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Turbine releases GameStop-exclusive LotRO Mithril edition
Turbine snubbed box collectors with its last two Lord of the Rings Online expansions, but the company hasn't abandoned retail altogether. The new Mithril edition is exclusive to GameStop stores, and while it may not be as valuable as Frodo's life-saving waistcoat, it does provide $50 worth of content for a paltry $29.99. Exclusive bonus items include a Steed of the Horse-lords mount, Path of the Fellowship quests, and 2,000 Turbine points to spend in the game's cash shop. It's worth noting that the Mithril edition is basically a starter kit for the full game, as it does not include the Siege of Mirkwood expansion or the Rise of Isengard expansion. Further details are available at the official LotRO website. [Source: Turbine press release]
The Daily Grind: Should stores pull game boxes for games that are no longer for sale?
It's an ongoing joke among MMO fans: finding a shelf at your local Stuff Mart that contains Tabula Rasa boxes for sale or maybe a few copies of Realtime Worlds' version of APB. While doing some shopping this week, I came across a shelf of DC Universe Online boxes for $39.99, and while DCUO isn't free yet, it still set me thinking. Do stores have a certain responsibility to keep track of the status of these games and adjust their stock accordingly? I've heard both sides of the argument. On one hand, the retailer purchased those items for resale, and if the shop can sell them after the game has closed, changed hands, or gone free-to-play, more power to it. Maybe someone even wants to purchase one for nostalgia's sake. On the other hand, those shops are selling a nonfunctional product to potentially unsuspecting customers. Is the onus on the retailer to keep track, provide a warning to customers, and maybe even pull the items from the shelves? Or is it the customer's responsibility to make an informed purchase? Let us know what you think! Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
The Daily Grind: How long does a new game have to get you hooked?
Buying a new MMO implies a certain level of commitment. Whether you're purchasing the game on day one or just buying it after hearing about it from friends, you have some investment when you shell out the cash for the new box. It's true for the recent launch of RIFT and it was true for Ultima Online. But just because you want to be there for launch doesn't mean that you're ready to place yourself in the game for the long haul, even if you've got the nigh-ubiquitous free month to keep you engaged. It's been said that the real test of subscribers isn't at launch but 32 days out from launch, long enough that the rush of people who would just play for the free month have departed. So how long do you take in a game you've purchased to decide if you want to stick with it? Do you make up your mind during the free month? Wait until you no longer feel like logging in? Or is it an ongoing process in which you have to decide fresh on every given month? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Mythos announces European launch information
The hard part of anticipating a game early in the development process is the question of when you'll finally get a chance to see it released. Mythos has thankfully killed that part of the anticipation with the official announcement that the game will be going live as of April 28th, 2011. But if you can't wait that long to start in on a hack-and-slash bonanza and haven't been fortunate enough to get into the beta testing, how about a nice shiny box copy? Before you get your credit card information out, it should be noted that as this is still the European release; the box copy itself is being sold through Amazon.co.uk and will thus be rather limited for American players. For the European contingent, however, buying the box will allow access to the game on the 26th, two days before general release. Mythos players still have time to enjoy the closed beta for now, and as previously noted, open beta will begin on the 12th, if you're still up in the air.
