Gaming news: Kinect Star Wars delayed, Star Wars Galaxies ending to be determined by players

Obi-wan KenobiBoth the Kinect Star Wars game and the limited edition Kinect Star Wars themed XBox 360 bundle won’t be launched for the 2011 holiday season, Microsoft announced. OXM suggests that the delay is for the best, allowing more time for game development to fix lag-related issues that would leave your Jedi defenseless. No new release date for the Artoo-Detoo skinned game console or the standalone game has been announced.

As the Star Wars Galaxies MMO heads towards shutdown, Sony Online Entertainment has announced that the fate of the galaxy will be settled by the players, reports 1up.com. Player actions will determine whether the Empire or the Rebel Alliance will emerge victorious in the Galactic Civil War with celebrations for the winners and a chance for “going out with a bang” for the losers. Launched in 2003, Galaxies will be shutting down on December 15.

Catching up: Her Universe, Blu-rays and more

Audrey M. Brown interviews Ashley Eckstein about Her Universe and female fans. Meanwhile, the new two shirts and kids sizes that debuted at Star Wars Weekends are now available through the Her Universe website. (Be sure to check out what’s on sale – several shirts are going for half off!)

  • Lucasfilm and Fox hosted a private media event in New York last week, which means a handful of new Blu-ray details have made their way to us, via Big Picture, Big Sound. Looks like the Precious Moments-esque complete saga set comes in the form of a booklet.
  • Some fans are so put out by Sony shutting down Star Wars Galaxies that they’re actually considering suing? There’s also a petition: Apparently at least 2,500 are still playing the thing, which I would have sworn was put out of its misery ages ago. Go figure.
  • Greenpeace is using Star Wars to strike back at Volkswagen for opposing environmental legislation in Europe.
  • Star Wars is #5 and Empire #2 on Total Film’s list of the 50 greatest sci-fi movies. Who beat them out? Well, I can tell you one thing: It ain’t The Godfather.

Rumor: Say goodbye to Galaxies?

IMAGE: Hey hey hey goodbyeSurfer Girl claims that LucasArts is going to pull the plug on the venerable Galaxies to make room for the new multiplayer:

The Artistic Lucases think that they have the only IP that can pose a serious challenge World of Warcraft and find that the setting of KOTOR is too niche to be a threat. They apparently expect the new Star War MMO to have at least three million subscribers by the end of the first year.

If KOTOR is too niche how come half of fandom won’t shut up about it?

…Oh.

Really, if true, the death of Galaxies may be just as well. They are clearly a very disturbed bunch of folks!

Video Monday

Ryan vs Dorkman 2. Always two there are… an internet phenomenon and a sequel. The first one stood as the crème de la crème of the copious ‘fanboys with lightsabers’ genre, and this new one is pretty good, too. It even has funny, but does get a tad graphic (for Star Wars) towards the end.

Post-Holiday Bounty

Hopefully you made out well in the holiday money gifts, this year. Because there are some companies trying to part you from your money.

Sideshow Collectibles announced the addition of 12-inch figures from Lord of the Rings.

For those still in the Star Wars arena, TheForce.Net reports that Star Wars Galaxies will be adding new features. And LucasArts apparently has a lot up its sleeve, if the rumors are to be believed.

And there is still some stock left of the Lucas Family action figure set at StarWarsShop.com. Grab ’em while they last!