Along with the live events, Book 14 introduces a series of quest lines involving holding the forces of Angmar at bay, which when completed a certain number of times on each server unlock special server-wide content, similar to World of Warcraft's AQ events. Prove your server is the best and be absolutely flooded by assholes who just want to see the new content they weren't around to help unlock. I say thee woot. Hit the jump for full details.

TURBINE uNVEILs BOOK 14: Ring-forge of eregion FOR THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™

2007 PC MMO Game of the Year* Introduces Sixth Content Update for Subscribers

WESTWOOD, MA – July 23, 2008 - Turbine, Inc. announced the details of the sixth content update for subscribers to The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™. Book 14: Ring-forge of Eregion delivers the climax to the epic story from Volume I of The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO). The story takes center stage in Book 14 with several new storytelling mechanics combined with live in-world events that allow players to work together to be part of the rise and fall of Amarthiel at the Ring-forges of Eregion! This will unlock the prelude quests that will lead players to the Mines of Moria™, the first expansion pack to the 2007 PC MMO Game of the Year* scheduled to be released this fall. Book 14: Ring-forge of Eregion is now available to subscribers of The Lord of the Rings Online in North America and Europe.

“The Lord of the Rings Online is one of the only MMOs to successfully integrate story into game play,” said Jeffrey Steefel, Executive Producer of The Lord of the Rings Online. “With Book 14 we continue to create new ways for players to experience the epic story in Middle-earth from the dramatic moments unfolding throughout the story to the new adventure instances that require players to work together across their server to unlock new content and advance the story. The live events planned in Book 14 will provide incredibly dynamic adventures for our players and set the tone for our journey this fall into the Mines of Moria.”

NEW FEATURES:

Ø The Finale of the Epic Story – As the epic story of Volume I reaches its climax, Book 14 will take LOTRO’s unique storytelling to a new level. The story continues as Laerdan leaves for Mirobel, the Ring-forges of Hollin, to reforge the ring Narchuil. Players will set out after him and engage in an epic battle with Amarthiel’s minions that ultimately reveals the true enemy. The story will use several new storytelling mechanics and feature a series of live events hosted by Turbine’s Game Masters who will be playing the role of Amarthiel.

Ø New Battlefield Adventure Instances – Book 14 introduces a new style of gameplay for LOTRO through a series of 6-player experiences calling on the heroes of Middle-earth to hold the line against the invading forces of Angmar. Players across each world must complete a series of chained quests a certain number of times in order to unlock additional content for the entire server.

Ø New Animation Technology – LOTRO continues to improve the award-winning experience for players with major improvements to player animations and the introduction of new emotes for Monster Players.

"What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than spend it with your loved ones in the greatest fantasy world ever created?" said David Solari Vice President of Codemasters Online. "We invite fathers to come and enjoy the festivities that will we be running all day to mark this special occasion.”

See? there's a man who knows you can't write about a special Father's Day event without using the phrase "What better way".

Players are encouraged to use the free trial at TryLotRO.com to get their dads online. Start downloading now so you can spend a lazy Sunday explaining the WASD keys to your father before giving up in frustration and taking him out to Chili's. Mmmm, Chili's.

Codemasters Online Celebrates Father's Day in The Lord of the Rings Online

Codemasters Online invite players to Celebrate Father's Day together in Middle-earth.
June 11th, 2008 - Codemasters Online are inviting fathers from across the UK to celebrate this year’s Father’s Day in virtual style by taking part in the Father’s Day celebrations set to take place across Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings Online.

Taking place on June 15th, Codemasters Online will be running a series of in-game Father’s Day events designed to celebrate this special occasion including father and sons fishing, music and fireworks as well as ad hoc competitions and challenges taking place throughout the day. Fathers are invited to attend these events with their sons and daughters and take part in the online festivities with the thousands of other players in Middle-earth.

"What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than spend it with your loved ones in the greatest fantasy world ever created?" said David Solari Vice President of Codemasters Online. "We invite fathers to come and enjoy the festivities that will we be running all day to mark this special occasion.”

The celebrations are open to both existing and new players to The Lord of the Rings Online. New players can download the free trial now at www.trylotro.com to take part in the day’s festivities.

For more information on the Father’s Day celebrations visit the game’s official European community portal www.lotro-europe.com

"First, he told me that Turbine is investigating the world of cross-platform games, meaning consoles. “These worlds are so rich and robust, we do want them to be shared across platforms, both for existing and future worlds,” Crowley said. We should expect more details on the how and when “later on in the year”. He did make a point of clarifying that Turbine will remain dedicated to the PC, but want to make sure that people who want to enjoy the games (present and future) on the console will be able to do that."

So console MMOs are definitely in the cards for the company, and judging from a job listing posted over at Joystiq this morning, both the Xbox 360 and PS3 are in the running, but which games are making the move?

Joystiq points towards the DDO community forums, where developers have announced that a popular feature, Weekly Development Activities, will be going away for a bit due to several DDO projects that are currently under tight wraps, meaning they'd be unable to post what they've been working on. The same post also states that DDO would be the subject of renewed focus from marketing and PR teams in the coming months, hinting that big news is on the way.

