Meet me in Washington Square... and bring the Lightsabers.
August 28, 2006 6:08 PM Subscribe
Young Folks in the city playing kids' games with expensive toys.
Or you can get budget version, for those who just prefer to whack each other.
Who exactly does this sort of thing? It's getting more popular.
"uh.. yeah, i'll have the seared yoda with the blackcurrant reduction, and do you guys have pellegrino?"
posted by sergeant sandwich at 7:31 PM on August 28, 2006
posted by sergeant sandwich at 7:31 PM on August 28, 2006
My 4 year old and I play that game all the time. Who knew we were so cutting edge?
posted by fungible at 8:06 PM on August 28, 2006
posted by fungible at 8:06 PM on August 28, 2006
We sell the expensive light sabers where I work, and I get the impression that most people are buying them as collectibles. They're about $100 each on sale. On the other hand, they make a cool "shooom" noise when you turn them on or off, and a crash noise when you hit something with them. I've noticed an interesting phenomenon with them, though. Not surprisingly, the batteries die eventually, since we have them on display and people play with them. When an adult picks one up, tries to turn it on, and nothing happens, they look disappointed and put it down. When a kid picks it up, they don't generally even look for an on/off switch, they just play with it.
posted by booksherpa at 8:15 PM on August 28, 2006
posted by booksherpa at 8:15 PM on August 28, 2006
booksherpa: I've never been a very big Star Wars fan, but when we got the very first batch of light sabers in (I think they were Mace Windus) I carried the display one with me around the store all weekend. it was a blast--and maybe a bit therapeutic--whacking everything and going "shoooom!"
also, so many guys come up all smiles and ask to play with it, turn it on and swing it around, then get this guilty look about them and hand it back. "my wife* would so kill me if I dropped a bill on this."
* girlfriend/boyfriend/etc.
posted by carsonb at 9:53 PM on August 28, 2006
also, so many guys come up all smiles and ask to play with it, turn it on and swing it around, then get this guilty look about them and hand it back. "my wife* would so kill me if I dropped a bill on this."
* girlfriend/boyfriend/etc.
posted by carsonb at 9:53 PM on August 28, 2006
Toy lightsabers can be a valuable safety tool. Years ago when I worked at the airport in Seattle, we found that the small flashlight attachments we used to guide aircraft around were difficult to see during bad weather, especially snow.
One quick trip to Toys R Us and we had a solution - lightsabers!
The flight crews found it amusing when my roommate at the time stood out in front of the aircraft and whipped out 2 lightsaber toys. They were about 3' long and glowing green. I had a pilot say "Dude, those things are great. We can see them so much better!"
Alas, our fun came to an end when some yut in the control tower saw us on the taxiway and expressed displeasure. I guess the FAA requires the marshalling wands to be some other color than green. I guess we could have bought some of these but the Star Wars toys were a lot cheaper and a lot more fun.
This was pre 9/11, of course. When it snowed, we actually worked out on the ramp with ski masks on and made jokes like "It's ok to run over that terrorist looking guy with the 757, guys!" and it was OK. :|
posted by drstein at 10:08 PM on August 28, 2006
One quick trip to Toys R Us and we had a solution - lightsabers!
The flight crews found it amusing when my roommate at the time stood out in front of the aircraft and whipped out 2 lightsaber toys. They were about 3' long and glowing green. I had a pilot say "Dude, those things are great. We can see them so much better!"
Alas, our fun came to an end when some yut in the control tower saw us on the taxiway and expressed displeasure. I guess the FAA requires the marshalling wands to be some other color than green. I guess we could have bought some of these but the Star Wars toys were a lot cheaper and a lot more fun.
This was pre 9/11, of course. When it snowed, we actually worked out on the ramp with ski masks on and made jokes like "It's ok to run over that terrorist looking guy with the 757, guys!" and it was OK. :|
posted by drstein at 10:08 PM on August 28, 2006
My kids love to battle each other with light sabers in the back yard after dark. It makes for quite the show.
posted by caddis at 12:39 AM on August 29, 2006
posted by caddis at 12:39 AM on August 29, 2006
Man, I so wish I... didn't like money more than lightsabers.
posted by Citizen Premier at 1:26 AM on August 29, 2006
posted by Citizen Premier at 1:26 AM on August 29, 2006
FYI, last link goes to TONY's main page, not to the cover feature on geeks, which will eventually not appear on the main page. IYKWIM AITYD.
(taking my pants off)
posted by allkindsoftime at 8:27 AM on August 29, 2006
(taking my pants off)
posted by allkindsoftime at 8:27 AM on August 29, 2006
We do a bit of this kind of public play thing here, and when I forwarded the links to my colleagues as an idea, my girlfriend just replied,
"Lightingbolt! Lightningbolt!"
...pretty much killed the idea right there.
posted by Extopalopaketle at 3:19 PM on August 29, 2006
"Lightingbolt! Lightningbolt!"
...pretty much killed the idea right there.
posted by Extopalopaketle at 3:19 PM on August 29, 2006
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posted by ND¢ at 6:35 PM on August 28, 2006