May the game be with you. (Packets).

Later this year, bazillions of Star Wars fans who just can't seem to get enough -- between the DVD of the latest movie, The Phantom Menace, and the army of action figures dating back to the original film's release in 1976 -- will enter creator George Lucas' epic universe online. LucasArts Entertainment, the gaming division of his San Rafael, Calif. - based empire, has joined forces with Sony's Online Entertainment unit. Lucas-Arts will handle development plus marketing of software at retail, while Sony will host the game on its station.com engine.

Star Wars Galaxies is a "massively multiplayer online role-playing game," lingo that means thousands of individuals all over the world can personify virtual characters, fly spaceships and act out land-and space-based adventures simultaneously. A typical multiplayer game only accommodates up to 36 players at once. Still in development, the first game in the series is scheduled for blast-off this fall.

To test the market and generate a database of potential paid subscribers, LucasArts launched a Web site in December 2000, inviting eager gamers to register for updates, glean sneak peaks and even offer design input. "By collecting opinions and ideas from the Star Wars community," says Rich Vogel, executive producer, Sony Online, "we're able to supplement our design with some of the creative touches fans have been suggesting through the site."

www.starwarsgalaxies.com