Star Wars: The Force Awakens Official Teaser #2

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Manchu**

Oh gak! Looks like Finn has Anakin's lightsaber:

http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/star-wars-7-finn-costume-3.jpg

**Manchu**

whembly wrote:
What am I missing?

Resin model of new Resistance X-Wing.

**Grey Templar**

Hmmm, the name "Resistance" seems to imply that the Rebellion has yet to reestablish the Republic.

Interesting...

**whembly**

Manchu wrote:
whembly wrote:
What am I missing?
Resin model of new Resistance X-Wing.

Oooooooooo purty.

Thanks manchu!

**Manchu**

Grey Templar wrote:
Hmmm, the name "Resistance" seems to imply that the Rebellion has yet to reestablish the Republic.

Interesting...

Yep, my thoughts exactly -- at least in this part of the galaxy, because the name "First Order" implies the Empire is not the monolithic power from the OT.

**ScootyPuffJunior**

Here's a cool writeup on how the BB-8 might work, since it has yet to be revealed:

'Star Wars' has an amazing new droid: How does the BB-8 work in real life?

Star Wars obsession is a totally natural and not at all life-threatening condition, but it will make you fixate on minutiae. For die-hard fans, Thursday was a day full of Star Wars minutiae to mull over. In addition to an action-packed second teaser trailer, we got a live glimpse of the rolling BB-8 droid in action.

And it wasn't in CGI.

For both Star Wars fans and robot fanatics, this was a revelation. The super-fast rolling robot had only been glimpsed in the first trailer, which was released late last year. But before a jam-packed, enthusiastic crowd at the Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim, California, a real BB-8 rolled out in front of Star Wars: Episode VII director J.J. Abrams and producer Kathleen Kennedy.

It has a robotic ball for a body, topped with an equally robotic head that not only doesn't fall off but also lets the body move freely below it.

As the stunned crowd looked on, Abrams explained the thinking behind the robot. "There were a lot of discussions about how having a CGI BB-8 would be so much easier for shooting," he said. "But we also knew it would be so much better for the film, for the actors, for the set, for the look of it, if it were performed. Neil Scanlan and his unbelievable team ... built and puppeteered BB-8 in the movie and did an extraordinary job, and it was better for the actors and it was better for the film itself."

As he spoke, BB-8 looked about and rolled back and forth across the stage, at one point circling around the R2-D2 droid that had rolled out moments earlier. There were no strings, but we knew it was some kind of remote-controlled robot, and something very special.

Kennedy said Disney Chairman Bob Iger "found the company that helped us discover the technology of what you're seeing right now. Because we now have BB-8 operating on its own, thanks to Bob."

So how does BB-8 work?

We can guess at half of it. The ball is obviously a giant remote-control robot puppet very much like one called Sphero. Sphero, from Orbotix, is a self-contained robot ball that communicates with a smartphone app via Bluetooth. You can run it in any direction using the in-app virtual joystick. It's incredibly responsive. Even without a camera in it to see where you're going, you can use line-of-sight and information from the robot about which way it thinks is forward and back to guide it precisely. Watch a video of Sphero in action and it may remind you a little bit of BB-8.

But what about the head?

BB-8's dome-shaped cap is clearly not attached — otherwise there's no way the robot ball could move freely. But it is holding on somehow. The leading theory is magnets; they could be used to allow the cap to float a millimeter or so off the surface of BB-8's main ball. However, that would not account for how it would stay on top of the moving ball.

Here's my best guess. The cap is a second robot; it, too, is remote controlled — that's how the head "looks" around — but its main job is to stay on top of the ball. So inside the cap you might find a gyroscope, which tells the robot which way is up. It may also have an accelerometer to detect motion. Underneath it wouldn't have magnetic levitation technology, but rather a set of magnetic wheels that roll rapidly to keep it in place. It knows which way to roll based on the sensor info.

"That could be the case, but it could also use the wheels to accelerate in a given direction,” said Ralph Hollis, a research professor in the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute and the father of the Ballbot.

A ballbot uses a regular ball — and a lot of robotic technology to balance on top of the ball, and even move the entire robot by rolling the ball underneath. Hollis thinks my theory is possible, but told me it's also just as likely that the wheels in BB-8's head are, in fact, driving the entire robot, so BB-8's big ball is the dumb ball underneath.

The technology might work something like the robots in this IEEE Spectrum video.

"But I believe the BB-8 is more than just that," Hollis added. He agrees that inside BB-8's large ball is probably another robot system that rights itself as the BB-8 head moves about.

This is naturally all guesswork, and Hollis reminded me that we could both be wrong. But somehow, I think these are the droids we've been looking for.

