11/06/03 - Latest News

New Battle For Middle-Earth Screenshots
Luthien @ 5:05 pm EST

Check out these gorgeous new screenshots from The Battle for Middle-earth, which is scheduled for release in 2004. The Battle for ME utilizes the Generals game engine, and in the game players can select from the different "good" or "evil" campaigns, where they will be given the freedom to command a variety of major armies from the films, each with their own distinct strengths and weaknesses. Prepare for war by creating offensive and defensive strategies set in the memorable battle locations taken straight from the big screen. The Battle for Middle-earth RTS game will utilize the digital assets created for the films and will feature exclusive voiceover from the real actors as well as actual movie footage from the three films. [More]

Rotk hits stores today!!
Luthien @ 4:52 pm EST

Yes, it's true! The moment we have all been waiting for has arrived! Go out and get your copy of EA's RotK today!

Reviews and fan reports are already coming in. Here's a quick report from HavensSpy CheatingTexan SPOILERS!!!!!!:

"I bought the new ROTK game this evening after scrambling all over town looking for a store that still had one in stock. I'm sure that you already have a bunch of reports on the new ROTK movie footage, but I thought I'd put in my 2 cents:

We see some footage from the trailer where the three hunters are standing in front of the gate, looking very scared, yada yada. After this shot we swing by some hieroglyphs carved into the stone. Then we enter into the Paths with that shot of Aragorn stepping up to the gate. The camera then cuts to these ditches that are just piled with skulls, but some of the skulls are put up on a ledge, with some old dusty helmets. We see Gimli and Legolas get startled by something and turn around quickly, weapons in hand, then cut to a shot of Aragorn slowly creeping along the paths, staring at the walls as he walks by."

Keep the news, reviews and reports flowing! Write us at Havens@TheOneRing.net

Riffing on Tolkien
Luthien @ 4:29 pm EST

Torn Staffer Ostadan writes that the November 2003 issue of "Game Developer" magazine has an interesting six-page article, "Riffing on Tolkien", describintg the 'conceptualization, production, and dissemination of music in Vivendi Universal Games' Lord of the Rings titles.'

The author descirbes the how he created a 'musical style guide' for Tolkien's work, and how the music cues and textures he created were used by the individual composers for the various games.

This is one of several articles we've seen now on Vivendi's music, and it's refreshing to see as much time and attention put into the music as the game itself.

11/05/03 - Latest News

Games Workshop announces opening of new Hobby Centers
Luthien @ 9:08 pm EST

Games Workshop recently announced that it has just opened three new Hobby Centers this past weekend, bringing the total to 50 Hobby Centers throughout the United States. To learn more about Hobby Centers, or find one near you, check out this special report: [More]

11/03/03 - Latest News

New ROTK Game Poster
Xoanon @ 9:57 pm EST

A Ringer spy sent along these images of a new Aragorn themed ROTK Game poster. Take a look! [More]

11/01/03 - Latest News

EA's UK Press Launch for the ROTK Game
Xoanon @ 12:09 pm EST

Irascian writes: Here’s a short report on tonight’s UK press launch of the EA console game “Return of the King”. EA used the prestigious Science Museum as the venue for the official launch of their “Return of the King” game, scheduled to be launched for PS/2, Xbox, Nintendo and PC on November 14th in the UK, just four days ahead of the release of the extended edition DVD of TTT. [More]

10/31/03 - Latest News

Games Workshop Expands to ROTK Game
Xoanon @ 1:56 pm EST

The world’s leading strategy battle-games company Games Workshop is gearing up for the November launch of its newest game. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is the third in the series of table-top battle strategy games based on New Line Cinema’s highly acclaimed movie trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. Carefully designed to mirror the excitement and thrills of the greatly anticipated third film that hits the big screen in December 2003, The Return of the King game will carry the adventures in Middle-earth onwards with new rules and heroes for players to use in their games. [More]

10/26/03 - Latest News

'Lord of the Rings' by Reiner Knizia Board Game Review
Calisuri @ 10:34 pm EST

From Irish-Man: Hello everyone. I was talking to Calisuri at the Baggins' picnic in LA last month and we discussed the Lord of the Rings game. I said I had played it frequently with some friends and offered to review it, and he thought that was a good idea. Now, I'm not sure what should go into a game review, so I'm just going to discuss it as if nobody had ever heard of it before, including the basic rules and my thoughts on it. [More]

10/25/03 - Latest News

Sabertooth's TMG released today!
Luthien @ 3:03 pm EST

TODAY, the forces of Middle-earth will begin to wage war, as Sabertooth releases its long awaited The Lord of the Rings Tradeable Miniatures Game. Set in a dark time, with the forces of Saruman and Sauron ravaging the world, great heroes must lead their forces into battle against the oncoming hordes, and you can be at the center of it all!

The Lord of the Rings TMG features over 120 expertly painted miniatures, based on all of the key characters from The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Each minature comes on its own unique base with all the information you need to play, and without the need for extensive record keeping. The TMG also features the intuitive Combat HexTM game system, which should make this game particularly fun, fast-paced and easy to learn!

The Lord of the Rings TMG is available with The Lord of the Rings Starter and booster sets. For more details, go here! And remember, after you've tried out this game, send us your thoughts, comments and reviews to Havens@TheOneRing.net

Return of the King PC Demo is out
Luthien @ 2:51 pm EST

HavensSpy Brian_C writes the following: "I just picked up the Nov 2003 issue of Maximum PC magazine and it has a 106MB demo of EA's ROTK game! I'm sure it's a matter of time til it's available as a download on the 'net, but for now it seems like it's a
magazine exclusive.

The level featured in the demo has you playing as Gandalf fighting off hordes of orcs, and later trolls!

Here's the level's objective from the readme.txt with the demo:

The Citizens of Minas Tirith must be saved! Get 200 Gondorian women through the exit, up to the next level of Minas Tirith. The invading horde will try to stop you at this task, and dispatching them quickly will allow you accomplish your goal at a faster pace! The survival of Gondor rests in your hands, Gandalf the White!

It looks awesome playing at 1600x1200 resolution."

So, everyone go out and get your copy now! And thanks for the info, Brian_C.