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Early last week Star Wars Galaxies players and TCG fans received a holiday treat: the launch of the first expansion for Champions of the Force, the in-game card game for SOE's Star Wars MMO. The expansion is entitled Squadrons Over Corellia, and was just announced late in November. The new card set has added a number of novel game elements to the card-based title, not least of which is new cards featuring Han Solo and the Emperor.

New design elements include starship battle components, additional avatar races, new loot, and much more. The card game has also been revamped card event scenarios and one-on-one events, for players who want to pit their TCG decks one against the other. And, of course, the whole thing is wrapped up in a brand-new storyline centered in the Correllia system during the Galactic war. A recent 'Friday feature' on the official game site has numerous insights into the new loot cards and fun elements added to the game. For full details on the expansion check out the official site, read into our card gallery below, or click through below the cut for the official press release.

Earlier this week SOE announced a brand-new expansion to the Star Wars Galaxies TCG, Champions of the Force. That trading card game, released back in August of this year, puts players of the contentious Star Wars MMO into their favorite setting in a wholly different way. From what we've heard, it's been fairly well received by the players - well received enough to warrant an entirely new expansion to to the game. Squadrons Over Corellia will offer the usual level of quality we've come to expect from SOE Denver expansions - some 250 new cards, incredible artwork, and a heaping helping of all-new loot cards to boot.

Players will be able to create Rodian and Wookie avatar cards for the first time, make use of powerful iconic characters like the Emperor and Han Solo in their deck builds, and engage in space-based gameplay new to the Champions of the Force card game. You can see all the details on the official website, or get a big taste of the expansion's potential in the official annoucnement below the cut.

Word from the official Star Wars Galaxies forums is that Champions of the Force, the brand new SOE TCG, is now live. We confirmed with a quick duck in-world, and claimed our five booster packs and starter decks from the jaws of the interface. All you need to do to play the game is type a quick /TCG into the chatbox, a method that will hopefully soon be joined by a standalone interface.

Along with the launch of the TCG itself comes a brand new section of the forums to support the card players. There are areas for strategy discussions, tech issues, and of course some talk of the game's simply fantastic art. If you're as excited as we are about the new game you might want to attend a player-organized Launch Party for the new game. It's taking place on the Starsider server (this blogger's home in the galaxy far, far away) both Friday and Saturday. There are handy timezone markers in the official party post to let you know what time to show up. Make sure to put on your dancing shoes and tell them Massively sent you.

All week we've been highlighting a series of loot cards for the soon-to-be-released Champions of the Force trading card game, and this blogger thinks we've saved the best for last. Champions is based on the SOE MMO Star Wars Galaxies, but this newest loot card goes way, way back to a time long before the Rebellion and Empire. The folks at SOE and LucasArts were nice enough to work with us to offer you a card-a-day all week, and we've had some good ones so far. We've taken a look at the Gungan Vendor, the Mechano-Chair, the Jedi Crest, and then (yesterday) the XJ-2 Airspeeder. Today's card, the last for our preview week, is another art object for your player housing. But whan an object!

It's a massive bas-relief carving depicting the Great Hyperspace War between the Republic and the forces of the Sith Empire. This is an ancient conflict, one that really contextualizes the age of the Republic; it took place some 20,000 years after the founding of that august body, and some 1,000 years before the Great Sith War depicted in Knights of the Old Republic. The Great Hyperspace War took place between the Republic and the Sith Empire at the height of its power. The Republic may have even been felled, if not for internicine fighting between the Sith Lords Naga Sadow and Ludo Kressh over the planet Korriban. Click through to see the loot card depicting this ancient conflict, a work not unlike one owned by the Emperor himself ...

All this week we've been highlighting a series of loot cards for the soon-to-be-released Champions of the Force trading card game. It's based on Star Wars Galaxies, and all six of the Lucas movies The folks at SOE and LucasArts have been nice enough to work with us to offer you a card-a-day, and we've already had some good ones. The Mechano-Chair, the Gungan Vendor, and yesterday's Jedi Crest are all pretty nice add-ons. As with the Legends of Norrath game these loot cards improve the quality of life for players, and today's is intended to do so in style!

Today's loot card is a brand new two-seat speeder, a red and silver Narglatch AirTech XJ-2. It's based on the hot little speeder we see Republic Senator Bail Organa driving in "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith." Leia's adoptive father, it seems, liked to futz around with a speeder from a kit. He actually put the thing together himself, and spent some of his (rare) free time making improvements to the stylized craft. If you can claim this loot card during your Champions play, you can drive away with his hard work! Click on through below the cut for a look at the loot card itself.

