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Bandai SpaceWarp Rereleased in Japan
Cubricon writes "One Christmas in the early 90's, my parents ordered a SpaceWarp Set 30 coaster set from a JC Penny's catalog. It was one of the most amazing toys I have ever had, Legos included.
A few years later, after many of the pieces were broken or lost, I looked to buy a new set. I was dissapointed to find out that Bandai stopped making the toy. Even though you can find 'new' sets on eBay they cost double or triple the original prices. The good news is that Tanomi is remaking the toy. Presenting... SpaceWarp 5000. Currently, the toy is only available in Japan, hopefully we'll get it here soon."
Unfortunately it was a limited run of 1,000 sets (and they're already sold out).
growing up in the 70s and 80s, i got all the cool presents: the star wars droid factory (which would be worth a mint today, if i still had it), matchbox cars, the Armitron, and then--my personal favorite--the lead brick. yes, one year my father gave me a 20 pound lead brick. Why, I'll never know. But once I discovered how well it destroyed GI Joe figures when you dropped it off a wall on them... Man those were the days. If I hadn't been given that brick, Ebay and I could be best friends making money together. But, alas, smashing stuff was just too irrestible to a 13 year old. When I have kids of my own, I think I'm taking their toys away from them on a regular, yearly basis and hermetically sealing them in the garage.
In 1999, my parents were living in Austrialia and they actually found the exact same Voltron but repackaged with updated graphics. It was the best Christmas present I ever got!
1;
Actually I was already planning on getting a Skyrail kit before seeing this article.i l.htm
http://www.quercetti.com/new-2001/skyra
I saw these at KBToy last weekend when I was out shopping and they look pretty fun. The kits look very comparable to the SpaceWarp kits, but designed from a suspension approach.
For real???!!
I've been playing with my set since 1990 and have yet to get tired of it. The track is 1/8" diameter nylon which is easily replaced by buying 1000' of brake line. The marbles are 1/2" dia but if you get pachinko sized marbles (3/8") they stay on the tracks better. Really the only thing that hasn't been easily replaced (out of necessity) from these sets are the cross ties, though there are instructions for milling your own out of a tube of plastic. Some places have started making special parts for Spacewarp on request. I have Set 30 just like poster of this article and it goes for $150 now on eBay because of the scarcity of the original parts.
Here's a coralized link to one of the better galleries I know of. The possibilities with these things are absolutely amazing.
Direct away from face when opening.
Saw this at the Discovery Store. Is this close enough?
The sample video on their site is nothing. The only shot is shows of the Space Warp is a few seconds of a still shot of it. There is no video of it actually running.
I always wanted one of these as a kid, but my parents always said it was just a waste of money. If they come out over here, I'll definately pick one up for my son & I to play with.
It just me, or does this whole article seem like it came from the Conan O'Brian skit "Pierre Bernard's Recliner of Rage"?
When I saw the phrase "coaster set", I thought the original poster meant coasters like these and I wondered what kind of sad kid would get so excited about protecting the furniture.
"It's a wonderful idea. But it doesn't work." -- Tad Danielewski
I used to try to make something similar to this with old Construx parts and golf balls, but this is much cooler.
Alas, just another cool thing I missed out on because I grew up in damnable Georgia.
My dream come true!! Thank you Cubricon and /. for posting this post-haste.
You used to be able to order raw parts direct from Bandai's warehouse. That dried up about 10 years ago. If Tanomi makes 1000 more, I'll buy them all! Hmmm, now I have to quit my job, sell all my belongings (except SpaceWarp), and fly to Japan.
(Seriously, I actually have a recurring dream where I discover a cache of SpaceWarp at some old lady's garage sale.)
I loved this thing as a kid.. I don't remember what sets I had (2 of them) - I don't even remember if I knew if there were different sets back then.. but man oh man, these kits were awesome. My 9th or 10th? grade year of high school I did a whole science project on rollercoaster physics and gforces and inertia (fairly involved project for a HS student) using my spacewarp kits as part of the testing, etc. Solid hypothesis, conclusion, the whole thing. I actually made it to the regional and state science fairs with the thing.
;-)
I keep telling my gf to buy me one of the Discovery store kits for christmas stocking stuffer and she thinks I'm joking
I haven't seen any mention yet of the Chaos "World of Motion" kits. These let you create Rube Goldberg devices which send large marbles down various paths. A motorized elevator is provided so you can let your creation run forever. Multiple kits can be combined to create enormous layouts.
I received one as a Father's Day gift six years ago. Whenever my kids and I get it out, we have a great time coming up with new tortures for the yellow marbles. Like LEGO, I am sure this is going to be something the kids, their grand-kids, and I play with 20 years from now.
While not exactly like a roller coaster, the Chaos kits are as intriguing. I often see metal versions of these at science museums.
Thankfully (and amazingly!), the company still exists. Check our http://www.chaostoy.com/.
ChrisL
that page is unbearably unreadable. The tiled anglefire background obscures any text that may be on the site, and does a good job of even hiding the images.
Ow.
*recalls old childhood memory....* I wanted one of those when I was younger.... But alas... I never got one.... Thanks for bringing back repressed memories you insensitive clod!
In undeveloped countries, the consumer controls the market. In capitalist America, the market controls you.
I wondered what kind of sad kid would get so excited about protecting the furniture.
I have a better one. When I was 4 my Grandmother asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I wasn't able to come up with an answer so she jokingly said "how about a pair of salt and pepper shaker?" I excitedly responded, "Yeah!" So as Christmas approached I was completely thrilled about the salt and pepper shakers my grandmother was going to get for me. Of course, as any good grandmother would, she got me a nice pair of ceramic shakers shaped like Santa and Mrs. Claus. Judging purely on my reaction, those who witnessed it say it was one of the best gifts I ever got. I still have them here in my desk drawer, in the original box, 20 years later.
Did you also enjoy eating wax crayons and dribbling lots??? It's LEGO not LEGOS. Even the URL you linked to says lego.
My mom got one (I don't know where from) for me in the mid-90s.
I guess it speaks to how big of a loser I am because I stayed home on saturday nights when I was 15 and built crazy rollercoasters.