Tolkien Computer/Video/Etc Games (merged)

[anaemic]

Does anyone know if there is ever going to be a LOTR computer game released, because i think they really could make a lot of people happy by doing so :)

at the moment id say the closest weve got is like baldurs gate (although Diablo 2 has some mentionable refrences to the book - even though it isnt a lotr style environment)

of any any game developers who are reading, belive me it could make u very very rich men :D

[Nazgul]

Electronic Arts has announced an agreement with New Line Cinema to develop and publish games based on the upcoming Lord of the Rings movies. New Line will release three motion pictures based on J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy novel, beginning with The Fellowship of the Ring on December 19, followed by The Two Towers at the end of 2002 and The Return of the King at the end of 2003. EA will release its first game based on the movies in fall 2002 in conjunction with the second movie.
While Electronic Arts has the rights to games based on the upcoming Lord of the Rings movies, Universal Interactive has the rights to develop and publish games based on the Lord of the Rings books. Universal's first Lord of the Rings game is also scheduled for release in 2002. We'll post more information about the upcoming games as soon as it is available.

You are right, it will make people richer...:)

[Lord Aragorn]

While not for PC, there has been a Lord of the Rings game created. It was for the Super Nintendo and apparently is somewhat rare, as I friend of mine payed $100+ for his copy of the game. I can't go into specifics for the game, but it does exist.

[Centin]

Just got my copy of X-Box Monthly, and the cover story happens to be about the FotR game.

It's a RPG/Adventure style that lets you take turns playing Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn. They plan to follow the basic plotline and series of events, but there will be many more monster encounters and Platform-esque jumping around.

The enviroments look alright, but the monster models are terrible.

The Balrog looks like it's made out of white stone, the Dark Riders seem to have a green tinted cloak and Orcs look like that little weird kid from Land of the Lost.

[Lantarion]

Making boardgames, computer/console games, trading cards, card games, plastic action figures and other rubbish merchandise greatly denotes the magic of Tolkien's imagination, and I'm thinking that whoever came up with such materialistic trash must have either not read the LotR and the Sil at all, have found it too complex for their spoilt and greedy minds.

[FJURI1]

Amen to that Pontifex. I think it denegrates one of the greatest books of all time by commercializing it. I refuse to buy the glowing glasses from Burger King and will refuse to buy anything that commercializes such a great book!

[Ragnarok]

Well, the movie got a lot of people to read the books. If you didnt expect all the commercializing, then youre a fool. No offense. I dont know what to think of it yet, because it hasnt shown to be bad yet.

Oh, and I got the goblets for Christmas, hehe. I drink from them, its fun. :)

[Tuor]

All the commercialization is really rther sad, but it IS to be expected. I saw a LotR tarot card deck a while back. disgusting. the action figures are quite excellent, though. very high quality, although I think they shouldn't have "actions".

[the peon]

Hey everybody! Don't forget that the commercial boom will subside as it always does. This leaves the real fans of the material behind with the story while the fickle public is off buying the next big thing, just give it time. Sure, it'll be a good number of new fans, but that's good.
Look at it this way: Commercialism is the evil, merchandise the ring, the public is a combination of dwarf and man with their desire for material things which inevitably passes, fans should in my opinion be Bombadil, here from the beggining, here in the end utterly unaffected if not pleasantly affected by all the pandamonium and an enigma to the others. BE BOMBADIL!!!
JAson
;)

[Khamul]

i got the super nintendo game and your friend may have wasted all that money i got it 4 free u can just download it online from any rom site if you have an emulator you can just go on a search engine and search for the game but overall it sucks cheaply made

[henzo33]

Although not based at all on LotR, I am sure we have all played or seen the many TSR games made for PC's. There was another TSR D&D game on Sega Genesis which I must say was quite good. It was called D&D Warriors of the Eternal Sun. Quite an addictive game. The best part had to be your ability to choose from 6 races of players and give them their own names and genders: Clerics, Warriors, Wizards, Dwarves, Elves, and yes even Halflings.

[LotR_Girl]

I had LotR games 4 PC...it SUCKS!!!There r about 3 parts, 4 every book. It's so stupid!!!I think it's 4 386 comps...

And this new games...I'll need STRONG PC, right? I have only Pentium 1...*cries*

[Eomer Dinmention]

Yeah i hate Commercialising

Its stupid they make cups, plates,jigsaw puzzles and all of these other **** that we don't need to use and there all for children who can't even read the first page of Lord of the Rings
its stupid and like the pictures don't even look like them


Pontifex i have a feeling that your going to say something bad about me for some reason

[Atticus]

They have to make something for all the 9 year olds and teeny-bopper girls who go and see it. I mean, they ARE going to milk ANY cash cow for all it's worth.

[Khamul]

its mainly that it seems the movie is getting all the publicity and not the books they are so worried that they may miss some cash that they make everything they can think of in hopes of hitting it rich and although i think alot of the new stuff tehy are making now is kinda stupid i wouldnt mind them makin a video game as long as it is better than that **** snes made a couple of years back it worthless they only made 1 game and it was only on Fellowship and they didnt sell enough games to take the effort in making the other games

[Glaurung]

The best Tolkien-like pc game I've ever played was Baldur's Gate. It has just about everything you could hope for in a computer fantasy role playing adventure. A close second is Ultima 7 the Black Gate and Serpent's Isle, that was a long time ago but man did those games rock, though they were less tolkienesque.

[Legolam]

I remember, a long time ago, when the only computer we had was a state of the art commodore 64, we had an LOTR role playing game. It was basically a big strategy game where you kept finding yourself in real time battles where you picked your man to fight, and made him walk over to the orc. He usually got killed straight away! We never managed to win a battle!

It was such a cool game! It even had a really cool (and accurate)map of ME so that you knew where you were, and it told you if you were fighting Saruman's orcs or Sauron's.

Anyone else share my nostalgia for this?!

[Khamul]

what was the name of that game?

[Ancalagon]

I have added in a webpage for the most recent version of the games by Activision, based on the books. Itis supposed to be available in Winter this year.

http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1853

[Gandalf White]

I've heard that EA Games will be making a computer game called the Two Towers! Has anyone else heard anything?

[Ancalagon]

You should be able to find a little more info in these links; http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1396

and

http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1853

Either way, they will release The Fellowship Game prior to the Two Towers movie being released.

[Gandalf White]

:( All these games seem to be for gaming consoles. Does anyone know if they will release a PC version?

[Sam_Gamgee]

I wish they would amke a LOTR rpg like if any of you have heard of nexus or ultima online or like the realm one of the i forget what it is exactly calle dlike multi man arena i have no idea

[Turgon]

Re: LOTR games.

I remember I game for the Atari ST called 'War in Middle-Earth' which was pretty cool. But My fondest memories are of the old Text-based adventure games - The Hobbit, The Fellowship, The Two Towers and so on... The Hobbit game was cool... 'Say to Thorin "Go east and kill orc"' classic!

[Dûndorer]

WOW! i cant wait.

[Úlairi]

That sounds great!

[Rangerdave]

Show your age.
Does anybody remember "Adventure in the colossal cave" or the original zork.

XYZZY: a hallow voice says "fool"

[Turgon]

Show your age.
Does anybody remember "Adventure in the colossal cave" or the original zork.

XYZZY: a hallow voice says "fool"

Hehe! I remember the Atari 8-bit versions. Infocom games used to be fantastic... Zork, Hitchhiker's guide... the old Scott Adams games too! Yep, the Golden age of computer gaming!

[Gary Gamgee]

Originally posted by Turgon
Re: LOTR games.

I remember I game for the Atari ST called 'War in Middle-Earth' which was pretty cool. But My fondest memories are of the old Text-based adventure games - The Hobbit, The Fellowship, The Two Towers and so on... The Hobbit game was cool... 'Say to Thorin "Go east and kill orc"' classic!

I remember those games too though I didnt actually play one, i just remember wanting them but not getting round to buying them. oh well. Slighty off-topic, I was considering getting the Blair witch games are they any good?

[SpencerC18]

Coming out in December, there will be a LoTR RPG for the Gameboy Advance. You can be the entire fellowship!

[Gamil Zirak]

Is this game just for the Game Boy? Are there going to be games for other systems?

[SpencerC18]

X-Box and PS2 are getting games, one is the hobbit (i think) and the fellowship

[Anamatar IV]

ive been waiting for this for 8 months! Theyre finally making it!

[Gandalf White]

There are two games coming out near December. One based on the books and the other on the movie. I hear one will be an RPG, and at least one will be for the PC. The web-site i know of stinks, but here it is anyway. http://www.lotr.com
EA games website might have something too.

[ILLOTRTM]

Please, don't jump all over me for this, but I really don't think an LOTR game will come out well at all. I think that it will be, well, I don't know how to put it! I just don't think it will be very good.

[DRavisher]

I don't really see how it could be really good...

[Lantarion]

Jesus, commercialism has done it again. The same thing that happened to Star Wars: Episode I is happening to the FotR: overadvertisement and mass production is turning a great novel into a tourist junk market. Toy swords, coffee mugs, T-shirts: you name it and the capitalist greed machine will supply it for you. "We'll just need a small down payment and your redit card number." Bull****.
Computer games are great all in all, but if this new game for Gameboy Advance and X-box et al. is exactly like in the book and how Tolkien himself explained and coloured his thoughts, then I'll eat my hat and buy every available LotR-product there is. Thank god it won't come to that.
:mad:

[SpencerC18]

who cares about commercialism, its a lotr video game, they haven't made one in years

[Lantarion]

If it's any good then it's ok: meaning if it is true to the book, and not to the movie. Otherwise I stick to what I said before.

[Anarchist]

I heard rumors about a computer game for the Fellowship two. Well they better make it good. I once downloaded two RPGs about the FOTR and TTT and they sucked. I hope this time the outcome is better.

[Lantarion]

What's the Fellowship two?

[Gamil Zirak]

Maybe, two should be too. So it should say "I heard rumors about a computer game for the Fellowship too."

[Oren]

Originally posted by ILLOTRTM
Please, don't jump all over me for this, but I really don't think an LOTR game will come out well at all. I think that it will be, well, I don't know how to put it! I just don't think it will be very good.

