The Old Republic launch information...important info here

[Walker]

You can preload (download the game now if you have bought the game already) The Old Republic

http://www.swtor.com/news/news-article/20111207

Early Game Access* for Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ is only a few days away! Starting December 13, 2011, The Old Republic will begin emailing invitations to start your Early Game Access. Invitations will be sent throughout the Early Game Access period offering rolling access to the game in the order in which you redeemed your Pre-Order Code, so be sure to check your email inbox!

To ensure that players can get into the game as quickly as possible when their Early Game Access begins, we are now allowing everyone who has redeemed a Pre-Order Code at our Code Redemption Center to pre-load the game to their computer.

In order to download the game client before Early Game Access begins, you need have already logged into your account and redeemed your Pre-Order Code. Once you have done this, you can download the game client by clicking on “My Account” in the upper-right of the window and then click “Pre-Order.” On your Pre-Order page, click the large button that says “Download Game Client” to begin download of the game!

If you participated in our recent Beta Testing Weekend between November 25th and 28th and still have the game client installed, you will be able to patch this client instead of re-installing by simply launching your client, logging in and allowing the download to complete. If you did not participate in the November 25th – 28th Beta Weekend, first uninstall the Game Testing Client and then re-install to ensure your game client will function correctly during Early Game Access.

Learn more about how to get ready for Early Game Access!

If you haven’t pre-ordered Star Wars: The Old Republic yet, you still have time. Visit our Pre-Order Page, secure your copy of the game and redeem your Pre-Order Code at the Code Redemption Center to pre-load the client and qualify for Early Game Access.

If you have any issues installing or patching the game client for The Old Republic, check visit the Customer Service Support section for information and assistance.

*Customers who redeem their Pre-Order Code at the Code Redemption Center prior to launch will be able to pre-load the Star Wars: The Old Republic Game Client before the official Game launch. Pre-loading the Game does not grant you access to the Game. Pre-Ordering the Game only allows you access to the Early Game Access period and your Color Crystal. Early Game Access may be up to 7 days. The length of your Early Game Access depends on the date and order in which you redeemed your Pre-Order Code. In order to continue playing the Game after the Early Game Access period, you must redeem your official Game Product Registration Code at the Code Redemption Center.

[MiseryMachine]

The direct link to download the client is http://www.swtor.com/download

[MiseryMachine]

Depending on when/if you placed your order, you can start playing as early as the 13th! 

Hello everyone,

We're happy to finally announce today that Early Game Access begins December 13th, 2011. This means that everyone who has pre-ordered Star Wars: The Old Republic and redeemed their pre-order code will have up to seven days to play the game early.

As before, when your Early Game Access begins will be determined based on when you redeemed your pre-order code. You will be emailed on the day you are being admitted to Early Game Access to confirm you can now access the game.

Early Game Access was extended to seven days to allow us to gradually ramp up the number of people in the game over a longer period. This allows us to ensure maximum stability and a good population across servers. It also allows us to have more flexibility on exactly how many people we admit per day.

With that said, we're still planning on allowing a large number of people into Early Game Access on a daily basis. In our final Beta Testing Weekends, we had hundreds of thousands of players on the game servers - and we have additional server capacity for launch. However, we still need to remain flexible during Early Game Access, and this led to the decision to notify people on the day that their Early Game Access begins.

We know many of you expected and wanted advance notice on Early Game Access, but we made this decision to ensure that we could remain flexible and react to unforseen issues during launch. Our number one priority has always been a smooth launch, so this decision was a necessity.

The good news is that effectively everyone is being given two 'extra bonus' days as the EGA program is now up to seven days long. The bad news is unfortunately we cannot let people know on an individual basis when they will gain access until we are ready.

We do understand that you are concerned about when you will receive the email. To save your F5 keys, as well as being notified by email, you will also be able to check the Launcher for Star Wars: The Old Republic. When you have been granted Early Game Access, your Play button will be enabled. (You will need to restart the Launcher on occasion if you're still grey.) Finally, you will be able to login to your account page here on SWTOR.com and check your status.

We absolutely understand (and appreciate!) everyone's eagerness to play, but this plan will ensure that we don't fall at the final hurdle - bringing people into the game at launch. We hope you'll bear with us as we gradually grant Early Game Access to everyone who pre-ordered.

[MiseryMachine]

!!IMPORTANT GAME CODE INFORMATION.  PLEASE READ!!

Our sales and marketing teams are working closely with retailers in the US and Europe to ensure that copies of Star Wars: The Old Republic will be delivered in time for launch day.

In Europe, game copies will be available at retail starting on December 15, 2011. For those of you in the USA and Canada, game copies will be available at retail starting on December 20, 2011. For those of you who pre-ordered digital editions of the game from Origin.com, you will be emailed your Game Codes starting December 16, 2011.

As soon as you receive your Game Code (AKA 'product registration code'), be sure to enter it on your account under Code Redemption, because as soon as you enter the code you will receive your digital entitlements in-game (i.e. digital items included with the game edition purchased). Remember, your billing cycle will not start until official game launch, on December 20, 2011 at 12:01am EST.