While this could very well mean that Dungeons & Dragons Online is heading to consoles, it is by no means definite, and does nothing to rule out Lord of the Rings Online coming to consoles as well.

From my experience with the two titles, DDO would probably translate best to a console environment, and the game could definitely use the bolstering a new community of console gamers could bring to it. LotRO, on the other hand, continues to enjoy a relatively robust player base compared to its MMO sibling, so porting it would be less of a priority, but by no means out of the question.

As Crowley mentions in the MMORPG interview, we'll know more later in the year. Hopefully we'll have all of these questions cleared up once E3 hits this July.

Turbine - CEO Jim Crowley on New Investors [MMORPG.com - Thanks Asaron!]

* New Region - Explore the icy reaches of Forochel
* New Quests - Over 100 new quests
* Hobby System - Feel like going fishing?
* Enhanced Monsterplay - New monster class: the Orc Defiler
* Looking For Fellowship Enhancements - Mustering Horns and UI improvements
* More customization options - cosmetic clothing, traveling clothes, and barbershops!
* New PvMP dungeon - The Delving of Frór
* Return to Angmar - completely overhauled to enhance playability and fun

tURBINE CELEBRATES THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF the launch of THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™

Month-Long Celebration Marks the Return of the $199 LOTRO Lifetime Subscription Plan

WESTWOOD, MA - April 24, 2008 - Turbine, Inc. announced today a special promotion featuring limited time pricing offers and a series of in-game events to celebrate the first anniversary of The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™ (LOTRO), the award-winning massively multiplayer online roleplaying game.

"It's been an incredible year for LOTRO and Turbine" said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "Winning the 2007 PC Game of the Year, being named 2007 MMO of the Year and the overwhelmingly positive response to the game from fans around the world has been a real validation of our vision*. Our anniversary celebration is a chance for us to take time to gather with our past and present players to enjoy everything that is special about Middle-earth and thank them for their wonderful support with some special in-game events and subscription options."

The month-long celebration of the first anniversary of LOTRO includes:

Ø Launch of Book 13: Doom of the Last-king: Turbine's fifth content update to LOTRO delivers the frosty new region of Forochel, a new Monster Player class plus a host of other enhancements that continue to make LOTRO one of the fastest growing games in the world!

Ø Welcome Back Celebration: Former subscribers are invited to come back to Middle-earth beginning May 8th for five days of free play! Experience the new content added since launch that has increased the size of the world by over 30% including new regions, player housing, the outfit system and a myriad of new raids and instances.

Ø Save Middle-earth and Win: During the anniversary celebration, monsters throughout Middle-earth will drop rare items when defeated. Players can exchange these rare items for a special gift box that will reward the player with one of a variety of in-game items to aid them on their adventures in Middle-earth.

Ø Special Anniversary Pricing: For a limited time, Turbine is offering two new pricing plans for the 2007 PC Game of the Year and the 2007 MMO of the Year! Players can choose to become lifetime subscribers for $199 and never pay a monthly fee again. Players can also choose any multi-month plan (90-days or longer) and lock in a monthly price of $9.99 for as long as they maintain their new subscription plan. **

The Lord of the Rings Online is an award-winning massively multiplayer online role playing game that delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most beloved fantasy adventure of all time. From the picturesque surroundings of the Shire to the upcoming expansion to Moria, the most fearsome underground realm ever imagined, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before. LOTRO is available for purchase at major retailers across North America and Europe. For more information or to download a free trial, visit www.lotro.com or www.lotro-europe.com.

The jokes are too good to spoil here, so make your way to the official site. But pee before you do. We can't have your LOL-derived incontinence on our hands. This is sure to be just a mere speck on the landscape of puns, gags and sidesplitters to be delivered this April Fool's, so brace yourself for all comers.

The Battle of Amon Hen [LotRO]

THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™: Mines of moria™ unveiled at connect 08

Volume II of the 2007 PC Game of the Year Expected to Arrive at Retail This Fall

BIRMINGHAM, UK - March 14, 2008 - Turbine, Inc. and Codemasters Online today unveiled Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online™, the first retail expansion for the award-winning massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG). Announced in Birmingham, the childhood home of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria™ will expand the online world of Middle-earth to let players explore the ancient underground cities of the dwarves, battle epic characters in the depths, face off with the Watcher, be a part of the fateful release of Durin's Bane and more! The Lord of the Rings Online expects to open Volume II of its epic story in the fall of 2008 with an increased level cap, two new classes and the introduction of a unique item advancement system.

"The Mines of Moria is one of the most epic settings in all of fantasy fiction," said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "No one delivers more quality content than Turbine and with our journey into Moria, we will raise the bar even higher. We are adding vast amounts of content, debuting massive new environments and unveiling numerous unique feature sets, like item advancement, which will create entirely new dimensions of compelling game play and social interaction which are unique to The Lord of the Rings Online experience."

