From joystiq.com: It may sound counterintuitive, but it seems that going free is a great way to make money. On the Ten Ton Hammer podcast, Turbine’s Adam Mersky announced that monthly revenue has tripled for Lord of the Rings Online since the game went free-to-play in September — “which is obviously making us very happy.” The effects of the freemium transition were already noticeable in October, when revenue doubled. Executive producer Kate Paiz said that Turbine is “super-pleased” with the response to the change. “We’re getting so many new players in and the world feels alive and vibrant.” We’re convinced. Starting right now, Joystiq is going free-to-read. No longer will you have to pay a monthly subscription fee to read our content. We’re looking into microtransaction-based quests and weapons.
Category: Gaming
From IGN: Electronic Arts is shutting down another slew of online game servers. Besides closing many of its now out-dated servers for its sports franchises, such as FIFA, NHL, and NCAA, EA is also doing away with its Lord of the Rings servers as well.
“Our licensing deal with Middle-earth Enterprises has expired, forcing us to shutdown the online services for The Lord of the Rings games,” EA says. “We hope you have enjoyed playing these games online and appreciate your patronage.”
EA also says that while it’s difficult shutting down servers for any game, the teams would rather focus on the more popular titles. More..
Below is the expected date for these games to go offline:
Jan 11, 2011 Online Service Shutdown
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II for Xbox 360
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, The Rise of the Witch-king for Xbox 360
Dec 31, 2010 Online Service Shutdown
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth for PC
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II for PC
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, The Rise of the Witch-king for PC
Dehobbit.net has a Q&A with Scott Crawford from LOTR: War in the North. Translated into English below. More..
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Snowblind Studios have re-launched the official website for the upcoming Action/RPG video game The Lord of the Rings: War in the North. Fans awaiting this epic game will find current news, a rich community and more at www.WarInTheNorth.com.
A place of fellowship and the definitive community destination, the website is a hub for in-depth information about the game and the development team. A gathering ground for the latest news from Snowblind’s Middle-earth, visitors will find the site a haven of news, screenshots, story details and more to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about the War in the North. Dedicated forums provide the perfect venue for camaraderie and discourse. Continue reading “WITN.com Updated: Now with a Press Release”
The folks from WB Games have let us know that WarInTheNorth.com has been updated. From the website: As you’ve probably already noticed, we’ve updated WarInTheNorth.com to better reflect the distinct visual style of War in the North. The new homepage makes it easier to see what’s new, whether it’s the latest trailer, community video, or additional info about the characters, enemies, locations, or features in the game. A new community tab highlights a member of community, shows the latest Facebook updates, and provides quick access to our forums.
Most importantly, we’re looking to make sure that the site is updated regularly. 2011 is going to be full of exciting news about the game that we can’t wait to share with you, and you’ll find it all here on WarInTheNorth.com. More..
Beginning today (December 14th), the residents of Winter-home invite you to celebrate the season with them during this year’s Yule Festival – and what a celebration it will be!
The town of Winter-home is a beautiful new Winter Festival region and this year’s LOTRO Yule Festival is a winter wonderland of activities:
- New Quests – Help the residents of Winter-home with the final touches for the celebration
- Snowball Fight – Check out the Snowball arena where you can challenge your friends to a frosty duel
- Theatre Event – Head over to the local playhouse to catch the seasonal show
- Eating Contest – Get your fill of pies, eggs, mushrooms and more in the Winter-home eating contest
- Festival Square – Check out the local vendor, meet up with your fellows, or raise a mug to toast the season
Continue reading “The Lord of the Rings Online: Yule Festival”