Although not officially announced by Warner Bros, the news has been floating around the Internet that Warner Bros. have now acquired the rights to the Lord of the Rings books. Due to no official announcement we don’t know if this includes the hobbit but chances are that the license will include the hobbit. To this date Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has had an less than spectacular lineup, but hopefully this will change with the new licence. On Feb. 4th Warner Bros. purchased Snowblind Studios who specialize in RPGs and to have not released any new games in recent years other than the recent XBLA title Death Tank. Without a major game release in three year we have no idea what Snowblind has been up to, but looking at their past game lineup, we may see a Lord of the Rings RPG. In addition Warner Bros. owns Monolith, who have developed some notable games such as F.E.A.R and Condemned 2: Criminal Origins. The final studio owned by Warner Bros. is TT Games, who for the most part have developed the recent series of Lego themed games and several movie tie-ins. With three studios owned by Warner Bros. there is several possibilities to what our next Lord of the Rings game may be, but we can only hope that it will be great!
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Comments:
LOTR PO:
That is really cool !! can't wait for it. :)
zach:
Well we dont even know what '"it" is yet...
d3an-extreme:
http://www.snowblindstudios.com/jobs.php?jobid=28
"We are currently looking for a talented, motivated senior environment artist for an exciting new fantasy action RPG"
oh please let it be a lotr one..
zach:
Yes I saw that, thus why I mentioned we MAY see a lotr RPG.... they could be reviving one of their IP's.. who know. Hopefully its a Lotr RPG and it better be good. :) I am NOT looking forward to another disappointment like Conquest.
Beradrin:
But a LOTR RPG is a dream that would like to see done.
Aragorn_Elessar:
what is this about?
DYonch:
I never would have guessed that Warner Bros. would get it, but it seems like a perfect fit!! :)
Ranger of the Numenor:
Well we may just see something that could turn out to be what "The White Council" was going to be like or we'll see something that's possibly much better. No one can say for sure because at this time we don't really know enough. What I am looking for though is similar to Oblivion, not turn-based but you control the character directly. Lets hope and pray, as well as pray that if it does happen to be a Lord of the Rings game it will NOT be on the level with Conquest but that of a higher level. Was Conquest a disappointment, to a degree so if this is a LotR game lets pray (once more repeating) that it is a great game.
~Ranger of the Numenor
P.S Thanks Zach for finding the info +1 rep
zach:
But a LOTR RPG is a dream that would like to see done.
Reasons Lego Lotr MAY be the next lotr game.
- Warner Bros. Owns the studio that make all the lego games ..... Warner Bros. now owns the lotr (book) license now.
- There is Rumored to be lotr game THIS Winter ...... A lego game would be easy and quick to make thus fitting in that time frame. You simply cant make a RPG in a year.
Although since Warner Bros. now owns New Line, they thus own the lotr MOVIE license right? So maybe they HAVE been working on a lotr rpg in secret. Getting the book license would allow them to expand their stroyline.. In that case ...Reasons a Lotr RPG MAY be the next lotr game.
- Snowblind employs around 80 people... The only game they have worked on since 2006 has been a single Xbox arcade game.... hmm sound puzzling?? MAYBE just maybe they were working on making a new engine for this generation as their past RPG's were all PS2 era. A company can't afford to simply stand idly for three years and it doesnt take that long to make a arcade game, lol.
- Now being owned by Warner Bros. they now have access to the lotr license.
So there is some rumors and info to back up both, so who knows. Although even IF they have an engine ready to go, less than a year is still REALLY short for a RPG. This points to a Lego Lotr being the most resonable game that we have thought of.Freek:
FYI Warner Bros. is a major equity holder in Turbine, which we all know made the most successful LotR game to date...
d3an-extreme:
maybe when saul zaentz said "something" would be out by christmas it was a lotro expansion they were talking about. Hopefully this is going to be a well thought out rpg we will see from warner bros.
RangerStryder:
Just keep the LOTR games coming and I do hope if its possible ...another improve, better LOTR/Hobbit(Battle of the 5 Armies - type) RTS game in the future.
Beradrin:
Of course I would prefer a LOTR RPG, but a LEGO LOTR wouldn't be bad at all....but i think that what we all want is a good LOTR game
zach:
Yes its quite possible that it could be a new LotrO expansion, which I wouldn't argue with, but some fans may feel its too soon. Turbine usually releases a lot of free updates between paid expansions so I really doubt we will see a new paid expansion this year. I haven't even made it to the MoM yet... remember it was over 1 and 1/2 years after the game's launch before the first expansion. Who knows really though. I want to play Rohan too soo I would be pleased with an expansion. Sadly I am not a MMO person but Lotro really grows on you.
I reallt doubt they would even try to release a RPG this soon. It would be so rushed ...
Now a lego Lotr... Thats quite possible. They already have the engine they used w/ past games. All they have to do is modify it with Lotr and its not like the graphics in these games have tons of detail, lol.
