2010 MOUSEDROID SPONSOR ANNOUNCEMENT As you may all know we put out an open call for 2010 Mousedroid Site Sponsors. Numerous emails were sent out by not only Mousedroid.com, but our fans and readers, to the major independent toy, comic and collectible retailers across Australia. Sadly, we did not receive as positive a response as expected and were close to making a hard decision, when Case Fresh contacted us to assist. Rather than see the site dwindle under a lack of local support, the owners of Case Fresh have help us to continue the site, covering our running costs for another year.

Where no other retailer would assist in the current climate, it was good to see CASE FRESH supporting the local collecting community. Case Fresh bring the strongest partnership with the world’s best collectible licensed products in the Australian market and are highly recommended as a one-stop shop in 2010 for all your collectible needs. Similar to our support for Hasbro AU product with our Department Store Reports Forum areas, so too have we created a Sponsor area for news, pre-order and in stock product updates.

Hasbro USA Toy Fair Roundup Head over the Official Star Wars website for the complete product image roundup of the key items for release in the 2010 Star Wars line. Figures, vehicles, roleplay, battlepacks and even more to and to your collection. Then, next month Mousedroid.com will get the 411 on the 'State of Play' for arrivals downunder.

HASBRO HAS-GONE!?!? We have reports from our forum members have received the below email from Case Fresh. Read on and then join in the discussion in the members only forum area, HERE, and stay tuned as we try to uncover more information on the state of Star Wars in Australia.

It is with great disappointment that we must announce the cancellation of all remaining outstanding Hasbro 2009 pre-orders.

All customers that have pre-ordered any 2009 items with Case Fresh have now had their pre-orders cancelled as we will regrettably be unable to fill your order.

Throughout 2009 Case Fresh experienced ongoing difficulties in securing Hasbro collector licensed products such as action figures, vehicles and multi-packs. Items that we had ordered were never supplied. Cases of figures that were supplied differed from what we had ordered and were either missing some figures or contained extra figures from previous waves that we were not expecting. Simple requests for retail lists so that we could place orders for items were never answered. These problems continue to persist in the Australian marketplace into 2010.

Due to an apparent disregard by Hasbro for Australian collectors we were required on many occasions to seek items from overseas, often at short notice once we were finally informed that the products we ordered would not be supplied locally. While we have done our best under the circumstances there were still a few items that we have been unable to supply to collectors.

It is very unsatisfactory for us to disappoint our customers, and is also frustrating for the staff at Case Fresh when we do all in our power to supply the items you want only to be left to shoulder the blame when others let us down.

Unfortunately it appears that 2010 will be at least as challenging for local collectors with possibly even less support locally for the Star Wars line. Of the little information we’ve been able to obtain it would seem that future case assortments are going to be even worse for collectors, with product still to be ordered ad hock as demand dictates rather than bringing in the full line. Coupled with these persistent problems with Hasbro’s brands we have made the difficult decision to drop all support for their products from Case Fresh.

We understand this will be very disappointing for our customers and regret that we will no longer be able to assist you with your Hasbro collections. We would however like to confirm for you that we have excellent working relationships with all our other suppliers such as Gentle Giant Ltd, Sideshow Collectibles and Hot Toys to name but a few. These relationships continue to strengthen and expand as is reflected in today’s website overhaul. These companies are very focussed on collectors which is clear by their level of professionalism and the quality products they create.

We look forward to continuing to supply your collecting needs with new and exciting products from our retail partners throughout 2010 and well into the future.

Regards,
CASE FRESH

MOUSEDROID 'ASK HASBRO' KICK OFF A quick reminder, with New York Toy Fair 2010 now over, you have only a few days to submit your questions for the first Mousedroid submission to Hasbro Star Wars Q&A 2010. Simply follow the guidelines and post your question in our Dedicated Forum Thread.
Note: This year, only 2 questions are allowed to be submitted from Star Wars Fan sites for each round.

NEW YORK TOY FAIR 2010 COVERAGE
The New York International Toy Fair 2010 starts this weekend. Visit one of the USA Mousedroid Affiliates for full coverage of the entire Star Wars product line from all licence holders as well as many other toy and product information across other brands.

GENTLE GIANT PREMIER GUILD SELECTIONS If you are an Australian member of the Gentle Giant Permier Guild, the you would have received notification that pre-orders for your 2010 FREE Mini Bust are now available. You can chose from one of the following (all shipping in September).

