Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Screens, video from LOTR: Aragorn's Quest are just adorable]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/screens-video-from-lotr-aragorns-quest-are-just-adorable/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/screens-video-from-lotr-aragorns-quest-are-just-adorable/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/screens-video-from-lotr-aragorns-quest-are-just-adorable/#comments Look at him! Couldn't you just eat the little guy up with a spoon? We're getting our first looks at screens and video (check after the break) from family-friendly Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest, and they're just precious. If you think Lil' Aragorn is cute, wait until you see the kiddy-fied hobbits. They're like squishable, baby-shaped teddy bears.

On a completely unrelated note, do you think we could crack open J.R.R. Tolkien's coffin and use his spinning corpse to power a small generator? Just curious.

Gallery: LOTR: Aragorn's Quest (Wii)

Continue reading Screens, video from LOTR: Aragorn's Quest are just adorable

JoystiqScreens, video from LOTR: Aragorn's Quest are just adorable originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 May 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aragorns-questDSLord-of-the-Rings-Aragorns-Questlotrlotr-aragorns-questNintendowarner-brosWiiSat, 30 May 2009 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Lord of the Rings Online expansion coming in June]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/next-lord-of-the-rings-online-expansion-coming-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/next-lord-of-the-rings-online-expansion-coming-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/next-lord-of-the-rings-online-expansion-coming-in-june/#comments
We've officially stopped keeping up with Lord of the RIngs Online, but the updates for the game just keep on coming, so we assume that someone out there is paying attention. So, we're going to do our part for the mysterious, silent fans by letting them know that the next free expansion for the game will arrive in June and will be called "Volume II: Book 8: Scourge of Khazad-dum."

... Wait, that's seriously the name? Jeez, no wonder we haven't kept up.

JoystiqNext Lord of the Rings Online expansion coming in June originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 May 2009 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrlotrommoturbineFri, 29 May 2009 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LOTR: Aragorn's Quest on Wii, DS, PS2 and PSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/lotr-aragorns-quest-on-wii-ds-ps2-and-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/lotr-aragorns-quest-on-wii-ds-ps2-and-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/lotr-aragorns-quest-on-wii-ds-ps2-and-psp/#comments We just think it's adorable when publishers announce games that we've all known about for days already, like this release for Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest from Warner Bros. ... yes, the same one you read about last week. But it almost always pays to read these little missives. For example, in this one we learned that the "first Lord of the Rings videogame created specifically for kids and their families" will come to Wii, DS, PS2 and PSP.

Warner also hints at the future of the franchise, saying upcoming offerings will appeal to families as well as "hard-core RPG fans." ... Could we maybe just skip straight to that one, please?

JoystiqLOTR: Aragorn's Quest on Wii, DS, PS2 and PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 May 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aragorns-questDSlord-of-the-ringsLord-of-the-Rings-Aragorns-QuestlotrNintendops2warner-brosWiiThu, 28 May 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Warner's first stab at LOTR license: Aragorn's Quest]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/warners-first-stab-at-lotr-license-aragorns-quest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/warners-first-stab-at-lotr-license-aragorns-quest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/warners-first-stab-at-lotr-license-aragorns-quest/#comments Now that Warner Bros. Interactive has its hands on the precioussss Lord of the Rings license, Shacknews reports that the company has revealed its first game based on the franchise. The game was listed among Warner Bros' E3 debut titles and is reportedly named The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest. Okay, so an LOTR game starring Aragorn. That could be really aweso ... oh, wait, what's this?

Shacknews states the game "is the first Lord of the Rings videogame created specifically for kids and their families" and features "accessible gameplay set in a friendly, colorful rendition of Middle-Earth." Oh dear.

JoystiqWarner's first stab at LOTR license: Aragorn's Quest originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 May 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aragorns-questlord-of-the-ringsLord-of-the-Rings-Aragorns-Questlotrlotr-aragorns-questwarner-broswarner-bros-interactiveWed, 20 May 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview -- Lord of the Rings: Conquest (PS3, 360)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/metareview-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-ps3-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/metareview-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-ps3-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/metareview-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-ps3-360/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


