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Monday, 3 June 2019

Are the $200 custom lightsabers at Galaxy's Edge worth it?

The custom lightsabers at Savi's Workshop in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge cost a whopping $200. Are they worth the cost? We think so!

iMore
Score
4

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge just opened up at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California at the end of May, and it's definitely a sight to behold if you get a chance to explore the land. It's Disney's most ambitious and immersive themed land yet, and after getting to experience it for myself on opening day, I will say that you'll forget you're in Disneyland while you're visiting Batuu and Black Spire Outpost.

Until June 23, you will need a reservation to access the land, and starting June 24, it will be a free-for-all. The reservation system is smooth and streamlined, but you only get four hours to explore the land. The three most popular things to do are Oga's Cantina (the first place besides Club 33 to serve alcoholic drinks inside Disneyland), Savi's Workshop — Handbuilt Lightsabers, and Droid Depot. The lines for these three, in particular, get long rapidly, and for Oga's Cantina and Savi's Workshop, the line even gets cut off after a certain amount of time because there are only so many spots available.

I managed to barely snag a spot for Savi's Workshop before it got full, so here's how that experience goes. Keep in mind that these lightsabers are ones that you custom make using four different styles, and they're quite hefty since they're made from mostly metal and not plastic (some components are plastic, but higher quality). Each lightsaber costs $199 before tax and about $215 with tax. There are no Annual Passholder discounts, unfortunately, and you must pay for your ticket before they let you in. With that in mind, make sure you're committed before bum-rushing your way to Savi's Workshop!

It's a unique experience if you can find it

Once you enter Galaxy's Edge, it's definitely hard to find stuff because it's a brand new land, and everything isn't exactly marked in English. The only thing that was clearly labeled was Oga's Cantina all the way in the back near the Millennium Falcon, but everything else is a bit harder to decipher until you get closer.

However, Savi's Workshop is a bit hidden on purpose. On the outside, Savi's just looks like a small junk shop with a blue banner (it resembles when Luke Skywalker holds up the lightsaber in the A New Hope poster). There's nothing on the outside that blatantly screams "you build lightsabers here!" But that's the point.

Batuuians around this little shop will merely respond with, "Scrap. We deal in scrap. Perhaps we have the sort of scrap you're looking for," when you ask them where can build a lightsaber. While Batuu and the Black Spire Outpost are under the protection of the First Order, rebel allies and forces are planning their fight back against the Empire. That's why a shop that allows you to build lightsabers, the weapons of the Jedi, must remain hidden and out of sight.

You'll need to pony up the credits to get your scrap

Again, you need to purchase a ticket to gain entry into Savi's Workshop. Once you find the building, you'll need to hurry to get into the line before the Batuuians close it off. When you get to the front of the line, you'll tell the cashier which of the four styles you want. After you paid for the transaction, you'll get a colored card that assigns you to a group, as well as a pin that symbolizes your chosen style.

Here's a description of each available style from their website:

  • Peace and Justice: Utilize salvaged scraps of fallen Jedi temples and crashed starships in Republic-era lightsaber designs that honor the galaxy's former guardians.
  • Power and Control: Originally forged by warriors from the dark side, objects used in this lightsaber style are rumored to be remnants from the Sith homeworld and abandoned temples.
  • Elemental Nature: Craft your lightsaber from special components born from the Force — an energy created by all living things, like Brylark trees, Cartusion whale bones, and even Rancor teeth.
  • Protection and Defense: Incorporate hilt materials bearing mysterious motifs and inscriptions that reconnect users with the ancient wellspring of the Force.

The Batuuians will give you an approximation of when to come back with your card so that your group can go inside the workshop. This system is actually pretty nice, as you can go off and explore the rest of Batuu while waiting for your return time. When you return, there will be a grace period to allow everyone to come back on time. You'll end up waiting with your other fellow Builders, and the Batuuians that work at Savi's Workshop (Gatherers) will end up striking up conversations with you.