True, I mean has anyone seen the Harry potter game? MG how stupid is that! But there is a way that it would be kinda cool?

[Tyaronumen]

The Fellowship of the Rings & The Two Towers games that were published by Interplay games several years ago (perhaps even a full decade now) were pretty good for their day. I can still hum the theme from the FotR game... Both games were heavily dependent on the plot of the books, but also included other areas as well (for instance, in the end of FotR, one of the Hobbits is kidnapped and you must go to Dol Guldur and rescue him from the Nazgul -- it was much better than it sounds here. ;) )

I also played the text based adventures that were released several years before this, and while these weren't excellent, they were also similarly 'not bad'.

Not to mention War in Middle-Earth (definitely into the 80s now, I think!), which was yet another good LotR game.

I've played quite a few enjoyable LotR games in my day, so I will definitely withhold judgement for now, although I'm not champing at the bit to play this game or anything like that...

[Gandalf White]

You people are way too defensive of Tolkien. I'll get any LotR computer game that comes out regardless.
BTW.. At E3 this year they showed a game that's in progress called...um...heck I can't remember. I think it's Lord of the Rings. It will be for PS2, and will be from a third-person point of view. You will be able to play as Aragorn (a good fighter) Gandalf (who uses magic of course) and Frodo (a stealthy little guy).

Of course, this means I have to get PS2 to play, but o well. For more check out www.gamespot.com (http://www.gamespot.com)

[Zale]

I think that the important thing here is that they make a good game. I would be nice if it was true to the books, but in the commercialised world I doubt this will happen. It is more important that the game is good (without straying too far off the track, of course) and brings Tolkien home to the masses; at least, that part of the masses that buys computer games.
And no, I won't buy it, but that's because I don't think it will work on my PC.

[Ithrynluin]

Originally posted by Tyaronumen
The Fellowship of the Rings & The Two Towers games that were published by Interplay games several years ago (perhaps even a full decade now) were pretty good for their day. I can still hum the theme from the FotR game... Both games were heavily dependent on the plot of the books, but also included other areas as well (for instance, in the end of FotR, one of the Hobbits is kidnapped and you must go to Dol Guldur and rescue him from the Nazgul -- it was much better than it sounds here. ;) )


I do agree with you-those two games were OK for their day despite the fact that they lacked quite a few things. It simply felt really nice to be able to not only read a book of Tolkien's but experience it in the 1st/3rd person.
That's why I definitely expect this game to come out but I won't just buy it regardless of what it's like I wanna see some good reviews before!

[Smokey]

I hope it's better than the other attempts.

[Ruby Tussle]

Originally posted by SpencerC18
Coming out in December, there will be a LoTR RPG for the Gameboy Advance. You can be the entire fellowship!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
You had better not be joking!! I will be SO mad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bazzlebee]

anyone out there know anything about the LOTR games coming out this fall? i'm a ps2 user.

[Anamatar IV]

2 days. oct 21. $49.99. What else do you wanna know? You can play as aragorn, legolas, gimli, the fellowship are background character, you play in moria, fangorn, and rohan.

[bazzlebee]

thanks for the details. looking for review from someone who's not just a gamer but also a tolkien fan.

[krash8765]

Black Label Games under Vivendi is developing a MMORPG which in English
means Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game which is an all online game in which you can do basically whatever you want from trying to conquer the ancient moria to crafting elvish swords. You can also pick a race such as a hobbit, elf, dwarve or man. Would any of you play?

[Glamdring]

I don't know. The console games Black Label made were terrible. If they did it right, it would be awesome.

[sharkeysmate]

Couldn't find anything covering this topic anywhere else on the forum. Just wondering what people think of the two games around at the moment: FOTR and TTT. I've played both on the PS2 and have to say that I prefer FOTR. It's even got Tom Bombadil in! The gameplay is a bit repetitive but there is a real sense of storytelling which is lacking from the more violent TT game.

[MacAddict]

Try the Computer gaming forum. Computer Gaming Forum (http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1853)


~MacAddict

[greypilgrim]

duh. I like that game. I got stuck on the bridge...

[Annushka]

I have a favor to ask. My little brother is playing the FOTR, and is stuck in the beginning, when Pippin and Merry are stuck in tree and Sam is asleep. Frodo must release them. I can`t help him. I remember that place in the book, but that doesn`t help. Can anyone give me a hint??

[FrankSinatra]

'My little brother is playing - and he is stuc;.......

:D :D :D

Admit it, you're playing it, and you're stucl!!

:D :D :D

But i cant help you, im afraid.

[Gwindor]

I tell you, all these games suck. Until Middle-earth Online appears I'd be rather daydreaming of the forests of Beleriand, perilous mountains and orc-hunting ...

[Annushka]

Originaly posted by FrankSinatra

'My little brother is playing - and he is stuc;....... Admit it, you're playing it, and you're stucl!!

No, it`s really my little brother.;) And he`ll be really upset. I don`t usualy play these games.:D Though it might be interesting what they`ve done with the story.

[greypilgrim]

The big stupid troll comes back with the game, and gives it back with an apology.:) Sorry sharkey.

How did you get past the balrog? I kept getting hit with the firebolt!

[Thindraug_2]

i just go The Lord of The Rings The Fellowship Of Ring For PC but I'm having problems with it but the demo is fun

[Legolas3363]

I was just thinking- How cool would it be if a company like Bethsda( makers of the elder scrolls series) made a game based on the lord of the rings in a Morrowind like setup! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Morrowind, and to think of a game like that but LOTR sends shivers down my back!

[KPurpleRainbow]

I saw a promotional poster at McDonald's of all places for the new Hobbit video game...pretty weird, huh?

I've only dabbled in a few Tolkein video games...one, called ~The Lord Of The Rings~, which I had for the Super Nintendo ages ago, and the current ~Lord Of The Rings~ game...not The Two Towers, but The Fellowship Of The Ring. It's pretty fun...and very hard!

I hope this new Hobbit game is simple and fun to play...but I think the simple video games have gone the way of the dodo...:(

[Kahmûl]

I didn't even know that there was going to be a video game but I think it will be good and I'll buy it. I've already got and completed TTT for the PS2 so I hope the Hobbit will be just as good.

[Sarah]

im pretty sure they plan to introduce it for all game systems (gameboy, gamecube, xbox, ps2, pc)

[KPurpleRainbow]

I still have to get the Two Towers game. It looks awesome and from what I've heard, it's worth every penny.

And boy, are video games a pretty penny! :D

[MacAddict]

I would recomend against getting the TTT Game unless you like short games, renting it would be a better choice, IMO anyway. I've played it and watched it been played and its not that hard of a game, most of my friends beat it in under 7 hours, so like I said rent it and play it, don't buy it. Thats my advice anyway.


~MacAddict

[Samwise_hero]

I didn't know that there was going to be a Hobbit video game but if you say so. I played FOTR and it was kinda easy, that's a lot coming from someone who really sucks at these sort a things...... i've got TTT but i can't play it yet...it's a christmas pressie that i paid for so i could get it....and so on. i can't wait for ROTK it looks so cool. i saw a preview of it somewhere too but don't ask me where. the graphics and the whole set up are better on the 2nd and 3rd games because they're done by a better company and stuff.

[KPurpleRainbow]

I'm probably EVEN WORSE than you at video games, believe me!

I love video games, and I love them from the early days of Atari to the Playstation era of today...

But I'm absolutely terrible! The only game I ever beat was a game called Stinger for Nintendo!:D

[Kelonus]

I want to get the game. Gotta have LOTR's:)

[Kahmûl]

I usually only play fighting games if I have cheats for them.

[KPurpleRainbow]

Fighting games are awesome. Mortal Kombat is a video game classic.

[33Peregrin]

I've been playing FOTR on my Xbox, and I am at Weathertop. I keep getting to the top of Weathertop where you fight the Troll. I fight the Troll for a few minutes, ,then he stops. The screen keeps showing him moving, and the music continues, but that's all that happens. Nothing I do gets the game going again. It happens with or without cheats on. This is the third time it's happened. Does anyone know why? It's bothering me to death... my game isn't even scratched or anything, but why would it do this?

[33Peregrin]

Never mind. I got it. Another question though...... does anyone know how I would go about getting myself out of Moria?

[Eliot]

I think you should look for hints on the internet. Try www.google.com, and see what you can find. :)

P.S. I also had problems figuring out what to do to beat Moria. Do you know if the X-Box version is different from the PS 2 version? I'm just curious, because I have a PS 2.

[33Peregrin]

I don't think they're different. My brother played FOTR on his friend's PS2 and he said that they were the same.

[elf_queen]

Does anyone know how to get past Old Man Willow in the FOTR computer game? I've been stuck there for MONTHS!

[Mouth of Sauron]

If I remember correctly, you have to use your walking stick to strike his branches (don't attack his trunk). After a few hits Tom Bombadil will come and rescue you.

[elf_queen]

Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!

[Mouth of Sauron]

You're welcome.

[HLGStrider]

Is it as dumb as it looks?

I'm not hugely into games, and I've only seen the cover. . .so what's the game like?

[MrFrodo]

i agree is looks really ****.....its aimed at seven year olds....

[celebdraug]

And that is not right! So many adults like the book so they should have aimed it for everyone :mad:

[Theoden_king]

Well since the book was originally aimed for small children its only natural the game should be aimed at young children. Maybe they could release a different game for the older readers?

[Turin]

I thought it would be good when I first heard that it was coming out, but it does look very childish.

[Melko Belcha]

I really like the game. The levels are huge, the graphics are highly detailed, and it has great play control. I did not like the screenshots when I first saw them, but after playing the game I love the art direction they took with it. The graphic style is more aimed for kids, but the game is not easy, but it is not very hard either. I consider The Hobbit as the best game I have ever played based on Tolkien's work.

[Gandalf White]

I'll start off by saying I have not played this game. However, I was watching it through production, and really liked the way they made it graphically. I thought it perfectly fitting for 'The Hobbit.'

However, on Gamespot it only received a review of 6.5, with a reader review of 4.8. The reader review is always higher than the normal review, so I don't know what to think.

