It would be cool to have it do different things based on the game.

The Palantir can be lit, or unlit. If lit, it is about to reward the player something cool. If unlit, it doesn't give anything. Maybe this can be used to do something like:

1. if unlit, it shows the eye (evil mode), or shows nothing until the switch is hit, THEN shows the eye
2. if lit, it shows selected scenes from the movies.

Of course this would need to be wired into the game to get triggers when the switch is hit, and when the palantir was lit to work.

Can that be done?

Sounds great Ryan. I think the dark cloud faint eye for having the palantir unlit will be perfect.

The more I think about it, the more I think shots from the movie playing in it would seem like a distraction, and not hold true to the theme.

The palantir was, more or less, a video conferencing device. You saw in the palantir what was on the other side. And whoever was on the other side saw what what was on that side. In case anyone wants to get their geek on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palantir

So since this is the palantir that Saruman has, only evil stuff is going to come out of it, as Sauron was on the other side of that connection.

I really am excited to see what you have when you have it.

Chris