Reviewers given a sneak preview of the game earlier this month said  
digital Middle-earth was a graphically beautiful world with richly  
detailed landscapes
and architecture.

On Jan 25, 2007, at 11:46 AM, Don Moore wrote:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/25/ 
AR2007012500415_pf.html
Tolkien's Middle-earth expands in online game

Reuters
Thursday, January 25, 2007; 9:47 AM

NEW YORK, Jan 25 (Reuters Life!) - From Middle-earth, the creatures  
of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" will rise into a new  
digital world in April
with the launch of an online game which has raised the hackles of  
among some die-hard fans.

Game publishers Turbine Inc. and
Midway Games Inc.
  (MWY.N) will on Thursday unveil details of the highly-anticipated  
massively multiplayer online game, "The Lord of the Rings Online:  
Shadows of Angmar"
with a launch date of April 24.

The game's creators are assuring fans of Tolkien's epic fantasy  
adventure that the game recreates the vast world of Middle-earth with  
dedication to the
books and players able to create thousands of virtual characters.

But the game, the first Tolkien-based massively multiplayer online  
offering, was already causing dissent among some Tolkien fans who  
know all the details
of the 1954 and 1955 trilogy.

"I know it is hard to judge a title before you play it but I feel  
like this won't feel like real Lord of the Rings," said one  
commentator on video game
news and review site GameSpot.com.

Turbine's Chief Executive Jeffrey Anderson said fans from around the  
globe will be able to join the vast, digital world of Middle-earth to  
explore the untold
stories, interact with legendary heroes like Gandalf, and play a  
vital role in the War of the Ring.

Turbine, which has a license to Tolkien's literary works, including  
"The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "The Hobbit," is taking pre- 
orders for subscriptions
and granting early access to the game so the first players, so-called  
Founders, can create their own characters to enter Middle-earth on  
March 30.

"The Lord of the Rings Online immerses you in one of the greatest  
literary works of all time," Anderson said in a statement.

Players will be able to create a characters based on one of the four  
good races -- humans, elves, dwarves and hobbits -- to battle the  
forces of evil but
they will not be able to take over one of the main roles.

"Instead, you'll create your own character who can then play a  
supporting role to the Fellowship of the Ring by accomplishing quests  
and battling evil armies,"
said a review on GameSpot.

Reviewers given a sneak preview of the game earlier this month said  
digital Middle-earth was a graphically beautiful world with richly  
detailed landscapes
and architecture.

Players will be able to move around the sizable land mass by hiring  
horses.

© 2007 Reuters


     VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
Archived on the World Wide Web at
     http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
     Signoff: [log in to unmask]
     Subscribe: [log in to unmask]


    VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
Archived on the World Wide Web at
    http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
    Signoff: [log in to unmask]
    Subscribe: [log in to unmask]