There will be no ‘grace period’ post launch in which those who are in Early Game Access will be able to continue to play the game. In order to continue playing past the Early Game Access period, you will need to enter a valid launch game code and payment method. Please read our FAQ for more information. We apologize for any previous messaging which may have led you to believe otherwise.

Please note: the game code does NOT affect your early access status.  The game code only applies when the game is launched on the 20th and can only be applied when you set up your subscription (payment method).  There will be game time cards available for those who do not want to subscribe to recurring monthly payments, like this one available from Amazon.

[Savy]

Got it redeemed. Cant wait. Bounty hunter here i come

[MiseryMachine]

Read on the TOR forums that emails with guild server info will start being sent out on Monday, so be on the look out.

[MiseryMachine]

As we approach early access, it is obvious that some members will have a head start over others.  Let's see what the early access dates are for all members.  I would like to have ALL of us at approx. lvl 10 and on Drummand Kass together.  I realize that this is much easier said than done and is probably wishful thinking.  To help with this, i'm going to create my alt immediately (so i can reserver the Ravenriley name) and then let her sit until some of the other late starters get in the game and i can help them out, if need be.  All i'm sayin is let's be aware of other members who may want/need some help leveling.

[Walker]

I will do like last time level up to 10 get my spec and then jump back and just help run yours

[diGGxduGG]

i had the same idea to create an alt right away.  i agree with level 10 being the target seeing how things went during the beta.

[diGGxduGG]

i'm in!  now if i only didnt have to be at work right now...

[red]

Rolled on our server. Sith warrior named BURRITO. LOL

[Sol405]

Looks like they are sending 4 waves of emails out today.  So far it looks like
first wave: July 21
second wave: July 22
third wave: July 23-?
fourth wave:

Took this from gaming-age forums so not sure how accurate it is.

[MiseryMachine]

Email has a link to a page with this info.

EARLY GAME ACCESS
Customers who pre-order Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ will be able to play the game before the official launch. “Early Game Access” is the period of time before the official game launch when pre-order customers may access the game. Early Game Access may begin as early as December 13, 2011, 7:00AM EST (Pacific: December 13th, 4:00AM PST; European: December 13th, 12:00PM GMT, 1:00PM CET). The length of your Early Game Access depends on the date and order in which you redeemed your Pre-Order Code at the Code Redemption Center. See the FAQ for more details.

To ensure you are ready to get into the game for Early Game Access, follow the instructions provided below to finalize your account activation and pre-load the Game Client.

Instructions

• Pre-order the game
• Redeem your Pre-Order Code to be eligible for Early Game Access
• Uninstall the Game Testing Client
  If you participated in The Old Republic Game Testing Program, but did not participate in the November 25th-28th or December 2nd-4th Beta Weekends, first uninstall the Game Testing Client before moving on to the next step. If you did participate in either of these Beta Weekends, there is no need to uninstall your Game Client. Visit the FAQ for instructions on how to uninstall your Game Testing Client.
• PRE-LOAD: Download the Launch Game Client
  If you have completed the steps above, please visit http://www.swtor.com/download to pre-load the Game Client.
  
  Also, at any time, you can log in to swtor.com and visit My Account >> Pre-Order to pre-load the Game Client. Click "Download Game Client" to begin the game installation. We encourage you to begin this process as soon as possible so you are ready when you are invited to play!
• Invitation to Play the Game Early
  Starting December 13, 2011, 7:00AM EST (Pacific: December 13th, 4:00AM PST; European: December 13th, 12:00PM GMT, 1:00PM CET), The Old Republic will begin emailing invitations to start your Early Game Access. Invitations will be sent throughout the Early Game Access period offering rolling access to the game in the order in which you redeemed your Pre-Order Code, so be sure to check your email inbox!
  
  To see your Early Game Access status, log in to swtor.com and visit My Account >> Pre-Order.

Are you a guild member through the Pre-Launch Guild Program?
Just prior to Early Game Access, you will be able to log in to swtor.com and visit the Guilds Headquarters to see if your guild was assigned a server and to play with them. You'll also see a flag next to a server name in-game if your guild is on that server. Visit the Guild FAQ for more details.

Have a Product Registration Code?
If you redeem a Product Registration Code during Early Game Access, your 30 days of included game time will not begin until the game officially launches on December 20, 2011, 12:01AM EST (Pacific: December 19th, 9:01PM PST; European: December 20th, 05:01AM GMT, 06:01AM CET).

Visit the FAQ for more info.

Outside of maybe getting the new client and downloading the game, most of this stuff should already be done.  Can't wait to see everyone in there.

[MiseryMachine]

They are now selling authentication keys.  I highly recommend getting this device.  It will significantly decrease your chances of being hacked.  The key fob is $4 or you can wait for the free phone app.

http://www.swtor.com/info/security-key

Also, if you click on the buy now link, you will see that you can purchase 60-day game cards.  This is nice for those who want to pay as you go.