Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

All About Pod Racing- Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

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Fans know that one of the most exciting parts of Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace is the pod races and the new generation of Star Wars fanatics in our group wanted to know all about them!  As part of our visit to LucasArts in San Francisco’s Presidio, we were treated to a question and answer session at LucasArts with John Goodson– Digital Artist for Industrial Light and Magic, Skywalker Sound Supervising Editor, Matthew Wood, and LucasArts Lead Producer, Craig Derrick.
From models made by Goodson and his team to the sounds used by Wood for all of the different pods and even the Star Wars Kinect game that Derrick worked on that is due out in April, here’s the inside scoop on all things pod!
Sounds for the Pod Races
Wood said the pod race sequence is one of his favorites as far as achievements.  Where did all those different sounds come from?
Soundboard at Skywalker Sound

“It was just so many different engines and so many different cars, or so many different pods.  We had to record a bunch of engine passbys and gear shifts from all these different vehicles.  So, I got to go on this big recording excursion to record things like that.  I got to record a turbo truck and a cigarette boat and a jet engine and a Ferrari and these crazy custom Porsches at this race track that’s a little north of Skywalker Ranch and just being in the field and recording all those cars was completely exciting.”

Models of the Pods
One of the questions posed to Goodsoon was “Did you have to make all those pod racers in the pod racing team?” Indeed models of the pods were made.  “Big models,” he said.
John Goodson, Little Miss Techie, Anakin and his pod
As a kid, Goodson loved to build models.  He talked about using computer generated digital models rather than physical model building. 

“The only thing I miss is that in the practical world, you could grab parts from a model kit, and you could stick them on and dress up an area really, really quickly.  But, the beauty of the computer is, you can make one of those parts, and you can replicate it as many times as you want.”

Drive Your Own Pod in Kinect Star Wars
Kids got to try out the pod racing during a preview of the Kinect Star Wars 3D game, due out on April 3.  In addition to pod racing, Derrick provided an inside look at the other challenges that will be part of the game, including lots of other flying that will occur around 6 tracks in 6 different locations that blend “locatios from the prequels and the classic trilogy.” 2 tracks are in Tatooine, one includes a giant Sarlacc pit, and another is Cloud City.
Little Miss Techie is all smiles after
pod racing on Kinect Star Wars!

“Cloud City looks like your favorite city getting converted over to a grand prix for the [There] are all these locations that you are familiar from the movies, but now there’s a race track that’s carving through it….There are odd jumps and ton of weird things that you have to do.  If you’re side-by-side, say if Matthew’s next to me, and we’re racing, I can just do that kind of move, and it’ll bump right into him.  If I lift up my arms, again I can jump.  If I duck down, I can go underneath stuff.  If I lift up my arms like this, I get power-ups that go off.Or if something jumps on the engines, I can do this kind of gesture or that, so that it throws a wrench and knocks a Mynock off of an engine or something–.”

For more information regarding Kinect Star Wars, Joystiq has a comprehensive review including lots of images or take a look at this sneak peek from CES 2012.
 


Having grown up with the original Star Wars trilogy, it felt like a dream come true to be invited by Fox to get a behind the scenes look at the creation of Star Wars. The epic saga has captivated millions with exotic worlds, iconic characters and unforgettable action, and I love sharing the joy of Star Wars with our children.
John Goodson, Matthew Wood, and Craig Derrick
with our crew of interrogative reporters
Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace is out in theaters tomorrow- Friday, February 10!  If you’re going just to see the pod racing in 3D you won’t be disappointed!  

Little Miss Techie and I were guests of 20th Century Fox and all opinions are our own and based on our incredible experiences throughout the weekend. Huge thanks to 20th Century Fox for this once in a lifetime opportunity!

 

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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012