Not too long after the rumors and leaks of The Old Republic Collector’s Edition, BioWare has made the news official. Right now, three editions of Star Wars: The Old Republic are available for pre-order. The standard edition is your basic copy of the game with software, game time, and pretty cover.

The Digital Deluxe Edition, which is only on Origin, comes with special in-game items. A Flare Gun, Training Droid, HoloDancer, HoloCam, and a STAP (Single Trooper Aerial Platform if you aren’t a Star Wars buff) are all included.

The biggest set is the actual Collector’s Edition of The Old Republic. The massive set contains all of the in-game items from the DDE along with The Journal of Master Gnost-Dural, a Darth Malgus statue, The Old Republic Galaxy Map, Security Authentication Key Fob, a Music of Star Wars: The Old Republic CD, the game in a metal collector’s case, an exclusive in-game Mouse Droid, and access to a Collector’s Edition in-game store which I assume is better than other stores.

Also, those who pre-order the game will get Early Access to the game. Sounds great for big Star Wars fans and gamers but what about that release date, BioWare?

The long running MMO, Star Wars Galaxies, a game I thought shut down years ago is actually shutting down. Sony Online Entertainment and LucasArts sent out their plans to shut down all the servers for the game by December 15th 2011.

During the last week of service, Sony will be having a “galaxy-ending event” that will send the game off in style. I’m guessing it’ll be something like what they did with The Matrix Online. Another title that 5 of you probably remember playing.

Existing subscribers will be able to jump ship to Free Realms, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, EverQuest, or DC Universe Online as fully-paid subscribers from October 15h until December 31st.

I’m just going to take a guess here, but I think DC Universe Online is going to get a lot more players by the end of the year.

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Today exclusive Hitman 5 details, BioWare on a Star Wars scam, and L.A. Noire on collectors editions.
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Bioware and Lucasarts have announced a new MMO for you to be sucked into and possibly die from: Star Wars: The Old Republic. The MMO will take place in the Old Republic, 300 years after KOTOR 2 and 3500 years before the films. There will be two factions to choose from, the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic, each with their own sub-classes. EA will publish the games, and a release date has not been announced.

-Chris Weng

Source: Joystiq.com

Just a reminder. You know, in case you want to buy last minute tickets to your front row seats to the biggest show on earth this announcement event.

-Chris Weng

On October 21, around 2 PM Pacific Time, Bioware and Lucasarts will announce a new game. The screen above shows the invitation to an unveiling of the game. Rampant speculation about what the actual game will be include a new MMORPG based on the Knights of the Old Republic series that was on Xbox, a sequel to Knights of the Old Republic, or a totally new IP based on the New Republic Star Wars universe. Either way, Bioware’s history of games have been pretty much solid gold (Sonic was actually pretty good!) and Lucasarts knows how to use the Star Wars franchise to their advantage (ie. The Force Unleashed), so I’m really looking forward to this announcement. Then again, so is everyone else still drooling over Leia’s slave bikini outfit.

-Chris Weng

Source: Joystiq.com, Massively

If you ever wanted Luke to go on a killing rampage throughout the Star Wars galaxy, then you’re going to love this piece of news. LucasArts announced today that sometime this year, downloadable skins and a new mission will be available via DLC. Skins will include Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Kit Fisto. The new mission will delve further into what happens to the Not-So-Secret Apprentice on Coruscant in the Jedi Temple, where he faces “his inner demons” and finds out more about his deceased father.

Price or date has yet to be announced for this new piece of galaxy far, far away.

-Chris Weng

Source: Joystiq.com