EA Prepares for War and Announces Ship Date for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning announces September 18 as the day of reckoning for Warhammer Online. This means Mythic's fantasy themed MMORPG will be available a few days earlier than indicated by a recent rumor (story), and they note, "WAR will be the first MMORPG to launch servers simultaneously in North America, Europe, and Oceania." The announcement outlines bonuses that can still be earned by preordering and subscription plans in addition to a straight monthly $14.99 fee. Here's a bit:

FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hot on the heels of spectacular showings at E3 and Comic-Con, Mythic Entertainment, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) studio, today announced that fans will be able to enter the gritty fantasy world of Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning™ (WAR) on September 18th, 2008 when the highly-anticipated MMORPG goes live. After three years in development by Virginia-based Mythic Entertainment, WAR will open its North American, European and Oceanic servers and offer players a variety of flexible subscription options. Gamers who pre-order WAR in North American will enjoy special benefits including open beta admission, a live game head start, and bonus in-game items.

Based on Games Workshop’s epic and longstanding tabletop fantasy war game, WAR is a unique MMORPG that features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm™ (RvR) gameplay that will immerse players in a world of perpetual conflict for years to come. WAR has been recognized for its unique play style that appeals to novice MMO players while offering incredible depth for more seasoned players.