What??? You are not a member...then JOIN TODAY

FIRING ALL CANONS !!! <<<INCOMING_TRANSMISSION>>> Imperialshipyards.net are spear heading a petition to see the fans can get George Lucas to change his mind about new canon changes, plus to see if we can get back Karen Traviss to finish off her story arc in the Republic Commando Series. (Read Karen's explaination HERE)

Visit Imperialshipyards and help boost the petition. The aim is to get 10,000 to sign it so that we may be able to make our voice heard loud enough that we get corrective action. Spread the word via YouTube to all your Facebook friends!!!

MOUSEDROID SUPPORTING STORIES What a great way to get back into the school year (or any other excuse you can think of) than to open a Star Wars book. Below are selected links to pre-order and release titles on both Amazon (USA) and Fishpond (Australia) stores.

Star Wars: Inside the Death Star (Hardcover)
Star Wars: Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia (Hardcover)
Star Wars: A Scanimation Book (Hardcover)
George Lucas's Blockbusting (Paperback)
Star Wars: Crosscurrent (Paperback)
Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Backlash (Hardcover)

Great discounts are available on both sites, but which ever you use a percentage of sales goes towards the running costs of Mousedroid. If you wish, visit our full Star War Literature listing for the next 6 months in the SHOP HERE page of Mousedroid.

SKYFORCE MELBOURNE 2010 Get ready for another year of Sci-Fi fan action with the first meeting of Melbourne Skyforce group this Saturday 13 February. Make an afternoon of it with the whole family, or pre-Valentines day outing with the better half, either way there is fun to be had for fans of all ages.

Venue: Whitley College, 50 The Avenue, Parkville
Time: 1pm to 5pm
Cost: $5.00 Members, $8.00 Non-Members
Free for children under 12.
Note: There is wheelchair and pram access.

MOUSEDROID's NEW MODERATOR We would like to open the year with the introduction of a new moderator to our All Australian Star Wars Forums. Congrats to Commander Collars who takes up the Forum Leader rank today. With a wealth of info and his active balance participation, this is a great boost to the local community.

Stay tuned as we will announce our 2010 Sponsor very soon....plus the new look Store Report Forums (Members Only) are now open for business. You can now see when and where new Star Wars stock hits the shelves at all major department stores.

SPONSORSHIP SECOND AND FINAL CALL !!!
Are you an Australian Star Wars Retailer looking to market to the local fan based? Do you know a store that would like to advertise their Star Wars products here on Mousedroid.com? Simply send an email to Mick (webmaster@mousedroid.com) expressing your interest and we will reply with package information.

Expressions of interest in Mousedroid.com sponsorship close 31 January 2010, so if you are a retailer contact us ASAP for more information. If you are an avid reader, contact your favourite local collector and/or comic store and tell them about this opportunity. This is your chance to influence to direction of Mousedroid in 2010 and beyond!!!

Six Characters in Search of The Emperor Mousedroid reader Slave_Girl_Leia reports: "This doesn't really seem to have made much news, but I thought it might be worth mentioning that The Emperor himself (aka Ian McDiarmid) is currently appearing on stage in Sydney in the play "Six Characters in Search of An Author" at the Seymour Centre as part of the Sydney Festival. It is currently running until January 31. The Sydney Morning Herald gave his performance a rather glowing review."

Do you have some Aussie Star Wars News to share with our readers? Send your report to News@Mousedroid.com.

STAR WARS INSIDER #115 The latest issue of Star Wars Insider #115 is now in your local comic store and is packed full of the latest in Star Wars news, including a special focus on Mandalorians and their introduction into The Clone Wars! Articles include;

• Dave Filoni: The Clone Wars supervising director discusses why the time is right for the Mandos to strike!
• Mandalorians: Explore key moments in the history of this mysterious warrior race!
• Retro Fett Collectibles: Gus Lopez shares some of the coolest Fett collectibles ever!
• Jedi Archive: Rare images of Boba Fett
• Books: An exclusive excerpt from Crosscurrent...and more.

GET YOUR (Star Wars) RUNNING SHOES ON Forum member JediDownUnder reports; "The 501st Australian Garrison will be helping launch the new range of Adidas Originals Star Wars line of apparel. Check out the Adidas Star Wars range (and the excellent webtrailer...watch out as the Death Star targets your suburb), then organise some friends to attend the following events this Saturday from 12-4pm in a captial city near you.

Adelaide: Adidas Rundle Mall
Regent Arcade, Shop 24, 101-109 Rundle Mall,
Brisbane Foot Locker ,Queen St Mall
Shop 155 Upper Level Mathers Centre,
Melbourne: Chadstone Shopping Centre
Adidas Store - Lower Level near food court.
Surfers Paradise: Adidas Originals
3170 Surfers Paradise Blvd (Cnr Cavill Ave)
Sydney: Foot Locker City Store
542 George St, Sydney
Perth: Foot Locker
197 Murray Street

LUCAS ON THE DAILY SHOW