EA got the folks who made the rather excellent Star Wars: Battlefront II to make Lord of the Rings: Battlefront Conquest, so it, too, must be rather excellent? Despite the source material, developer pedigree and the fact that you can play as the bad guys, the reviews -- which admonish its "ropey visuals" and "redundant gameplay" -- do not smile kindly on this latest video game jaunt through Tolkien's Middle Earth. Sauron's eye casts its gaze on the scores and summaries below.
  • IGN (70/100): "Diehard fans of both online, class-based games and The Lord of the Rings might want to invest the sixty bucks, but if redundant and unimaginative gameplay are things you despise, you'll want to steer clear."
  • GameSpot (65/100): "The Lord of the Rings: Conquest is an exciting and action-packed way to experience Middle-earth, provided that you have the patience and fortitude to shoulder a few frustrating burdens."
  • Eurogamer (50/100): "While there is some enjoyment to be had here, it is hard-won and rarely fulfilling. The imprecision of the combat and its lightweight feel combined with the ropey visuals conspire to date the game considerably."
  • Official Xbox Magazine (40/100): "It'd be too easy to say that Conquest will appeal only to diehard Tolkien fans; in fact, they're the ones most likely to hate it."

JoystiqMetareview -- Lord of the Rings: Conquest (PS3, 360) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artslord-of-the-rings-conquestlotrmetareviewpandemicPS3Xbox-360Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nerd out over LOTR Conquest achievements]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/nerd-out-over-lotr-conquest-achievements/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/nerd-out-over-lotr-conquest-achievements/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/nerd-out-over-lotr-conquest-achievements/#commentsFiled under:


We'll be honest, just the prospect of Lord of the Rings: Conquest has us excited. Getting a chance to take part in a massive fantasy battle out of J.R.R. Tolkien's universe is a geeky dream come true. Helping to fuel our nerdy desires are the newly discovered achievements for Conquest as provided by Xbox360Achievements.org. Most of the achievements center around completing single-player campaign levels or killing X number of enemies as class X. There are a few, however, that stand out. We're particularly fond of Flame of Anor, which is given to players for killing 100 enemies with a mage's firewall on a single life. It also might be hard to top You Shall Not Pass!, which is given for defeating the Balrog -- as Gandalf -- in the Mines of Moria. Nerdgasm complete.

JoystiqNerd out over LOTR Conquest achievements originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-conquestlotrlotr-conquestpandemicTue, 09 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LOTR: Conquest attacks in January]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/lotr-conquest-attacks-in-january/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/lotr-conquest-attacks-in-january/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/lotr-conquest-attacks-in-january/#commentsFiled under:


The Shacknews folks are reporting that Pandemic Studios' Lord of the Rings: Conquest - a game dedicated to re-creating epic LOTR battles sans Elijah Wood - will be landing on retail shelves next January 13th. And from the factual deets we've already been given, LOTR: Conquest doesn't sound half bad ... possibly even good. We believe in you Pandemic, so do us proud!

JoystiqLOTR: Conquest attacks in January originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-conquestlotrlotr-conquestpandemicpandemic-studiosThu, 30 Oct 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings: Conquest teases epic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-teases-epic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-teases-epic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-teases-epic/#commentsFiled under:


There are few existing licenses that can pull large scale, arena-style, battles off and it looks like Lord of the Rings has just joined the ranks -- so far. In the teaser trailer for the upcoming title Lord of the Rings: Conquest, Pandemic showcases the epic battle of good versus evil from both perspectives. Pulling inspiration from Battlefield and its own Star Wars: Battlefront franchise, Lord of the Rings: Conquest has shown great potential. Working closely with Peter Jackson's Weta Digital to capture the look of the award-winning films, LotR: Conquest looks to impress gamers when it ships this fall.

JoystiqLord of the Rings: Conquest teases epic originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-conquestlotrlotr-conquestpandemicMon, 23 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings: Conquest debut trailer depicts battles, oliphant violence]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-debut-trailer-depicts-battles-oliph/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-debut-trailer-depicts-battles-oliph/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-debut-trailer-depicts-battles-oliph/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Pandemic just released the first trailer for their Star Wars: Battlefront-esque take on Tolkien's beloved fantasy world, Lord of the Rings: Conquest, and despite a few framerate issues, we're as pleased as Miruvor-flavored punch. Though past titles have tried to capture the grand scale of Middle Earth's climactic battles through various methods of interactivity, we've never really felt the exhilaration associated with cutting through swathes of Orcborn adversaries with our trusty Andúril. The familiar Battlefront gameplay formula looks to be just what the doctor ordered -- though PETA might have a few unkind words to say about the Proboscidean homocide apparently featured in the title.

