Turbine and Midway recently announced that they are kicking off a Founder's Program for their upcoming massively multiplayer game Lord of the Rings Online.

The program is for anyone who pre-orders the game. Most of the pre-order bonuses are your typical fare, like beta access to the game, lower monthly subscriber fees, unique in-game bonus items (a ring of agility and a cloak of regeneration). But one of the ideas they've included is the option to purchase a life time membership to the game.

For about $200 (or 20 months of subscription fees), you don't have to ever play another monthly fee to play their game.

Kind of a cool, though pricey idea. The chief complaint most people seem to have with MMO's is that ongoing monthly fee. Now if they would only bump it down to something more palatable, like say $100 to $150. Brian Crecente

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TURBINE AND MIDWAY UNVEIL REVOLUTIONARY PRE-ORDER FOUNDER'S PROGRAM FOR THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE

Highly-Anticipated MMO Currently Scheduled to Launch on April 24, 2007

WESTWOOD, MA and CHICAGO, IL - January 25, 2007 — Turbine, Inc. and Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY) today announced the details of the revolutionary pre-order Founder's Program for The Lord of the Rings Online : Shadows of Angmar . The highly anticipated massively multiplayer online game, The Lord of the Rings Online, lets players experience the greatest epic fantasy adventure of all time and join with millions of fans from around the globe in the vast world of Middle-earth.

This exciting Founder's Program rewards all players who pre-order The Lord of the Rings Online with special $9.99 monthly subscription pricing, early access to the game (beta version), character roll-over and unique in-game bonus items. Players can become a Founder by pre-ordering the title at www.lotro.com/preorder or at retail stores nationwide beginning February 1, 2007. This limited-time offer is exclusively available to pre-order customers.

"The Lord of the Rings Online immerses you in one of the greatest literary works of all time," said Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO of Turbine. "The Founder's Program pricing plan rewards fans for their loyalty with a special opportunity to join Middle-earth from the beginning."

The Lord of the Rings Online Founder's Program* offers players two different membership options:

* Only $9.99 per month subscription price!

OR

* Just $199 for a Lifetime Membership!

In addition to these special pricing options, The Lord of the Rings Online Founders receive:

Open Beta: Guaranteed access provides Founders the first opportunity to create a character and enter Middle-earth currently planned for March 30, 2007

Character Roll-Over: Moves the character that you created during the Open Beta into the live service —along with the stats, levels, items, and experience that character earned prior to launch!

Bonus Items: Two special in-game items that are only available to those who pre-order:

o Enchanted Cloak of Regeneration

o Ring of Agility

This exciting Founder's Program is available for a limited time until the commercial launch of The Lord of the Rings Online (currently scheduled for April 24, 2007). At launch, millions of fans will be able to explore the untold stories of Middle-earth, interact with legendary heroes like Gandalf, and play a vital role in the War of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings Online is the first and only massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the Books of J.R.R. Tolkien. The game recreates the vast world of Middle-earth with incredible dedication to the Tolkien lore with an unprecedented level of detail. The game delivers an experience that takes players beyond the books to where they can create their own story within the most famous fantasy world of all time. For more information, visit www.lotro.com.

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