[Lord of Ry'leh]

I'm working on modifying the D&D 3E rules to use Middle-Earth as a campaign setting, as opposed to trying to learn and run the newer LoTR RPG (mostly because that system is based solely on the movies, I want to go more by the books). I have thus far completed the races for the game, please tell me what you think.

PC Races

Noldor ( High Elves, Gold Elves, Deep Elves, Light Elves )

The name Noldor means “those with knowledge”, a phrase which sums up the Noldor variety of elves quite well. Also know as the Qualinesti or Calaquendi, the Noldor are the most open and friendly of the elven races. They are also the most scholarly, most well traveled, and most open to change of all the elves. Although to strangers they may appear aloof, the Noldor know the value of good leadership whether it be one of their own, or another member of a Race of Light. Noldor elves are usually very pale, with dark hair. They tend to prefer wearing light pastel colors in their clothing. An example of Noldor would be the elves that inhabit Rivendell.

+2 Wisdom, +2 Intelligence, -2 Constitution, -2 Charisma

As masters of worldly knowledge, Noldor elves receive +1 to all Knowledge skill checks. Knowledge: History is always a class skill to Noldor Elves.

The Noldor receive low-light vision.

Noldor elves are subject to the following class restrictions: Noldor may not be Barbarians.

Noldor elves start with the following languages: Common, Elvish (Quenya)

Favored Class: White Wizard (cleric. Might change the class name to ‘Healer’)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~

Sindar ( Grey Elves, Elves of the Twilight, Moon Elves, Silver Elves )

The name Sindar means “grey people”. Also called the Silvanesti, the Sindar are the most private of all elves. They view themselves as true protectors of good and the will of the Valar. Sindar elves tend to regard other races, even other elves, with disdain. They believe in retaining the purity of the elven line, so Sindar elves rarely marry outside of their race. Most Sindar prefer the occupation of scholars, poets, or bards. Some believe that Sindarin singing is the most blessed music in all of Arda. These elves are also known for their love of the sea.

Sindar elves are usually taller and more slender than elves of other races, and often possess silver or golden hair. They tend to garb themselves in silvers, golds, and blues. The skin of the Sindar elves is a silvery color, and they glow with a faint luminescence. The grace of the Sindar is unmatched, even by their elven counterparts. The elves inhabiting the Grey Havens are an example of Sindar.

+2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution

The Sindar are both renowned for their gift of song and their knowledge and love of the sea. Because of this, Sindar elves receive +2 to Profession: Sailing and Perform: Singing.

The Sindar receive low-light vision.

Sindar elves are subject to the following class restrictions: They may only be Bards, Paladins, Clerics (may never take the Evil or Chaos domains), or Wizards.

Favored Class: Paladin

In addition, Sindar elves may NEVER be of an evil alignment, except for Lawful Evil.

Sindar elves are immune to being raised as undead. The effect is the same as if an automatic Protection from Evil spell was cast on the body at the moment of death.

Sindar start with the following languages: Common, Elvish (Sindarin)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~

Sylvan ( Wood Elves, Green Elves, Kagonesti, Laiquendi )

The Sylvan elves are the elves of the woodlands. They are the true beings of the forest, preferring to dwell among the trees conversing with the creatures of the woodlands. Sylvan elves prefer a small society to big civilization, but they are an emotional people who live by heart and instinct. They are an independent folk who do not easily welcome intruders in their forests. In matters of politics, they tend to stay neutral. Sylvan elves are darker in complexion than the Noldor or Sindar, with yellow to coppery red skin. Sylvan elves tend to dress in dark browns and greens. The elves of Mirkwood and Lothlorien are examples of Sylvan elves.

+2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution

The Sylvan elves are extraordinary woodsmen and receive +1 to all Wilderness Lore rolls, as well as always receiving Knowledge: Nature as a class skill.

The Sylvan elves receive low-light vision.

Favored Class: Ranger or Druid

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~

Beornings (Humans, Beorn’s Folk)

Beornings are a sub-race of Men, the descendents of the shape changer Beorn. These hardy warrior folk dwell in the wooded vales of the Anduin near the eastern part of the Mirkwood. Many of the more powerful Beornings are known for their ability to take the form of a large black bear.

+2 Strength, -2 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom

Beornings are well trained in the care of wild animals, especially those livestock used to perform farm tasks. Because of this, Beornings receive a +2 bonus on Handle Animal and Animal Empathy checks.

Upon reaching level 10, a Beorning has a 85% chance of gaining the power to shape shift into a black bear. This is treated just as those who become were bears after contracting lycanthropy.

Favored Class: Barbarian

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~





Woses (Druedain)

The Woses are a shy and secretive people, existing always in small communities despite the fact that they have existed since the First War against Morgoth. During the Third Age, the Woses were limited to a small group within the Forest of Rohan.

+2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma

Being seasoned and primitive outdoorsmen, Woses receive a +2 on Wilderness Lore rolls. In addition, Wilderness Lore is always a class skill for them.

Being primitive people, a Wose has a unique situation with armor and weapons. They may never start the game with metal armor or weapons. In addition, Wose characters do not possess the proficiency for metal weapons and armors even if their class would normally allow it. Woses may become proficient in the use of metal arms by taking the proper proficiency feat.

Favored Class: Fighter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~

OTHER RACES

Rohirrim: As normal humans but receive 1 free rank in Ride, which is always a class skill.

*Other humans: All other humans are treated as normal D&D humans

Dwarves: As per the D&D dwarves.

Hobbits: As per the D&D halfling rules.

[Eriol]

I think most modifications are sensible. The problem with adapting D&D to Middle-Earth is that M-E's races are very, very dissimilar to one another... and if we try to represent them accurately, we alter the balance of the game.

Elves are a prime example. Some of your Elf modifications are "inaccurate" in the terms of Tolkien's world, but surely playable in the terms of game balance. To play a D&D game with really accurate races in Middle-Earth would require very mature players, who understand that the fun in D&D is not related to the power of the character -- else they would all be Noldor :D.

I'll make a bit of "nit-picking" from this point of view -- i.e., I'll point out modifications that, according to my view of Tolkien's works, are inaccurate. But I am fully aware that accuracy must be balanced with playability, and that excessively strong races are mostly unplayable unless the players in the game are really good.

So take my "nit-picking" with a grain of salt :). It is a marvellous effort fo yours.

(All of my nit-picking consists in noting instances in which your race is different from Tolkien's race)

Noldor: I don't think they are the "most open and friendly" of Elves; I don't get that from any work of Tolkien.

The minuses in Constitution and Charisma are very odd for Elves, from the point of view of accuracy.

(this is an example of playability vs. accuracy. Surely Noldor should be smarter and -- especially -- wiser than other races, but if we don't balance that with minuses elsewhere, all players would want to be Noldor... accurate races would demand players that don't pick their races based on inherent power).

Again, for all Elves, immunity to disease should be added; including magical diseases. They simply don't get sick in Tolkien's world.

Sindar: They are mostly ok, subject to the restrictions on all Elves, like immunity to disease. Again the minus on Constitution is odd (think Beleg Strongbow and tell me that guy had a weak constitution :D). I don't see why they can't be rangers (again, take Beleg).

Silvan are also fine.

The relations of Elves with other people vary according to the race. Though I agree (grudgingly :D) that the Sindar are probably the most secretive, all of them like hobbits, many Noldor like Dwarves, many elves dislike Dwarves, Mirkwood elves (a mix of Sindar and Silvan) have friendly relations with the Lakemen, etc. etc.

I think the Beornings are the best adaptation of all.

Drúedain should have the special skills described in the "Drúedain" essay of Unfinished Tales, like sitting still for days, making walking statues, etc.

I don't understand how the Dúnedain can be considered as "normal humans" :confused:. They live longer, are taller, are more knowledgeable, are hardier, etc. etc.

Hobbits should be resistant to magic; I'm aware that their saving throws are already great in D&D, but in Tolkien's world I think they are even more resistant to that (and perhaps poison and disease too).

All in all, a great effort :).

Have you ever checked the MERP old boxed set? They had lots of racial characteristics there, including Ents and Orcs. It would be a good template for your work. Try to get a hold of that. Though the stats system was with a d100 and not 3d6, they would probably help you with a rough estimate of plusses and minuses for each race. And that system was playable ;). So I think it would be a big help for you.

Good luck :)

P.S. I'm not acquainted with D&D 3E, but I'm very familiar with both the first and second editions. I suppose my comments are useful for the third as well; if they aren't, dump them :).

[Lord of Ry'leh]

Thanks for the comments. I realize that some of the elf stats don't really fit, but there has to be some downfalls to playing elves or who wouldn't want to be an elf, except for role-playing flavor? I still wanted to draw them away from the standard idea of the fruity D&D elf, and even though Tolkien's elves seemed to be a near perfect race, I was trying to balance them with the more mundane choices.

I'll see how this works out at first, but it will certainly be some work on my part as the DM because of how much change I need to make, especially when running through the lengthy D&D spell list to make sure they are suitable, and altering/throwing away those that aren't. Same thing with monsters, most of which must be scratch built.

I may eventually look into getting the old books, as I have heard good things about them. They would make a decent addition to be bookshelf anyway.

[Sarah]

Anyone have any of the LOTR video games?

I have the hobbit, and FOTR (for gameboy). I'm about halfway through the hobbit (I have to figure out how to get keys so i can free the dwarves so i can stuff them in barrells) The hobbit follows the book quite nicely. What about the other ones? What do you all think?

[MrFrodo]

anyone heard of the

Lord of the Rings: One Ring game (pc)

is it worth getting/????

[nthman]

I'm not familiar enough with the 3rd edition rules to be of much help but those seem reasonable.

[33Peregrin]

I am not really into video games. I have an X-box though, and for it I have FOTR (non-movie) and I beat it. I liked that game a lot. And I just got TTT, which I've played for about five minutes.

[Aglarthalion]

I'm not interested in the LotR games. In fact, I don't play videogames much anymore at all.

[Niirewen]

I'm generally not into video games, but my father and younger brother are. We have the Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King game for Gamecube. I've only played it a few times, but they seem to enjoy it a lot.

