Is Sony Online Entertainment working on another Star Wars MMO? According to Ten Ton Hammer, an inside source at the Penny Arcade Expo has confirmed that SOE has partnered with LucasArts to launch a Star Wars game set during the Clone Wars. Apparently the game will use the browser-based Free Realms engine and will most likely be targeted toward casual players.

Ten Ton Hammer doesn't believe the new game will attempt to compete with BioWare's upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO. It is more likely that the game will be based on the Clone Wars CGI movie and animated series.

So what are your thoughts on the possibility of another SOE Star Wars MMO? Would you play it? What would such a move mean for Star Wars Galaxies? Only time will tell. It's also best to consider this bit of news as a rumor until SOE confirms it as truth.

Game Update 12 went live this week, but it's already time for Hotfix 12.1. All U.S. and European galaxies will be brought down at 2 p.m. PDT today for server maintenance and to implement the update.

Basically, the update just adds some Engineering Trader fixes, makes it so the Anakin Skywalker Replica Cybernetic Forearm can be bio-linked, and lets you craft Cybernetic Arms and Legs with two sockets. You can read the full release notes after the jump.

Game Update 12 is now live on Star Wars Galaxies servers, and this one focuses mainly on Engineering Traders. Twelve new droids were added with the update, as well as the ability to craft cybernetic arms, hands, torsos and legs.

In addtion, continuations in the legacy quest line were implemented with the patch. You can read the full release notes after the jump.

In case you missed it, Chris "Dotanuki" Field announced last week he was leaving his role as producer on Star Wars Galaxies to lead a team on another project for Sony Online Entertainment. Field says his departure won't affect the upcoming updates that have already been announced, such as Star Wars Chronicles and Death Troopers. "My time on Galaxies has been beyond awesome and I'm so happy with all of the things the team has been able to accomplish together," he said.

Field also introduced Tony "Teesquared" Tyson as the new producer of the game. In addition, Tyson will retain his technical director title. The new producer has been working on Star Wars Galaxies for more than five years, and said in a Q&A that he's most looking forward to Chronicles and the Galactic Civil War in the next year.

Speaking of the next year, Tyson has already released his first producer's note in which he discusses updates 12 through 15. Update 12 focuses on Engineering Traders, while number 13 will include Chronicles and the Death Troopers prologue. Update 14 is all about zombies, and number 15 brings in the Galactic Civil War. You can read the full letter and Q&A below.

The Star Wars Galaxies recently hosted the the "Galactic Call to Arms Fan Art" Contest in honor of the game's sixth anniversary, and now it's your turn to help decide the winners. The entries were narrowed down to three finalists in each of the two categories, and now you have the opportunity to vote for your favorite Rebel and Imperial artwork!

The winners will have their images added to the Star Wars Galaxies universe as in-game paintings. The above work is called "Imperial Oasis Incident" and is by Lexx Yovel of Starsider server. Check out the Rebel and Imperial threads on the official forums to view them all and vote for your favorite entries.

If you're an engineer, it appears you're in luck with Game Update 12. According to an article on the Star Wars Galaxies Web site, Engineering Traders will get access to 12 new droids, as well as the ability to craft cybernetic arms, hands, torsos and legs. The update will even introduce Anakin's cybernetic arm from "Attack of the Clones," so you'll be able to utilize that in your adventures despite what you thought about the movie.

The article gives information on all 12 droids that will be craftable by engineers, including Magnaguards, Pit Droids, Mark IV Sentry Droids and Mustafar Mining Droids. There will even be new combat modules and commands for droids, such as Flame Jet and Electrical Shock.

In addition to all the droids, all players will receive a Hologram of Jedi Knight Skywalker's Cybernetic Arm when they log in once the update is live. Update 12 is currently available on the test server, so check it out if you'd like to play around with the droids ahead of schedule.

In honor of the sixth anniversary of Star Wars Galaxies, the team behind the trading card game is hosting a photo contest through July 27. Three winners will have their photos turned into cards for TCG's sixth set, as well transformed into in-game house paintings and a printed poster for your wall.

The team is looking for one Rebel-themed, one Imperial-themed and one neutral-themed photo. You can submit an unaltered photo of yourself dressed as a Star Wars Galaxies character, or you can send in a screenshot from the game. Your image must be based in the Star Wars Galaxies universe, so don't take a photo of yourself dressed as Luke Skywalker or any other character from the films.

You must be at least 18 years old and have an active SWG account to enter the contest. The judges are looking for creativity, so keep that in mind. More information can be found below.

Members of the ZAM team are currently at Fan Faire in Las Vegas and got to see Sony Online Entertainment President John Smedley deliver the third annual Community Address. It was announced that the 16th EverQuest expansion will be called Underfoot. It's coming out in November, but you'll be able to participate in events beginning in July that will give you credit to get Underfoot before anyone else. It will launch with 12-15 zones, with bonus zones being added through April 2010. It will include a new achievement tracking system and double the amount of weapons of any other expansion.

UPDATE: To clarify, Eldiroth has stated in the official SOE forums that there is no level increase in Underfoot.

As Calthine has already reported, it was also revealed the new EverQuest II expansion, Sentinel's Fate, will explore Odus, and Free Realms will introduce the Soccer Star job and more content for both driver jobs.

Star Wars Galaxies is celebrating its six-year anniversary today at the convention with a bunch of panels, and attendees are getting a Dianoga Dumpster in-game item that eats your trash and spits out random items. As Tamat reported, the Chronicle Master profession was also announced at Fan Faire.

Keep an eye out on the DC Universe Online Myspace page for information on a new video contest that asks players to explain which hero or villain is their best friend or foe. Fans at the convention are also checking out a service that allows players to purchase SOE art prints and have them delivered to their home, which will launch later this year. Keep reading after the  jump for more information.

After the release of Hoth: The Battle of Echo Base, the Star Wars Galaxies team began thinking about new ideas to keep players engaged. The team arrived at Star Wars Galaxies Chronicles, a player generated content system. In this new system, SWG players will be able to take on a new profession to create Solo, Group and PvP quests to share with other players.

Didn't make it to Fan Faire? Don't worry, we have you covered. Check out our summarized panel write-up with all the information about the Chronicle Master and let us know what you think in our forums.

As we reported, the Agents of Deception expansion for the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game is now available, and Sony Online Entertainment is celebrating the occasion with weekend release events. Six special sealed Agents of Deception sealed deck tournaments will be held at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. PDT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For 20 event passes, you'll get one of four Agents of Deception sealed decks, four booster packs, one Baritha digital promotional card and entry into the event.

The format is a single game sealed deck swiss tournament. It's a 256-player event consisting of five to eight rounds. Use one random Agents of Deception sealed deck and three booster packs to construct your tournament deck.

The first place winner will earn 10 Agents of Deception booster packs. Check out the official rules for more information.