Freek:
It's interesting to see this news in relation to the recent poll we posted on the front page:
Warner isn't exactly leading the polls...
Rayman:
Warner isn't exactly leading the polls...
witchkingshour:
Third age was decent, but could of been better. I wanna use the actual heroes. And more locations! But perhaps it could be a more enhanced rpg like a open world where you talk to people, go to certain locations find hidden weapons! I am not sure what lotr lego would be, sounds kinda for young children, but i wouldn't care it's lord of the rings I would get it.
Cheeky Hobbit:
Good riddance EA - hopefully we won't see any 'Conquests' from Warner Bros.
It'd be great if the rumours of a LOTR RPG are true.
witchkingshour:
Yeah conquest was a joke, I mean I just had to stop playing. I still play battle for middle quite a lot and starting playing lotro again. I hope we can see a rpg again. Or even perhaps another company could try to make an action game with huge battles and heroes. I am still disappointed white council wasn't made. I mean that game sounded good and if it took them years to make it, I wouldn't care, cause if they take the time on it, be a great game for all of the lotr fans.
Beradrin:
zach:
I think yall are too harsh on EA, sure Conquest sucks overall, but on an average basis EA did great.
Freek:
It'd be great if the rumours of a LOTR RPG are true.
I fear for a lot of crappy budget games, casual games for the Wii and DS or just mediocre run-of-the-mill movie games.
They should get a smaller studio with a good reputation to make a new game. The likes of Relic, Bioware, Bethesda...
I can't see WB making a standout game, the standout game we all want and need (open world RPG ftw!)
roytjuh:
If it happens, I don't hope on a lego-game. That game's are make good titles looking realy realy bad. And there won't be a normal game (look the Indiana Jones and Batman).
d3an-extreme:
well turbine have said they want to release an expansion each year, and they released the last one a month before christmas, so that would kinda fit. lotro is pretty but gets very repetitive i think. lego lotr is very possible but i dont think lotr would suit that. i reeeeaaalllyyy hope it is gonna be an rpg. they can take 2 years if they have to ^^
zach:
Well a RPG will take longer than that considering the RPG studio hasnt released a RPG this gen(although they may be working on an engine as since the new consoles have came out they havnt made much...)
On Lego Lotr
d3an-extreme:
interesting, though a lego hobbit game would be released at the same time as the movies, and its unlikely warner bros. will sleep on the lotr license for 3 years. i hope youre right about them building a rpg engine for the past couple of years at snowblind, also i dont think its a coincidence that the job advert for an environment artist for a new fantasy RPG went up on their site 3 days after the ea lotr license extension ran out. maybe im just being too optomistic =)
zach:
Yea you can only help but they have HAD to been doing something for the past three years. I mean you cant afford to make only a arcade game for three years.
d3an-extreme:
very true, i dunno but id guess you would maybe just break even on an arcade title? they must have done something, if not i might apply to work there, sounds like a larf :P
zach:
Yea I know...
Rayman:
They must be working on a game and i think it will be about cartoons !!! :lol:
zach:
Well they have been hiring for a fantasy rpg, but it may just be one of thier old last gen IP's. I doubt Warner Bros. is too worried about make a game for one of their cartoons.
LOTR PO:
I doubt it will be a lotr RPG game, because how could they know they would get the license for three years ago? I really hope it will be an lotr RPG game, but I'm not sure.
Rayman:
what about lotr cartoon ? hahahaha !!! :lol:
krapyl:
Hmmm...nooooo LotR cartoon :/ But a LotR RPG game sounds good :)
zach:
Well as someone pointed out the game that MAY be released this fall could be a lotro expansion...
gandaldore:
I really hope it's an RPG(like Oblivion)
and about WB getting the license, maybe they'll do a harry potter/lord of the rings crossover:p!!! That would be awesome lol:D
zach:
Um no it wouldn't .. It would be Conquest....
Ilaras of The Dunedain:
XDRPG. Maybe one like Oblivion ya that'd be awesome, but like Final Fantasy? nooooooooo
Ha this is cool though.
zach:
Yea I hate Turn-based RPG's.
krapyl:
Ya me too.
But anyway....i think the game that will be realeased this christmas is lego LotR or just a LotRO expansion :/
I really dount there will be a RPG game this soon
Cheeky Hobbit:
I fear for a lot of crappy budget games, casual games for the Wii and DS or just mediocre run-of-the-mill movie games.
They should get a smaller studio with a good reputation to make a new game. The likes of Relic, Bioware, Bethesda...
I can't see WB making a standout game, the standout game we all want and need (open world RPG ftw!)
Just because WB is new to the industry, doesn't mean the license is going to produce crappy budget games. I'd like to think that, being tied to New Line Cinema, they care quite a lot about the LoTR license and will put it to good use.
Besides, even the greats have to start somewhere. There's no reason why they can't produce a standout game, but we'll just have to wait and see about that.
