Screenshots, interviews, it’s a Middle-earth Online frenzy! Take a read through July’s letter from the MEO Team!
Hi all,
Close your eyes and picture Bag End. Chances are that you can see it almost as clearly as many of the places that you go every day. The homes that Tolkien visits throughout The Lord of the Rings are described in such vivid and loving detail that they are almost characters in and of themselves. One of the tasks of the MEO team is to recreate these dwellings so that players can live as well as adventure in Middle-earth. This month we’ll be sharing more information on the MEO housing system.
The first step with every aspect of MEO game development is to look at how a feature fits into the work of Tolkien. In this case one of the things that immediately springs to mind is that the races of Middle-earth live, for the most part, in distinct towns and regions, such as the Shire or Rivendell. At the same time, individuals of every race wander through the world, and frequently take up residence with new friends. To conform to this vision each race in MEO will have separate housing areas within the game, but any characters of any race will be able to stay close to their friends by purchasing housing in any town they can reach.
Another question that had to be addressed was the issue of who could claim a house. There had been some thought that only Kinships should be allowed to own housing. Ultimately, we thought that this system would be overly restrictive – after all Bilbo owned Bag End all by himself. So players in MEO will be able to inhabit individual houses, which they will have to pay individual rent on.
But there are some areas of the world where paying rent would conflict with our goal of staying true to Tolkien’s vision. For instance, gaining a house among the Elves will be based on proving your usefulness to their cause and your importance among your peers, as measured by Kinship size, not by paying rent!
Those are just some of the issues that we wrestled with in designing the housing system of MEO. Each week this month we’ll be releasing more info about the houses; their look and style, how they’ll be rented, and even some artwork. Stay tuned!
Namarie,
-The Middle-Earth Online Team
So who wants to come crash at Camp Flinch? Middle-earth Online is just going to be one awesome Tolkien Gaming Experience!
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Jenn N writes: I had just been to London, and had already mised the exhibit in Toronto, I was not about to let this exhibition get away without seeing it. So I emailed everyone and their hamster to find out when this exhibition will be in the USA. Well, I found out that it is on the tentative schedule for the Museum of Science, Boston for Late 2004. Hope this helps to settle the stomach of USA readers. [mos.org]
Xoanon here, the Museum of Science in Boston have Confirmed to TheOneRing.net that there will indeed be an exhibition in the fall of 2004! Stay tuned!
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Chris Seeman writes: To the English-speaking world, Italy remains very much the terra incognita for Tolkien-inspired music. Boasting a spectrum that embraces traditions as disparate as nationalist rock and avant garde jazz, Italia is home to no fewer than twenty-eight Tolkien-inspired artists. [More]
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CD REVIEW: Arturo Stàlteri, ‘Rings – Il Decimo Anello’, Materiali Sonori Records, 2003
By Chris Seeman:
To the English-speaking world, Italy remains very much the terra incognita for Tolkien-inspired music. Boasting a spectrum that embraces traditions as disparate as nationalist rock and avant garde jazz, Italia is home to no fewer than twenty-eight Tolkien-inspired artists. The most recent addition to this growing edifice is classically trained pianist Arturo Stàlteri, whose concept CD, ‘Rings – Il Decimo Anello’, has just hit the stores.
“Unfortunately, the nine rings given to men by the Dark Lord in the past devastated their souls,” remarks Stàlteri, explaining the title’s subtext, “it is my hope that the new peoples in the future can forge a tenth that will perpetually renew love and respect amongst all the creatures of this living earth.” ‘Il Decimo Anello’ delivers on this promise with an array of fifteen (principally instrumental) meditations upon LotR.
A true musician resists the temptation of reducing his art to a mere vehicle of personal promotion. Stàlteri shows his quality in this regard by sharing the spotlight – indeed, yielding it in many cases – to a fellowship of virtuosos who coalesce into a richly textured ensemble. Stàlteri’s piano establishes the rhythmic foundation for a variety of strings and woodwinds (some of medieval or renaissance origin) to create a warm, robust sound that is both unfamiliar and attractive.
With the exception of two lyrical pieces sung (in English and Italian) by Jenny Sorrenti, ‘Rings’ presents itself as something akin to a gallery of impressionist painting, focusing upon broad contours rather than a precise narrative. Stàlteri accents this original collection with a striking new rendition of Bo Hansson’s “The Old Forest,” a track from the latter’s pioneering 1970 concept album, ‘Sagan om ringen’.
This ‘hommàge’ suggests a not unfitting comparison between the two works. Both are unique in their instrumentation, arrangement and underlying spirit. The first has become a milestone in the history of Tolkien-inspired music; the second deserves no less.
‘Il Decimo Anello’ can be purchased on-line through Materiali Sonori (http://www.matson.it/).
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The latest Elijah Wood (Frodo) film ‘All I Want’ (AKA ‘Try Seventeen’) has gone straight to video, you can pick it up on Amazon.com. [More]
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Jolanda writes: Just wanted to let you know that currently a Sandsculpture Festival is taking place in Scharendijke, (Zeeland) The Netherlands, with the Theme: Magic and Fantasy! Some sculptures are Lord Of The Rings related. [More]
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