The folks from Billy’s Loons Charities write: We would like to announce an auction of a super cool, orginally designed baseball-style shirt (“The World is Joyful with Trees”) from the Project-Monaghan store, signed by Billy Boyd. All proceeds from the auction will go to the Scottish Youth Theatre, www.scottishyouththeatre.org, where Billy Boyd is a Patron, and Billy’s Loons Charities is a Sponsor. Many thanks to Billy Boyd for signing the shirt at the One Ring Celebration (ORC) 2006 in Pasadena, and to Auntie Nu for the photograph! Click here to see the shirt and bid. [More]

Nick writes: EA Games is developing a next-gen fantasy RPG entitled ‘Gray Company’ which has the same exec. producer from The Third Age. At this point, a lot of people are drawing similarities to Oblivion. I checked out the concept art, and it looks a LOT like the LotR movies. Orcs, Uruk-Hai, Trolls, a Rohan type looking villiage, and a Mines of Moria that looks like it’s being built! If this has nothing to do with LotR, I’m sure it’s going to be art is going to be inspired by the movies. [More]

Not so long ago it was Star Wars, now it’s The Lord of the Rings that gets the real-time strategy (RTS) treatment. In many ways, Tolkien’s battle-heavy Middle-earth makes for an even more appropriate setting for the genre than Lucas’ galactic conflict. As the title suggests, this is EA’s second stab at a The Lord of the Rings-themed RTS game. The original Battle for Middle-earth was a highly enjoyable but in some ways limited strategy game that focused squarely on the epic combat from the three film adaptations. [More]

We at TORn, and on behalf of EA Games, would like to thank all the writers who entered this writing contest. We had entries from all over the world who eagerly put words to their thoughts and imaginations and sent us some outstanding entries. It was the sheer quantity and quality of these entries that caused us to delay announcing the winners, but we are now ready to do so. And don’t forget to check out EA Games latest venture into the world of the Lord of the Rings – The Battle for Middle-earth II, in stores now! Winners will be contacted via email in the next few days. [Winners] [Battle for Middle-earth II]

Isembard Took writes: I just wanted to let you know in case you want to post it in the Shop section of the site for fans that haven’t already bought them that the FOTR and TTT Platinum Series Special Extended Edition Collector’s Gift Sets are on sale for the rock-bottom price of $20.99 each at Amazon.com. The ROTK one is still $63.99 unfortunately.

FOTR Platinum Series Special Extended Edition Collector’s Gift Set

TTT Platinum Series Special Extended Edition Collector’s Gift Set