All this week we've been highlighting a series of loot cards for the soon-to-be-released Champions of the Force trading card game, the one based on Star Wars Galaxies. The folks at SOE and LucasArts were nice enough to work with us to offer you a card-a-day all week! We've already tackled the for-fun Gungan Vendor and not-very-practical Mechano-Chair vehicle. Other sites are getting in on the fun as well: go check out IGN's promo look at the Champions archetypes. Meanwhile, our card of the day is a painting!

Paintings have a long history of being fan favorites for SWG fans, originally introduced to the game as craftable items when the game launched. Players can create paintings to this day, but the developers have long used player housing paintings as rewards for holidays, special events, and important quest lines. This particular painting is of an upheld lightsaber and a crest, a commemoration of the long-lasting influence of the Jedi Council. Click on through below the cut to check it out, and think about where it might look good in your in-game home.

All this week we're going to be highlighting a series of loot cards for the soon-to-be-released Champions of the Force trading card game, the one based on Star Wars Galaxies. We began yesterday with the Gungan Vendor, and we'll be showing off more cards all wee! As with the Legends of Norrath game, these loot cards improve the quality of life for players, and are fun and (sometimes) funny additions to the gameworld.

Today's card is a Mechano-Chair, a sort of hovering conveyance like the one used by Anakin Skywalker's stepfather Cliegg Lars in "Episode II: Attack of the Clones." In-game, this device will most likely function as per the 60 month veteran reward. That hoverchair is much smaller, patterned after Yoda's hoverplatform from the same movie. Power Chairs, as they're known in the Star Wars canon, are actually used by a number of individuals in the expanded universe. Nab this card and you'll soon be floating in style; click through to check out the card itself.

All this week we're going to be highlighting a series of loot cards for the soon-to-be-released Champions of the Force trading card game based on Star Wars Galaxies. The folks at SOE and LucasArts were nice enough to work with us to offer you a card-a-day all week! As with the Legends of Norrath game, these loot cards improve the quality of life for players, and are fun and (sometimes) funny additions to the gameworld.

Today's card is meant to be funny: the Gungan Vendor. He joins the Jawa Vendor we've already looked at here on the site. The Gungans, an aquatic species of humanoid native to Naboo, are probably best known for the desperate antics of one Jar Jar Binks. Despite Binks, the Gungans are actually a proud warrior race. This card will allow you to place a vendor in your player housing representing a Gungan trader, the perfect barker for a Naboo-based business. Click on through below the cut for a look at this particular toy.

Dotakuni, the relatively-newly minted Producer for Star Wars Galaxies, dropped into the forums in anticipation of next week's Fan Faire event to let players know a bit about what's coming down the pipe. He talked up the panels aimed at SWG players next week, singling out the Galactic Assembly on Saturday night as the must-see event for the Faire. The TCG, Champions of the Force, is also mentioned, and he goes over a few of the 'types' of loot cards players will be receiving in their regular booster back ration. Speeders, Wearables, Paintings, Vendors, and even permanent buffs will be available in the first card set.

The Battle of Echo Base is also on Dotanuki's list, likely the most-anticipated content coming to Galaxies in some time. He describes the environment as massive, with the base being a 'labyrinth of tunnels and rooms'. Vehicle combat was something John Smedley mentioned in our talk with him back at E3, but Dotanuki notes he'll tell us precisely what vehicles will be involved in the battle next week. The Producer closes out his note with some intriguing hints about future events ... including one based around the Star Wars Holiday Special? Next week's Fan Faire will offer up plenty of great information for expectant fans.

Champions of the Force, the online-only collectible trading card game for Star Wars Galaxies got a public airing at Comic-Con just recently, where LucasArts took the time to show off this tight and well-polished game. And polished it is. Legends of Norrath might have been a fair crowd-pleaser, but it had its share of flaws, and SOE-Denver have taken time to tune things up and streamline the play. Plus, it's Star Wars -- come on. You know you want it.

Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

You will be able to get your groove on, either via the SWG client or through a special standalone client, against other players or against an NPC opponent. Four classic Star Wars archetypes are available for play: Rebel and Jedi, and (of course) those bad boys, the Imperials and Sith. Aside from the basic one-on-one matches, there's word of at least one storyline game (and perhaps more later) set somewhere between Star Wars epsiodes four and five.