NEW FEATURES:

Ø Speak Friend, and Enter - Moria, called Khazad-dûm by the dwarves, was their capital and the grandest of cities. This enormous underground cavern in north-western Middle-earth, comprises an immense network of tunnels, chambers, mines and huge halls that run beneath and ultimately through the Misty Mountains. For the first time, players of The Lord of the Rings Online will enter this ancient city which has served as the foundation for the modern-day dungeon-crawling adventures to battle the hordes of goblins and the Nameless of the Deep and journey through hundreds of new quests within six new kinds of stunning environments.

Ø The Epic Continues! — The Mines of Moria represents the beginning of Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online. Players can experience six new books as part of this update and participate in the release of Durin's Bane, battle the Watcher, aid Galadriel and more!

Ø Increased Level Cap — Players will be able advance their characters up to level 60, gaining access to new traits, virtues, skills and class quests. The crafting system will also expand, giving players the ability to craft even more powerful items.

Ø Discover Two New Classes — The Rune-keeper and the Warden, the first new classes to be introduced since the launch of the game, allow players to build exciting and powerful new characters in The Lord of the Rings Online in diverse new ways.

Ø Forge Legendary Items - The Mines of Moria will introduce Turbine's new item advancement system to The Lord of the Rings Online. Players will be able to forge weapons and class-related equipment and evolve them to build a legacy the likes of Bilbo's Sting and Gandalf's Glamdring. These legendary weapons will level-up along with the player, allowing customization by advancing the item's virtues, adding runic legacies, modifying its titles and forming fables.

To celebrate this exciting news, Turbine and Codemasters also announced today that they will kick off a major promotion that invites everyone to unlock the Mines of Moria by visiting http://www.unlocktheminesofmoria.com. Visitors can learn more about Mines of Moria and play special mini-games that will be periodically released over the coming months. Certain players who participate can complete special deeds through game play and other means to unlock exclusive previews, assets and special in-game items that may help them when they delve into Mines of Moria this fall. The Unlock the Mines of Moria promotion is scheduled to begin at the end of this month.

"We have had a wonderful working relationship with Turbine over the past several years," said Albert M. Bendich, Executive Vice President of The Saul Zaentz Company, and its merchandising division Tolkien Enterprises. "We look forward to our continuing success with Turbine as it pushes the envelope for compelling online entertainment and gameplay to bring the compelling characters of Middle-earth to life for Tolkien fans around the world."

TURBINE AND TOLKIEN ENTERPRISES EXTEND RELATIONSHIP

License to Develop Online Games Based on the Books of J.R.R. Tolkien Extended to 2014

WESTWOOD, MA - February 20, 2008 - Turbine, Inc. announced today that in the wake of the global success of The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™, named the 2007 PC Game of the Year*, it has reached an agreement with Tolkien Enterprises to extend it's license to develop Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games (MMORPG) based on The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien to 2014 with additional options to extend the rights until 2017.

"We're thrilled with the global success of The Lord of the Rings Online since its launch in 2007," said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "With the recent announcement of what are sure to be two blockbuster films based on The Hobbit and a sequel, we expect the success of the license and our relationship with Tolkien Enterprises to grow for years to come.

"We have had a wonderful working relationship with Turbine over the past several years," said Albert M. Bendich, Executive Vice President of The Saul Zaentz Company, and its merchandising division Tolkien Enterprises. "We look forward to our continuing success with Turbine as it pushes the envelope for compelling online entertainment and gameplay to bring the compelling characters of Middle-earth to life for Tolkien fans around the world."

The Lord of the Rings Online delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most beloved fantasy adventure of all time. From the quaint surroundings of the Shire to Angmar, the vile kingdom of the Witch-king, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before. The Lord of the Rings Online is available in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. For more information, please visit www.lotro.com.

TURBINE and Codemasters Online gaming TO uNVEIL BOOK 12: the ashen wastes FOR THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™

2007 MMO of the Year* Introduces New Free Content Update for Subscribers

WESTWOOD, MA - February 13, 2008 - Turbine, Inc. and Codemasters Online announced the details of the fourth free content update for subscribers to The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™. Book 12: The Ashen Wastes continues the epic story of The Lord of the Rings Online, adds substantial new features that provide players ability to truly personalize their heroes and an inventive new region that blends the challenge of a 12-player raid with the action of player-vs-player combat. Book 12: The Ashen Wastes will be available to subscribers of The Lord of the Rings Online on February 13, 2007 in North America and February 14, 2007 in Europe.

"The Lord of the Rings Online has taken the world by storm, winning multiple awards and continuing to expand with compelling content updates such as Book 12," said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "We're very excited about the response to the new additions to Monster Play and we know that the ability for players to customize and personalize their characters by using our new outfit system or by visiting one of the many barbershops throughout Middle-earth, will add an entirely new level of fun and enjoyment to the game. We are dedicated to our continued delivery of the best persistent online experience available and we look forward to sharing our plans for the future of this franchise in the coming months."