JoystiqLord of the Rings: Conquest debut trailer depicts battles, oliphant violence originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefrontconquestDSeaElectronic-Artselectronicartslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-conquestlotrmiddle-earthpandemicPCPS3star-wars-battlefronttolkienXbox-360Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LOTR Conquest details: playable creatures, heroes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/lotr-conquest-details-playable-creatures-heroes/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/lotr-conquest-details-playable-creatures-heroes/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/lotr-conquest-details-playable-creatures-heroes/#commentsFiled under:


In a recent interview with Crispy Gamer, Pandemic got the chance to shed some light on their recently announced Battlefront-meets-Lord of the Rings title, Lord of the Rings Conquest. With the interview come a few details regarding the game and just what gamers can expect. Said details are as follows:
  • Three types of combat: Melee, Ranged, and Magic (expect warriors, archers, etc)
  • The game will play from 3rd person perspective
  • There will be several playable creatures and vehicles including ents, fell beasts, catapults, siege towers, trolls, battering rams and eagles
  • Much like the Battlefront series, players will be rewarded with playable heroes for completing objectives
  • Players will fight through the major battles of the film and a few that appear in the books. There are also battles included that were "hinted at" in the books.
  • The Evil campaign plays out as though Frodo failed in his mission to destroy the One Ring
  • No cross-platform play between PC and 360 (surprise, surprise)
  • Conquest features "a recognizable actor from the films" as the narrator (dare we hope for Hugo Weaving?)
The concept of mixing Battlefront with Lord of the Rings already had us intrigued, but this new info has us even more excited, particularly the news regarding the available creatures and vehicles. Hit the "Source" link for the full article.

JoystiqLOTR Conquest details: playable creatures, heroes originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 May 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-conquestlotrlotr-conquestpandemicWed, 28 May 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pandemic announces Lord of the Rings: Conquest [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/pandemic-announces-lord-of-the-rings-conquest/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/pandemic-announces-lord-of-the-rings-conquest/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/pandemic-announces-lord-of-the-rings-conquest/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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

JoystiqPandemic announces Lord of the Rings: Conquest [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 May 2008 07:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewseaElectronic-Artslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-conquestlotrpandemicPCPS3Xbox-360Thu, 08 May 2008 07:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine secures $40 million investment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/turbine-secures-40-million-investment/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/turbine-secures-40-million-investment/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/turbine-secures-40-million-investment/#commentsFiled under: , ,


MMO developer Turbine found its purse a bit heavier this week after securing a $40 million round of financing from a group of investors led by Granite Global Ventures, filling the Lord of the Rings Online creator's total venture capital money bin to around $90 million mark.

According to a report by Private Equity Hub, the investment also saw Granite Global's managing partner Hani Nada take a seat on Turbine's board, presumably in order to make sure the money was put to good use and not slipped into the underwear of Elvish hookers after a night on the town. While we remain in the dark as to what exactly the studio will do with its newfound wealth, Turbine is expected to make an announcement regarding its future plans in the next two weeks.

[Via GI.biz]

JoystiqTurbine secures $40 million investment originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 May 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asherons-calldungeons-and-dragons...lord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-on...lordoftheringslordoftheringsonlinelotrlotroPCturbineThu, 01 May 2008 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[April Fools' Alert #14: How the MMOs get their prank on]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-alert-14-how-the-mmos-get-their-prank-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-alert-14-how-the-mmos-get-their-prank-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-alert-14-how-the-mmos-get-their-prank-on/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With only so much time left in the day, we thought we'd fit in a handful of the gros amount of April Fools' pranks found in the various MMOs today.
Speaking of WoW, our Azeroth-obsessed sister site converted to Hello Kitty Insider for a day of mass coverage (30+ posts!). Here's what their front page looked like today.

JoystiqApril Fools' Alert #14: How the MMOs get their prank on originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaprilfools08battle-for-middle-earthblizzardddodungeons-dragons-onlineguild-warshello-kittylord-of-the-ringslotrworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 01 Apr 2008 23:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine, Tolkien to stay in bed together until 2014 (and beyond)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/turbine-tolkien-to-stay-in-bed-together-until-2014-and-beyond/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/turbine-tolkien-to-stay-in-bed-together-until-2014-and-beyond/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/turbine-tolkien-to-stay-in-bed-together-until-2014-and-beyond/#commentsFiled under: , ,


You know what it's like when it's early morning and so toasty under the covers snuggled up against that someone special that you just don't see any reason to get out bed. We imagine that's a lot like the relationship between The Lord of the Rings Online developer Turbine and Tolkien Enterprises, as the pair have agreed to extend their relationship until 2014 -- with an option to work together for three more years after that -- ensuring that players will be able to continue to frolic and grind their way through Middle Earth.