**Co'tor Shas**

Might not be, I think it'z just blocked from being posted. Do a quote on manchu's post and copy the link (it's an x-wing).

Edit: triple nijed, and never mind.

**ScootyPuffJunior**

Manchu wrote:
whembly wrote:
What am I missing?
Resin model of new Resistance X-Wing.

And I look forward to the day that Bandai releases a model of this X-wing so I can add it to my collection.

**Manchu**

How about the day FFG adds it to X-Wing???

**ScootyPuffJunior**

Manchu wrote:
How about the day FFG adds it to X-Wing???

That will be cool too, but a 1/72 or 1/48 scale version of it is a million times better.

**Kanluwen**

Grey Templar wrote:
Hmmm, the name "Resistance" seems to imply that the Rebellion has yet to reestablish the Republic.

Interesting...

The REALLY interesting part is that Battlefront has a DLC slated for December 8th(December 1st if you preorder the game) which adds the battle which devastates the planet we saw in the trailer into the game, for free.

And the promotional tidbits for that DLC specifically state it is a battle between "The New Republic" and "Imperial holdouts".

**Ensis Ferrae**

And after watching the trailer some (a lot) more... I still maintain that Solo has some sort of Force attunement...

NO ONE is that lucky for that long, except through amazingly amazing Plot Armor, or the Force.

**insaniak**

Ensis Ferrae wrote:
And after watching the trailer some (a lot) more... I still maintain that Solo has some sort of Force attunement...

He'd call it luck...

WotC's miniatures game actually did give Han a couple of Force points (which, aside from 'casting' force abilities (which he didn't have) could be used in that game for re-rolls and extra movement) to represent his 'luck'.

**Hordini**

It's possible that "First Order" could be a unit designation as well, rather than a faction one. Like 501st Stormtrooper rather than Galactic Empire Stormtrooper.

**Grey Templar**

It could also refer to the new ruling class of the Empire.

**Hordini**

Grey Templar wrote:
It could also refer to the new ruling class of the Empire.

That could be as well.

**Manchu**

Those are both interesting possibilities. With the EU in mind, I was thinking the First Order could be a splinter faction dedicated to some specific quest: in this case, seemingly, the search for Sith relics associated with Darth Vader.

**Ensis Ferrae**

Manchu wrote:
Those are both interesting possibilities. With the EU in mind, I was thinking the First Order could be a splinter faction dedicated to some specific quest: in this case, seemingly, the search for Sith relics associated with Darth Vader.

Wouldn't they be more after relics/artifacts from Sidious or the older Masters, or do you think they would draw a direct connection between Vader and this new Sith dude which would explain him going after "Vader stuff" specifically?

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Grey Templar wrote:
It could also refer to the new ruling class of the Empire.

I think it could also be a sort of Tau-like set up, or something similar to the Chiss in the novel "Outbound Flight", where there are multiple "equal" ruling Orders that are numbered, even if, in theory their numbering is irrelevant (ie, 1st Order is no more important or more "equal" than the 3rd or 4th Orders)

**Manchu**

Ensis Ferrae wrote:
Manchu wrote:
Those are both interesting possibilities. With the EU in mind, I was thinking the First Order could be a splinter faction dedicated to some specific quest: in this case, seemingly, the search for Sith relics associated with Darth Vader.
Wouldn't they be more after relics/artifacts from Sidious or the older Masters, or do you think they would draw a direct connection between Vader and this new Sith dude which would explain him going after "Vader stuff" specifically?

My guess is, the First Order wants these relics to assert their claim as the legitimate heirs to the Empire.

**H.B.M.C.**

BB-8 does look pretty cool.

And I love the Stormy variants.

Manchu wrote:
OMG I have never been more grateful to Disney in my life. This alone makes replacing an good show (Clone Wars) with a terrible one (Rebels) okay.

Internet Hyperbole aside, no, it really doesn't Filoni revealed a bunch of stuff for the incomplete finale of Clone Wars, including episodes that would have taken place during and after Episode III. It would have been amazing.

*sigh*

**Manchu**

Clone Wars was a very mixed bag that hit its highest points dealing with the clones themselves. The seventh season arc about Tup was really well done. Conversely, season seven also showed us Clone Wars at it's worst, when it delved into the Force: the navel-gazing arc beginning with "Voices". I'm sure the series, had it continued, could have churned out more cool clone stories and more hamfisted Jedi stories. But more is not always better (especially more of a bad thing). Tup's arc, for example, beautifully sums up the tension between the clones' experience as individual sentients with their own values and their ultimate destiny as disposable pawns. There's really no need to do more of that. There's certainly no need for more crappy allegories about the Force.

