I put down a lot of cash on the Collectors Edition of this game, only to find out that there was absolutely no content after level 45 other than very few missions. The itemization was totally broken, dungeons empty and bugged so badly, it was more like using a model viewer than an MMO.

That type of scenario isn't going to make Mr Angry any happier. Then consider living with all that crap, continuing to level to participate in the first open PvP battle, just to see it crash the server and the fixes very slow in coming at all. Lastly let's not forget the promised features which just didn't happen, and were the reason for this game to stand apart from the competition.

It's left a sour taste in my mouth I'm afraid, and I'm not alone in my treatment of AoC. The open immersive world turned into parallel instances of the same zone. It just didn't deliver. They spent too long on producing titillating screenshots and press releases for IGN than they did on actually writing missions.

Right now, if you try it, you'll be pretty sorry. While they got a new guy running the show, it's going to take major investment to put this mess right, and I think it would just pay them to scrap it, reuse some of the assets and learn from their mistakes.

Take a tip from me, pop into a store on the way home, pick up LOTRO Mines of Moria. Read the first four chapters of the Lord of the Rings, log in, create a character and put your feet up as you learn about Tolkien's world, take your time, and really get to grips with the literature again as you enjoy a true 'triple A' title.

It's a shame because Robert E Howard's universe deserves to be as appreciated as Tolkien's. While it lacks some of the refinement, it does offer a whole vista of possibilities to MMO developers, and that opportunity has been wasted by FunCom.

/End rant

...feel better now, Mr Angry will probably be a bit happier for the rest of the week.

I have the original LOTRO and loved it. I quit because I was short on cash and haven't gone back yet, but I probably will. The main problem I had with the game actually had nothing to do with the game; I just didn't know anyone who played the game and usually like to know one person IRL when I'm playing an MMO.

Anyway, yeah, LOTRO is probably my favorite pay-per-month MMO out right now. I'll definitely be diving back in to experience Moria after awhile.