We admit: we're addicts. Addicted to the drug that is collectible trading card games. So when SOE recently announced their latest online trading card game, Champions of the Force, we knew we were destined to be consumed by it. (Not to mention the in-game loot to be acquired. Who out there doesn't want their own household Jawa vendor?) Massively sat down with SOE Senior Game Designer Joe Alread at E3 to talk Champions.

Where did the idea for a TCG based on Star Wars Galaxies come from?
Joe Alread: People were really enjoying Legends of Norrath, really enjoying the game and the unique story that came from it. This gave us some incintive to branch out with Star Wars Galaxies. Champions of the Force is going to have its own unique story-line and raids, much like Legends of Norrath.

Our lengthy discussion with John Smedley yesterday focused primarily on Free Realms and the possibilities in SOE's future. We also chatted briefly about the newest surprise from the company - a collaboration between the Austin and Denver studios called Champions of the Force. Here Mr. Smedley discusses his view on the TCG, Star Wars Galaxies in general, and how reconnecting with the playerbase is really great for the company.

It seems as though the reaction impression from a lot of SWG players is that it's surprising that the company put all these new assets and resources into the game.

I think people have the wrong impression about Star Wars Galaxies. We still have a very active live team. We have a bunch of new content just out, and a bunch of new content in the pipe. Have they talked to you about what's coming? Vehicles in battles on Hoth? It's amazing. It is expansion-pack level content, and it's going to be included for free as part of the release. We could have done a straight-up expansion pack but we decided not to do it that way because of the history with the game and expansions. We want to focus on the content. I think it's a really good game now. We think the content is there, the polish is way up.

Here at Massively, you may have noticed we love trading card games set inside MMOs almost as much as we love MMOs themselves. That's why we're really happy to bring you the first in a series of sneak peaks, looking ahead to the release of the Star Wars Galaxies Online TCG: Champions of the Force. Today we've got two loot cards, the special items that unlock in-game fripperies for your enjoyment. They're both items you can use in your character's house; we expect you'll see a lot of housing loot items, as the game's housing system is one of the most robust of any MMO we've played.

The first (pictured right) unlocks the ability to drop a vendor in your house that looks like a Jawa. What might these scavengers of the desert be hawking from your front room? Easy to find out once you've obtained one of these brown-robed miscreants. The other is a simple statue, a bust of the dread Sith lord Count Dooku. The feature text for the bust reads, "A bust of Count Dooku like the one found in the Jedi library. Once a respected member of the Jedi Council, Count Dooku embraced the dark side of the Force and fell from grace. Many remnants of his celebrated years remain and like this bust, can be displayed in your house. "

Check back soon for more Champions of the Force goodness.

Let's face it ... sometimes MMOs have their 'slow moments'. Whether it's crafting, lengthy travel times, crafting materials gathering, crafting, endless grind sessions for rep or XP, waiting for guildies at an instance, or crafting, your average MMO player will experience a boring moment or two over the course of their gaming career. If you're anything like the bloggers around here, you'll have eventually realized that you can play two games at once if you put your mind to it. Casual games like the offerings of PopCap or PlayFirst can make the time go past oh-so-much faster. Some titles, like EverQuest, EverQuest 2, and soon Star Wars Galaxies, have their own TCG games embedded within the MMO itself.

So what do you play while you play? Are you a Bejeweled fan, maybe a Diner Dash aficionado? Give us your mini-game best shots in the comments!

Yesterday's announcement of an online Trading Card Game based on the SOE title Star Wars Galaxies came as quite a surprise. Fans were full of questions in the official forum thread announcing the game, and Galaxies' newly-minted Senior Producer Dotanuki was on-hand part of the evening to clarify information for players.

Just to reiterate a bit, Champions of the Force will offer some 20 loot cards redeemable in-game, with the possibility of new cards being found via in-game adventuring. Players will be able to choose a light- or dark-side slant to their decks, and the game will feature events similar to sister title Legends of Norrath's raids called heroic encounters. Adds the producer:

• Loot cards are only going to be available in booster packs, not through direct sales.
• Pricing on the cards has still not been determined.
• The game is being developed by the SOE-Denver studio; the Austin team has not been sidetracked or taken off of SWG proper products to work on the game.
• There will be an in-game client and a standalone client for the game, just as Legends of Norrath currently offers.
• Booster packs for the game will be only lootable from NPCs in-game during special promotional periods, a departure from the LoN paradigm.
• All SWG subscribers will be granted cards for free, and there is no subscription fee required to play the game. Subscribers will received five free booster packs a month.