NEW FEATURES:

Ø More Customization - Book 12 introduces the Outfit system which features new gear and options to let players truly customize their hero's appearance without impacting the stats of their armor. Players can also visit one of the many new barbershops in Middle-earth where they can choose from one of more than 50 new hairstyles.

Ø The Delving of Frór — Monster Play evolves in Book 12 with an innovative new dungeon that implements 12-player raid mechanics into a dynamic player-vs-player (PvP) environment. The Delving of Frór is controlled by the faction currently winning the battle in the Ettenmoors. Players who gain access to this vast new public dungeon will participate in a challenging raid that pits them against fearsome foes while they face the constant threat of an opposing faction gaining control of the Ettenmoors above and quickly transforming the Delving of Frór into an all-out PvP battle.

Ø Housing Enhancements — The player housing system, which was introduced in Book 11, has been significantly enhanced to provide players with even more control over the items they place in their home. A host of new trophies and other bind-on-acquire items have been added to help players make their home reflect their unique tastes and accomplishments in Middle-earth.

Ø The Epic Continues! — Elrond sends players to rescue Laerdan from Amarthiel deep within Carn Dûm. Through their investigations, players will discover the location of Narchuil, the ancient Ring Amarthiel lost at the Battle of Fornost. Players will battle an Angmarim sorcerer, but only manage to recover half of the ring before returning to Rivendell to inform Gandalf.

Ø Over 100 New Quests — The story continues for players as they aid the Fellowship and encounter new adventures in Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings Online delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most beloved fantasy adventure of all time. From the quaint surroundings of the Shire to Angmar, the vile kingdom of the Witch-king, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before. The Lord of the Rings Online is available for purchase at major retailers across North America and Europe. For more information, or to download a free trial, visit www.lotro.com or www.lotro-europe.com.

"The Lord of the Rings Online has taken North America and Europe by storm and we are committed to bringing the game to fans around the world," said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "ITT is a major player in online gaming and we look forward to partnering with them to bring The Lord of the Rings Online to Russia."

TURBINE PARTNERS WITH IT TERRITORY TO BRING THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™ TO RUSSIA

WESTWOOD, MA — January 28, 2008 — Turbine, Inc. and IT Territory LLC (ITT) today announced a new relationship for the distribution of The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™, the PC Game of the Year 2007. Under the terms of the agreement between Turbine and IT Territory, a leading publisher of online games in Russia and Eastern Europe, will operate and manage publication of The Lord of the Rings Online in the fast-growing Russian market.

"Our vision is to lead the growth of online games in Russia," said Igor Matsanyuk, President of IT Territory. "We believe that The Lord of the Rings Online is the perfect franchise for us to deliver to our audience as part of this strategy. Our partnership with Turbine underscores the tremendous success, attention to detail, and transparency that our operations bring to the best game developers in the world as they seek to enter the massive Russian market."

"The Lord of the Rings Online has taken North America and Europe by storm and we are committed to bringing the game to fans around the world," said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "ITT is a major player in online gaming and we look forward to partnering with them to bring The Lord of the Rings Online to Russia."

The Lord of the Rings Online delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most beloved fantasy adventure of all time. From the quaint surroundings of the Shire to Angmar, the vile kingdom of the Witch-king, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before. The Lord of the Rings Online is currently operating in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. For more information about The Lord of the Rings Online, please visit www.lotro.com.

"The FPS genre has long dominated the race to better graphics but with this major update from Turbine, The Lord of the Rings Online players can enjoy graphics as good as or even better than many FPS games. This is an outstanding achievement and the whole Turbine team should be rightly proud of what they have produced," said Roy Taylor, Vice President of Content Relations at NVIDIA

Update: Turbine sent me a lovely comparison shot, seen above, that really highlights the differences between the two versions. Thanks!

THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™ IS FIRST MMORPG TO SUPPORT MICROSOFT'S DIRECTX 10 GRAPHICS AND NVIDIA GEFORCE GRAPHICS PROCESSORS

Award-Winning Online Game Now Features Industry-Leading Graphics

WESTWOOD, MA - January 7, 2008 - Turbine, Inc. announced today that The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™ has become the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) to support the Microsoft DirectX® 10 API and NVIDIA GeForce graphics processors for stunningly realistic imagery. The Lord of the Rings Online, named the 2007 PC Game of the Year 2007, now offers gamers with DirectX 10 graphics cards the most immersive online experience available today.

Players can now experience Middle-earth™ like never before with major improvements to The Lord of the Rings Online's graphics, including upgraded shaders for water, particle effects and lighting for distant terrain. Players will also be treated to new levels of immersion with the new DirectX 10 exclusive dynamic shadowing features which render realistic real-time shadows in the vast outdoor environments of The Lord of the Rings Online.

"Turbine has a history of pushing the graphics envelope so we can deliver state-of-the art immersive virtual worlds," said Fernando Paiz, Director of Game Technology at Turbine, Inc. "We began working with NVIDIA very early in the development cycle so that we could fully leverage DirectX 10 technology to achieve our goal of creating the most complete and authentic recreation of Middle-earth. The results speak for themselves as The Lord of the Rings Online has set the bar for what persistent online worlds can be."

