http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png http://kotaku.com/tag/lord of the rings http://kotaku.com/tag/lord of the rings

Ever since EA binned The White Council, I've been dying for an open-world RPG set in the world of The Lord of the Rings. I am also far from the only one, as a team of modders has been working on building themselves just that, using Bethesda's Elder Scrolls games as a base. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5883576&view=rss&microfeed=true

When LEGO's Lord of the Rings sets were first announced, we only got a look at what Frodo and Aragorn would look like as the company's iconic minifigs. Now we've got a much better look! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5879052&view=rss&microfeed=true

LEGO and Warner Bros. have just announced that the Danish toy company has picked up the rights to produce playsets based on both Peter Jackson's original Lord of the Rings film trilogy and the pair of new Hobbit movies. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5868703&view=rss&microfeed=true

Following big releases, staff usually gets axed. That appears to be the case in the laying off of about 60 from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The publisher confirmed pink slips were given, but not the number. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5856704&view=rss&microfeed=true

I arrived home after a weekend away to find a long cardboard box waiting for me, and within it was the PS3 collector's edition of Lord of the Rings: War in the North. It's a long and skinny box, a different shape than the large, square statue-holders from other games. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5855121&view=rss&microfeed=true

I like where Warner Bros. is going with Lord of the Rings: War In the North. It's got the polish of the movie games with a new story that should give it some breathing room. But that narration... More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5843754&view=rss&microfeed=true

The team behind Minecraft Middle Earth is building, on a reduced scale, the land of Middle Earth from Lord of the Rings. If you think that's bananas, this walkthrough video above goes for half an hour and only covers the journey from The Shire to the Mines of Moria. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5824313&view=rss&microfeed=true

There is another great war in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings saga, a bloody battle set in the northern regions of Middle Earth. This front is the setting of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, the fantasy world's equivalent of the Allied invasion of Normandy, says developer Snowblind Studios. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5780152&view=rss&microfeed=true

In a podcast, the developers of Lord of the Rings Online said that the switch over to a freemium play model has already tripled the revenue coming in from the MMO. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5727121&view=rss&microfeed=true

Finally, you can amputate and decapitate an Orc, thanks to Snowblind Studios' The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, the hack, slash and loot adventure with the Tolkien stamp of approval. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5622861&view=rss&microfeed=true

Two things described by J.R.R. Tolkein in his Lord of the Rings trilogy haven't been seen yet in video games: Bloody, brutal violence, and the War in the North. An action RPG due out in 2011 will deliver both. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5566672&view=rss&microfeed=true

It's a good thing Warner Bros. now owns the rights to both the Lord of the Rings books and movies. It means they can do stuff like this, which is a little bit of both. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5563563&view=rss&microfeed=true

Warner Bros. video game family grows again today, as does the its ownership of things that fall under The Lord of the Rings brand, with the acquisition of developer Turbine, maker of The Lord of the Rings Online. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5520897&view=rss&microfeed=true

With the PlayStation Move looking, well, similar to Nintendo's Wii Remote, you may have wondered how long it would take until it was announced a Wii game was being ported to the PS3. The answer? How about, oh, a few hours. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5490658&view=rss&microfeed=true

If somebody pitched to me the idea of "like Muppet Babies, only for Lord of the Rings", I'd say no, thanks. Then again, I don't work for Warner Bros. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5427449&view=rss&microfeed=true

For years, EA held the license to the Lord of the Rings movies. So only EA could make games using the likenesses of Seans Astin and Bean. But no more. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5263517&view=rss&microfeed=true

Dragon Age: Origins Lead Writer David Gaider and BioWare heads Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk have different ideas about what high and low fantasy is; which may foretell a genre crisis for the game. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5194643&view=rss&microfeed=true

Lord of the Rings: Conquest should have been a hit. It's an official LotR product, it's easy to play, it's modelled after the hugely-successful Battlefront series...but in the end, it all just kinda...fell apart. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5159882&view=rss&microfeed=true

Pandemic have today released some new screens for their Lord of the Rings-does-Battlefront effort, LotR: Conquest. While it's nice to see the game already looking more polished, the decision to try and re-enact the film's major set-pieces in the screens is only going to set people up for disappointment. Those battles were fought by tens of thousands of combatants. This game's "only" going to have around 150. Which is a lot, don't get us wrong, but we're dealing in terms of scale here, people. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5025138&view=rss&microfeed=true There you have it. Our first footage of Pandemic's upcoming LotR game which, for those not in the know, is Battlefront, plus Rohirrim, sans the Stormtroopers. I kinda wish the battles looked...bigger, but then the fact Pandemic were confident enough to release a debut trailer consisting entirely of in-game (or at least very close to in-game) footage is always enough to bolster my confidence in a title. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5018682&view=rss&microfeed=true

Pandemic's upcoming Lord of the Rings: Conquest? Oh, it's so pushing my buttons. All of them. Now that I know some more on the project, well, those buttons are being mashed to within an inch of their worthless, plastic little lives. According to lead designer Sean Soucy, not only will the game feature the epic battles from the movie timeline, but also some other, more intriguing set pieces, such as the Battle of the Last Alliance and even the razing of the Shire. Really. Soucy also sheds some light on the game's "vehicles" and weapons, saying that "Horses, wargs, playable trolls and ents, catapults, siege towers and battering rams" are just "some" of the gear you'll be able to command in the game. So great. Conquest is due in the Fall. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5011247&view=rss&microfeed=true

