bkev said:

I find the idea that they're closing due to fears of backlash is asinine. We are far in the minority, you understand - even if respected internet/video quality critics agree with us, I can assure you the forum would be filled with gushers praising that it was finally on blu-ray.

I must have visited their forums once or twice before and don't remember being impressed with the layout. Perhaps they're considering an upgrade? Whatever. I've got you people.

I think that's it as well. It's now common practice for companies to take their fan\marketing interaction into a more publicly connected venue, i.e. Facebook.

A James Bond board I'd been a member of for about seven years recently did the same thing. No warning, just a sudden downing of the server and a replacement forum with a Facebook feel and Facebook connectivity - log-in through Facebook, click here to "like" this post or "share" this topic. Years of discussions gone in an instant. No apologies, no real explanation. Just a sort of cavalier "this will be better, you'll like it, it's social". I didn't recreate my account and instead jumped ship to a different board, as did many others.

Social Media has become the powerhouse for uber-connected, real-time, target audience interaction. On Facebook Star Wars, people will be free to gush, "like", share, and discuss to their heart's content. It will be much more visible (better marketing), and it will be cleansed of negative comments daily.

It will be more of the "everything is exactly what the fans want" lie that Lucas still insists on vomiting. It will be a Lucas\fanbase utopia. It will be revised history - and best of all - it will be on Facebook, so it must be true.

2+2=5