"The FPS genre has long dominated the race to better graphics but with this major update from Turbine, The Lord of the Rings Online players can enjoy graphics as good as or even better than many FPS games. This is an outstanding achievement and the whole Turbine team should be rightly proud of what they have produced," said Roy Taylor, Vice President of Content Relations at NVIDIA. "This deserves the attention of the entire video games industry and all MMORPG players everywhere. It points to a future where we will see increasing blending of genres and deeper, more immersive PC gaming experiences. We are delighted to have been able to support this work."

The Lord of the Rings Online delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most beloved fantasy adventure of all time. From the quaint surroundings of the Shire to Angmar, the vile kingdom of the Witch-king, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before. The Lord of the Rings Online is available for purchase at major retailers across North America. For more information, or to download a free trial, visit www.lotro.com.

When the New York Times' Seth Schiesel delivered this year's video game awards in the paper, they arrived on the back of his hand. While some of the awards, like best newcomer for BioShock and Best Adaptation of an Adored Intellectual Property for The Lord of the Rings Online, are pretty straight forward and complimentary, most of them come with more than a little slap down.

Take for instance the Best Unambitious Representations of the State of the Art, awarded to Halo 3 and Super Mario Galaxy. While both receive an "award", Schiesel uses it as an excuse to point out their flaws. Halo 3 is called a polished gem, but one that merely relies on the "time-tested Halo formula rather than a daring attempt to provide a new sort of experience."

Super Mario Galaxy too gets a bit of a poke, with Schiesel calling it a "reinvention of classic play modes" and not something genuinely new.

Hit the jump for the full list of awards and the New York Times to read all of the "compliments."

BEST NEWCOMER: BIOSHOCK
MOST DIFFICULT DELIVERY: THE NEW E3
BEST ADAPTATION OF AN ADORED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE
BEST UNAMBITIOUS REPRESENTATIONS OF THE STATE OF THE ART: HALO 3 AND SUPER MARIO GALAXY
BEST SINGLE-HANDED RESCUE OF A MAJOR GAME SYSTEM: RATCHET & CLANK: TOOLS OF DESTRUCTION
GAME OF THE YEAR: MASS EFFECT

High Scores for the Games of 2007 [NYT]

"The Lord of the Rings Online will redefine the MMORPG genre in Korea, with amazing graphics and high-quality game content, along with a game system that Korean gamers are familiar with," said Kim Chang-Keun, Director of the publishing division of NHN.

TURBINE PARTNERS WITH NHN CORPORATION TO BRING THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE(TM) TO KOREA

2007 PC Game of the Year is Coming to World's Largest Market for Online Games

WESTWOOD, MA - December 10, 2007 - Turbine, Inc. and NHN Corporation today announced a distribution agreement for The Lord of the Rings Online(TM): Shadows of Angmar(TM), the 2007 PC Game of the Year*. Under the terms of the deal, Turbine will work closely with NHN, the largest Korean Internet company and the #1 gamer site in Asia, to localize The Lord of the Rings Online for the fast-growing Korean market.

"The Lord of the Rings is a powerful franchise with global appeal, and we are committed to bringing the game to fans around the world," said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "NHN is a powerful force in the Korean gaming market and we are very excited to work with them to bring The Lord of the Rings Online to Korea next year."

"The Lord of the Rings Online will redefine the MMORPG genre in Korea, with amazing graphics and high-quality game content, along with a game system that Korean gamers are familiar with," said Kim Chang-Keun, Director of the publishing division of NHN. "We expect the title will be a strong contender in the world-class Korean online game market, giving it a global competitive edge."

The Lord of the Rings Online delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places, and monsters from the most beloved fantasy adventure of all time. From the quaint surroundings of the Shire to Angmar, the vile kingdom of the Witch-king, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before. The Lord of the Rings Online was recently awarded the 2007 PC Game of the Year at the 25th Annual Golden Joystick Awards and is currently operating in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. For more information about The Lord of the Rings Online, please visit www.lotro.com.

LotRO Holiday Promo [Lord Of The Rings Online via FiringSquad]

Codemasters Online and Turbine to unveil Book 11: Defenders of Eriador for The Lord of the Rings Online
P
layer Housing Introduced in Major Content Update

Thursday, 18th October (2pm GMT) - Codemasters Online and Turbine, Inc. announced the details of the third free content update for subscribers to The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™. Book 11: Defenders of Eriador continues the epic story of The Lord of the Rings Online adding over 100 new quests, a new 12-player raid, two new areas in Middle-earth and introduces the player housing system. Book 11: Defenders of Eriador will be available to European subscribers of The Lord of the Rings Online on October 25, 2007.

"The Lord of the Rings Online has quickly become the hottest online game of the year," said Jeffrey Steefel, the Executive Producer. "Book 11 is our most ambitious update yet. We continue to define the standard in interactive storytelling with the next chapter of our epic story and introduce a wealth of new content including the housing system, which will give players the opportunity to live in their own home in Middle-earth!"

