Story of a Nintendo Licensee (Video Games & Computer Entertainment - September 1990)

This article from the September 1990 issue of Video Games & Computer Entertainment is about Tradewest. It covers the beginning of the company business, its entry into video games, and how it found success publishing games on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). You can read more about the publisher in my ads post here: Tradewest. There is a third page related to this article, though it's not about Tradewest, just third-party NES publishers in general. I'll post that tomorrow alongside an article from Sega Visions. 

[YouTube] Star Wars Droid Factory

https://youtu.be/qNkfKr7XR9U

The Star Wars Droid Factory is an original playset from Kenner that draws inspiration from the Jawa Sandcrawler scenes of the first film. It was released in 1979 and again in 1980 when the packaging added The Empire Strikes Back logo. Included in the set are a base measuring 10" by 12" that supports a crane and has grooves that hold many of the droid pieces in specific spots. A variety of generic droids can be built in addition to an R2-D2 with center leg. Some pieces connect to one another via permanently attached pegs and some require using the additional connector pins.

This is one of only two classic Star Wars toy boxes I still have and, although it was wear on the edges, it's not in bad shape. The front and back of the box feature the same image; I'm posting photos of both sides so you can see a "clean" side and the side that still has the price tag, indicating it cost $11.99 at Bradlees. I also scanned the Droid Maker Blueprints booklet and parts sheet. Unfortunately, I'm missing the R2 head and some of the orange "hydraulic tubing" pieces.

Some scenes with additional action figures:

May the 4th Be With You!