PhoneSaber’s Future
Good news and bad news, PhoneSaber fans.
As of now, PhoneSaber will no longer be available, I’ve had a chat with a guy from THQ Wireless (who own the rights for Star Wars apps on mobiles) and as we were always expecting, PhoneSaber is not allowed to be on there. It was a very friendly chat, and the future of PhoneSaber was discussed.
They want to do some sort of official, Star Wars branded version of PhoneSaber, and will be working with us on that one. We’re really excited about this – it means that PhoneSaber has the potential to be even better than it originally was! I don’t know any information beyond that, whether they plan to charge for it, advertise with it or what, but we’ll keep you updated on as much as we’re allowed to tell you.
Apologies to everyone who loved PhoneSaber, we didn’t really have much choice in the matter, but we’re certain that the new, official, PhoneSaber will be even more great than the original was!
TheMacBox will be continuing to make awesome stuff, including some great pay-for games, and some more awesome free apps.
Update: Since this post has now hit the internet, just want to clarify a few things:
- Since it was us that removed the app, it is unlikely that Apple will pull the kill switch we’ve heard so much about recently. And I’m pretty sure that’ll just be for actual malicious apps (NetShare, Box Office etc. have not been added to that list)
- We’ll be talking to someone from THQ very soon, and will push for this to be a free app, maybe it could be used as a marketing tool for The Force Unleashed?
- THQ plan to let us have access to all the library of Star Wars sounds, etc, that we could never have used before, and we’d like to make PhoneSaber the best it can be for an official app… so if you have any requests, e-mail us now.
- We personally don’t recommend you get iSaber instead because, well… it’s just not as good really, is it? And it’s likely to go the way of PhoneSaber soon.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
[...] I literally just read this on TheMacBox blog, the makers of the iPhone application. It is my favourite app and it looks as though Lucas doesnt [...]
August 7th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
[...] Star Wars branded version of PhoneSaber, and will be working with us on that one,” reads a post on MacBox’s blog. “I don’t know any information beyond that, whether they plan to charge for it, advertise [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 12:32 am
[...] from the App Store. Alex and Duncan, the developers of the popular and zany little app over at TheMacBox, graciously complied, noting: “They didn’t want to go down the attacking cease and desist [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 1:06 am
[...] simply be a very similar app that includes the Star Wars official branding to promote the films, according to a post on TheMacBox blog. The team notes that it doesn’t yet know if THQ will want the new app to free or not [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 1:08 am
[...] PhoneSaber has been pulled from the App Store. It’s sort of a bad news/good news situation, as described by the folks at TheMacBox.co.uk. [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 2:00 am
[...] A quick look at the publisher’s page confirms this and it looks like THQ Wireless has asked MacBox to take down the app on behalf of Lucas Arts. Good news and bad news, PhoneSaber [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 2:06 am
[...] One of the more useless but fun apps on the iTunes app store was Phonesaber, and we say “was” because it’s been pulled. This time, though, it wasn’t Apple but the makers of the app, The Mac Box, themselves. They were contacted by THQ Wireless, a company with the license to make all things Star Wars for mobile phones. Thankfully it sounds like THQ and Lucasfilm are being nice about it and it sounds like we can expect a real Star Wars branded version in the near future. We like it when people play nice like this. [The Mac Box blog] [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 2:28 am
[...] For more info about what happened check out the developers post here. [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 2:41 am
[...] One of the more useless but fun apps on the iTunes app store was Phonesaber, and we say “was” because it’s been pulled. This time, though, it wasn’t Apple but the makers of the app, The Mac Box, themselves. They were contacted by THQ Wireless, a company with the license to make all things Star Wars for mobile phones. Thankfully it sounds like THQ and Lucasfilm are being nice about it and it sounds like we can expect a real Star Wars branded version in the near future. We like it when people play nice like this. [The Mac Box blog] [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 3:28 am
[...] A quick look at the publisher’s page confirms this and it looks like THQ Wireless has asked MacBox to take down the app on behalf of Lucas Arts. Good news and bad news, PhoneSaber [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 6:36 am
[...] Via: The Mac Box blog [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I think the application is perfect! And I hope you and THQ Wireless can work it out and bring a new version in the AppStore. I’ll sure be one of the downloaders!
August 8th, 2008 at 8:07 am
[...] One of the more useless but fun apps on the iTunes app store was Phonesaber, and we say “was” because it’s been pulled. This time, though, it wasn’t Apple but the makers of the app, The Mac Box, themselves. They were contacted by THQ Wireless, a company with the license to make all things Star Wars for mobile phones. Thankfully it sounds like THQ and Lucasfilm are being nice about it and it sounds like we can expect a real Star Wars branded version in the near future. We like it when people play nice like this. [The Mac Box blog] [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 8:10 am
My wife got her iPhone 3G last night and was exploring the App Store. I had already downloaded the PhoneSaber app and told her to look it up. Well, once again every time I try to show my wife something on the computer it disappears and the app wasn’t there. Their is another one their called, iSaber but it’s a lot more chessy. She downloaded that one and we compared.
