Pandemic announces Lord of the Rings: Conquest [update]
by Justin McElroy 
{ May 8th 2008 at 7:50AM }
click to enlarge
Just how many people are working at Pandemic anyway? Not only are they still finishing up Mercenaries 2: World in Flames and (maybe) making the next Batman game, but news has come from IGN today that the Lord of the Rings game the studio is currently crafting (called Lord of the Rings: Conquest) will arrive on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC this fall. By the developer's own admission it's an unabashed mash-up of the fantasy property and its own Star Wars Battlefront (read: huge fights in Middle Earth).
The game will incorporate every battle from the movies, a few from the books and some from whole cloth. Conquest's large-scale battles, which will sport up to 150 characters on screen at once, can be waged by eight players online [update: It's apparently 16] against one another or with four players teaming up on the main campaign online or via split screen. Frankly, we got a little burnt out on Lord of the Rings games when a glut of them arrived with Peter Jackson's films, but this sounds like the kind of meaty experience that justifies a return to Middle Earth.
Gallery: Lord of the Rings: Conquest
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nate @ May 8th 2008 8:05AM
Four players split screen campaign would be sweet!
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ May 8th 2008 4:23PM
Agreed: local multiplayer is dying. =(
RogueJedi86 @ May 8th 2008 8:45AM
So LotR ripoff of Star Wars Battlefront? Not impressed. Give us SWBF3 instead, which should've been announced 2 years ago when SWBF2 was declared the best-selling Star Wars game ever.
Phranctoast @ May 8th 2008 8:51AM
Could it really be a rip off when its the same company doing it? Can you rip off yourselves?
RogueJedi86 @ May 8th 2008 9:05AM
You can ripoff the gameplay of your games from unrelated franchises. Like how "Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds" ripped off "Age of Empires 2", despite both being made by Ensemble Studios.
At least SWBF distinguished itself enough to not be a real rip-off of "Battlefield 1942", which it was originally meant to be a Star Wars version of.
Phranctoast @ May 8th 2008 10:01AM
Actually, Star Wars Battlefront is a rip off of a UT 2003/4 modification that basically is similar enough to be closely compared. They both have nodes you take over and spawn from. They both have a class system. Both utilize vehicles also. oh... And they are both Star Wars.
DemonGSides @ May 8th 2008 10:43AM
Its not a Rip-off if its made by the same people; its an Homage.
And a fucking kickass homage at that.
RogueJedi86 @ May 8th 2008 11:27AM
I still would rather have SWBF3. :-\
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ May 8th 2008 4:26PM
Could we stop with the ripping-off remarks? ALL GAMES HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
It's called "using available techniques", because guess what? Game design is almost never patented (although copyrighted, meaning that you're not allowed to use the same EXPRESSION of an idea).
The only original game designer is the game designer from whom nobody can copy.
Phranctoast @ May 8th 2008 8:48AM
If console users don't get project offset, this sounds similar enough for that not to hurt too bad.
This has potential. Theres not any other games in this specific genre.
Dyabolik @ May 8th 2008 10:26PM
That's exactly what I thought when I read the interview. I still hope it's console bound though, Project Offset is one of my most wanted games.
baby sea tuna @ May 8th 2008 8:49AM
I think maybe Pandemic should stick to one game at a time and make it great instead of spreading themselves over multiple, middling titles. To date, I've bought about 4 of their games, and never managed to finish one.
Phranctoast @ May 8th 2008 9:00AM
Well. they no longer do Destroy all Humans, so there's one off their back.
This had delay written all over it. Hardly hear anything about this game, and it's supposed to come out in Fall 08'. Isn't Merc2 a late Summer Early fall release also!!!
ScottG13 @ May 8th 2008 8:53AM
I really do like what Pandemic does so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on most anything at this point.
Me @ May 8th 2008 9:50AM
They should make a Star Wars vs Lord of the Rings game. Then everyone would be happy. :P
PojoMofo @ May 8th 2008 9:54AM
Good ole EA, they pawn this crap off on Pandemic.
Swamp Donkey @ May 8th 2008 10:02AM
I'm going to remain optimistic on this one. I love LOTR so I'm hoping they can surprise everyone with an awesome game.
farfisa @ May 8th 2008 10:34AM
There aren't any PS3 LOTR games, so I'm looking forward to this. I loved the SWBF games, and I'm a fan of LOTR (enough to cringe when IGN wrote "Gandolf"), so I'm hoping this is good.
Phranctoast @ May 8th 2008 11:16AM
They also have no schedule to follow to make a release before a movie. The Hobbit wont start filming until next year. That at least gives the game potential as to not be a rushed movie tie in game.
Anil @ May 8th 2008 11:43AM
Always interested in Pandemic projects, this one looks promising. It will be interesting to see how they make the melee combat work in such a large scale.
Johnny @ May 8th 2008 12:53PM
Mercenaries was also a rip of battlefront.
I'm starting to think pandemic is a on trick, but infinitely skinable pony here.
Korova @ May 8th 2008 1:19PM
I LOVED SWBF - its my favorite xbox1 game. So good.
I am very curious about this as a result. Although I would probably hyperventilate if they announced SWBF3. Does anyone remember the number for 911?
Pimliconite @ May 8th 2008 2:30PM
Are they perhaps taking a cue from Mount and Blade?
Sam Earl @ May 8th 2008 2:59PM
Good?
I liked the battlefront games, and I like lord of the rings. But for some strange reason, dynasty warriors keeps on creeping in to my mind, trying to corrupt my positive thoughts of this idea...
DemonGSides @ May 9th 2008 10:07AM
Fwiw, DW is a great hack and slash game, so you would be wrong in those fears.
WiiFTW @ May 8th 2008 4:50PM
Yea seriously, release SWBF3 for PC, PS3, 360, and Wii. I bought both SWBF and SWBF2 for PC, but I play TF2 now to sate my PC gaming hunger. They were good, but it got a little repetitive and no voice chat that I recall. I used to love playing them. If they upped the graphics and physics like the Force Unleashed it'd be killer game, and a Wii version would really be awesome (2 playable shooters on Wii, 1 online with people tanking shotguns shots like water pistols).
Procris @ May 8th 2008 8:27PM
Only ever played 1 LotR's game and that was the rts on PC. Though me and my friend played middle earth on the old Xbox and was pretty good. Hopefully this too will be a good game. Its worth keeping an eye on at least.