[Samwise_hero]

The LOTR: FOTR is the best game in the world. It's more like an amatures game i think. But that's just me. TTT is awesome though. You can really get into it and the graphics are tops. It follows the movie though not the book.

[Starbrow]

My husband is the game player in our family. He says LOTR: War of the Ring is an incredilbe game - very involving. However, it doesn't have much to do with the book or movie; it's just set in Middle Earth. He also enjoyed TTT and ROTK for PS2.

[Sarah]

I have WOTR. I love it!

[Ireth Telrúnya]

(seems that I live on this board..:))
I don't have any LotR games. Once I tried to download a demo, but it didn't really work...(I don't have any enhancements in my pc for games whatsoever)
I own only one game though it has many versions. And it's Age of Empires (Gold Edition with two CD:s).
And I read Sean Astin's interview and he says there that he can't wait to get to his pc to play all night the Age of Empires! :) Well, I can say I know the feeling...you can really play that came for hours..though lately my enthusiasm has somewhat diminished since I've become quite good in it!
I just love to build civilizations and possibly defeat the enemy!
And to tell the truth, I have never before played too many computer games and also when I was a child the games were quite archaic.

[Turin]

I have TTT game for game cube, and I don't want to pop anyones bubble but its not that great, it took me about a week to beat it, the graphics are some of the worst I've seen of any video game for Game Cube, PS2, or X-box. I have heard that the RotK game is pretty good, its 2 player and you can play as a lot of different characters(11 I think), I wouldn't buy it though.

[Sarah]

I've got TTT for gameboy. Im playing as aragorn. in the beginning it does a flashback to right after rivendell. I got to moria, but i can't beat that cave troll

arg.

[Turin]

in the beginning it does a flashback to right after rivendell.


You mean it plays parts of the movie on the game boy screen? If it did that would be awsome. I admit that I did have some codes to beat TTT, but only the ones that gave you more health and more ammo. When you beat it, they give you a lot more codes like always full health... But I don't want to spoil it for you.

[Melko Belcha]

Movie based games.

The Two Towers (PS2, X-Box, GC)- Not a bad game, just way to short (beat it in 3 hours after I bought it). Also not much replay value, once all the characters are leveled up there is nothing else to do.

The Return of the King (PS2, X-box, GC)- Better then TTT, but still to short (4 1/2 hours to beat on hard, around 3 on easy). Just another hack-and-slash, no depth to the game, just button mashing.

Book based games

The Fellowship of the Ring (PS2) - More for fans of the book then gaming fans. Follows the book pretty good. It does have many bugs in the game and the play control is sloppy. The game was much shorty then I had hoped (around 8 hours the first time, can beat it in about 6 now), and some of the areas I had really hoped to explore was not in the game, Rivendell was only the porch that held the Council of Elrond and Bilbo's room. The X-box version is suppost to be better, more side missions and better lighting.

The Fellowship of the Ring (GBA) - A turn-based RPG. The game is very slow paced and is full of bugs. The leveling up system is random, and you can hardley hold anything in your inventory. Not the worst RPG I have played, but I was hoping for something alot better.

The Hobbit (PS2, X-Box, GC) - In my opinion the best game so far based off of Tolkien's work. The play control could use some work, but other then that I love the game. The levels are massive (Riddles in the Dark takes around an hour just straight through without exploring), the music is very good, the voice acting is very good. The graphics for the characters and enemies is not the best, but the enviroments are great, Inside Information is the best in my opinion.

I have not played the GBA games of TTT, RotK, or The Hobbit so I have no opinions on those.

[Sarde]

I absolutely love video games, but I do not buy them. It's self-protection. I get totally addicted to them. And when I'm stuck in the game, I start cussing real bad. Games are really bad for my blood pressure. :D

[cozbyrt]

(seems that I live on this board..:))
I don't have any LotR games. Once I tried to download a demo, but it didn't really work...(I don't have any enhancements in my pc for games whatsoever)
I own only one game though it has many versions. And it's Age of Empires (Gold Edition with two CD:s).
And I read Sean Astin's interview and he says there that he can't wait to get to his pc to play all night the Age of Empires! :) Well, I can say I know the feeling...you can really play that came for hours..though lately my enthusiasm has somewhat diminished since I've become quite good in it!
I just love to build civilizations and possibly defeat the enemy!
And to tell the truth, I have never before played too many computer games and also when I was a child the games were quite archaic.

I like Age of Empires as well. The replay ability is very good. I wish there was an Age of Middle Earth. I think that would be excellent. I have TTT and ROTK for the gamecube. The games are fun until you beat the game. The movies scenes are good. The LOTR Trilogy by EA is coming out in 2004 and I hope it has some replay ability.

Devin

[Sarah]

You mean it plays parts of the movie on the game boy screen?

It shows some movie scenes from TTT, but you actually have to play the parts from after rivendell on. (stupid!) and I can't beat that dern troll

[Ol'gaffer]

I have on a emulator the 1993 SNES version of LotR:FotR and I can easily say that it's absolutely terrible, the first few missions involve things like finding the Gaffers glasses that Sam lost. :D:D

Funny stuff.

speaking of Videogames, I'm a Final Fantasy addict.

[cozbyrt]

Sarah....have you made it to the ledge in the Moria Troll scene? If so, then be very patient. As soon as I was put on the ledge I would shoot the troll a couple of times and then hide behind a pillar. Of course the troll will whip the chain at you. In between the chain whips I ran to the left and around the ledge. The troll won't know you did that at first and you can shoot several arrows at him before he finds you. Run back and forth hiding behind pillars, shooting arrows and killing an occasional orc. It also helps to get the "permanently increase your health" upgrade before you start that scene. You will eventually beat that troll! Any of this help?

Devin

[Turin]

I have on a emulator the 1993 SNES version of LotR:FotR and I can easily say that it's absolutely terrible, the first few missions involve things like finding the Gaffers glasses that Sam lost. :D:D

Funny stuff.



Come to think of it, I have that too, I never bothered to get very far, it was too stupid.

[Sarah]

Sarah....have you made it to the ledge in the Moria Troll scene? If so, then be very patient. As soon as I was put on the ledge I would shoot the troll a couple of times and then hide behind a pillar. Of course the troll will whip the chain at you. In between the chain whips I ran to the left and around the ledge. The troll won't know you did that at first and you can shoot several arrows at him before he finds you. Run back and forth hiding behind pillars, shooting arrows and killing an occasional orc. It also helps to get the "permanently increase your health" upgrade before you start that scene. You will eventually beat that troll! Any of this help?

Devin

Aragorn can't shoot arrows, and I'm at the scene of Balin's Tomb.

[Turin]

Aragorn can't shoot arrows, and I'm at the scene of Balin's Tomb.

I think he might be reffering to the game on a console, rather than a gb. Heres a tip, if Aragorn can't shoot arrows, use legolas. :D

[cozbyrt]

I'm sorry Sarah. I was talking about the gamecube instead of the gameboy. I'll have to pay closer attention next time.

Devin

[Tinuvien21]

The games that I have are : ROTK, and The Hobbit. But I have played: FOTR,and TTT. Beat all of 'em except for FOTR. Never could get past the wraiths. 2 on PS2,2 on NGC.

[hairyhobbit]

Just wondering if anyone has played the Sony playstation2's LOTR game?? Is It good?? Is it true that if you were to purchase the ROTK game, u also get the first two games (LOTR and TTT's games)... I guess I don't want a shooting game, rather more of a thinking game, or strategic one.. Love to hear from anyone who has played these???

[Astaldo]

I have played those games. Great. Especially Rotk. I finished in one day and a half. Now if you take LOTR and TTT with the ROTK I don't know I just bought a copy of those.

[greypilgrim]

Anyone played this yet?

[greypilgrim]

WOW! This game ROCKS!!! :cool: :cool: :cool:

This game could satisfy any Tolkien Purists!
Even non-Tolkien fans would like this game,
it's that good! Here's why I like it;

1. The intro. The intro for this game is the exact same intro as the movie Fellowship of the Ring, except Gandalf is narrating it for you, not Galdriel. It's at least 8 minutes long and way different, it's better (than the movie)somehow. Awesome!

2. The scenes. When you complete a quest, find a new item, go somewhere, or whetever, a new scene will be unlocked (from the movies). There are a total of 166 or 117 scenes available. The scenes aren't EXACT scenes from the movies, but rather each one contains different clips from the movies with Gandalf narrating, pertaining to the place/part/situation you are in the game! They last about 1-3 minutes each. You get alot of cool info from these (about wargs, goblins, pipe weed, Kingsfoil, everything!) I'd buy this game just for the cinematics!!! They are that good.

3. Timeline of events. You don't play this game as the Fellowship's characters. There are a total of 6 playable characters, and special guests (Gandalf, Faramir, etc.) accompany you occasionaly throughout Middle Earth. Your company does however complete quests alonside, behind, or ahead of the original Fellowship's 9 characters as they go on their own journey. You know what they did, but what's in store for you? Hmm...

4. Things happen. Walking through Moria, we looked up, and a skelton fell from a huge gaping hole in the ceiling. A second later you hear "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity" ...echoing down from somewhere way up above. Then a huge balrog climbs up out of the deep right in front of you to go investigate that noise. You know where he's headed!!

(Oh, and the skelton reveals a key that unlocks a dwarf's book of secrets. ;))

5. Character development. You start out as a lowly Gondorian scout, Berethor. Denethor has sent you to investigate the whereabouts of Boromir. You meet Idrial, an elf warrior, who saves your *ss from a Nazgul, then brings you to Rivendell, Boromir is gone. You set out with her and meet up with a Ranger (El-rohir? El-edan?). You meet the dwarf (Hadhod, of Fundin's line) in Moria, others (Morwen and another human) later on. Each character has unique skills and abilities... and they learn several additional ones (you choose which new skills/abilities to learn)... throughout the game.

So, you get to customize your characters any way you want.

Also, your characters travel from Rivendell through Eregion to Moria, then to Lothlorien, Rohan and Helms Deep, Isengard, Minas Tirith, the Pelennor, Mordor...and each character has their own life stories develop throughout the whole game. Everyone's connected to the War of the Ring, you know? This truly promises to be an epic gaming experience.

