Turbine announced today that they're offering a
free 7-day trial for their successful
Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. The offer is available for North America, Australia and New Zealand. The press release finally gives us some numbers for
LoTRO and says there are "4 million characters calling Middle-earth their home." That's a pretty slick way of avoiding how many actual accounts there are, but we'll totally believe them that it's the "second largest MMORPG" behind the unfathomably successful
World of Warcraft. In that race, second place is a perfectly respectable place to be.
LoTRO recently had their
second content update which continues to drive the MMO in a good direction. The game seems to be doing well enough that it's been mentioned as being part of Midway's increasing
fiscal fortitude. The first full expansion for
LoTRO, which will cover the events in
The Two Towers and its peripheral story lines, is expected to be announced early next year.
{ Aug 29th 2007 at 6:31PM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stupidiot @ Aug 29th 2007 6:50PM
Ugh, why does Europe get left out? The UK has nearly 3 times the population of Australia alone for Christ's sake... After getting bored with World of Warcraft I've been looking for another MMO to play, but don't want to purchase one without having a chance to try it to find out if it's just more of the same constant grinding or not.
Apo @ Aug 29th 2007 7:39PM
Guild Wars is always a good option.
deslock @ Aug 29th 2007 7:40PM
They are running a referral program in Europe where you invite friends and they get a free trial. I know I've seen people offering said trial keys to EU residents on message boards.
Plus, from what I hear the game is doing really well in Europe. Maybe they are less eager to jump on this yet there.
Kevin Leonard @ Aug 29th 2007 6:54PM
Excellent timing. I was just thinking earlier today that I wanted to give this game a shot, but didn't have the money for a new game.
NvM @ Aug 29th 2007 7:38PM
sweet.
ive been wanting to try it out
Tavis @ Aug 29th 2007 7:42PM
Sweet! Now just make it for the Mac and I'm all yours, LOTRO.
deslock @ Aug 29th 2007 7:45PM
As a recommendation, play the game at least until you've played past the intro area. Most of what differentiates Lotro is past the basics.
Like their Deeds, Traits, and Fellowship Maneuvers (which aren't even possible to initiate until you are at least level 6 I believe).
PS. The Shire looks so awesome at night.
Neebs @ Aug 30th 2007 12:16AM
Deslock, like the PC Gamer US RPG columnist?
Also, I played for little while. It's Middle-earth WoW...just feels the same. And considering I played WoW for a week before I quit, that's not a good thing.
It's a shame MMOs like EVE where there is no grind aren't popular. Not to mention EVE has the greatest PVP ever.
Kazi @ Aug 30th 2007 10:51AM
That's nothing Neebs, have you heard of the EVE team's (CCP's) new project? A World of Darkness MMO, permanent death, PVP, the whole nine. Definitely something to look forward to. If you don't know what WOD and like PnP games you should check it out, if you don't like PnP check out Vampire: The Masquerade, uses their system but focuses on only 1 aspect, vampires.
With permanent death and full PVP is undoubtful that like EVE it'll be highly ignored by the MMO communities especially those that like grinds and raiding the same instances over and over for leet gear. The Perm Death (with hard to do and obtain resurrection spells and rituals for when your friends die) and Full PVP is just rumor right now I believe, but it's pretty likely given EVE and the WOD PnP game.
It'll be interesting to see how they handle paradoxes, the masquerade and vulger and covert magic in an MMO. As well as all of the social abilities.
Neebs @ Aug 29th 2007 7:49PM
I'll check it out. Sadly, I believe it'll simply be another grindfest like most other MMOs.
I'll never love another, EVE-online!
Peter Vazkey @ Aug 29th 2007 8:52PM
Sweet, now theres no reason for any one not to give this game a try.
In my mind it's the best MMORPG on the market.
blooh @ Aug 29th 2007 9:10PM
i wanted them to make a middle-earth mmorpg set in the 1st or 2nd age :(
Dnastay @ Aug 29th 2007 10:34PM
7 days ain't gonna help this turd.
I quit playing it 5 days into my free 3 day trial and wasted 40 bucks on the box.
cliffjeff @ Aug 29th 2007 11:05PM
it's a good game, up to 50... but the endgame kinda sucks. up to 50 is like Super WoW, but the endgame is like watered down WoW :(
Kazi @ Aug 30th 2007 11:06AM
I liked the classes, especially the Minstrel, but it lacks PVP and gameplay that isn't the same thing that's been around since EQ. Brawlers aren't even as cookie cutter as MMOs are. Seriously, step it up a notch, DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. CCP, ArenaNet, Funcom, and Mythic are they only hope in fixing the god damn stagnation in MMOs. It's been EQ after EQ since EQ was a success with the occasional EVE in there. WoW being the most successful EQ clone.
Sirnoobius @ Aug 31st 2007 1:33PM
wtf? I have to download 6 gigs to play a trial?