I suspect those crappy allegories were driven precisely by the need to manufacture more SW, just like the mind numbing return of Darth Maul. But the most infamous example of seizing on just about anything for the sake of pumping out more product is the Yuuzhan Vong. If one had appeared in CW, then their existence would have survived as canon past the Disney acquisition. If that had happened, of course, Disney would not be required to do anything further with them. And of course, Disney could at any moment throw them back into the mix. They own the IP, after all. But I am really hoping like hell that they don't. As things stand, the whole Yuuzhan Vong disaster was just another bad dream.

**H.B.M.C.**

I don't even know what to say to all of that... stuff... so I'm just going to go ahead and say nothing. Just not worth the effort to even fight you...

**Manchu**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Just not worth the effort to even fight you...

Why would you need to "fight" me about any issue of personal opinion?

H.B.M.C. wrote:
I'm just going to go ahead and say nothing.

Saying nothing is the opposite of what you did.

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

Clone Wars was good but its done.. and with the direction they have gone it I can't see it coming back.. there are some positives in that though... and perhaps characters who may not have made it all the way to the end may well turn up in Rebels.

Surprised folks haven't been enjoying Rebels tbh, for the first season its easily on par with Clone wars season 1.. and we've barely got a foot in the door. Characters are still key, and I'm enjoying the slow set up for the rebellion.
Ezra I admit is probably the most annoying thing in the show.. but he is developing, although I recall similar things being said about Ahsoka when she first arrived.
Hera, Kanan and Sabine have become fast faves in my household though, Zeb and Choppa are okay and the Inquisitor was a fair villain..and the last episode was an eye opener for how they were willing to end his arc in a kids show. Tarkin was also a great homage for the Peter Cushing fan in me.

Although without doubt Tano turning up is huge for me, as I really liked her character from Clone Wars.. and nullified a lot of minor quibbles with the show, just eager to see where they run with it now. I'm hoping they will bring back Ventress at some point.. and Bariss Offee down the road would lead to me loosing it in a good way.

**insaniak**

Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:
Its like going on about Firefly .. time to move on.

Them's fighting words...

Surprised folks haven't been enjoying Rebels tbh, for the first season its easily on par with Clone wars season 1

I've only seen the pilot so far (and only just got around to that last weekend) but I agree from what I've seen so far. It possibly feels like it's aimed at a slightly younger audience, but there was still enough in there to be entertaining.

**reds8n**

I don't know if anybody else noticed this, but when I watched the trailer for the 17th time

I noticed a funny turn of phrase.

When Luke was talking about the force, he mentioned he has it, his sister has it etc etc

and then

MY FATHER HAS IT...

That's from ROTJ -- it's not new, just "pasted" on top of this trailer.

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

insaniak wrote:

Them's fighting words...

Aye good point, it was the first example that came to my head.. but its likely to derail the thread with Firefly remarks.. I'll remove it.

As to Rebels, it definitely got stronger as the series went on.. some of the early ones are weaker overall, but you could see it developing on the screen each week.. I think I missed two episodes total.. but thanks to my boys saw most of them, everything from about episode 8.

**Manchu**

reds8n wrote:
That's from ROTJ -- it's not new, just "pasted" on top of this trailer.

It certainly takes on quite a different flavor in the teaser, where the "you have that power, too" line does not seem to refer to Leia as in RotJ.

**Pacific**

reds8n wrote:

I don't know if anybody else noticed this, but when I watched the trailer for the 17th time

I noticed a funny turn of phrase.

When Luke was talking about the force, he mentioned he has it, his sister has it etc etc

and then

MY FATHER HAS IT...

That's from ROTJ -- it's not new, just "pasted" on top of this trailer.

Does he mean that it's the fact they have used present tense (i.e. not "my father had it"), although assuming that could be the spirit that lives on - So Sebastian Shaw, or I assume now replaced by Hayden Christensen?

**Gitzbitah**

Or part of Vader's consciousness survived even his immolation on Endor, and is now back? Or the Emperor used the organic parts to make a back up to be activated in case of emergencies. Or... to go darker and more mature, Anakin was not the father! Obi-Wan put some horns on his Padawan.

Yoda, of course, lied to keep the council cover up going. And Obi-wan let Vader kill him because he had it coming, and he knew it. The reason Vader's back- 5 seconds after the cutscene of ROTJ, Yoda and Obiwan tell Vader and just laugh. Vader goes off and possesses a new body, or becomes a ghost mentor to a new Force sensitive person.

Alternatively- Luke is now married into a clan of Force sensitive folks, and the 'father' is his father-in-law.

The possibilities are as endless as they are implausible!