NEW FEATURES:

The Epic Continues! — Amarthiel has lost the Palantir, but not before using it to discover a clue to the location of Narchuil, the ancient Ring she lost at the Battle of Fornost. She turns her gaze eastward seeking to recover the Ring while the Dunedain find themselves with only one way to halt her advance. Calenglad believes that Mordrambor, the Black Numenorean held prisoner by the Dunedain, may be the key to ending Amarthiel's ambitions.

Player Housing — Players can now live in their own home in Middle-earth! Housing choices from four different neighborhoods - be it a majestic home overlooking a waterfall in Ered Luin, or a cozy hobbit-hole in the Shire. Kinship Halls provide plenty of space for groups to gather after a long day of adventuring. All homes provide the option of additional storage and can be customized inside and out with hundreds of unique items.

Two New Areas — Players can now explore even more of Middle-earth. Tâl Bruinen is an extension of the Trollshaws where players can see Gollum for the first time in The Lord of the Rings Online. Players can also trek to the High Pass in the Misty Mountains to combat fierce snowstorms and visit Goblin-town, the famous site where Bilbo Baggins was captured in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Raid-"The Rift" — The Lord of the Rings Online's second raid will be introduced in Book 11. This 12-player epic takes you through many new dangers in the Rift of Nûrz Ghâshu to face a fearsome Balrog.

New Musical Instruments — Book 11 brings more enhancements to our popular music system. Players can now entertain others with one of three new instruments including the Bagpipe and Cowbell.

Over 100 New Quests — The story continues for players as they aid the Fellowship and encounter new adventures.

The Lord of the Rings Online delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most beloved fantasy adventure of all time. From the quaint surroundings of the Shire to Angmar, the vile kingdom of the Witch-king, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before. The Lord of the Rings Online is available for purchase at major retailers across North America and Europe. For more information, or to download a free trial, visit www.trylotro.com

PLAY THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE(TM) FOR FREE!

Turbine Launches 7-day Free Trial Program for the Hottest MMO of the Year

WESTWOOD, MA - August 29, 2007 - Turbine, Inc. has launched the official 7-day free trial of The Lord of the Rings Online(TM): Shadows of Angmar(TM) (LOTRO). Beginning today, fans in North America, Australia, and New Zealand can play the best online game for free by visiting http://trial.lotro.com.

LOTRO has received critical acclaim from around the globe. Since its launch in April, LOTRO has quickly become the second largest MMORPG with an estimated 4 million characters calling Middle-earth their home. The game continues to grow with two massive updates that have increased the world by over 20%:

- 10,000,000 square meters of new landscape to explore
- Over 200 new quests that extend the epic story
- Introduction of Legendary Play where players can experience PvP as a powerful Ranger or a fearsome Troll
- New and updated features including the Reputation, Bartering and Music systems

"We have surpassed our goal of combining the greatest fantasy of all time with a state-of-the-art online social experience," said Jeffrey Anderson, CEO of Turbine, Inc. "And now, we want everyone to have the opportunity to walk through the Shire, climb the Misty Mountains, fight with their own fellowship in the War of the Ring, and fully experience the greatest fantasy of all time."

Eligible fans can participate in The Lord of the Rings Online trial program and play the game for 7 days, free of charge. At the end of the trial, players will have the option to continue to play LOTRO, and keep the characters created during their 7-day free trial time, by purchasing the game either online or at retail. To participate in the 7-day free trial or to find out where to buy LOTRO, visit http://trial.lotro.com.

The Lord of the Rings Online delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most beloved fantasy adventure of all time. From the quaint surroundings of the Shire to Angmar, the vile kingdom of the Witch-king, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before. The Lord of the Rings Online is available for purchase at major retailers across North America. For more information about The Lord of the Rings Online, please visit www.lotro.com.

CODEMASTERS ONLINE AND TURBINE UNVEIL

Major Content Update to Hit MMO to be Available on August 21st

Monday, 13th August (2pm GMT) - Codemasters Online and Turbine, Inc. announced the details of the second free content update for subscribers to The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™. Book 10: The City of the Kings continues the epic story, adds over 100 new quests, implements significant enhancements to monster play and introduces the Reputation and Bartering systems. Book 10: The City of the Kings will be available to subscribers of The Lord of the Rings Online on August 21st, 2007.

"Our first update significantly expanded the world of Middle-earth with new story arcs, quests, and exciting new kinds of gameplay," said Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "For Book 10 we continue the epic story and introduce a ton of new content, but we also are introducing legendary play, a completely new way to experience monster play that enables you to play as a powerful Ranger of the North or a terrible Troll."

Beginning August 21st, heroes can join the battle in Book 10: The City of the Kings, the second of many free updates to The Lord of the Rings Online.