6. The fight moves! The weapons! The Soundtrack! The items! Awesome amazing graphics!OMFG!

Final Fantasy style, Lord of the Rings based RPG
with character development and
awesome cinematics. That is the sound of
me wetting myself. :o :D :D :D :D :D

[King Aragorn]

anybody play it for gba advance yet?

[Kelonus]

I have the game for PS2. This game is very good. I love it!!

[cardanas]

I havent played it yet, but as bot an rpg fan and a lotr fan I find it kind of stupid to have an rpg with no npc's, towns etc.

[Kelonus]

There are npcs, but when you are at Helms Deep. Anyway, who has time to stop at villages and meet other people when the Battle for Middle-Earth is raging? :D

[Hobbit-queen]

The games are great! They are alot of fun! I loved them! I'm pretty mad though....I was one level from finishing and then my memory card was erased. I haven't attempted to start over yet. I'm still kind of mad at the thing.
You should get The Hobbit video game for playstation 2. It is cool, just like the book. I really had a blast playing it. It's a challenge. You should get it, my friends all love it!

Always,
Hobbit-queen

[Barliman Butterbur]

I have finally given in to this. Normally I have no interest in such games, but this one seems to be several notches above the rest, so I thought it time to start a thread on computer and board games with Middle-earth as a theme.

===============================

“The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth” (Middle-Earth), a new real-time strategy (RTS) game from Electronic Arts for PC computers, may well be the finest “Lord of the Rings” game ever made for one reason — it is the kind of game that is best suited for the Tolkien style of narrative.

Like most RTS games, “Middle-Earth” is a game of animated miniatures. Players control a Middle-Earth army as it battles for dominance in the land of orcs and hobbits. To win skirmishes and campaigns, players must master a number of skills. They must know how to build towns and farms while training armies, developing technologies, and fighting enemies.

You view the game from the top down, directing fairly intelligent soldiers, creatures, archers, and monsters from the movie. In some scenarios, your only task is to lead a band of fighters across a battlefield. In others, you must build up your army, face an enormous foe, and hope you have enough men in reserve to battle the next army that comes your way.

Electronic Arts, the most mass-market-oriented game publisher of them all, has found ways to simplify the basics of real-time strategy while maintaining the tension. Unlike most RTS games, “Middle-Earth,” does not require players to hunt for materials. You simply build farms and guard them. As long as you have farms, you will have food which can be used to erect buildings, recruit troops, and develop new technologies.

“Middle-Earth” does narrow the playing field, however, by forcing players to build farms and other buildings in limited locations. Most RTS games let you build wherever you like, but “Middle-Earth” only lets you build in pre-selected spots — most of which seem to be somewhere near enemy highways. Hence, building farms gives you food and something to fight for.

The moment you build a farm or step out of a fort, your enemies come over to investigate.

“Middle-Earth” is possibly the most populist RTS game ever made. In the past, real-time strategy has mostly appealed to the hardcore gaming crowd because it is one of the more difficult styles of gaming. “Middle-Earth,” with its movie-inspired oliphants and balrogs, is meant to appeal to that grand audience that made the Peter Jackson movies so successful.

This game may be played with miniatures, but the art meticulously recreates the look and feel of the movie. Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf in the movies) and Christopher Lee (Saruman) narrate the single player campaigns — battles strung together to create a storyline.

You could spend a good 80 hours beating the two sets of campaigns in “Middle-Earth.” One set follows the exploits of the “Fellowship.” The other follows the forces of evil. Play them to their end, and you will help both sides win the war. You’ll also ride one of the more exhilarating roller coasters in computer games because the later battles in these campaigns are amazingly hard.

“Middle-Earth” features single- and multi-player “skirmishes” in which players enter battlefields, build their forces, and fight to the death.

Real-time strategy is the perfect style of game for the “Lord of the Rings.” Here is a game that lets you see and control nearly every character from the movies (some of the book characters are still missing), while putting the whole Tolkien universe into perspective.

E-mail Steven Kent at GameColumnist@msn.com.

Source: http://www.gwinnettdailyonline.com/GDP/archive/articleABC84E0AA98646CFB4E8A1BF98FE4239.asp

Barley

[Arthur_Vandelay]

I have finally given in to this. Normally I have no interest in such games, but this one seems to be several notches above the rest, so I thought it time to start a thread on computer and board games with Middle-earth as a theme.

Is there room in this thread for the discussion of classic LOTR games as well? The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth puts me in mind of another LOTR real-time strategy game released by Melbourne House way back in 1989: War in Middle Earth (http://www.lysator.liu.se/tolkien-games/entry/wime.html). It was this game that sparked my interest in Tolkien all those years ago.

Indeed it may surprise some to learn that there is a long tradition of Tolkien-themed computer games. Some of the classics are described here (http://old.the-underdogs.org/Rings.htm). Another site (http://www.lysator.liu.se/tolkien-games/chronology.html) offers a more comprehensive list of classic (pre- 2000) Tolkien games.

And on the subject of classics, Sierra On-Line, a one-time purveryor (for those of us old enough to remember) of fantastic adventure games (eg. the King's Quest series), has released its own LOTR strategy game: War of the Ring (http://pc.ign.com/objects/496/496389.html).

Here is the review from gamespot.com (http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/lordoftheringswarotr/review.html):
Frodo? Check. Gandalf? Check. Balrog? Big check. It looks like the entire gang made it for The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring, Vivendi Universal's real-time strategy game set in J.R.R. Tolkien's seminal Middle-earth. It's not hard to imagine that Vivendi and developer Liquid Entertainment hoped to cash in on the Lord of the Rings craze with the release of this game. Unfortunately, despite the presence of some recognizable characters, that's what the game ends up feeling like. War of the Ring has gameplay that could have been lifted straight out of any generic fantasy-themed real-time strategy game from several years ago.

War of the Ring is split into two 10-mission campaigns, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the epic conflict from both sides. Playing the good campaign explains how it was that Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir all managed to show up at Rivendell just in time to join the Fellowship of the Ring. Meanwhile, the evil campaign tells how the forces of Sauron managed to break out of Mordor and besiege the city of Minas Tirith.

The game conforms to the traditional real-time strategy model that you've probably seen and played before. You start off with a handful of units and must immediately establish a base and begin collecting the game's two resources: wood and ore. Then you start churning out units while you pursue the upgrade path on the research tree. When you've finally amassed a large enough force, it's time to venture out and attack the enemy. It's a tried-and-true formula that does offer visceral thrills when you crush your opponent, and, if done right, it's a formula that can be very challenging and rewarding.

The problem is that War of the Ring suffers from a limp artificial intelligence and bland level design. In essence, the easiest path to victory is to simply outproduce your opponent. The end result is that beating most missions involves hunkering down in a defensive position and researching all the upgrades you researched in the last mission just so you can pump out the game's uberunits. Churn out about a dozen of these, lasso them with the mouse, and click on the enemy's base. Sit back, relax, and repeat the process in the next mission.

At the default difficulty level, the AI is ridiculously easy to beat in the good campaign. For the majority of the missions, all it does is send token raiding parties your way every few minutes, just to keep you honest. These raids are easily beaten back, and they never escalate in scale or threat to you. This behavior is puzzling considering that in skirmish mode, the same default AI is actually pretty aggressive and will stomp you if you're not careful. You can't help but get the feeling they've nerfed the good campaign so that it appeals to casual players. However, if you want more of a challenge, you have to play the evil campaign, which was made for veteran players. There the levels are designed in a way that force you to venture out early to locate and secure secondary outposts that you must then defend. More importantly, the AI plays a much more aggressive game. The end result is that you experience some very harrowing missions, especially a defend-the-Alamo-style battle where your orcs have to repulse consecutive waves of Gondor horsemen.

The developers did add a twist to the real-time strategy formula, which they called "fate." Basically, this can be thought of as a karmic system of sorts. The more damage you inflict on the enemy, the more fate points you're rewarded. You can use individual fate points to acquire bonuses for your heroes, like getting Frodo his sword Sting, or you can even use them to recruit a new hero, like Aragorn. The real treat happens if you save up a large reservoir of fate points. Then you can cast some epic spells that play a decisive role in combat, such as the "murder of crows" spell, which summons a swarm of the black birds to encircle your units, absorbing all missile attacks. By using another spell, you can summon a gigantic creature, like the Balrog.

Skirmish and multiplayer have a wide range of options, from the obligatory deathmatch to a few exotic game types. The best of these is catapult, which is based on one of the game's single-player missions. As the name suggests, there's a gigantic catapult on the map somewhere, and the goal is to locate and seize control of it so you can rain gigantic boulders on enemy bases. The trick, of course, is trying to keep your base adequately defended while at the same time trying to seize and maintain control of the catapult. This is difficult, of course, because your opponent will throw waves of attackers at you in a desperate attempt to seize it for himself. It makes for some good fun as you try to race forces around the map to where they're needed most.

Graphically, War of the Ring suffers somewhat from the fact that it's built on the Battle Realms engine, which is 2-year-old technology. They've spruced things up a bit, like including shiny water and seas of grass that part as your units run through them. However, most units and buildings look blocky; especially when you zoom down to get a close-up on the action. For instance, faces on dwarf units are badly plastered onto a single polygon. There are some graphical highlights, though. Most of the hero and villain characters look pretty good, and it's fun to see the nazgul gallop into battle, swords swinging. But the best-looking creature, by far, in the game is the Balrog. Just imagine a lumbering, Godzilla-like fire demon snapping a flame whip! That's pretty much what Liquid's re-created onscreen. It's just a stunning moment when he first appears, and it makes you wish that the rest of the units looked as good. That said, the game runs smoothly, even with lots of units on the screen, and the big melees can be impressive--with spell effects going off everywhere. Additionally, the developers have done a nice job of paying attention to the little details, like bloodstains on swords.

