Museum of Science & Industry,
Chicago, IL
March 4, 2006
Story by Chris Spice (Darth Spice)
Photos by Jason D. Meyers, Ret. (Dead Hero)
FULL CIRCLE It
has been what seems like so little, but when you reflect back you
realize how time truly flies when you are having fun. It was back in
2004 when dustrho and I were on a mission to the Museum of Science
and Industry for
Action: An
Adventure in Movie Making with the
Midwest Garrison. It
was at that moment we realized while we had quite a lot of cool
stuff in our Star Wars collections, the costumes we had just taken a
ton of pictures of was certainly something we were lacking, if there
could be anything. Although it did take quite a bit of time for the
both of us to get our gear and appropriately transform it from Storm
to Sandtrooper, needless to say it was one that would change the
hobby for us forever. As I packed up my gear last night and prepared
for not just to go down and get a good story for Sandtroopers.com, I
was ready for a mission that was two years in the making in the
return to MSI.
After
making a fashionably late appearance, I quickly got ready and
located the rest of the team. At the start we would be used to lure
the long line of Museum-goers into the exhibit Game On that we were
there to promote. For such a busy place, the people were very calm
and quite surprised to see such an entertainment while merely
waiting in line. It was clear by how many times people were asking
what were there for that they were surly interested in the gaming
exhibit, I mean honestly if you were born anytime after 1970, who
doesn’t like video games?
As
we are only scheduled there for a short period of time, the great
people at the Museum like to move us around from place to place. We
all got behind Lord Vader and were guided to an escalator that
brought us up into the great hall that was just adjacent to the
exhibit. Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker, a few Storm and Scout
Troopers, both factions of the Force were also well represented by a
pair of Jedi. With a TIE Pilot and Princess Leia rounding out the
group, you could say there was no shortage of Star Wars. The heavy
artillery was well represented with dustrho and myself filling the
role of Sandtroopers. It was truly something that felt like an
achievement after two plus years. To go from being a spectator to a
participant is truly one of the greatest things you could possibly
experience. If you were getting tired of the same old plastic
figures, I’d look up your local branch and see about enlisting
today!
After
our time concluded, we were able to go inside the exhibit and snap a
few pictures of what is more than certainly a huge part of any
Troopers history. From the original Pong, Space Invaders, Galaxian,
Pac-Man, and on and on we had a pretty good time going down memory
lane. What could have been the most amazing thing is while you might
not have been as good as you were at Pitfall as you once were, you
still remembered all the strategies you needed to get Harry through
the jungle! I think after not playing for over twenty-five years I
did quite all right!
There
was quite a few Star Wars games with the first sit-down version that
was released in 1983 that we just couldn’t’ get enough of. That must
have been a great year for games as we were able to see concept art
from Dragons Lair, the game that justified putting fifty cents into
a game, when all the rest were a quarter. There was just so much to
look at. The Nintendo Power Glove, all the tabletop and hand held
games, and to see it all in one place. The memories just keep
crashing into your mind like a day at the ocean. It takes you back
to a time when all the worries you have right now were that of your
parents and the only things that mattered to you were Star Wars and
video games. For me, two the greatest escapes I ever had while
growing up. It was an honor and a privilege to serve and bring a
smile to the faces of the next generation, and while the journey
came full circle today I can only look forward to the continued
journey for the years to come. United We Find Troopers!
PHOTO GALLERIES To see the two photo galleries
below just click on the corresponding links.
It
has been what seems like so little, but when you reflect back you
realize how time truly flies when you are having fun. It was back in
2004 when dustrho and I were on a mission to the Museum of Science
and Industry for
After
making a fashionably late appearance, I quickly got ready and
located the rest of the team. At the start we would be used to lure
the long line of Museum-goers into the exhibit Game On that we were
there to promote. For such a busy place, the people were very calm
and quite surprised to see such an entertainment while merely
waiting in line. It was clear by how many times people were asking
what were there for that they were surly interested in the gaming
exhibit, I mean honestly if you were born anytime after 1970, who
doesn’t like video games?
As
we are only scheduled there for a short period of time, the great
people at the Museum like to move us around from place to place. We
all got behind Lord Vader and were guided to an escalator that
brought us up into the great hall that was just adjacent to the
exhibit. Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker, a few Storm and Scout
Troopers, both factions of the Force were also well represented by a
pair of Jedi. With a TIE Pilot and Princess Leia rounding out the
group, you could say there was no shortage of Star Wars. The heavy
artillery was well represented with dustrho and myself filling the
role of Sandtroopers. It was truly something that felt like an
achievement after two plus years. To go from being a spectator to a
participant is truly one of the greatest things you could possibly
experience. If you were getting tired of the same old plastic
figures, I’d look up your local branch and see about enlisting
today!
After
our time concluded, we were able to go inside the exhibit and snap a
few pictures of what is more than certainly a huge part of any
Troopers history. From the original Pong, Space Invaders, Galaxian,
Pac-Man, and on and on we had a pretty good time going down memory
lane. What could have been the most amazing thing is while you might
not have been as good as you were at Pitfall as you once were, you
still remembered all the strategies you needed to get Harry through
the jungle! I think after not playing for over twenty-five years I
did quite all right!
There
was quite a few Star Wars games with the first sit-down version that
was released in 1983 that we just couldn’t’ get enough of. That must
have been a great year for games as we were able to see concept art
from Dragons Lair, the game that justified putting fifty cents into
a game, when all the rest were a quarter. There was just so much to
look at. The Nintendo Power Glove, all the tabletop and hand held
games, and to see it all in one place. The memories just keep
crashing into your mind like a day at the ocean. It takes you back
to a time when all the worries you have right now were that of your
parents and the only things that mattered to you were Star Wars and
video games. For me, two the greatest escapes I ever had while
growing up. It was an honor and a privilege to serve and bring a
smile to the faces of the next generation, and while the journey
came full circle today I can only look forward to the continued
journey for the years to come. United We Find Troopers!