The latest chapter in the ever-expanding Lord of the Rings Online introduces Forochel, a new region which lies in the far, frozen north of Eriador, which gives players their very first chance to see the ocean in the game. It's funny how you don't notice such a thing missing until it's pointed out to you. Along with giant patches of water, Book 13: Doom of the Last-king promises new cold-based terrain effects. What that means exactly I have no idea. Perhaps slippery patches of ice? It's about time for an MMO to introduce slippery patches of ice. Failing that, some really well-crafted fjords. Turbine promises more info on the next free expansion shortly. For now, it's LotRO on ice! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=377794&view=rss&microfeed=true

Yesterday Luke brought you news, via Electronic Arts' analyst meeting, that Pandemic was working on a new Lord of the Rings game. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=356119&view=rss&microfeed=true

My aching sense of disappointment at the cancellation of EA's Lord of the Rings Oblivion clone The White Council still lingers. To be replaced soon, however, with a renewed sense of hope, even if it is - pardon the quote - a fool's hope: EA revealed in an analysts report today that they've set newly-acquired developers Pandemic to work on a Lord of the Rings game. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=355794&view=rss&microfeed=true

Sure, Turbine and Codemasters' 3rd major free content patch for Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar introduces over 100 new quests, your first glimpse of Gollum, two new areas, Amarthiel's ring of power, a raid against a Balrog, and player housing. That's all well and good, but the single most important aspect of the new update, due out on October 25th, is to the music system, my favorite aspect of the entire game. Three new instruments are being introduced with the update, including the bagpipes and god's very voice on earth - the cowbell. Finally all of Middle Earth can be graced by the most complete version of my masterpiece, "Don't Fear The Ringwraith." Hit the jump for info on that other crap. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=312429&view=rss&microfeed=true

By bringing Sméagol and Gollum to live in Lord of the Rings, actor Andy Serkis set off a hailstorm of controversy. His performance was so good that many Academy members felt he should be nominated for an Oscar (the Academy felt otherwise). He is able to inject great humanity into his motion capture work. Heavenly Sword marks the first time that Serkis has done motion-capture for a game. What's the difference between doing motion-capture and doing traditional acting? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=288650&view=rss&microfeed=true

Turbine continues to impress the hell out of me with the level of support and dedication they have to making sure Lord of the Rings Online stays fresh and exciting despite the fact that their main audience has been perfectly content to read the same fifty year-old fantasy series over and over again. This Wednesday sees the beginning of their first big festival event, The Summer Solstice Festival More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=269791&view=rss&microfeed=true

Fifteen actors from the Lord of the Rings trilogy are selling New Line Cinema for breach of contract, claiming they still haven't received a percentage of the estimated $100 million in profits from the sales of movie merchandise, including the video games: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=266805&view=rss&microfeed=true

A little over a month old and Lord of the Rings Online is ready for a major free content upgrade, further entrenching Turbine and Codemasters in the hearts of Tolkien fans around the world. For weeks now we've been logging in to see the teaser screen, and finally today details emerge on the Shores of Evendim patch. It's a whole slew of new content, including one major feature that might get my short attention span having butt to resubscribe: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=266014&view=rss&microfeed=true

Arrows have been nocked, swords have been drawn, and Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar has gone live. As I type this hundreds of new Hobbits are being created, along with thousands of elves with names like Llegolass, Regorass, Orlando, et cetera. Expect a handful of dwarves. People who play dwarves have issues. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=254792&view=rss&microfeed=true

What is potentially the most hobbit-forming MMO of all time is about to start it's open beta phase, leading up to the release on April 24th. Just hit up the web site, click on the World Tour link (or the link below this post), and follow the instructions to find out how to receive your account key and download the client. European players need to go to a different site to sign up, but Canada, Australia and New Zealand? You're with us, but Canada called shotgun and New Zealand has to sit in Australia's lap. Don't make us turn this car around. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=250228&view=rss&microfeed=true

After some none too subtle hints earlier this week, Electronic Arts has gone ahead and just plain announced the mouthful Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth 2 expansion, The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth 2, The Rise of the Witch King. A new faction, new units, a new single-player campaign and an entirely new setting are the highlight features... standard expansion fare. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=190462&view=rss&microfeed=true Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-Earth II hit stores today and if you were lucky you got yourself one. I'm sure there are going to be plenty of hardcore computer RTS fans out there who will say you can't do real-time strategy on a console, but I think this game proves you can. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=185930&view=rss&microfeed=true

Apparently publishers don't want to ship software in the middle of summer, especially on an American holiday synonymous with being outside, because this week's releases run from pathetic to "huh?". There is one big game hitting this week, see if you can figure out which one it is! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=184844&view=rss&microfeed=true

Not a whole lot more needs to be said than, "Wow," at this piece of Halo 2 meets The Two Towers machinima. It's isn't "new," persay, but it's new to me. I'm firing up The Two Towers in the background for the rest of the workday at the office. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=151577&view=rss&microfeed=true

EA announced this morning that Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II is heading to the Xbox 360. This will be the first LOTR game that is playable over the Live, and will dump gamers right back into the huge battles that made Peter Jackson's movie series such a big friggin' deal. You can probably get dressed up and roleplay and say things to your Xbox Live foes like "Where is the horse and the rider, where is the horn that was blowing?" if you want to creep them out. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=148502&view=rss&microfeed=true

Hugo Weaving will bring his very direct voicing to the EA-made LOTR, The Battle for Middle Earth II. Almost a distraction in LOTR because of his work in the Matrix films, it's still kind of hard not to laugh the first time you see Weaving in Fellowship. His voicing in the EA game will probably strike similar chords. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=136533&view=rss&microfeed=true