Last month we brought you word that EA had Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning listed for a September 23 release date. We’ve just gotten the official announcement from Mythic Entertainment, and it looks like the actual date will be five days earlier than expected: on September 18.

Along with the release date Mythic also let us know how much Warhammer’s subscription costs would run, which are pretty standard as far as MMO pricing goes.

• Monthly Subscription: $14.99 USD
• 3-Month Subscription: $41.97 ($13.99 per month)
• 6-Month Subscription: $77.94 ($12.99 per month)

Also, if you go ahead and preorder the game (from these select retailers) you’ll get a few extra bonuses. Firstly, you’ll gain admittance to the open beta, which confuses me as a selling point, seeing as how if it’s an open beta then everyone should be able to get in regardless. Along with the “open” beta admittance, preorderers will be able to start the playing the game a few days before the official launch, and will have two bonus item to equip their head-start characters with. It also comes with a Warhammer collectable card deck for you to, uh, collect.

Do these extras provide enough motivation for you to get up (or turn on your computer) and go preorder Warhammer Online?

FAIRFAX, Va. - August 5, 2008 - 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.

Consumer demand for WAR is mounting with all units of the game's Collector's Edition having been pre-sold in North America. In addition, the title is receiving significant media attention, picking up numerous critic awards at this year's E3, including "Best PC Game" from G4's XPlay, "Best MMO" from IGN and Voodoo Extreme, and "Top 10 PC Game" from Gamespy, as well as being nominated for the prestigious Game Critic's Awards "Best PC Game".

"The countdown has officially begun. Mark your calendars! September 18th is the Day of Reckoning," said Mark Jacobs, founder and general manager of Mythic Entertainment. "For the last three years, the entire team at Mythic has poured their hearts into making Warhammer Online the next great MMORPG. We are so excited to open up this world and share it with the fans that will live in it, quest in it, go to war in it and make it come alive."

Fans looking forward to laying siege to their enemy's capital city will have several pricing options available, beginning with a $14.99 monthly subscription. Additionally, collectible 30- and 60-day prepaid Game Time™ Cards will be available at many game retailers. WAR subscription options include:
•    Monthly Subscription: $14.99 USD
•    3-Month Subscription: $41.97 ($13.99 per month)
•    6-Month Subscription: $77.94 ($12.99 per month)
Players can now pre-order their copy of WAR to secure their spots on the frontlines with a special pre-order package that includes:
•    Open beta admission: Pre-order customers can experience the glory of battle and the thrill of WAR by participating in the open beta test.
•    Head Start program: Players can begin their adventures in the Age of Reckoning before the game's official launch.
•    Bonus in-game items: Players can equip their characters with two bonus in-game items by pre-ordering from select retail partners.
•    Universal Fighting System™ Battle Deck: The Emperor Karl Franz and Tchar'zanek, dread Champion of Tzeentch, go head-to-head in this exclusive collectible card game from Fantasy Flight Games. (Available in a limited supply from select retailers.)
Participating pre-order partners include Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, Direct2Drive, EAStore.com, EB Canada, EB Games, Fry's, Futureshop, GameCrazy, GameStop, GoGamer.com, and Walmart.com. (Pre-order offers will vary by retailer.) The European pre-order program is scheduled to begin in late August. For more information about the North American pre-order program, visit www.warhammeronline.com/preorder.

Available for the PC, WAR is rated "T" for TEEN by the ESRB. WAR will be the first MMORPG to launch servers simultaneously in North America, Europe, and Oceania when it goes live on September 18th, 2008. For more information, visit http://www.warhammeronline.com/.