Astrosphere

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Astrosphere

Postby Jobasha » Jun 2nd, '08, 17:15



The Effect

Its a floating ball effect, can do a lot the same things as a zombie ball, but in a different way.


Cost


Mine was £8, but seen them up to higher prices elsewhere.
http://www.thetrickery.com/full/Magic-T ... __6831.htm

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

3 some puppetry skills needed.


Review

Not really recommended. Bought this last week and held off on reviewing it for a week to play with a bit before criticizing it online. the effect is roughly the same as the zombie ball. A ball floats behind a cloth. This has the advantage over the zombie ball of being able to use a partially see through cloth. However it can't push the cloth in the same way as a zombie. Its also blatantly obvious hows its done if it ever comes above the cloth. The instructions were a bit rubbish as well, they weren't totally clear and weren't easy to follow. Granted I'm not really very good with this, but I don't believe that even if I did carry on practicing this one it would become much better. It would still look dodgy. I've found a few videos of other people using it and doesn't seem like their doing much better.



Overall

2/10 stick to the zombie ball.

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Postby pcwells » Jun 2nd, '08, 18:24

This must have been around for ages.

When I was about ten, I found a newsagents in Whitley Bay that stocked a load of Tenyo magic tricks. They also seemed able to order just about anything, so I put in an order for a Zombie ball (remember that there was no internet in those days, and the marvellous - but sadly now closed down - store, Howzat, had yet to open).

What they got in, was an Astrosphere. And i think they got the order wrong because they saw that I'd been saving up all my pocket money, christmas money and birthday money to place a whopping big magic order with them, and the Astrosphere was significantly more expensive than a Zombie at that time.

I bought it anyway, because it was mysterious, and I had never heard of it before, which meant that the other kids at the magic club wouldn't have either, and I would be the first to show off with it.

It took me a day to realise that the Astrosphere sucked, but about a month to admit it to myself. I might still have it somewhere, though. I can't even bring myself to throw away rubbish tricks...

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Re: Astrosphere

Postby pcwells » Jun 2nd, '08, 18:28

Jobasha wrote:2/10 stick to the zombie ball.


Ahem! Exposure? :P

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Postby Jobasha » Jun 2nd, '08, 19:24

I don't think that qualifies as exposure, anyone who knows these things by name is probably going to know how they work.

And from this oh so very impressive demo video of the astrosphere I doubt they'll ever work it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAsoCVJiriw :roll:

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Postby Jobasha » Jun 2nd, '08, 19:26

pcwells wrote:This must have been around for ages.

When I was about ten


This had probably been in the shop since you were ten, its been there since I was a very small child and I imagine he hasn't ever sold it before without it coming straight back for a refund.

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Astrosphere

Postby Allen Tipton » Jun 19th, '08, 14:46

:D There is a model available with LED lights on it..totally unneccessary.
It retails at about £14:95.
The plain mirrored silver ball is more effective. Simple & uncluttered is always best..
The LED's might raise the wrong suspicions in spectators' minds. :wink:
As with all The Ball effects it is what YOU make it.

Other info.: See Reviews Request in the Forum Index.

Allen Tipton :D

Began magic at 9 in 1942. Joined Staffs M.S at 13. Nottm.Guild of M. (8 times President. Prog Director 20years)IBM. Awarded Magician of Month 1980 By Intern. Pres. IBM for reproducing Dante's Sim Sala Bim. Writes Dear Magician column for Abra. Mag.
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