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The next few years promise to be exciting ones for fans of Middle-earth. Ever since The Return of the King debuted in theaters in 2003, audiences have clamored for more of Tolkien on the big screen -- specifically, The Hobbit. After nearly a decade of back-and-forth negotiating and legal entanglements, it appears that this The Hobbit movies are finally going to happen, with Sir Peter Jackson once again in the director's chair and Martin Freeman taking on the lead role as Bilbo.

That's smashing news for movie buffs, but what does this have to do with Lord of the Rings Online -- y'know, that MMO we sometimes talk about in this column? It could be "very little," with Turbine proceeding on its merry way and perhaps enjoying the free boost to playership as movie buffs hunt around for a game to extend the experience. However, if the company were smart, it would be laying out the groundwork right now to synergize the heck out of the movie with a similar in-game experience.

For a while now, I've been chewing on the notion that Turbine could incorporate the events, locations and characters of The Hobbit into LotRO -- in fact, several of the key pieces are already in place. Could our journey in LotRO eventually take us back to the era of Bilbo's grand adventure? How would such a thing even work?

Hit the jump and I will smack your brain so hard with ideas that you'll forget all of your piano lessons. It's OK -- you didn't really need them.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Will our journey take us back to The Hobbit?

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Will our journey take us back to The Hobbit? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back-to-the-futurebattle-of-the-five-armiesbilbobilbo-bagginschrono-triggerdwalinenedwaithf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgloingoblin-townhobbithobbit-playlonely-mountainlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromartin-freemanmcflymiddle-earthmirkwoodmisty-mountainspeter-jacksonreturn-of-the-kingrhovanionrhunrivendellsession-playsmaugthe-greatest-little-hobbit-of-them-allthe-hobbitthe-return-of-the-kingthe-simarilliontime-traveltimelinetolkientolkien-enterprisestrollshawsturbineTurbine-EntertainmentFri, 12 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LOTS more LotRO to come; Turbine extends LotR license]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/lots-more-lotro-to-come-turbine-extends-lotr-license/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/lots-more-lotro-to-come-turbine-extends-lotr-license/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/lots-more-lotro-to-come-turbine-extends-lotr-license/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've had punters out there guess at just how long Lord of the Rings Online might be able to last, as well as one particularly detailed and precise look at how Tolkien's Middle-earth might unfold over the years, but Turbine has now given official confirmation that they are in it for the long haul. A new press release (posted in full after the break) sent to us from Turbine's PR company states that they have extended their license agreements with Tolkien Enterprises for Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit until 2014, with the rights to claim them all the way up to 2017 if they so choose.

The president and CEO of Turbine, Jim Crowley, affirmed his faith in the license -- and honestly, it's not a bad horse to back -- saying, "With the recent announcement of what are sure to be two blockbuster films based on The Hobbit and a sequel, we expect the success of the license and our relationship with Tolkien Enterprises to grow for years to come." Only time will tell whether Turbine can give LotRO and associated games legs until 2014 (or 2017!), but with this agreement under their belts they can develop away for the foreseeable future. Hit the jump to read the press release in its entirety.


Continue reading LOTS more LotRO to come; Turbine extends LotR license

MassivelyLOTS more LotRO to come; Turbine extends LotR license originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingj-r-r-tolkienjim-crowleylord-of-the-ringslotrlotrothe-hobbittolkientolkien-enterprisesturbineWed, 20 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST