General Discussion

Turbine has announced that they have come to an agreement with Tolkien Enterprises to extend the license to develop MMORPGs based on the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings 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.”

Read more here.

That's cool. Congratulations, Turbine.

They make a good point, the 2 new movies being made are very likely going to bring even more popularity to the game.

I wonder if they plan on making another game based on this world, though? As the article says MMORPG's and not just this one.

I really don't forsee another version of Middle-Earth mmorpg for a long while... but maybe in like 5 years or even more they decide they want to redo with more advanced features/game engine and graphics that'd be cool... as long as we lifetime subscribers can transfer our account hehe

 LoTR 2 Hmmm sounds like AC 2 LOL Surprised the Masses still play the game as it should be named Lord of the Spammers.... 

Now this is really confusing

I know that tolkien enterprises basically gave rights to Turbine only for the LOTR timeline - which is why the game is set in this period.

Which is probably the worse period for a MMO based upon middle earth.For example MEO (previous LOTR mmo) was based on period after the LOTR books.

Another thing that limited Turbine is that they could not mention any characters that were not in LOTR books. And not use any areas that were used in other Tolkien books.

But what this means than ?

That Turbies now have right to use Hobbit material as well ? Which would be great

Or that they are doing Hobbit MMO ?? Which would downright destroy LOTRO....

Originally posted by Lobotomist

Now this is really confusing

 

I know that tolkien enterprises basically gave rights to Turbine only for the LOTR timeline - which is why the game is set in this period.

Which is probably the worse period for a MMO based upon middle earth.For example MEO (previous LOTR mmo) was based on period after the LOTR books.

 

Another thing that limited Turbine is that they could not mention any characters that were not in LOTR books. And not use any areas that were used in other Tolkien books.

 

But what this means than ?

That Turbies now have right to use Hobbit material as well ? Which would be great

Or that they are doing Hobbit MMO ?? Which would downright destroy LOTRO....

 

 

I agree that having free reign to use any of the timeline or source materials would be awesome, but how would a 'Hobbit' MMO be superior to LOTRO's time period? 

During the LOTRO time period you have an entire world in conflict, a truly epic sturggle of good versus the ultimate evil, with men, elves, dwarves, and hobbits fighting for their very lives.

During the Hobbit, you get, um.... I'm trying to remember....  Oh yeah - a dragon and some greedy dwarves.  Not too much else.  

The STORY of the Hobbit is woonderful, one of my favorites, and I'd love to see lake town, the lonely mountain, etc... - but if you look at what's happening outside of the main characters, there doesn't seem tobe much going on... 

I think it simply means that Turbine has more time to develop Middle-earth in LotRO.  I very much doubt it means a whole new MMOG.  At most they might be considering LotRO2, but I'd imagine what's more likely is that they're talking about paid-expansions to flesh out areas like Rohan and Gondor.  Those areas will probably need their own development team, and I'm sure they'll want to get people to pay for it, so it could be regarded as a 'new LotR MMOG'.  They may have thought about doing it like City of Heroes and City of Villains, with separate games that can be meshed together if a player owns both.

This is really great news.  I am having fun with this mmo right now. 

Originally posted by dj_decay

 

Originally posted by Lobotomist

Now this is really confusing

 

I know that tolkien enterprises basically gave rights to Turbine only for the LOTR timeline - which is why the game is set in this period.

Which is probably the worse period for a MMO based upon middle earth.For example MEO (previous LOTR mmo) was based on period after the LOTR books.

 

Another thing that limited Turbine is that they could not mention any characters that were not in LOTR books. And not use any areas that were used in other Tolkien books.

 

But what this means than ?

That Turbies now have right to use Hobbit material as well ? Which would be great

Or that they are doing Hobbit MMO ?? Which would downright destroy LOTRO....

 

 

 

I agree that having free reign to use any of the timeline or source materials would be awesome, but how would a 'Hobbit' MMO be superior to LOTRO's time period? 

During the LOTRO time period you have an entire world in conflict, a truly epic sturggle of good versus the ultimate evil, with men, elves, dwarves, and hobbits fighting for their very lives.

During the Hobbit, you get, um.... I'm trying to remember....  Oh yeah - a dragon and some greedy dwarves.  Not too much else.  

The STORY of the Hobbit is woonderful, one of my favorites, and I'd love to see lake town, the lonely mountain, etc... - but if you look at what's happening outside of the main characters, there doesn't seem tobe much going on... 

Maybe talk to Bilbo in Rivendell and the the game would transport you back in time while Bilbo tells of his adventures. I think that would be pretty damn cool !