We're very interested to see where Turbine takes the franchise going forward, especially after comments made by executive producer Jeffrey Steefel in January regarding the developer's console-based aspirations for the license. In addition, while no new game announcements have been made, the recent confirmation of a new 2-part Hobbit film finally getting underway would seem to make excellent fodder for the MMO developer, and we expect that the pair will continue to play footsie beneath the sheets for years to come.

JoystiqTurbine, Tolkien to stay in bed together until 2014 (and beyond) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelordoftheringslordoftheringsonlinelotrlotroPCtolkienturbineWed, 20 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New LOTR title on the way from Pandemic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/new-lotr-title-on-the-way-from-pandemic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/new-lotr-title-on-the-way-from-pandemic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/new-lotr-title-on-the-way-from-pandemic/#commentsFiled under:


Ah, to remember the heady days when Electronic Arts was content to flood the world with Lord of the Rings titles. It seems that EA isn't quite ready to let its very lucrative license go by the wayside, as newly acquired studio Pandemic (Mercenaries 2) is working on a new title set in Middle Earth. And that's about it, really. The news was revealed in a recent analyst meeting (the same one that also seemingly unearthed plans for a new KOTOR title). The only thing known about the title is that EA plans to release it in their fiscal 2009, which runs April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009. Could it be the resurrection of The White Council? Time will tell (and so will we, once we find out).

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqNew LOTR title on the way from Pandemic originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artslord-of-the-ringslotrlotr-pandemicpandemicWed, 13 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pandemic Studios developing new Lord of the Rings game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/pandemic-studios-developing-new-lord-of-the-rings-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/pandemic-studios-developing-new-lord-of-the-rings-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/pandemic-studios-developing-new-lord-of-the-rings-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,

An EA analyst report and meeting (via ShackNews) has revealed that Pandemic Studios is developing a new Lord of the Rings title. The studio, which was recently acquired by EA along with BioWare, continues to work on the twice-delayed destruction-fest, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames.

Little is known about Pandemic's journey to Middle-Earth, save for EA CEO John Riccitiello's announcement that it will release during the publisher's 2009 fiscal year -- somewhere between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009. You'll know more when we know more.

JoystiqPandemic Studios developing new Lord of the Rings game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-ArtsLord-of-the-RingsLOTRPandemicPandemic-StudiosWed, 13 Feb 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New games this week: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/new-games-this-week-pokemon-diamond-pearl-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/new-games-this-week-pokemon-diamond-pearl-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/new-games-this-week-pokemon-diamond-pearl-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Even if you have no proclivity to catch 'em all, you'd have to admit that Pokemans are holding down the fort this week. At least they're not ports, which is more than you can say for the big three. Besides all that, the kids just love 'em.

Gallery: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl



Nintendo DS:
  • Pokemon Diamond
  • Pokemon Pearl
  • SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters
  • Devilish

Continue reading New games this week: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl edition

JoystiqNew games this week: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSlotrnewgamespokemonportsPS3WiiXbox-360Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[EA renews Rings licence, more games to come]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/31/ea-renews-rings-licence-more-games-to-come/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/31/ea-renews-rings-licence-more-games-to-come/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/31/ea-renews-rings-licence-more-games-to-come/#commentsFiled under:


While there were murmurs of The Lord of The Rings: The White Council being canceled that later turned out to be true, Electronic Arts renewed its licensing with Tolkien Enterprises and New Line Cinema to bring a new game for 2008. That being said, there was no word of The White Council being resurrected, which was said to have quality assurance problems. This new game could be another branch in the franchise, or something as simple as a Battle For Middle Earth III. What do you think? Do you want to play any more LoTR games?