Since Batuuians are completely in character to make the experience as immersive as possible, this is a good chance to chat them up. They'll tell you when they've noticed that you're always on your "datapads" (cell phones), and it's even fun to come up with your own character backstory because all of the Batuuians have their own, which is fun to listen to.

Enter and forge your own legend

Once Savi allows you inside, you'll enter an intimate space that features a U-shaped table in the center of the room. There are 14 spaces total, which means 14 workstations for Builders. If you are in a group, but the others aren't purchasing a lightsaber, they can still come inside with you to watch you build and create your own legend in the making.

Savi and her crew of Gatherers do an excellent job of immersing you into the Star Wars universe here. She tells you of the legends of Obi Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and even Rey. However, she ends up telling you that these legends are from the past, and you are the future. The future of the galaxy rests on your shoulders!

As Savi goes on to explain the kyber crystals, which power and determine the color of your blade, the room goes dark, and the ceiling lights up with the four colors (Blue, Green, Violet, and Red) as she explains the legends who wielded them before you.

Then close your eyes, and picture the kyber crystal in front of you. Once you're asked to open your eyes again, the Gatherers request that you choose the crystal that you envisioned. As they say, you don't choose the crystal, it chooses you.

As you pick out your kyber crystal, you'll insert it into the core of your hilt. You then choose two sleeves (one on the bottom and one on the top), one emitter, one pommel cap, and one set of activation plates and switches. All of the parts are neatly arranged in a tray, and every step is labeled, so you just follow along and do as the Gatherers tell you. These aren't plastic toys either—they're made of premium metal and have a nice weight and solid feeling to them.

The Force was not at peak levels with me at the time, so I fumbled a bit when trying to insert my kyber crystal into the core of the hilt. Luckily, the Gatherers don't hesitate to help you out if they see you're having any sort of trouble with constructing your blade.

Watch it all come together

After you have constructed the hilt, the Gatherers ask that you place your hilt on the holder in front of you and step back. The Gatherers will then masterfully place your hilt into the crafting table by screwing it in. After Savi gives a short speech, you'll hear the voice of Yoda himself, and then your completed lightsaber is revealed. Savi instructs everyone to activate them and watch as every Builder gleefully waves their saber around.

Savi once again tells you that you are the future and that it's up to you to forge your own path, your own legend, for future generations to hear.

Before you leave, a Gatherer awaits at the door to give you a padded carrying case that you can sling over your shoulder. Considering what you just paid for the experience and lightsaber, it's only expected, though honestly, the carrying case isn't too much in terms of quality.

Now, watch all of the future Jedis begin swinging their lightsabers in awe right outside of the workshop. Because let's make it obvious to the First Order that we're building lightsabers here, not just buying junk scrap metal.

Is Savi's Workshop worth it?

4 out of 5

It's hard for me to say that this is an absolute must-do while you're in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge solely due to the price. It's one of the more expensive things to do while visiting but if you have the money to spare, then yes, it's worth it.

The experience itself is quite theatrical, immersive, and truly engaging. You feel like you're part of Star Wars universe, as you set out to forge your story with your newly built lightsaber that is unique to you. Plus, the quality of the lightsabers themselves is amazing. These aren't the same quality as the ones you build at Star Traders in Tomorrowland, and these aren't toys that you buy from Amazon or toy stores. They're metal, feel heavy and quite hefty, and the blade is a durable plastic. The blade flashes color if it's hit with enough impact, such as in a duel with another saber.

Plus, while the initial building experience gives you four color options of kyber crystals, you can actually purchase more from Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities, which is right next door to Savi's. At Dok Ondar's, you can even find white and yellow kyber crystals.

If you are a die-hard Star Wars fan and have been yearning for a lightsaber to call your own, then I recommend checking out Savi's Workshop — Handbuilt Lightsabers. The quality is not a cheap toy, and the theatrical experience is definitely something to behold.

The line for it caps out quickly, so make sure to get to it as soon as you can upon entering for your chance.

Check out the gallery below for more photos!



