For christmas my Brother bought me the Star Wars 'saga edition' chess set. 'Very cool' thought I upon unwrapping it. However, it wasn't until we actually played it that I realised the true extent of Lucas' insanity. Had this chess set been produced a decade ago, Luke and Leia would undoubtedly been King and Queen, With Ben and Yoda as Bishops (advisors, pulling the strings in the background), Han and Chewie as Knights, and possobly artoo and threepio as rooks. The dark side would have consisted of Vader and the Emperor as King and Queen, and an assortment of imperial henchmen such as Tarkin as the other pieces, with Boba Fett making an appearence. Pawns on both sides would have been either Stormtroopers Vs Rebel commandos or X-Wings Vs Tie Fighters. To me, this sums up the true Star Wars.
However, in this 'Saga Edition', the King and Queen are young obi-wan and monkey lightsaber yoda. Luke and Leia have been reduced to bishops, Han and Chewie are still Knights, and padme is a rook, with R2 and Threepio reduced to sharing a piece as the other rook. The dark side consists of Vader and the Emperor as King and Queen, General grievous and one of his night stick droid bodygaurd guys as bishops, Boba and Jango Fett as Knights, and Darth Maul and Count Dooku as Rooks.
This means, in the new and 'official' Star Wars universe, General grievous and his gay robocop bodygaurd are considered equal in importance and, presumably, battle skills, to Luke Skywalker (!!!) and his sister Leia, whom is both a princess and key member of the allinace that eventually topples the empire. Han and Chewie Vs Boba Fett I can accept, but Darth Maul Vs Threepio and Artoo? Pawns on both sides are stormtroopers (old republic clone troopers for the goodies, imperial stormtroopers for the baddies).
I know it's only chess, I know it's only a second rate Star Wars cash cow product. But the fact that Luke is now a second rate supporting charcter really irritated me.
Rant over.