JoystiqEA renews Rings licence, more games to come originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 31 Mar 2007 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Electronic ArtsElectronicArtsL o T RLord of The RingsLordOfTheRingsLOTRSat, 31 Mar 2007 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EA updates LOTR White Council site]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/08/ea-updates-lotr-white-council-site/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/08/ea-updates-lotr-white-council-site/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/08/ea-updates-lotr-white-council-site/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EA updates LOTR White Council site
Now that Electronic Arts is dual wielding the Tolkien movie and literary rights, we can expect plenty of return trips to Middle-earth from the über developer. So far, we've seen two action platformers, a turn-based RPG, a portable tactics entry, and an RTS series that have each incorporated the look and feel of The Lord of the Rings films.

Scheduled for a late 2007 release, The White Council promises to deliver an Oblivion-style roleplaying experience from the perspective of a human, hobbit, dwarf, or elf. Only this time, the adventure is set 100 years prior to events depicted in the books and films, which puts EA in the precarious position of inventing some believable derivative fiction that won't upset the Tolkien fan base. To see how things are progressing, check out the relaunched web site that features new details on some of White Council's characters.

See also: Steve Gray discusses LOTR: The White Council

JoystiqEA updates LOTR White Council site originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ea gamesElectronic ArtsLord of the Ringslotrlotr rpgPCpeter jacksonPS3rpgsteve grayTolkienWhite CouncilXbox-360Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the Grid: The analog analogues]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/the-analog-analogues/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/the-analog-analogues/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/the-analog-analogues/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes Off the Grid, a column on gaming away from the television screen or monitor.

Adaptation is an ugly word in the video game industry. Whether we're talking about film adaptations of our beloved franchises, or mediocre game adaptations of blockbuster movies, we as consumers grow reluctant whenever we see a familiar name in an unfamiliar format.

But adaptation doesn't always end in tears. With their strict attention to detail, many board game designers have successfully moved the best elements from novels and video games to the analog format. What follows are three examples of this transition, in no particular order. Let's get right to it.

Doom
In January of 2005, Fantasy Flight Games worked with designer Kevin Wilson to release a board game iteration of everyone's favorite first-person controversy magnet. Doom: The Board Game -- which apparently bears an uncanny resemblance to 1990's Space Hulk -- pits space marines against space demons, in any number of to-the-death scenarios ... in space.

The game board consists of a number of interlocking corridors, rooms, walls and doors. The board can be assembled to create one of the game's pre-designed scenarios, or customized to fit the specific desires of the players. In every scenario, up to three space marines must work their way through the labyrinthian Mars base, completing specific objectives while fighting off hordes of evil invaders. One player will always play as the invaders, who must work against the marines and attempt to foil their objectives.

Continue reading Off the Grid: The analog analogues

JoystiqOff the Grid: The analog analogues originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Oct 2006 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doomlotroffthegridpac-manThu, 26 Oct 2006 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Middle-earth expands to the Middle Kingdom]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/04/middle-earth-expands-to-the-middle-kingdom/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/04/middle-earth-expands-to-the-middle-kingdom/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/04/middle-earth-expands-to-the-middle-kingdom/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Middle-earth expands to the Middle Kingdom
According to a press release from Turbine Entertainment, the MMO maker is partnering with China's CDC Games to bring Lord of the Rings Online: The Shadows of Angmar to Chinese gamers -- a market with a strong affinity for online fantasy games. Turbine has already experienced success with Dungeons & Dragons Online in China and Japan, thanks to some effective content localization, and CDC will use a similar strategy by giving Middle-earth a distinctly Asian makeover. I hope this just means substituting tofu and rice for lembas bread, and not giving Gandalf a Fu Manchu moustache.

See also: LOTR Online gameplay footage

JoystiqMiddle-earth expands to the Middle Kingdom originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CDC GamesddoDungeons and Dragons OnlineLord of the Rings Onlinelotrlotr onlinelotrommommorpgPCrpgshadows of angmartolkienTurbineWed, 04 Oct 2006 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise of the Witch-king previewed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/22/rise-of-the-witch-king-previewed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/22/rise-of-the-witch-king-previewed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/22/rise-of-the-witch-king-previewed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Rise of the Witch King previewedGameSpy has posted an extensive preview of The Rise of the Witch-king, the new expansion pack for The Battle for Middle-earth II. Expected to arrive on PCs this holiday season, the RotWK campaign takes place in the years after the One Ring leaves greedy Isildur, and the Lord of the Nazgul rises to power over the kingdom of Arnor (Aragorn's peeps). In addition to the 12-mission evil campaign, the new Angmar faction introduces the spellcasting Thrall Master and Sorcerer units, the latter of which can convert fallen enemies into servants of the Witch-king.

