The list of nominees for the 24th annual Golden Joystick Awards was released today, with Nintendo’s DS continuing its impressive run. The awards ceremony will be held on October 27 in London’s Park Lane Hilton Hotel. The winners will be decided by online voting, and all nominated games had to be released in the UK between August 1, 2005, and July 31, 2006.

EA’s ‘The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II’ is nominated for PC Game of the Year in association with ebuyer.com. Click here to see the entire list of nominees. [More]

Lynn writes: West of the Moon just posted 2 new interviews with LOTR-associated bands! CLM sat down with Emerald Rose and had a wonderful chat about their experiences in the LOTR fandom, their adventures at the Return of the One Party on Oscar night 2004, and their future as a band. This wonderfully in-depth interview can be found here.

CLM also chatted with the Brobdingnagian Bards, a Celtic and filk duo who have a Lord of the Rings album, and learned all about podcasts, hedgehogs, and The Bards Movie, starring Kermit Thee Frog. Go read all about it here.

Be sure to check out these great new interviews, and support these wonderful groups that help keep the LOTR fandom entertained!

August 1, 2006 – On Friday, July 21, 2006, Universal Studios Home Entertainment offered a preview of the forthcoming King Kong (Deluxe Extended Edition) at the San Diego Comic-Con in southern California. The clip was introduced by none other than Peter Jackson himself, who spoke to fans via a pre-recorded message. Included below is a transcript of Jackson’s comments: “Much as I would love to come over to California for the summer but unfortunately I’ve just got so many things to do out here that I can’t do what I really want to be able to go shopping at Comic-Con one day – that’s what I want to do, shopping, buying toys…” [More]