In terms of audio, the music is appropriately folksy for the good guys and similarly menacing for the bad guys. The voice acting is adequate, even if the main dwarf hero does sound like an evil version of Steve Irwin, the "Crocodile Hunter." (Just to make things clear, War of the Rings isn't associated with any of Peter Jackson's stunning movies. Vivendi performed an end around and flanked New Line Cinema and official game license-holder Electronic Arts by getting the Tolkien family license. So, while War of the Rings is an "official" Lord of the Rings game, don't expect Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, or anyone else from the movies to provide any voices.) For what it's worth, Vivendi and Liquid also did a good job of delivering a game that seems relatively bug free; the only minor problem that came up was when our orcs couldn't complete a building, a problem that went away after we restarted the level and never cropped up again.

In the end, though, you can't help but feel that this is a stripped-down Battle Realms with hobbits, as it feels like virtually every other real-time strategy game that's been produced in the past five or six years. As it is, War of the Ring is a competent, if lackluster, effort that will probably appeal to Middle-earth fans and casual gamers who haven't played a lot of real-time strategy before. If you're a real-time strategy veteran looking for something fresh and exciting, don't look here.

The old fogey in me wishes that Sierra would resurrect the adventure game, starting with a King's Quest-style adaptation of LOTR. Maybe one day . . .

[Barliman Butterbur]

Thanks for that (whew!) long and fact-filled post, AV!:)

Barley

[Barliman Butterbur]

with fans of the original books being unsure about their authenticity and followers of the films in constant dispute over which of the three is the superior. The games, though, are rather different as the quality is not always so high; therefore EA has stepped up to provide a variation on the usual home console action theme – an RPG that tackles the world of Final Fantasy head-on. But is this a change for the better or an ill-advised experiment?

In Brief

# Pros Spectacular graphical design
# Faithful musical score
# Easy, fluid battle mechanic

# Cons Poor story progression
# Awful menu and map navigation
# Far shorter than usual RPGs

For those of you that know nothing about the world of Lord of the Rings, never fear, as Third Age’s storyline is barely anything to do with the main adventure that we all know and love in all honesty. So that means it is a definite no-no for those looking to witness the gay banter between Frodo and Sam. Instead everything is focused on a band of ‘heroes’ Gandalf has ordered to basically clean up in the background as the Fellowship progresses. The lead character is Berethor, a soldier of Gondoria who has lost his nearly all his memory (just recalling his search for Boromir and having Gandalf ‘in’ his head, showing him little movie sequences…*ahem*) and he is later joined by Idrial (one of Galadriel’s elves), Elegost (a Dunedain ranger), Hadhod (a dwarf with links to Moria) and Morwen (a Rohan villager woman, with secret ties to Berethor). And there you have it – basically no story, just fragments of the movie trilogy played to you as Berethor tries to remember what he cannot…remember!

When it comes to the graphical stage, there should really be no one who can put on a better show than EA, what with its hefty coffers and wealth of top class game creators under its wing. And to some extent this is true, as the technology found within Third Age is impressive for the most part. The locales that you traverse are all faithful to their movie counter-parts thanks to intricate detailing; character models are quite sturdy in nature (although their facial expressions leave something to be desired – although they are vastly improved over the horrific FIFA 2005 faces!) and move without any dreaded ‘jerkiness’; the movie clips are well-compressed and clear, which comes as a massive relief after seeing the terribly glitch-fuelled Def Jam: Fight for New York intro scenes; and the overall speed of the game is more than satisfactory. But you have definitely seen better on the GameCube – Square Enix’s first GC attempt, Crystal Chronicles, blows EA’s first attempt right out the window! But then again, EA triumphs with its attention to armour and weapons changes, unlike most RPGs…

The Third Age screen from The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

One of the main aspects of the movies, part of the reason many believe them to be so magical, is the soundtrack. Just as James Horner brought a haunting, yet soul-wrenchingly beautiful score to Titanic, Howard Shore crafted an epic range of what can only be described as ‘stirring anthems’ that swept through the entire extravagant trilogy. So how could EA possibly work to improve upon what was already perfect? How on (Middle) Earth could the Third Party genii make pieces that fitted each of the games scenarios better than in the big-screen version? Well, EA certainly did not want anyone to answer that question and decided instead to make the right choice in keeping Mr Shore’s orchestral movements intact, slotting the rousing and moving pieces in at the right times to produce a fantastic experience. And with the abundance extra voice acting from the likes of Ian ‘Gandalf’ McKellen and various ‘unknowns’ who do a damn fine job with the small range of speech they are allotted, plus the plentiful supply of *clinks*, *clunks*, *grunts* and other sound effects give Third Age a well-rounded ‘sound’ section, and another area to boast about!

Source: http://www.cubed3.com/viewreview.php?id=220

Barley

[greypilgrim]

Funny you should mention this Barley. Recently I've played LoTR RISK (a board game), LOTR- The Third Age (X-BOX), and now Battle for Middle Earth (PC). Risk was fun at first, but it is just risk after all. The Third Age was cool, but got beat in like a week, also, I wouldn't play it back again.

Battle for Middle Earth is the best game ever!

[Barliman Butterbur]

Electronic Arts has scored well with its Lord of the Rings franchise, seamlessly blending actual footage from the films into its video games.

The Battle for Middle-earth - EA's real-time strategy title for the PC rated T for teen - offers an epic new gaming look at the world of J.R.R. Tolkien. The game puts you in control of vast armies, either on the side of good or evil, from the ground up. You control everything from peasants and soldiers right up to the king (make that scum and vermin to dark lord on the dark side of the ledger).

Trolls menace the forces of good. Ents - walking trees - hurl rocks at the forces of Mordor. In Gondor, archery ranges produce bowmen. In Mordor, orc pits and troll cages spawn wave after wave of evil warriors.

The Fellowship, from Frodo to Gandalf, fights on the side of good, each with their own talents and skills.

Actors from the films add to that authenticity. Christopher Lee (Saruman) does the narration on the evil side while Ian McKellen (Gandalf) provides the voice-over for the good side. Elijah Wood (Frodo) and others also lend their voices to the game while the music comes from Toronto-born Howard Shore, who did the score for the films.

Titles like Activision's Rome: Total War and THQ Inc.'s Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War have raised the bar in recent months on real-time strategy games for the PC.

Battle for Middle-earth meets that challenge. The game is visually beautiful and easy to play. Plus there is detail on the smallest level. Gamers may find themselves stopping to admire the screen when, after a victory on the battlefield, their units raise their weapons and cheer.

The game also is accessible to both veteran and novice real-time strategy gamers. You don't have to tinker too much with the resource side of Middle-earth, i.e. farms, mills or the like, if you don't want to. Producing soldiers can be done with a simple click.

But there are lots of management options if you can't wait for weapon or troop upgrades, although perhaps not quite enough for hardcore devotees of the genre.

Battle for Middle-earth takes the gamer through a variety of scenarios, from the Fellowship running a gauntlet of enemies, to set-piece skirmishes and huge battles such as Helm's Deep.

And it is during such epic encounters as Helm's Deep that the game really shines.

Full article at http://www.gameshout.com/news/012005/article364.htm

Barley

[Hammersmith]

The Battle For Middle Earth is fantastic. I'd recommend it to anyone. I won't go into it in depth, except to say that it is possible to save Boromir, and I conqured Helm's Deep (as Saruman) without losing a single orc battalion. :p


LOTR Risk is fabulous fun also, though why they brought it out in two sections is beyond me. The cards certainly bring another delicious flavour to Risk, though the "One Ring" aspect is fairly uniform and boring.

[Barliman Butterbur]

The Battle For Middle Earth is fantastic.

Do you know if it's available for Macintosh?

Barley

[Hammersmith]

Do you know if it's available for Macintosh?

Barley

I don't believe so. :(
I'm a closet Mac fan, but so long as everything in the gaming world revolves around Winblows, I'll keep buying PCs. For which I am genuinely ashamed. Perhaps there are patches available? I wouldn't know where to look for one, but if you invite yourself to a random tech forum on the web, you could ask around...

[Barliman Butterbur]

I'm a closet Mac fan...

Hmmm...what an appalling sad state! :( You know that you could buy the latest Mac G5 with "Virtual PC" installed, and run all the Windoze programs that are around on your Mac! And with no crashes! :D

Barley

[Hammersmith]

Hmmm...what an appalling sad state! :( You know that you could buy the latest Mac G5 with "Virtual PC" installed, and run all the Windoze programs that are around on your Mac! And with no crashes! :D

Barley

Yeah, but after all I spent on my PC laptop, I'd just feel bad...:o

I do plan on getting a mac eventually though. Video editing on PCs is just painful.

[Legolas8778]

Not sure if I'm posting this in the right section so please forgive me if I'm not.

I just wanted to know what other people thought of The Third Age game. I just got it today and I was a little disappointed. I just wanted to know what everyone else thought about it.

[Witch-King]

Yes i do believe there is a section for videogames but not sure. But the game was a big disappointment for me and im sure for others, the Return of the King was much better. Nice to see someone else on here from the Mountain State. :)

[Palando]

I got it for Christmas and haven't touched it yet. I didn't put it in my profile, but I live in Virginia. Not West Virginia, but Virginia. Still a nice part of the Country.

[Jotun]

No sir, Didn't like it.

[Legolas8778]

I'm glad I'm not the only one then. I just don't like the fact that you can't actually fight. If it wasn't for that it would be okay. It just sucks because I was so excited when I finally got it and now I feel like I just wasted $30.

[Mike]

I think it's time to get old-school...

COMPUTER GAMES

Melbourne's House's LOTR text-adventure trilogy:
Charts the journey of Frodo and Sam across Middle-Earth. The first game is horrible, but I do recommend Part III: The Crack of Doom, to any text-adventure enthousiasts.

War In Middle-Earth:
Created by Melbourne-House. You control the armies of good in a battle against the forces of Mordor.
Actually, its quite good, but there is some wierd stuff in here:
There is no way, as far as I can tell, to get into Moria. But the Balrog does show up to attack you if you stay too long around the Misty Mountains.
Sauron's forces may mobilize earlier than planned, leaving you unable to deal with Saruman.
The time-line is screwed up.
Spiders can attack you in Mordor, but not Shelob
You can get items scattered over Middle-Earth for quick mobilization

The Lord of the Rings: Volume I
By Interplay. An excellent adaptation to game format of Tolkien's novel. There are plenty of changes (Frodo gets captured and taken to Dol Guldur and you have to save him at th end) but it is still excellent. Probably the best Tolkien-game ever.
There is a second part, but it won't work on my computer.

