If you have yet to hear about Star Wars: The Old Republic, then I implore you to exit whatever cave you’ve been dwelling in for the past two years and join the rest of society. And if you have heard of it and greatly anticipate its release, I open my arms to you and embrace you as a brother. Let us conquer the Republic together and bring order to the galaxy...and then impulsively murder each other. Ah, the life of a Sith.

Video Blips:

• Star Wars is likely the only franchise that can kick World of Warcraft out of its MMO throne. My instinct will be to join the Sith Empire. But considering how games are meant to indulge unrealistic fantasies, and seeing as how I’m usually an asshole in real life, I may take up the role of a kind, noble Jedi. And then betray everyone I know.

After the break, take a peek at the pre-order bonus for Red Faction: Armageddon, chuckle at a developer diary from Shadows of the Damned, and get pumped over the new Need for Speed: The Run teaser trailer.

• It’s been 50 years since the events of Red Faction: Guerilla, and Mars still suffers from bitter conflict. I’m having trouble seeing how that barren, shitty planet is worth so much trouble. And to think that this all could have been avoided with a simple mine workers' union.

• Shadows of the Damned features a tattoo-ridden demon hunter named Garcia as he treks his way through the sin-infested bowels of Hell. When a game has a gun known as the “Big Boner” and one of the Japanese developers says the art style is “fucking punk,” you know you’re going to buy it. There’s no use fighting it.

• This trailer for Need for Speed: The Run suggests that the game will feature a dangerous race across the United States. For some reason, EA constantly releases Need for Speed games, yet I hear about them less and less. Perhaps this explains why they chose such an oddly suggestive subtitle? It sure got my attention.