber against the curator of the National Toy Hall of Fame. The reason: A wood stick.
This is it. The real McCoy: Luke Skywalker’s one and only lightsaber, used in the original Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. It can be yours for only $US185,000. If you don’t have $US185,000 handy, you can get the real fedora hat or the bullwhip used by Indiana Jones in Temple of Doom for $US61,000 each (reportedly, the ones from Indiana Jones and the Crappy Flying Saucers with the Stupid Kid will be $US20.84). These are only three of the original props that will be available in a December 11 auction, which will include one with our name on it: The original Gizmo, the animatronic puppet used in Gremlins, with control box and wires included.
And those pesky physicists said lightsabers weren’t possible. Peshaw, I say, pe-shaw. I say this because Scottish scientists have created a miniature device that attacks individual cancer cells using a cylinder of light. A two millimeter saber of light, or light saber, if you will. The pinpoint accuracy (no Force powers necessary!) will allow doctors to deliver meds to precisely where they’re needed; alternatively, it could also be used after a tumor is removed to ensure the surrounding area is truly cancer-free. Apparently, the device is also going to be very useful for deadly hard-to-reach cancers, like that of the pancreas.
If the possibility of controlling all your PC applications Minority Report-style wasn’t enough to get you excited about Mgestyk Technologies’ gesture control system, the company’s now showing off its ability to work with other input devices. The disembodied hands of Mgestyk employees go all Jedi on us this time around, using a Nintendo Wiimote as a lightsaber and the extra hand to “Force Push.” There’s even a multiplayer mode! Once again, availability and pricing details were scarce, but the company said it would be demoing its tech at the Montreal International Game Summit next week. [Mgestyk]
We first saw the Force Unleashed iPhone game back at E3, and since then not a whole lot has changed. You still control Darth Vader’s apprentice by drawing shapes on the screen to correspond with force powers or actions, which is quite suitable for the iPhone, but not as satisfying as it would be to actually draw lightsaber strikes or even swing around the phone like an idiot. Nevertheless, it’s really polished and has luscious 2D backgrounds that your PS1/Dreamcast-era guy runs across. Worth $US9.99 (AU: $12.99) if you’re a fan of Star Wars, lightsabers, or drawing shapes with your finger. [iTunes]
We’ve seen Wii lightsaber attachments before, but Thrustmaster’s version actually looks like something we’d be excited in using. These add-on sticks are powered by three AAAs and have 17 blue or red LEDs for glow-in-the-dark action. Nice, but we’re not sure how much more “gameplay” it’ll add to The Force Unleashed. Bonus shot for awkward Canadian teens after the jump. [Thrustmaster via Go Nintendo]
Hmmm…this Sushezi sushi tube looks familiar. While it is all but useless as a weapon, the tube can help the average Joe enjoy professional looking sushi at home with its easy roll feature. Now that I think about it, maybe you could use it as a weapon—a salmonellasaber with an incapacitating puke blade. Available for US$20. [Taylor Gifts via RGS]
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After being voluntarily retired from the iTunes App Store, following a call by THQ Wireless, the most useless yet completely obligatory iPhone app–PhoneSaber–is returning to the store as LightSaber Unleashed. The lightsaber simulator will tie in with the new LucasArts’s game, including completely new graphics, “dueling music,” and characters from the game:
If there was ever a Jedi hippie, this is the lightsaber he would use. Let’s face it, CFLs last a lot longer than energy blades and they are much cheaper to operate. Plus, they help protect the galaxy. Think about it. Available for US$26. [Redbubble via Geekologie]