One cool thing about PhoneSaber is when you touch it in full screen mode it shrinks up like the “real” thing. If you have to take PhoneSaber off then iSaber definitely needs to go. It stinks compared to PhoneSaber.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:42 am
[...] MacBox via Gizmodo [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 9:20 am
[...] A quick look at the publisher’s page confirms this and it looks like THQ Wireless has asked MacBox to take down the app on behalf of Lucas Arts. Good news and bad news, PhoneSaber [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 10:36 am
[...] The MacBox | Merci Sambenny [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 11:11 am
[...] PhoneSaber iPhone application has been pulled from the App Store at the request of Lucasfilm. The developers note: [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 11:44 am
[...] Software wurde nun auf Betreiben des Herstellers aus dem App Store entfernt, erklärten die Macher von PhoneSaber. LucasArts als Rechteinhaber von Star Wars hatte den Softwareanbieter darum [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
[...] One of the more useless but fun apps on the iTunes app store was Phonesaber, and we say “was” because it’s been pulled. This time, though, it wasn’t Apple but the makers of the app, The Mac Box, themselves. They were contacted by THQ Wireless, a company with the license to make all things Star Wars for mobile phones. Thankfully it sounds like THQ and Lucasfilm are being nice about it and it sounds like we can expect a real Star Wars branded version in the near future. We like it when people play nice like this. [The Mac Box blog] [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
[...] the developer of PhoneSaber, has given word that they’ve had to pull the app from iTunes after a request from THQ wireless. The chat: [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
[...] Star Wars branded version of PhoneSaber, and will be working with us on that one,” reads a post on TheMacBox’s blog. “I don’t know any information beyond that, whether they plan to charge for it [we’re betting [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
[...] Apple removed Slasher from the App Store, citing “objectionable content.” Apple also removed the popular PhoneSaber since THQ Wireless owns “the rights for Star Wars apps on [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
[...] TheMacBox) Related Stories:There are no related stories for this entry. Subscribe to The RSS Feed or [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
[...] Phonesaber has been pulled from the App store. The developer that created Phonesaber has this posted on their website: [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Say it aint so! I love phonesabre, it might not really do anything but when you fire it up everyone in the room gets a good laugh. Dueling with other iPhone users is so hilarious I could do it all day long. I hope THQ lives up to what they are telling you guys and delivers something with even better features and enhancements. LONG LIVE PHONE SABRE I will never delete this app, I just saved a copy to another folder to ensure it lives on forever.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I think your comments about iSaber are out of line. Both applications are free and have their own twists and fun to them. You bashing iSaber, just makes you look like you don’t like competition. I would hope that THQ doesn’t even pick you for development, since you are obviously a JERK!!
August 9th, 2008 at 2:10 am
[...] like PhoneSaber, the “swing your iPhone around and make lightsaber sounds” app, is gone too, but in the case of PhoneSaber, it was the developers’ decision to pull it, due to licensing [...]
August 9th, 2008 at 3:52 am
[...] the developer of PhoneSaber, has given word that they’ve had to pull the app from iTunes after a request from THQ wireless. The chat: [...]
August 9th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
[...] Via [...]
August 10th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
[...] bit of software, the latest app to be removed from the store was actually kind of fun: it’s PhoneSaber, a lightsaber simulator for your iPhone. It uses the accelerometer in your device to respond as you [...]
August 10th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
[...] bit of software, the latest app to be removed from the store was actually kind of fun: it’s PhoneSaber, a lightsaber simulator for your iPhone. It uses the accelerometer in your device to respond as you [...]
August 10th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
[...] bit of software, the latest app to be removed from the store was actually kind of fun: it’s PhoneSaber, a lightsaber simulator for your iPhone. It uses the accelerometer in your device to respond as you [...]
August 10th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
This was the best ‘killer’ App out there. For the simple reason it made people smile. Watching the iphone sceptics smile when they heard the saber noise. Also it kept my kids off my back for 5 mins a day (we don’t have two iphones – or I’m sure it would have been longer).
Cheers guys, love it.
August 10th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
[...] PhoneSaber. I wondered how long this would be around for, and it seems the people connected with Star Wars [...]
August 11th, 2008 at 5:37 am
[...] the developer of PhoneSaber, has given word that they’ve had to pull the app from iTunes after a request from THQ wireless. The chat: [...]
August 11th, 2008 at 9:21 am
[...] Software wurde nun auf Betreiben des Herstellers aus dem App Store entfernt, erklärten die Macher von PhoneSaber. LucasArts als Rechteinhaber von Star Wars hatte den Softwareanbieter darum [...]
August 11th, 2008 at 10:22 am
[...] market for a useless app, we’d suggest plumping for something similar to the recently-pulled Phonesaber instead: it’s somewhat cheaper and infinitely more [...]
August 11th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
[...] to TheMacBox, the makers of some iPhone apps, the PhoneSaber has been voluntarily pulled from iTunes. Many of [...]