Riders of Rohan
A slow-moving war-game with **** graphics. Don't play it.

BOARD GAMES

War of the Ring:
SPI's foray into Tolkien. An extremely good simulation of the war of the Ring.

Quest of the Magic Ring:
A simplistic board game, but it's pure magic. Beautifully designed and executed.

The Lord of the Rings:
Milton-Bradley's board game adaptation of Bakshi's film. Pretty good, despite the game-makers lack of any knowledge of Tolkien.

The old fogey in me wishes that Sierra would resurrect the adventure game, starting with a King's Quest-style adaptation of LOTR. Maybe one day . . .

I love Sierra's King's Quest and Space Quest games. They were actually planning to do a LOTR game in the same style quite recently, but never finished. Perhaps I should download that AGI game-maker program and start on my ow game in the style of King's Quest...

[GuardianRanger]

EA's "The Battle For Middle Earth" is absolutely fantastic. It's the only computer game I play right now. You could say I'm addicted to it. And I haven't even started a campaign. I've had it since Christmas, and I'll I've played is the skirmishes. I don't know why I haven't started a campaign, I guess I'm having too much fun with the skirmishes. That will all probably change when I start a campaign. I like to play as Rohan the best. The video is awesome. The sound is great. The footage is great. The playability is great. It's not un-necessarily unbalanced. I give it two thumbs up.

Another Lord Of the Rings game I play (though very infrequently, and not on the computer) is Games Workshop The Lord Of The Rings. It's a tabletop miniature game, and it too is fun to play. Though I haven't painted or played in quite a while.

[Hammersmith]

EA's "The Battle For Middle Earth" is absolutely fantastic. It's the only computer game I play right now. You could say I'm addicted to it. And I haven't even started a campaign. I've had it since Christmas, and I'll I've played is the skirmishes. I don't know why I haven't started a campaign, I guess I'm having too much fun with the skirmishes. That will all probably change when I start a campaign. I like to play as Rohan the best. The video is awesome. The sound is great. The footage is great. The playability is great. It's not un-necessarily unbalanced. I give it two thumbs up.

Another Lord Of the Rings game I play (though very infrequently, and not on the computer) is Games Workshop The Lord Of The Rings. It's a tabletop miniature game, and it too is fun to play. Though I haven't painted or played in quite a while.

Mate, the campaigns are so much better than the skirmishes! The whole concept of keeping your units throughout the whole game, levelling them up throughout is itself awesome. And your heroes! *drool* Level 10 Gandalf!!! Ouch! Also you have not lived until you have torn down Helm's Deep, filled Legolas full of arrows and stormed the keep without losing a single Uruk Hai company :D

[GuardianRanger]

Mate, the campaigns are so much better than the skirmishes! The whole concept of keeping your units throughout the whole game, levelling them up throughout is itself awesome. And your heroes! *drool* Level 10 Gandalf!!! Ouch! Also you have not lived until you have torn down Helm's Deep, filled Legolas full of arrows and stormed the keep without losing a single Uruk Hai company :D


Well, that about does it. Looks like I'll have to attempt a campaign. If I can find the time, I'll give it a shot today. Unfortunately, I enjoy playing the forces of good. It will be a joy to keep the riff-raff from defiling the lands of good.

:D

[Hammersmith]

Well, that about does it. Looks like I'll have to attempt a campaign. If I can find the time, I'll give it a shot today. Unfortunately, I enjoy playing the forces of good. It will be a joy to keep the riff-raff from defiling the lands of good.

:D

That'll work too. I destroyed Grond before it even arrived at the gates of Minas Tirith. Have fun!

[GuardianRanger]

Ok, Ok, Ok, I give.

I started a campaign last night. Totally Unbelievable! Awesome. I don't know what I was thinking just doing the skirmishes. Now I'm hooked, and I'm in the middle of a campaign (I just finished Amon Hen.)

If I'm not on here posting, you know where I am....wiping the vermin of Middle Earth out of Arda.

:D

[Mike]

Oh, ya, I forgot to mention two other Classic board games:

Battle of Helm's Deep:
A straightforward scenario where the Rohirrim try to defend the castle until dawn and the Orcs try to destroy. My only complaint is that the Rohirrim spend most of their time holed in the tower (It is pretty fun to play the Man-Orcs, though)

Siege of Minas Tirith:
A broad boardgame covering the attack on Osgiliath up to after Aragorn's arrival. Very well done. The same problem applies as the above game, though: at the start the Minas Tirith player has to retreat, and sit and wait (unless he presses all his power to destroy the Grond).

[Narvi]

Two other old board games based on Tolkien were produced by SPI in the late seventies, and first sold in a boxed set along with "War of the Ring" (mentioned by Mike in an earlier post):

"Gondor" is the siege of Minas Tirith, complete with Grond, severed heads etc;
"Sauron" is a speculative recreation of the battle between the Last Alliance led by Elendil / Gil-Galad and Sauron's hordes on the Morannon at the end of the Second Age.

"War of the Ring" is very nearly a great game - add a hidden movement system and a bit more chrome and it would be a real classic.

I've just discovered LoTR: the Third Age - I think JRRT would have disapproved in many ways (especially of the swords-and-sorcery anime magic), but it's a lot of fun if you don't let stuff like that get to you. I killed the Balrog last night and I haven't quite got over the novelty yet :)

[BTW this discussion just stopped me from lurking - this is my first post:D ]

[Ithrynluin]

I've never really tackled many Tolkien-themed games, because I've found those I did try to be mediocre at best, and played Interplay's The Lord of the Rings (http://www.lysator.liu.se/tolkien-games/entry/lotr2.html) mostly for the sake of it being Tolkien. I am hopeful, however, that some of these newer products may be of a better quality...

The old fogey in me wishes that Sierra would resurrect the adventure game, starting with a King's Quest-style adaptation of LOTR. Maybe one day . . .

I second that emotion. That coming from a die hard adventurer. Ah, those were the good old days. :)

P.S. You can download many older Tolkien-oriented games at Home of the Underdogs (http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?name=Lord+of+The+Rings+vol.+1%2C+The), an 'abandonware' games site. Check it out!

[Mike]

Gondor" is the siege of Minas Tirith, complete with Grond, severed heads etc;
"Sauron" is a speculative recreation of the battle between the Last Alliance led by Elendil / Gil-Galad and Sauron's hordes on the Morannon at the end of the Second Age.


I played "Gondor" once and thought it was quite a good game, except that the rules made character combat in such a way that Legolas could never win a battle against a slightly stronger character! They may have well stipulated that a stronger character always defeats a weaker one. We had to make our own rules on this one, and I haven't played it since. "Siege of Minas Tirith" is way better.

[Narvi]

I never really much cared for either Gondor or Sauron, and haven't played either of them for many years. I seem to recall considering Sauron the better of the two, back when I broke open my Middle-Earth box set in nineteen-seventy-whatever-it-was, and had the time to sit around and play with boardgames [wistful sigh]

IIRC, Sauron contains a rather cute bit of invention by the game designers, whereby Sauron has to be standing on a pedestal in order to use magic (with absolutely no basis anywhere in Tolkien's works as far as I'm aware). This meant that if you wanted him to lead units, engage Gil-Galad et al in personal combat etc, he had to leave a unit of orcs to carry the pedestal around for him, and then go back to it the next time he wanted to cast a spell.

I really must dig those games out of the cupboard and have another look sometime ...

Mike: I've never played Siege of MT - can you tell me anything about who published it and when? I might see if I can get hold of it on eBay.

[Mike]

I think "Siege of Minas Tirith" was made by Fact and Fantasy games, but my box is so beat up I can't be sure...

There used to be a website where you could search and buy old Tolkien games, but it recently closed down *Mad*

Try "Kulkmann's Gamebox" for further information.

[Arthur_Vandelay]

P.S. You can download many older Tolkien-oriented games at Home of the Underdogs (http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?name=Lord+of+The+Rings+vol.+1%2C+The), an 'abandonware' games site. Check it out!

I know it well :)

[SpencerC18]

Any of you guys plan on getting this game when it comes out? I for one can't wait.

[SpencerC18]

Heh, nevermind looks like I had this same post a little over a year ago. LOL

[Barliman Butterbur]

Turbine gets license for online product set in Tolkien's world

By Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff | March 23, 2005

A Westwood computer game producer, Turbine Inc., has seized control of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth.

For two years, Turbine had been working for Vivendi Universal Games to produce a massive multiplayer game that's set in the world of Tolkien's ''Lord of the Rings" novels. Now, Vivendi has transferred ownership of the license to Turbine, with the blessing of Tolkien Enterprises, a California company that controls licensing rights to the books. This means that Turbine, a small company best known for its moderately successful online game Asheron's Call, will control one of the most valuable franchises in the gaming industry.

''Turbine's been able to continue to demonstrate that we are one of the premier providers of online content," said chief executive Jeffrey Anderson. ''We had the inside track because we had done two years of development on the project with Vivendi."

The Turbine game, titled ''The Lord of the Rings: Middle-Earth Online," will feature characters and settings from the Tolkien books that never made it into the popular movies. Players will be able to visit Angmar, the home of the vile Nazgul warriors who pursued Frodo and the One Ring. Or they'll be able to meet Tom Bombadil, a beloved character from the books, whose absence from the movies outraged many fans.

The game was scheduled for release this year. But Anderson said the company will push back the game's publication into 2006, to add a variety of new features. ''This is the biggest franchise in the world right now that can be applied to an online game," Anderson said. ''We want to make sure that the scope of the work, the quality of the work . . . is really going to sing through."

Turbine paid Vivendi Universal Games an undisclosed amount for the gaming rights, which cover big multiplayer online games only. Tolkien Enterprises has licensed Electronic Arts Inc. to produce smaller-scale ''Lord of the Rings" games for desktop computers and videogame consoles.