An Xbox 360 version of RotWK has not been confirmed, but hopefully EA will save some holiday cheer for Xbox Live Marketplace shoppers.

JoystiqRise of the Witch-king previewed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Aug 2006 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angmararnorBattle for Middle-earth IIea gamesElectronic Artsexpansion packlotrnazgulone ringPCring wraithrise of the witch-kingThe Lord of the Ringsthrall mastertolkienwitch-kingTue, 22 Aug 2006 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steve Gray discusses LOTR: The White Council]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/21/steve-gray-discusses-white-council/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/21/steve-gray-discusses-white-council/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/21/steve-gray-discusses-white-council/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Steve Gray discusses LOTR: The White CouncilLast week, Electronic Arts announced the re-named Lord of the Rings: The White Council, an open-ended RPG that is drawing comparisons to Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Following the press event, CVG spoke with producer Steve Gray on a wide range of topics including the central story arc, playable races, and the inclusion of Maxis' Sims technology for The White Council's NPCs.

Regarding the plot, Gray had this to say: "We have the rights to create derivative fiction from both the books and the films, and that's given us a lot of freedom to create new characters and stories. However, it always has to make sense within the confines of Tolkien's world." EA expects The White Council to ship in Fall 2007 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. A PC version has not been confirmed, but Gray hinted at its likelihood.

JoystiqSteve Gray discusses LOTR: The White Council originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Jul 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ea gameselectronic artsgandalflord of the ringslotrPCproject gray companyPS3sarumanwhite councilXbox-360Fri, 21 Jul 2006 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gray is White - the new LOTR RPG]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/14/project-gray-company-is-lotr-the-white-council/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/14/project-gray-company-is-lotr-the-white-council/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/14/project-gray-company-is-lotr-the-white-council/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Project Gray Company revealed to be LOTR: The White Council
Just before its summer press event, Electronic Arts officially unveiled Lord of the Rings: The White Council, the next gen RPG formerly known as Project Gray Company. Scheduled to ship at the end of 2007, White Council features an original storyline based on J.R.R. Tolkien's literary works, and will include an open-ended world with gameplay elements from previous LOTR console titles.

At the beginning of the year, EA developer Jim Norwood confirmed the existence of a new LOTR RPG -- and even dropped the name, "The White Council". After the game's web site launched in April, keen observers may have also noticed that many members of The Return of the King and The Third Age design teams were on board with Gray Company. It was just a matter of putting two and two together, although many of us still missed the connection (like an M. Night Shyamalan flick). A new introduction on White Council's web site explains: "We really wanted to get the web site up and running so we could start talking with everyone about what makes a cool RPG." Hopefully, you've all given EA some good feedback on constructing the ultimate RPG before they apply the Tolkien license.

JoystiqGray is White - the new LOTR RPG originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Jul 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ea gameselectronic artselrondgaladrielgandalflord of the ringslotrPCproject gray companyPS3sarumanthe white councilXbox-360Fri, 14 Jul 2006 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fear the power of The One Demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/13/fear-the-power-of-the-one-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/13/fear-the-power-of-the-one-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/13/fear-the-power-of-the-one-demo/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If you haven't noticed, there is now a Battle for Middle Earth II demo available on Marketplace. It's available for every region, too -- and it's the perfect complement to the recently released walkthrough video. So, yeah, go get it.

Cheers.

[Thanks, Luis and KingOfGods]

JoystiqFear the power of The One Demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Jul 2006 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle for middle earth 2battle for middle earth iiBattleForMiddleEarth2BattleForMiddleEarthIibfmebfme iibfme2BfmeIilotrThu, 13 Jul 2006 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LOTR:BFME2 ringing up demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/12/lotr-bfme2-ringing-up-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/12/lotr-bfme2-ringing-up-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/12/lotr-bfme2-ringing-up-demo/#commentsFiled under:

Reader Matt points out that  "demo walkthrough"  video for LOTR: The Battle For Middle Earth II, now available on XBLM, likely indicates a playabe demo of this ring-rocking RTS isn't far off. Nice deductive reasoning, Matt. No seriously, thanks for the tip.

Would you like to see more real-time strategy games on your favorite console?