NEW FEATURES:
„« The Epic Continues! — Amarthiel, introduced in Book 9: Shores of Evendim, has reclaimed the palantir of Carn Dûm and is now seeking to make Annúminas her new seat of power as she searches for her lost ring of power: Narchuil. The Dúnedain stands against her as the Rangers mount a last, desperate attempt to wrest the palantir from Amarthiel. Before she can find Narchuil, a most dangerous opportunity presents itself that may give the Dúnedain the advantage they need to blind the eye of Angmar.
„« Legendary Play — Once in the Ettenmoors, players can experience monster play in a completely new way by spending their Destiny Points to play as a powerful Ranger of the North or a terrible Troll to offer a strategic advantage to their allies in the battle for control of the Ettenmoors.
„« Critter Play — Friendly barnyard animals love squawking around the landscape, exploring chicken coops, hunting for worms and more! Players can now explore Middle-earth from a different - and sometimes unexpected - viewpoint as a chicken, the first of many new playable critters that will be added to the game in the future.
„« New Reputation and Bartering Systems — Book 10 introduces the Reputation and Bartering systems. The Reputation system enables players to earn positive and negative standing with different races and groups in Middle-earth based on both monster kills and quest completions. The Bartering system allows players to trade trophies earned in battle for rewards such as armor sets or mounts.
„« Over 100 New Quests — The story continues for players as they aid the Fellowship and encounter new adventures, new dungeons and over a dozen new monsters.
„« Enhanced User Interface — The game's UI is now customisable. In addition to being able to skin your UI with a unique look, Book 10 will enable players to access sliders in their 'Options' panel to scale the size of individual elements of the UI to their liking.
"We are working very hard to deliver the most content and best experiences to our subscribers and it is extremely satisfying to see such a large number of players embracing the game and joining us in Middle-earth," added Anderson. "We intend to continue our long established reputation of delivering frequent and substantial updates to our players with the release of Book 11 this autumn which will offer players the opportunity to live in their very own house in Middle-earth!"

I wholly attribute this to my Minstrel, Calibran, standing in the square in Michel Delving in the middle of the night playing the Rugrats theme song on my clarinet, and I will refute anyone's claims to the contrary with my harp version of Fly Me To The Moon.

I'm certainly enjoying the game, which while not entirely unlike World of Warcraft has more than it's fair shire of innovations to keep things fresh. It'll be interesting to see how the reception of LOTRO affects the MMO market in the long run. Could this be the game that finally breaks Blizzard's domination? Michael Fahey

THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE IS THE #1 SELLING PC GAME ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE

10th May, 2007 - Today, Turbine, Inc., Midway Games Inc. and Codemasters Online Gaming announced that The Lord of the Rings Online : Shadows of Angmar is the #1 selling PC title across North America and Europe based on the most recent industry reports. The Lord of the Rings Online has outsold all other PC games across North America, Germany, United Kingdom and France according to data from NPD (NA), Chart-Track (UK), GfK (France) and Media Control (Germany).

In addition to soaring sales, The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) has been enthusiastically received by gaming critics around the globe:

The New York Times proclaimed LOTRO as "a major achievement of interactive storytelling, the first game truly worthy of the 'Lord of the Rings' franchise and a must-play for just about anyone with an interest in Tolkien or the future of online entertainment."
GameSpy awarded the game its prestigious Editor's Choice award with 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Computer and Video Games, a leading UK gaming site, rated the game a 9.2 out of 10 and said "LOTRO presents a stunning and evocative world of Tolkien magic to explore."
GameDaily, a leading US gaming site, rated the game a 9 out of 10 and calls the game "a hot contender for PC game of the year."

"This outstanding start sets the stage for a bright future," said Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "This is only the beginning as we embark on an incredible journey with our players to expand the world of Middle-earth with the release of regular content updates."

"Following the most successful North American pre-order program in Midway's history, The Lord of the Rings Online is off to a great start," said Steve Allison, chief marketing officer, Midway. "As the positive reports and reviews continue to come in, gamers are settling into the game and experiencing Middle-earth as never before."

"The fabulous response from consumers and the media has been overwhelming," said David Solari, Vice President and General Manager of Codemasters Online Gaming. "It's been a great launch, but it's only the beginning for us. We look forward to rapid growth and welcoming thousands more to Middle-earth!"

###

Katherine Glover at Salon.com has written a very interesting article on the subject of same sex and inter species marriages in the new Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. When the subject came up during the development phase of the game, it caused quite a debate amongst the team. But, gay marriage isn't the only type of union that is frowned upon in Middle Earth, inter-species marriages were also a hot topic. Eventually, the decision was made to pull the entire marriage option all together.