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Newly discovered “rogue hybrid” immune cell the potential trigger for type 1 diabetes

Colorized scanning electron micrographs of a B and T immune cells shown with a fluorescent microscopy ...

A new study, led by researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has described the discovery of a new kind of immune cell that is hypothesized to play a fundamental role in the development of type 1 diabetes, and could be involved with other autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.

.. Continue Reading Newly discovered “rogue hybrid” immune cell the potential trigger for type 1 diabetes

Category: Biology

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Blizzard esports teams for Call of Duty, Overwatch reportedly low on morale

The esports teams of Blizzard, particularly those working on Call of Duty and Overwatch, are reportedly low on morale. Staff are said to be "miserable" due to management's vision for the company's esports initiatives.

The post Blizzard esports teams for Call of Duty, Overwatch reportedly low on morale appeared first on Digital Trends.



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The North Face gamed Wikipedia to boost Google searches


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Trash can redux: Reexamining the legacy of the 2013 Apple Mac Pro - CNET

It was the revolutionary desktop that turned heads but failed to win hearts and minds, leaving its successor a steep task.

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Huawei strips back production of phones amid US crackdown, report says - CNET

Foxconn has received fewer orders for Huawei phones, the South China Morning Post reports.

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Get $70 Off This Purifying Portable Air Conditioner


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Dell Australia's full-year profit drops to AU$34m

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Your Local Baskin Robbins Is Getting a Stranger Things Makeover

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Google Cloud outage hits YouTube, G Suite, Nest, and more

A Google Cloud outage on Sunday hit millions of users around the world, impacting online services such as YouTube, Gmail, and Snapchat. Users on the East Coast and in California appear to be the most affected.

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Samsung’s updated Notebook 7 is ready for gaming with discrete GPU support

Samsung gave its Notebook 7 a design makeover, complete with an updated metal-clad design and Intel 8th-Generation processors inside. Gamers and creatives can also choose an upgraded configuration with discrete graphics.

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The best movies on Amazon Prime Video right now (May 2019)

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Geting a login fail error on Snapchat? Here's the fix!

Getting that pesky 'Could Not Connect' message on your Snap? There are a couple of things you can do to try and fix it!

Oh, Snapchat, you fickle mistress: "Why in the hell won't you let me log in?" You swear under your breath as you tap your password in correctly for the billionth time, only to get an error or a 'Please check your connection and try again' pop-up.

There could be a number of reasons your Snapchat is being a jerk and not giving you access to dog filters and flower crowns galore, but there might be a couple of solutions to let you get back to the wonderful world of Snap.

Update your Snapchat

One of the easiest, most straightforward things to do if you're having a login issue on Snapchat is checking to see if the app needs any updating.

iOS 11 has made it so the login error is more and more prevalent on Snapchat, but checking for updates and getting the app up to date might get rid of the error all together.

  1. Launch the App Store from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Updates in the bottom row.

If there's an updating for Snapchat waiting, it'll show up here. Tap Update to force it.

Another thing you might consider doing is actually downgrading your iPhone altogether to iOS 10 if you're really having a tough time logging into Snap, but keep in mind that your iPhone will no longer be up-to-date.

Reset your Network Settings

Another super simple fix for you to do is go on into your network settings and reset them so everything is running smoothly.

  1. Launch your Settings from your homescreen.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Reset. It's at the bottom of your screen.
  4. Tap Reset Network Settings.

After you restart your iPhone, try logging into Snapchat again.

Uninstall + Reinstall

Sometimes you need to start from the beginning (a very good place to start!) and uninstall Snapchat.

Once you've deleted Snapchat off of your iPhone, restart your iPhone. Then reinstall Snapchat the way you normally would through the App Store and try logging in again.

Believe it or not, this technique has worked for me the best out of all three listed here today.

How have you debugged your Snap?

Is there a particular tactic or technique that you've used to get your Snapchat working in tip-top order?

Let us know what you've done to fix your Snap in the comments below!



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