3/14/06 - Latest News

Fantasy Flight Games Talks Tolkien Part I
Xoanon @ 2:02 pm EST

Ostadan writes: Fantasy Flight Games' page of 'rants' has two items of interest to Tolkien fans; both are expansions of existing games.

Lord of the Rings: Battlefields

"In August, Reiner Knizia gives us a new expansion for the classic Lord of the Rings board game. Each of the boards from the main game has a corresponding battlefield, and players maneuver heroes and villains on these battlefields to improve their position in the fully integrated main game. We'll have more information from Reiner on this expansion at the end of this month, so stay tuned!"

Lord of the Rings is a lighter cooperative game that has been around for several years, and has had two expansions. Previously, Dr. Knizia had said that he didn't think this third expansion would ever see the light of day.

fantasyflightgames.com

Fantasy Flight Games Talks Tolkien Part II
Xoanon @ 1:57 pm EST

Ostadan writes: Fantasy Flight Games' page of 'rants' has two items of interest to Tolkien fans; both are expansions of existing games.

War of the Ring: Battles of the Third Age

"Battles of the Third Age is also both a companion game and an expansion for the original. The tactical companion game allows you to recreate the battles of Gondor and Rohan on an all new double-sided game board. The expansion features more than 70 new plastic figures, over 100 new cards, new custom dice, and much more that will add tons of new play options to this classic game. War of the Ring: Battles of the Third Age is expected in April."

War of the Ring is a moderately complex strategic battle game, falling into the 'Risk on steroids' category; however, the Lord of the Rings theme is presented very well indeed. --Ostadan

fantasyflightgames.com

3/10/06 - Latest News

LOTR Online Update
Xoanon @ 3:54 pm EST

Meghan, Online Community Manager for The Lord of the Rings Online writes: Last Friday we announced our partnership with Codemasters as our European publisher and distributor. You can find the press release here.

Yesterday, we posted concept art for Trestlebridge, an area the LOTRO team created specifically for the game. This is the first piece we've shown by concept artist Todd Rueping, who has been working on concepting the environments in the game (if you think Trestlebridge is awesome, you should see Rivendell!). You can find the artwork and a writeup about Trestlebridge here.

This morning, gametrailers.com posted a new LOTRO trailer! This is the first trailer since last year's E3 video (which can be found on gametrailers.com as well) and it contains a peek at those elusive Elves, which so many people have been asking to see! Keep in mind that the Elf is wearing armor from the Race of Men's Bree-land set, since the Elven armor was not ready at the time the video was created.

Now that the Elven cats are out of the bag, we're working to put together an article about Elves on the LOTRO site with a better look at them - and the correct armor. :)

3/02/06 - Latest News

LOTR Online Update
Xoanon @ 8:46 pm EST

Ramen, Online Community Specialist for The Lord of the Rings Online writes: I'm the newest member of the LOTRO Community Relations team. If you haven’t already, you can check out my introduction from last week on the official forums here. I’m looking forward to getting to know our fan-site folks, and thought that sending out this week’s Thursday update email would be a nice little ice-breaker (I come bearing gifts!)

Our update this week is a Developer Diary from esteemed Content Designer Allan “Orion” Maki regarding solo vs. group play and how it pertains to LOTRO:

It seems whenever you set out to design a massively multiplayer online game one question – one sticky, important question – finds its way into the discussions of designers and fans. This question draws hard battle lines, across which terrible words are exchanged, mothers’ names are dragged through the mud, pets are sacrificed on altars of dark forces and hyperbole becomes the ultimate weapon of choice. It is a question that, at its very core, is somewhat of an oxymoron: ‘Will your massively-multiplayer game support solo play?’

Read Friends Don’t Let Friends Tank Balrogs in its entirety here.

EA Games and TheOneRing.net Writing Contest Starts Today!
Celeborn @ 8:56 am EST

Here is your chance to win an Xbox 360 bundle, a copy of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II', and other great prizes in TheOneRing.net and EA Games 'Northern Kingdom Writing Contest!' Put your creative hats on and write your own short story about the Dunedain and the struggles of the Northern Kingdom. TheOneRing.net staff will review the entries and winners will be announced April 7th 2006. Click for the details! [Giveaway]

Battle for Middle-earth II is Here!
Celeborn @ 8:47 am EST

It is March 2nd 2006 - what are you doing today? Run to your local store and snag a copy of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-eath II' today! [Official Website]

1/13/06 - Latest News

PRESS RELEASE: EA ANNOUNCES THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE BATTLE FOR BATTLE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH II FOR THE XBOX 360
Xoanon @ 9:11 pm EST

Chertsey, UK., January 13, 2006: Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that the highly anticipated PC game, The Lord of the RingsTM, The Battle for Middle-earthTM II will make its exclusive console debut when it ships in Summer 2006 on the Xbox 360TM. Players can now command epic Middle-earth battles presented in spectacular high-definition from the comfort of their very own couch. To add to the intensity of the experience, The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II for the Xbox 360 is the first game in The Lord of the RingsTM series that will be playable over Xbox LIVETM*. Players will be able to challenge friends online and engage in intense, action-packed real-time battles. [More]

12/20/05 - Latest News

LOTR The Battle for Middle-earth II Feature Preview
Xoanon @ 8:57 pm EST

Do you want to be good? Or do you want to be evil? Either way, we have the details on the good and evil campaigns in The Battle for Middle-earth II.

EA plans to release the public beta test of The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II this week, and in preparation for this real-time strategy game, we've got the details on the game's two single-player campaigns. Like its predecessor, The Battle for Middle-earth II will let you play as either the good or the bad guys as you attempt to lead your forces to victory. Below, we've got the details on the 16 missions in both campaigns. In addition to the campaigns, there's a Risk-style metagame that will let you try to conquer the whole of Middle-earth as you like. The Battle for Middle-earth II will ship in early 2006. [More]

11/17/05 - Latest News

LOTR: Tactics Screenshots
Xoanon @ 3:36 pm EST

From sony-psp-review.com: EA have released some more screenshots from Lord of the Rings: Tactics, in advance of the PSP release next month. The game looks to be shaping up nicely with some beautifully rendered characters. LOTR: Tactics is licensed from the films (rather than the books) so you get to see Orlando Bloom and Vigo Mortenson on your PSP, as well as the rather scary Ringwraith. [More]

11/08/05 - Latest News

EA's The Lord of the Rings: Tactics Videogame in Stores Today Nationwide
Xoanon @ 6:04 pm EST

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 2005--Electronic Arts Inc (Nasdaq:ERTS - News) announced today that The Lord of the Rings: Tactics(TM), exclusively for the PSP(TM) (PlayStation®Portable) system, has shipped to retailers nationwide. The Lord of the Rings: Tactics puts players in the universe of Middle-earth from the books and films and allows them to lead the Fellowship or take control of the forces of Shadow. The Lord of the Rings: Tactics is EA's first title to incorporate EA's exclusive rights to develop videogames based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic literary fiction, The Lord of the Rings. Previous titles are based solely on content from New Line Cinema's critically acclaimed The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The expansion rights allow EA to introduce players to the depths of the fiction never before explored in an EA videogame. Fans will now be able to step into a world that looks like the films, but experience characters, environments and battles that are inspired by the books. [More]

Order 'PSP The Lord of the Rings: Tactics' on Amazon.com today!