JoystiqLOTR:BFME2 ringing up demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Jul 2006 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lotrrtsstrategyWed, 12 Jul 2006 03:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview - LOTR: The Battle for Middle-earth II (Xbox 360) [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/06/metareview-lotr-the-battle-for-middle-earth-ii-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/06/metareview-lotr-the-battle-for-middle-earth-ii-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/06/metareview-lotr-the-battle-for-middle-earth-ii-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The PC game already debuted in March to decent reviews so, instead of recapping what's right and wrong with the game as a whole, let's get right down to the issue we're all wondering about: the controls.

EA's Los Angeles studio contains the venerable Westwood Studios, well known as RTS pioneers for titles like Dune II and Command & Conquer. So it is, under their watchful eye, that they sought to deliver the heretofore mouse-centric experience of real-time strategy games to the console world. So, how did they do?
  • IGN (82/100) is equivocal in their praise saying: "The controls aren't perfect and they're by no means the equivalent to the quick, precision controls of the PC's mouse and keyboard duo, but they do in fact work. I'll even go so far as to say they work better than any other console RTS -- period."
  • GameDaily (80/100) wonders where the tutorial is (and apparently missed it): "While the control scheme is listed in the manual and through the in-game pause menu, there's no tutorial mode. The control scheme works extremely well once you've adjusted to it, but the moment you pick up the game, you won't know what you're doing. A training mode of some sort (at least as an option) would've been nice for a game of this nature, but Xbox 360 owners should be adjusted to the control scheme by the second or third mission."
  • Yahoo! Games (90/100) seconds the manual recommendation and steep learning curve: " So yes, you need to read the manual. You're probably going to want to have it on your knees for the first few hours of play, and within arm's reach for a day or two more. The controls are well thought out and comprehensive, but the advanced functions are not intuitive. Many commands rely on double or triple combinations of face buttons and triggers or bumpers. You'll need to learn them."
So, it sounds like EA Los Angeles has done the impossible; they've delivered a console RTS with controls that are almost comparable to its PC counterpart. For console gamers (many of whom were former PC gamers) this is a praiseworthy innovation. Now that the path has been revealed, will other developers target the RTS-less console gaming world?

[Update 1: whoops! GameDaily missed the tutorial mode, as Major Nelson helpfully points out here. He says, "scroll left on the D-pad from Single Player->Tutorial." Sounds easy.]

JoystiqMetareview - LOTR: The Battle for Middle-earth II (Xbox 360) [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Battle for Middle Earth IIBattleForMiddleEarthIiLord of the RingsLordOfTheRingsLOTRReal-time strategyReal-timeStrategyRTSXbox-360Thu, 06 Jul 2006 11:25:00 EST<![CDATA[New Battle for Middle Earth II trailer available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/26/new-battle-for-middle-earth-ii-trailer-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/26/new-battle-for-middle-earth-ii-trailer-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/26/new-battle-for-middle-earth-ii-trailer-available/#commentsFiled under:


This is for all those LOTR fans out there. Check out the Battle for Middle Earth II trailer (in HD) and see what will be hitting the Xbox 360 in the coming weeks. Gamers will be able to throw down over Xbox Live and challenge each other to battles. Hope you have that Orc-killing attitude ready.

JoystiqNew Battle for Middle Earth II trailer available originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 May 2006 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360battle for middle earthfootagehdhi-deflivelord of the ringslotrmarketplacemicrosofttrailervideoxboxFri, 26 May 2006 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EA developer talks RTS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/14/ea-developer-talks-rts/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/14/ea-developer-talks-rts/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/14/ea-developer-talks-rts/#commentsFiled under:


One of our concerns about the upcoming RTS for Xbox 360, Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-Earth II, was the integration of the Xbox 360 controller with traditional RTS controls. Fortunately, we haven't had to worry for long. Gamasutra have interviewed EA's Louis Castle, a RTS veteran whose credentials date from Dune II and Command and Conquer, and it's reassuring:

"I said, 'Let's go back to the beginning.' Let's look at these strategy games, as if they were new. How would we approach it now? Let's pretend that there never was a mouse, and all we had were consoles. How would we bring this about?"

It looks like EA have really focused on the 360's strengths, including voice communication and high-definition graphics as well as a control system designed around the gamepad rather than ported. Hopefully Castle's hype will live up to the implementation.

JoystiqEA developer talks RTS originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Jan 2006 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle for middle earthBattleForMiddleEarthlord of the ringsLordOfTheRingslotrrtsSat, 14 Jan 2006 15:00:00 EST