But the Tolkien novels, with their complex plots and historical detail, are well suited to massive multiplayer games, where players ''live" in a simulated world. Players pay a monthly fee that entitles them to create a character and build up his level of skill, experience, and wealth. Characters team up to go on dangerous adventures; sometimes they simply log onto the game to chat.

Read the complete article at http://www.boston.com/business/personaltech/articles/2005/03/23/westwood_game_maker_to_tap_middle_earths_riches?mo de=PF

Barley

[Hammersmith]

I hate MMO games. They squeeze your wallet, never deliver and addict you to the internet :mad:

[Hammersmith]

On the subject of computer games...my goodness. *Clicky* (http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-13317980,00.html)

It's not real, people :eek:

[Barliman Butterbur]

On the subject of computer games...my goodness. *Clicky* (http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-13317980,00.html)

It's not real, people :eek:

Good God! I'll never play any games in China!

Barley

[Alatar]

Here we go i think that TTA is actually quite good
i completed it i 4 days then i went aroud for a month trying to get 5star armour but sadly it has recived the gift of men and left the circules of the world(ie it got boring)

battle for middle eath is the best game i know but LOTR risk is just risk!(with a confusung ring plot that no one wants to play)

[Morohtar]

Battle for Middle Earth is an awesome game. My friend has it, and I commandeered his computer till 4 in the morning. Good times with cavalry charges.

Has anyone ever tried the LOTR Miniatures Game by Sabertooth Games? It's like the Games Workshops miniatures, but they're painted already, so it's less work. It's pretty fun. My friends and I all have some and we pull them out every once in a while.

[GuardianRanger]

Has anyone ever tried the LOTR Miniatures Game by Sabertooth Games? It's like the Games Workshops miniatures, but they're painted already, so it's less work. It's pretty fun. My friends and I all have some and we pull them out every once in a while.

Do you have a link to the Sabertooth games? I play a lot of Games Workshop LOTR; I think half the fun is the painting.

[YayGollum]

Here you go. A very fun little thing. Please excuse me if it was already mentioned. ---> http://www.thangorodrim.net/

Ah, yes. And for the few people who remember what board games are, these are all good stuff ---> http://www.sophisticated-games.com/sophisticated_web/lotrcomplete.html

[mull_o_matic]

hi all

just wondering what ur feelings are on any development of Sil-based games (i dont think there are ANY)
its wayyyy to epic to just leave alone, imagine the game War of the Jewels or a rpg based on Turin on Beren or both!
yeh.. i think the big hitch is that the liscensing for tolkiens post-humous work goes thru Tolkien's estate not tolkien enterprises like all the other works
sorry bit of a pointless post but would really like to hear ur feedback on the matter

[Hammersmith]

The closest I can recall to playing a Silmarillion game was a scenario for Civilization II that I downloaded. Now that was cool!

I'd love to see a Silmarillion based game, and my experience with the above has made me think that the epic would lend itself very well to a strategy game of some sort.

[Maggot]

It would be great wouldn't it I mean you could control Fingon's forces in the Dagor Braggolach (hope i've spelt that right:confused:) trying to minimise casualties to a set number of dead, or Fingolfin trying to do the seven wounds to Morgoth and last but not least straying from the Noldor's path and going back in time to the kinslaying and you are one of the soldiers and you have to protect Olwe i'd buy it:D.

[mull_o_matic]

Yeah however i reckon it would make a better strategy game.. eg Battle for Middle-Earth -esque.

Terraining could be awesome and the number of great sieges and battles and skirmishes and colonisations are just phenonmenal... plus they could go either in the direction of BfME or Warcraft III and really use the heroes well (cos there are so many).

If anyone has Warcraft 3 i strongly suggest u try to get the map "War of the Jewels": its well thought out and well balanced and shows taht with a bit of money and a good concept this idea could go along way

now if only some developer would try to buy rights of Tolkien's Estate (who really shouldnt object to it seeing that Silmarillion is one of the least succesful of Tolkiens book and as such the publicity created would be a major booster for further sales)

thats my rant for the day.... input?

[Litsedal]

I think a board game would be good too...dont see how it would work though :( anyway I agree with mull_o_matic - why won't C Tolkien sell the rights???

[Wraithguard]

I want to see them spell Nirnaeth Arnoediad nonetheless get everything correct. I would like to a Sil movie as long as it doesn't involve Jackson in any way.

[Corvis]

I'm so upset that I didn't find this thread sooner, but I played the Hobbit video game and I enjoyed it. Not a lot of fighitng, but still a good game. And it stays true to the book also.

[Corvis]

I know I'm a couple of years late for this thread but I've been dying to know what people think about the Fellowship of the Ring video game that came out a couple of years ago. The first PS2 game I ever had was the Fellowship of the Ring videogame when it first came out. I loved the game because it stays to true to the book entirely and it really gives you a feel of how Tolkien probably imagined the world in his mind (with it being made by Tolkien Enterprises). It can really show you the parts in the book that you never got to see in the movies, and I would love to know what people thought of the game. So is you wish to, vote in the poll above or post a reply.

[Hobbit-queen]

Yeah, I have The Hobbit for PS2. I really like it, it has a lot of mind games and stuff like that in it. You even get to kill a few goblins!

[Astran]

If you know something about video games, then you know that this game sucks.... I don't know about consoles, but pc has much better games.. One of them is Battle For Middle Earth (http://www.eagames.com/official/lordoftherings/thebattleformiddleearth/us/home.jsp). And there is also another game under development. Its a mmorpg (massive multiplayer online roleplaying game), Lord Of The Rings Online: Shadows Of Angmar (http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/middleearthonline/preview_6126140.html). This game isnt released yet, so there is no official site yet.

[GuardianRanger]

EA Granted Rights to Develop the Lord of the Rings Games Based on J.R.R. Tolkien`s Epic Literary Fiction; Two New EA Games Introduce Players to Characters, Environments and Battles Not Depicted in Theatrical Releases

July 25, 2005 08:00:17 (ET)

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jul 25, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Electronic Arts (ERTS, Trade) today announced that it has been granted the rights to develop games based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic literary fiction, The Lord of the Rings. Since 2001, EA has developed games based exclusively on New Line's Academy Award winning theatrical productions of The Lord of the Rings, as depicted by Peter Jackson. The expansion of the rights allows EA to introduce players to depths of the fiction never before explored in an EA game. The company also revealed today the first details of two new games in the blockbuster The Lord of the Rings series; The Lord of the Rings(TM), The Battle for Middle-earth(TM) II and The Lord of the Rings(TM) Tactics (working title). With the new games, fans will be able to step into a world that looks like the films, but experience characters, environments and battles that have been inspired by the books.

The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II is the next PC installment to EA's blockbuster The Lord of the Rings(TM) series of video games. The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II is a sequel to the critically acclaimed Real-time Strategy (RTS) game from EA Los Angeles, The Lord of the Rings(TM), The Battle for Middle-earth(TM). The newest The Lord of the Rings PC title will introduce players to depths of the fiction never before explored by EA, in accordance with an agreement with The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises that grants EA the rights to develop games based on the books, in addition to a separate agreement that allows for games based on the New Line films. Expanding on The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth, the new RTS game will allow players to engage in heated battles with Elven and Dwarven armies plus heroes and creatures that have never been seen in a The Lord of the Rings film.

"The new rights have unlocked the world of Middle-earth for The Lord of the Rings and strategy game fans alike. We're building a deeper, richer, bigger game based on the #1 RTS from the previous holiday season in North America with new fantasy races, places, heroes, and battles from both the books and films," said Mike Verdu, Senior Producer of The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth at EA.

The Lord of the Rings(TM) Tactics for the PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R) Portable) system will put players in the universe of Middle-earth from the books and films and allow them to lead the Fellowship or take control of the forces of Shadow. The tactical strategy game features player-customized characters and a rich system of items, upgrades and skills. Players can guard their heroes, seize high ground, set ambushes and trap enemies while fighting battles across famous locations of the books and films to determine the future of Middle-earth. The Lord of the Rings Tactics will allow them to pit their customized heroes against up to four other players via WiFi. A unique, simultaneous turn-taking system allows for fast-paced play.

"Now that we are expanding our Lord of the Rings universe to encompass Tolkien's books, we'll be able to combine the visual impact of the films with those complex stories," said Steve Gray, Executive Producer of The Lord of the Rings Tactics at EA. "The RPG genre, in particular, is a great medium for story telling. We are delving into unexplored depths of Tolkien's works to deliver new, compelling and immersive experiences. The Lord of the Rings Tactics gives RPG fans a first look at how we will do this."

For more information about The Lord of the Rings(TM), The Battle for Middle-earth(TM) II please visit: www.bfme2.ea.com. For information about all of EA's games, please visit EA's press site at www.info.ea.com.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2005, EA posted revenues of $3.1 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

About Tolkien Enterprises

The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises is the holder of worldwide motion picture, legitimate stage, merchandising, and other rights in J.R.R. Tolkien's literary works The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Tolkien Enterprises has been producing and licensing films, stage productions and merchandise based on Tolkien's works for almost 30 years. Its headquarters are in Berkeley, California, and its website may be found at www.tolkien-ent.com.

Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. (C) MMV New Line Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Lord of the Rings and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises under license. PSP is a trademark and PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.

[Barliman Butterbur]

Finally! It had to happen sometime! The Monopoly company has come out with a LORD OF THE RINGS version!

"Are you the one to rule them all? This magical version of the classic board game lets you lay claim to various holdings in Middle-earth, including Isengard, Helm's Deep and Mount Doom. Six collectible pewter tokens find their way from The Shire to their destinies: all photography is from the landmark film trilogy. Ages 8 and up. Two to six players."

And you can GET YOUR COPY RIGHT NOW RIGHT HERE! (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009YEHI/104-7467828-2959903?v=glance) (You can even get a LOTR version of Trivial Pursuit with it!)

Barley :D

[Barliman Butterbur]

Well, my wife and I finished our first game of the LOTR Trilogy Edition of Monopoly, using the One Ring Rule! For Tolkien aficionados at any rate, the “fun factor” of this game is certainly several substan