August 12th, 2008 at 10:08 am
[...] One of the more useless but fun apps on the iTunes app store was Phonesaber, and we say “was” because it’s been pulled. This time, though, it wasn’t Apple but the makers of the app, The Mac Box, themselves. They were contacted by THQ Wireless, a company with the license to make all things Star Wars for mobile phones. Thankfully it sounds like THQ and Lucasfilm are being nice about it and it sounds like we can expect a real Star Wars branded version in the near future. We like it when people play nice like this. [The Mac Box blog] [...]
August 12th, 2008 at 11:29 am
[...] Star Wars branded version of PhoneSaber, and will be working with us on that one,” reads a post on TheMacBox’s blog. “I don’t know any information beyond that, whether they plan to charge for it [we’re betting [...]
August 15th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
[...] One of the more useless but fun apps on the iTunes app store was Phonesaber, and we say “was” because it’s been pulled. This time, though, it wasn’t Apple but the makers of the app, The Mac Box, themselves. They were contacted by THQ Wireless, a company with the license to make all things Star Wars for mobile phones. Thankfully it sounds like THQ and Lucasfilm are being nice about it and it sounds like we can expect a real Star Wars branded version in the near future. We like it when people play nice like this. [The Mac Box blog] [...]
August 17th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
[...] home’ to Apple, allows apps to be remotely disabled, Engadget Mobile, Joshua Topolsky PhoneSaber’s Future, TheMacBox Is the iPhone NDA About Patents?, Daring Fireball, John [...]
August 27th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I’m so sad… I hope it comes back soon and free. I didn’t get a chance to download it the first time around.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:23 am
[...] the developer of PhoneSaber, has given word that they’ve had to pull the app from iTunes after a request from THQ wireless. The chat: [...]
September 1st, 2008 at 7:35 pm
[...] Wars lightsaber around. As you swing your phone, it would emit various sound effects. According to this post, Mac Box took down the app voluntarily after a THQ rep communicated that they violated [...]
September 5th, 2008 at 2:28 am
[...] a month ago, TheMacBox was forced to pull PhoneSaber from the iTunes Apps Store — but not at the behest of [...]
September 5th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
[...] publisher TheMacBox confirmed last month that THQ (which owns the mobile gaming rights for the Star Wars franchise) asked them to [...]
September 7th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I love reading stories like this. Sure, it begins with a Cease and Desist, but at least a big fat branding house sees the potential is teaming up with a small development shop to deliver a great branded product. Congratulations!
September 8th, 2008 at 9:10 am
[...] de um mês atrás, o aplicativo foi retirado da App Store pela TheMacBox, não por infringir nenhuma lei de cópia, mas por causa da THQ Wireless (que detém os direitos de [...]
September 12th, 2008 at 9:14 am
[...] 12, 2008 · Print This Article The MacBox, developers of popular iPhone app PhoneSaber, has announced that the application PhoneSaber, which [...]
September 12th, 2008 at 10:11 am
[...] App PhoneSaber To Return As LightSaber Unleashed September 12th, 2008 | Category: Apple News The MacBox, developers of popular iPhone app PhoneSaber, has announced that the application PhoneSaber, which [...]
September 12th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
[...] The MacBox, developers of favourite iPhone app PhoneSaber, has declared that the covering PhoneSaber, which was distant from the App Store because of papers issues, module convey rattling presently with the newborn study LightSaber Unleashed. [...]
September 17th, 2008 at 1:14 am
[...] App PhoneSaber To Return As LightSaber Unleashed The MacBox, developers of popular iPhone app PhoneSaber, has announced that the application PhoneSaber, which [...]
September 25th, 2008 at 5:04 am
[...] A quick look at the publisher’s page confirms this and it looks like THQ Wireless has asked MacBox to take down the app on behalf of Lucas Arts. Good news and bad news, PhoneSaber [...]
September 25th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
What only Darth Vader’s Voice? Only 3 colors? Where are the blaster sounds that was promised?
September 25th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
[...] way than the last iPhone dev to succeed on such a large scale did. This time, developers at TheMacBox have struck a deal with LucasFilms to release an official Star Wars version of their ultra-popular [...]
September 26th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
[...] por TheMacBox, que se había convertido en todo un éxito en la AppStore del iPhone, fue retirada de la tienda a petición de Lucasfilm y THQ Wireless, quienes poseen la licencia para desarrollar juegos de Star [...]
September 30th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
My iTunes has updated my applications–removing lightsaber and replacing it with … the new lightsaber unleashed. What a crock. I have now deleted the application from my phone, and I am boycotting Lucas projects–all of them. No money to Lucas or THQ.
I won’t spend a penny on any of their products fr me or my family until they release the original phonesaber. Who wants to be one of their characters?? I want the saber to be mine–with the color I want. Why not join in the boycott?
October 1st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
[...] [MacNN] Also Read [TheMacBox Blog] Via [Gizmodo] Site [Lightsaber [...]
October 14th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
[...] 14, 2008 · Print This Article The MacBox, developers of popular iPhone app PhoneSaber, has announced that the application PhoneSaber, which [...]