Joystiq impressions: Lord of the Rings Online
by Zack Stern 
{ Nov 7th 2006 at 7:35AM }
Turbine's upcoming Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar will usher gamers into a massively multiplayer online version of Tolkien's fantasy universe. I got to play some of the still-beta game at a recent media event; the title's setting and story will be its main selling point, otherwise it resembles other MMOs -- not to say that's a bad thing.
It takes a little work to learn an MMO, and Turbine said the company isn't trying to change Lord of the Rings just to be different. Instead, game controls and quest system felt like other titles, and I was killing defenseless forest creatures right away. Lord of the Rings also looked like other MMOs; what I saw didn't set any new standards, but it matched competitors. I was told that game art and other assets were still being updated for the Spring, 2007 launch.
Lord of the Rings Online's story-driven approach and setting should be unique. The game is based on the original three books and The Hobbit, not the recent movie properties. So while the game looks similar to the movies -- hobbit houses have round doors and passages, and Gandalf looks like Ian McKellen -- Turbine says that's because the game matches the original, detailed prose.
When we met at the event, Jeff Anderson, CEO of Turbine was excited about the connection to Middle-earth. He said, "We want to be there at the cool moments ... and want people to feel that the world is alive." He described how the books chart Frodo's goal to destroy the ring and how his quest is assisted by other events; Anderson said that the game's story will put players in the position of clearing the way for Frodo, "inferring that you, the player are helping on the side."
Every new player will begin the story at the original starting time and then will follow the in-game quests tangential to the complete ring story. So in a year, a high-level player will have progressed further through the narrative than someone just joining the game. An old player will, however, be able take a new player on a more advanced quest.
Turbine is developing the game to match the story in even more ways than plot; if you get too close to profoundly bad objects or characters, they say your screen perspective will gradually tighten into tunnel vision, matching the dread and powerlessness conveyed in the books. Because of these kinds of techniques, I have high hopes that Lord of the Rings Online will be a strong reflection of the Tolkien world, but it might also be a creative MMO underneath that wrapper. I didn't have time to do much more than kill some giant spiders and run a few errand quests, but I left the event looking forward to playing more.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Neccy @ Nov 7th 2006 7:44AM
OOOOOOooohh Shiny!
One to keep an eye out for, I'm gratefull that they have tied in some movie aspects ("Gandalf looks like Ian McKellen") thats a bonus in my eyes.
David Lane @ Nov 7th 2006 9:06AM
This is a travesty and should not bear Tolkein's name.
raquor @ Nov 7th 2006 9:31AM
What is wrong with #2, #3? I agree that D&D Online wasn't all that great but it sounds like they put plenty of time and effort into making this a good game. The fact that it will follow the book closely while borrowing visuals from the movies is GREAT in my opinion.
Interesting though that they don't seem concerned about "end-game" mechanics. Just like every other MMO, what is there to do at the end of the game to keep the fun going?
Perhaps MMOs are destined to be simply more expensive games than what we are used to. If that's the case then I wish they'd try a more story based approach.
I hit 60 in WoW and got bored within a week. Spending 4 hrs in one instance for the chance for a couple pieces of loot that I likely wont be able to use isn't fun. Nor is killing your 6,000th skeleton.
Angmar @ Nov 7th 2006 9:38AM
I've been following this game since it was MEO, and I'm really looking forward for it's release. They are really trying to keep to the lore.
#4
They are talking about the end-game. It comes in the form of Monster Play (PvP) and raids. Not a lot of information are out about those two yet.
Joe Opsahl @ Nov 7th 2006 10:17AM
2. No thanks. This is from the maker of D&D Online. One of the worst MMOs, if you can even call it an MMO, ever.
This will be such a watered down bore fest it's really not worth a preview.
Its a very good MMO it has a large user base, good fighting system and is very close to the D&D structure.
I do admit it is a little too short. But I love the fact that it isnt turn based like most MMOs out there.
However it is your opinion, and I respet opinions.
CROD @ Nov 7th 2006 10:38AM
@#4
If you got bored with WoW after hitting 60 in a weeks time. Then you do not play WoW. All you did was try and complete a game thats really not meant to be completed. Stop and smell the roses. You might be surprised what you would discover. Playing this game since release I still find things that I never noticed/played/experienced before.
But I digress
LotR Online could be shaping up to be a great game. I got to play (and win a beta key for the game) at E3. It seemed ok but other than the nostalgic angle of being in a world you've grown up reading. Nothing really blew me away. I am much more looking forward to Warhammer Online and SUN. Don't get me wront that doesnt mean Im not going to give LotR a try :P ...now where did I put that key
Josh @ Nov 7th 2006 10:43AM
I've been involved in the Alpha and Beta of LOTRO, and without breaking any sort of NDAs I'd just like to point out a few things.
Firstly, the game is completely different from D&D Online. The world is large, fairly varied, and seamless as opposed to being entirely instanced a la DDO.
Secondly, the game doesn't really shatter any conventions, (at least nothing really grabbed me by the balls, so to speak), but that doesn't make it nay less enjoyable.
And finally, the real appeal to the game is going to be experiencing Middle Earth, and as far as that goes, you'll get a real rush seeing areas from the stories, especially if you are a big fan of Tolkien. Seeing Bag End and the Party Field, tromping into the Midgewaters for the first time. Making your way to the Prancing Pony, or exploring the Old Forest. Its all there and the real appeal is in the Middle Earth experience.
The game really is catering to people who have fond memories of Middle Earth, and seeing a fresh take on it visually is great.
That was longer than I planned on. Anyway, it isn't DDO, and it IS a Tolkien addicts wet dream.
Mark @ Nov 8th 2006 3:37PM
I am (or better yet was) in the Alpha/Beta but this game is just pitiful. I was really pulling for Turbine to *finally* come through with a good MMORPG but alas they have dropped the ball again. This game is a pitiful WOW clone with the LOTR lore slapped onto it. There is nothing at all intuitive or new. If you've ever played an MMO, then you've essentially played this game. The only thing that is somewhat decent is the engine and graphics, but onceyou get throught he OOH and AHHs its just another coookie cutter snooze fest.
Oh, and you would THINK that this would be a great platform for some PVP, i.e Orcs Vs Humans, but NOPE. No pvp other than "Monster Play" /yawn. Instead, we get to hold hands and bake bread with our fellow players instead of crushing them. Sad, considering this is the company that brought you Darktide.
Seiryuu @ Nov 7th 2006 12:02PM
I know this guy who works at ikea named Angmar.
Dave @ Nov 7th 2006 12:18PM
I've never played the D&D online game, but I do play Wow. I'm not expecting this game to be anything like Wow, because they are completely different stories. Anyway, even if this turns out to be a fable-length game, I'll still be pumped to run around as Frodo...meeting up with Bilbo...crashing at Tom Bombadil's place. You know. It should be good.