lotro
Latest
See LotRO's Shores of Evendim in all their video glory
We've already shared with you some of the new features added by the forthcoming Lord of the Rings Online update, Book 9: The Shores of Evendim so you know it's not all sandy beaches and sunscreen. Actually, none of it is. Further evidence of Shores' non-friendliness to vacationers is evident in this new trailer.Take, for instance, that weird spear-carrying goblin. Good luck selling a condo next to that guy's hut. Oh, and we see there are creepy lizards roaming around and lots of stuff appears to be on fire! Watch those property values skyrocket. Don't trust your friendly Hobbit travel agent Seemo Islands, check it out for yourself when the free content goes live tomorrow.
Is real money for game items in our future?
No, this isn't something Blizzard is telling us -- they're still out there fighting with the issue of people buying and selling gold. However, Jeffrey Steefel, executive producer of Lord of the Rings Online, who seems to think that in the future, how MMO's handle the secondary market of gold, item, and character sales is going to have to change. In an interview with Eurogamer, he says:But, we all know that something will happen in the next two to five years to business models in general, so we're paying attention to what's going on [with the secondary market]; watching what's going on with Sony Station whose servers support and manage this.Does Steefel have a point? In the long run, is the only way to fight the secondary market to legalize it and integrate it with our games? But even if you look at Everquest II, where Sony provides an official method for selling gold, items, and characters for real cash, there's still a secondary market. And I've got to say, if Sony's method doesn't stop secondary market gold sales, I've got to wonder if any method of legitimizing the trade will. And while we wait to see what Steefel decides to do with Lord of the Rings Online, we can watch Blizzard approach the problem in their own way -- in the courts.[Via Joystiq]
LotRO updates and takes a trip to shores of Evendim
Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar is apparently the #1 selling PC game in North America, Germany, UK and France and they're about to give players a free content update. Book 9: Shores of Evendim is the first in the expected quarterly content updates. The content update will go live June 13, some features include: Discover Evendim, a region dominated by the Lake Nenuial, the 'Lake of the Twilight'. Amidst the ruins are powerful artifacts now threatened by evil creatures and the nefarious forces lurking in Angmar. What, you thought there would be cute puppies? Over 100 new quests Raid in the Battle for Helegrod, challenging the dragon Thorog in a 24-player raid in the Misty Mountains. Major updates to the music system, players can now utilize a new music notation system that enables them to compose music offline and upload it to your character in-game. Seven new sets of epic armor enable players to gain progressive bonuses for each piece of armor worn from a set. We haven't received any player numbers for LotRO, so we don't know if Turbine has hit the magic million user mark, but from all accounts things are going solidly with the game. LotRO: Shadows of Angmar follows the adventures of the fellowship through the first book in the trilogy and fills in the gaps of the story. A few more content updates are expected before the full expansion pack next year.[Via Press Release]
LotRO producer says real money for game items is the future
Turbine, the company behind Lord of the Rings Online, recently had executive producer Jeffrey Steefel sit down for an interview where he said the company is keeping an eye on the "secondary market" of legally purchasing in-game items with real money. He says in the next five years the MMO business model will change to accommodate using real-life money to buy in-game currency. Steefel says, "Our position is pretty straightforward right now. Our responsibility is to the subscribers of the game, to deliver to them the experience they expect. So we certainly do not support people farming or taking advantage of the system in that way. It's against our Terms of Service and we do try and enforce that. ... But, we all know that something will happen in the next two to five years to business models in general, so we're paying attention to what's going on; watching what's going on with Sony Station whose servers support and manage this."Sony Station Exchange is the controversial pay for item model. Advocates say it's a way for people who don't have the time, to pay their way into the game. Many gamers consider it corporate sponsored gold farming. Even if you purchase an item through an exchange, you can always sell it in-game for currency. Paying your way into an MMO just feels like an athlete using steroids. Sure, you can argue that if the means are there and the time isn't, why not do it? We just don't know how we'd feel about playing a game where you can, as part of the rules, pay a company extra money to get ahead.
