During its first year, an impressive amount of new content was added to Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided. November 2003 saw the introduction of player cities, incorporated townships that allow players to own homes, construct public buildings and elect mayors. A variety of creature mounts and player-crafted vehicles including the familiar speeder and swoop bikes were added to the game in December 2003. Early 2004 saw the addition of the Geonosian Bio Lab, Deathwatch Bunker and Corellian Corvette adventure areas, adding numerous hours of high-end content and depth to game play.

LucasArts and SOE are currently working on the first full-scale retail expansion to the franchise, Star Wars Galaxies(r): Jump to Lightspeed(tm). Scheduled for release in October 2004, Jump To Lightspeed will add a whole new level of twitch-based space combat to the game and will feature 15 starships, four space-based professions, and two new playable species.

"While we will continue to aggressively expand the game for all players, we also will be rolling out a series of special items reserved exclusively for our long-standing community members," said LucasArts Producer Haden Blackman. With the launch of Jump to Lightspeed, players who have maintained an active account for at least six consecutive months will be given special access to a luxury starship. "This luxury starship will allow veteran players to venture into space with their friends and explore in comfort and style," Blackman added. The space yacht, which is used in Star Wars(r) fiction by wealthy and dashing characters such as Lando Calrissian, is only the first of many rewards planned for veteran players.

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