From the folks at WETA: A short but very exciting update today! John Howe and Weta announce The Art of John Howe – Sculptures from Middle-earth. Podcast Episode X is here – listen to John Howe talk about the sculptures and get the latest updates around Comic Con.
Month: June 2009
Today, Turbine has released Volume II, Book 8: Scourge of Khazad-dum, the latest major content update for subscribers of The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria (LOTRO). Book 8, which is now available to North American subscribers (available in Europe on 6/25), delivers the next installment to the epic story for Volume II of LOTRO, a new 12-player raid, several rich new instances for small fellowships, major gameplay enhancements, and the Summer Festival. An official press release follows. Turbine has also just released a new Book 8 teaser video and batch of screenshots. Continue reading “Turbine Releases Book 8 Update for LOTR Online; New Video and Screens!”
On June 23, Iranian security forces, reportedly using live ammunition, clashed with protesters numbering in the hundreds in the area of the country’s parliament in Tehran. At the same time, there were indications that a behind-the-scenes struggle was intensifying in the corridors of power even as the government continued its campaign to quiet the populace through propaganda and entertainment. A resident of the capital, who asked for anonymity, sent TIME the following report:
In normal times, Iranian television usually treats its viewers to one or two Hollywood or European movie nights a week. But these are not normal times, so it’s been two or three such movies a day. It’s part of the push to keep people at home and off the streets, to keep us busy, to get us out of the regime’s hair. The message is “Don’t worry, be happy.” Channel Two is putting on a Lord of the Rings marathon as part of the government’s efforts to restore peace. More..
Richard sends along this press release: Intense, dramatic etchings employing the same traditional techniques used by Rembrandt, and powerful black and white drawings all based on the books of J.R.R.Tolkien can be seen at this year’s Pittsburgh Comicon. This type of graphic artwork, rarely seen illustrating the work of the great storyteller, are by veteran Pittsburgh artist Richard Claraval. In the artist statement on his web site, www.richardclaravalart.com, Claraval says, “What I’m interested in is capturing the emotional essence of the powerful images Tolkien’s words conjure in my mind — whether the subject is human drama, or the drama of a place or an idea. (His) imagery is, to me, the most vivid, and inspiring of anything I’ve ever read”. Continue reading “Tolkien Etchings at Pittsburgh Comicon”
WESTWOOD, MA – June 18, 2009 – Turbine, Inc., the premier creator and operator of massive, persistent online worlds that foster powerful social gaming communities, today announced that The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria™ has been named the winner in the “Gaming” category for the 2009 Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange (MITX) Awards. The MITX annual awards program recognizes achievements in the development and implementation of innovative technologies. The Lord of the Rings Online, the award-winning massively multiplayer online game, expanded in the fall of 2008 with the launch of the critically acclaimed Mines of Moria, taking players into one of the largest and most dangerous online underground environments ever created.
“We are honored to be named among the best in New England technology by the MITX organization,” said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine. “It has been an exciting year for Turbine and this recognition is yet another validation of our vision for being the best in online entertainment.” More..
![The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Theatrical Editions) [Blu-ray]](http://www.theonering.net/torwp/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/51x3aa9fknl_sl500_aa240_.jpg "The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Theatrical Editions) [Blu-ray]")
Steven from www.Collider.com sends us this article by Matt Goldberg: Steve just gave me a call from the Warner Bros. “Watchmen” and “300″ Blu-Ray event (he says both films look amazing) and he spoke with a source at Warner Bros. who gave him a VERY interesting piece of news:
In a few weeks, Warner Bros. is planning to make an announcement about their plans for a Blu-Ray release of BOTH the Theatrical and Extended Editions of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. You may now begin cheering or cursing depending on whether or not you own a Blu-Ray player. More..