Turbine becoming fat hobbitses off LoTRO sales
Looks like the battle for fantasy-based MMORPG supremacy is on. Turbine announced today that Lord of the Rings: Shadows of Angmar is the #1 selling game in North America and Europe according to various sales data. They may have a long way to go before taking a bite out of World of Warcraft's 8.5 million users, but at least they didn't fall on their face like Vanguard.Reviews have been pleasant for the game and we haven't heard of constant server crashes like we did at the beginning of WoW's life. Then again, Turbine's been at the MMO biz for a while now. The first free content update is already expected in June. It'll be interesting to see when Turbine releases their first user numbers and if they hit that magical 1 million milestone. Well, the game isn't a flop and brings a good alternative choice in the MMO market. But the journey is still long.[Via Press Release]
BBC reports on upcoming WoW competition
Slashdot is linking this morning to an article that BBC has posted today which gathers views from several game developers as they talk about what comes next when you have a behemoth such as the World of Warcraft dominating the MMO-verse. While somewhat light on new perspectives, it's just further showing that developers really do have to account for WoW when considering their existing and future software offerings. Though the article talks with people behind Star Wars Galaxies, Lord of the Rings Online, and the upcoming Age of Conan, I find that Slashdot commenter JanusFury sums it up best with, "Instead of complaining about the lack of a strong competitor to WoW, how about making one?" What's on your MMO horizon as a WoW-killer? Does anything coming up, or existing on the market now, have a powerful enough hook to pull you away from the World of Warcraft? Obviously, if you look at the included image, you know what I'm waiting for. [via Slashdot]
Turbine announces LOTRO update 'Shores of Evendim'
Lord of the Rings Online is barely in Open Beta, but Turbine already announced its first free content update, called Shores of Evendim. Coming in June, Shores of Evendim will challenge players to "secure the valuables of the abandoned city," "defy Angmar's encroaching grip on Annúminas," and "experience revolutionary new Prancin' Hobbit Mode (PHM)." Okay, we made that last part up. But one of these days, somebody needs to come up with a game featuring Prancin' Hobbit Mode. (Or at least Prancin' Ewok Mode.)[Thanks, Bripod!]
Midnight launches for Lord of the Rings Online
Can't wait to get your hands on Frodo? Wait, that came out bad. Um, ready to start your journey to Mount Doom as soon as possible? Gamestop/EB Games is holding midnight launches in select cities for Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. Those waiting in line will have a chance to win t-shirts, signed posters, game subscription codes and various bits of other phat lootz swag. Here's where the cosplayers should start getting giddy: Three fans wearing the best Lord of the Rings-themed costume will win a special prize. Also, various members of the development team will be at the locations answering questions about the game. All events are from 11 PM to Midnight on Monday, April 23 at: Boston - Prudential Mall Chicago - 920 Church Street, Evanston, IL Los Angeles - Store TBD New York - Broadway and 33rd, 1282 Broadway Seattle - 248 Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA If you don't know if you're ready to start the quest to get rid of that precious ring, the open beta for LotRO is still going on until next Monday. The game has received decent early buzz and has been a top-seller in the PC category on Gamestop.com for a while. We'll find out in a week if LotRo has what it takes to put a dent in the unstoppable megahit World of Warcraft.
Lord of the Rings Online free until April 24
For the next 17 days feel free to go on a Lord of the Rings: Shadows of Angmar bender. Turbine is opening up the floodgates and letting anyone who wants to experience the game play for free until the official launch April 24. The MMORPG's developer knows who they are up against and told Joystiq previously that they put a lot of work into the game. They're launching the title polished like no other MMORPG has been before to contend in the market. Players will be able to advance to level 15 and transfer that character if they decide to pre-order the game. LotRO also allows those that know they are going to like the game during this free trial to spend $199 for a lifetime subscription, otherwise there is a $9.99/month charge. So, if you're into MMORPGs at all or just want to check out LotRO, go ahead -- it's free.
Middle-earth expands to the Middle Kingdom
According to a press release from Turbine Entertainment, the MMO maker is partnering with China's CDC Games to bring Lord of the Rings Online: The Shadows of Angmar to Chinese gamers -- a market with a strong affinity for online fantasy games. Turbine has already experienced success with Dungeons & Dragons Online in China and Japan, thanks to some effective content localization, and CDC will use a similar strategy by giving Middle-earth a distinctly Asian makeover. I hope this just means substituting tofu and rice for lembas bread, and not giving Gandalf a Fu Manchu moustache.See also: LOTR Online gameplay footage