Were there gays in Tolkien's LOTR? No. Tolkien was a Christian and I'm sure that wasn't even something that entered his mind much less jived with his religious beliefs. Although the relationship between Frodo and Samwise, at least in the movie, is certainly up for debate. I wish that it would have been possible to include all types of unions in LOTR Online as in Fable and The Sims, sadly though, in games as in life, we still have a long way to go before the idea of same sex marriages finds a place in mainstream society. Sorry, Frodo, it's back in the closet for you. Flynn De Marco

Why can't gay dwarves get married in Middle-earth? [Salon.com]

The 360 PR folks over at Gamerscoreblog hit up the Lord of the Rings Online midnight launch event in Bellevue earlier this week and took tons of pictures. Those pictures, right up there. Several of the gamers there to pick up the game were also hardcore players of World of Warcraft and Everquest, which is, well sad. Who has that sort of time? Brian Crecente

LOTR Online Launch [Flickr]

• Pokemon Diamond (DS) Pokemon, Pokemon! Now in Diamond edition!
• Pokemon Pearl (DS)
  Pokemon, Pokemon! Now in Pearl edition!
• The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (PC)
  You can be a hobbit, or just look like one!
• F.E.A.R. (PS3)
  F.E.A.R. gets scary on the PS3
• Eureka Seven Vol. 2: The New Vision (PS2)
  Get your mech on...again!
• Aedis Eclipse: Generation of Chaos (PSP)
  A new RPG with jobs, customizable armies and three different storylines.
• Rayman Raving Rabbids Those wasscaly wabbids conquer the 360(X360)

Get your elf ears and foot wigs ready, Tubine, Midway and GameStop are readying a series of Midnight Madness launch events across the United States.

Gamers will have a chance to pick up a copy of the massively multiplayer online game, meet members of the the Lord of the Rings Online team, win signed posters, pre-paid game cards and t-shirts from the event. Special prizes will also be awards at each location to the three gamers who wear the best Rings-themed costumes.

The midnight events actually start at 11 p.m. on April 23 at each of the five locations:

Boston: GameStop #1317, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA
Chicago: GameStop #4767, 920 Church Street, Evanston, IL
Los Angeles: GameStop #4619, Universal Citywalk, 1000 Universal Studios Blvd., Universal City, CA
New York: GameStop #1363, Broadway and 33rd. 1282 Broadway, New York, New York
Seattle: GameStop #1979, Bellevue Square, 475 100th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA

Anyone planning on attending? Brian Crecente

Midnight Madness LOTRO Launch Events! [LOTR]

On March 30 Lord of the Online will be kicking off an open beta of the MMO.

Gamers with Jobs points out that this particular open beta isn't totally open, instead only those who pre-ordered the game will be able to check things out.

Then, after much patches and grumbling, the game goes truly live on April 6. The good news is that people who start off in this latest open beta will be able to keep their characters.

Pretty sweet pay-off for helping Tubine test their game before it hits retail. Brian Crecente

Open Beta [GWJ]

I love watching this slow migration of gaming into the mainstream consciousness, even when it involves poking fun at gamers. Brian Crecente

Full disclosure: I'm about fed up with all massively multiplayer online games in their current state. I think that, for the most part, they are derivative crap which essentially just wraps the same old ideas, gameplay and contrivances with a fancy new IP.

Having said that, Lord of the Rings Online: Shadow of Angmar is quite palatable. I'm sure tons of people are going to pick it up and say it's World of Warcraft or Guild Wars with a Lord of the Rings flavor, but you could say WoW didn't do much in the way of innovation either.

What millions of dollars a month in subscription fees has taught developers is that they don't need to do anything better or different, just that they need to have a unique look and a strong IP and Shadow of Angmar delivers that in spades.

The game is beautiful, probably the best looking MMO I've seen in quite awhile, for it's particular style, which is very much not the cartoon-like graphics of World of Warcraft.

Instead the game is going for something that looks a bit more realistic and they achieve it. You start off the game by deciding what race you are, then what class and finally from where you hail. Then you have a fair number of choices for customization.

Once you get into the game you play through a series of relatively easy missions that familiarize you with both the story and the mechanics of the game. Then comes the big mission that spits you from this starter instance into the main game. (Think Guild War's intro).

The gameplay will be familiar to any who have played an MMO. You have skills you acquire as you level up. You collect things and sell them for better weapons. And there are always plenty of missions to grab, from deliver this package here, to sort out this big mystery that is linked to the grander Lord of the Rings theme of the game.

Instead of big exclamation points above a mission-dishing non-player character, you've got the golden ring. As in THE ring.

I don't mean to dismiss Lord of the Rings. I was genuinely impressed with some of what they did. The graphics, for starters, are just amazing, especially the scenery graphics, which are, at times, almost breath-taking. And there are some neat little things I spotted.

For instance, when I was taking on a wolf and received a bit to the leg, a little symbol warned that I would be much slower for a set amount of time (measured in seconds) and my character actually limped until it healed. Very neat.

I also didn't get too far into the game. I played for about five hours and made it to level nine or so, getting past that initial training instance and into the wide world but not really exploring much past where I started.

The game seems to have plenty to offer for those still in love with the MMO genre as it stands today, and enough tweaks to set it apart from much of the competition. Will it be a WoW killer? I don't think such a thing exists. When WoW dies it will be a natural death, not one brought on by competition. Brian Crecente

Shadow of Angmar Gallery [Kotaku]

Turbine just upped a bevy of new screen for their upcoming massively multiplayer online game Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. Better still a spent a little time over the weekend in the beta, I'll post my impressions later today. Brian Crecente

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.