'Ender's Game' Offers Prop Replicas Made In 3D Printer; Plus Historical Infographic

3D printing could revolutionize the commercial world. Almost anything you can imagine can be reproduced in a 3D printer and Hollywood has begun to notice. For example, on the set of Ender's Game, many of the film's props were created in a 3D printer, likely saving money in terms of industrial and labor-intensive individual production.

It's fitting, then, that Ender's Game is now the first movie to offer prop replicas created by a 3D printer. (Replicas are usually sold by companies like Sideshow Collectibles and NECA.) The company behind the offering is called Sandboxr. Fans can log onto their website, choose and customize a bunch of different ships from the film, and have them printed for a relatively affordable price.

Below, get all the links and check out an infographic that'll prepare you for the film, which opens this Friday, November 1.

To create your own Ender's Game 3D printed ship, head over to Sandboxr and follow the links. You'll need to download a plug in. There are also some premade ships you can just order and they start at about $24.99 each depending on size. Here are some images.

Considering more detailed, factory made prop replicas run in the hundreds of dollar range, I think this 3D printing trend is a one that could catch on. It curtails some of the collectibility of these products, but to most people saving money outweighs collectable value. Especially when they cost potentially 10% or less of the typical prop replica price.

And while we're on the topic of Ender's Game, Summit released this infographic that details the Formic Wars that lead up to the events in the film. Click on the image to blow it up.

Ender's Game opens November 1.