As for a LoTR Lego game... *Shudders*
Freek:
Lego Star Wars was apparently pretty good, some of the best starwars games in reviews even. Besides, with most genres having been explored, I dont see a lot of new stuff coming to the table and I don't think WB has it in them to produce a blockbuster huge game.
Mithrandir7:
Boo! I wanted Bethesda to get the license. Oh well
Cheeky Hobbit:
The Lego games are quite good - I played about 15 minutes of Lego Star Wars once - but that would be new lows for the LoTR 'franchise' in my opinion.
Ranger of the Numenor:
+1 Rep Mithrandir
~Ranger of the Numenor
witchkingshour:
I don't want a lego game. I want either a action or rpg game. I always will give a new company a chance. Way I see it, this can't get any worse than conquest. If people take their time on it, It could be one hell of a game.
guilemaster:
Ah, what does it mean? Warner Bros is new to the industry, but they've got a MASSIVE supply of money to work with. This ought to be very interesting. Great job guys, now i'm terribly excited, and I will be looking this up for the next 4 months. However, if they hit us with another Conquest, i'll lose all hope. That hurt so bad when i saw Conquest fall. This had better be great if they wanna make up for that.
And does a teenager full of inspiration and fandom for the Lord of the Rings fit the qualifications of a "senior environment artist?
Cheeky Hobbit:
zach:
I fear that WB will be worse than EA, but time will tell. I just hope their TT Games studio doesnt make the game... so far they are horrible.
el kevo:
I just saw this and all i can say is.....dumb.
They may have the book rights but they don't have the movie rights; while not a big deal to hardcore LotR fans it may be very off-putting for non-fanatics to look at it and not see their heroes and villains as they were on the big-screen.
As for the RPG, I really hope they don't. I'm sorry but the only Western Developer who can make a good RPG is Bioware and since Bioware is EA and EA has both the Movie and Film licenses it would be a much better idea.
As for the lego idea, a developer within TT has already confirmed that a Harry Potter and Indiana Jones 2 Lego games were in the making so I don't think we'll be seeing a LotR Lego title from them for a long time.
For Monolith, they specialize in horror and things that will make you want to never sleep. LotR isn't like that.
zach:
Warner Bros. owns the movie rights automatically right? Since they own New Line....
LOTR PO:
I agree with "Mithrandir7". Oblivion and Fallout 3 was amazing.
I don't want a lego game, but a really good RPG game.
Rayman:
zach:
Well these rights are not exclusive ... Bethesda could still get them IF they wanted them, but honestly they like to stick with their own IPs. I would be thrilled if they ever decided they wanted them.
witchkingshour:
It's not too hard to be better than conquest honestly. I don't know honestly any company will let us down, so really gotta give the new companies a chance. I have to agree with Freek though. Ea games made some good Lord of the ring games.. Time will tell if warner bros does the same.
roytjuh:
guilemaster:
Yeah, when you break it down, it was all a matter of time. I think that Pandemic/EA realized that the franchise is starting to lose some speed, so they probably assumed that the most profit could be gained by making a game that had "The Lord of the Rings" as the first five words in the title as quickly as possible. However, maybe the new guys won't have this kind of mindset. Maybe they stand a chance.
d3an-extreme:
zach:
Well now they own both book and movie, but movie exclusively.
krapyl:
Are you guys sure that Warner Bros will keep the licence, maybe they sell it again to someone else?
Cheeky Hobbit:
Sounds to me like they're staying at WB, although it'd be brilliant if they sold them on to someone like Bethesda.
witchkingshour:
I'm willing to give this company a chance. Not please not pandemic.
krapyl:
Well...i want them to sell it to a more decent company. A company that i know can create good games ;)
sports:
they are making the Hobbit so they will not sell they're licence.
zach:
I am pretty sure they could only sell the movie rights. They actually own them as they own New Line. The book rights are a whole different set of rules. Saul Zeantz still OWNS the book rights, Warner Bros. just has the right to use those rights. I am pretty sure thats how it works.
LOTR PO:
I just hope it won't be a lego game.
guilemaster:
Yes, please no legos. Maybe LegoLAS but not legos. I think we should give these guys a chance. You never know, it could be the Oblivion of its time! However, i am not necessarily opposed to Bethsoft getting the license, somehow. However, as i believe its been stated before, they really only work in their own original universes.(Fall Out land or whatever it is, and Tamriel.)
zach:
Yea Bethesda like working on original IP's so I doubt they really even care about getting the lotr license (although in our gront page poll they are second).
Cheeky Hobbit:
I was one of the ones that voted for them as well. :P
I just think that, if Bethesda had the chance to make a LoTR open world RPG, there's almost zero chance it would be a disappointment. They're just too much of a safe bet to let us down in my opinion. Unfortunately, it's highly unlikely that they'll ever get the rights to a LoTR game, simply because I don't even think they're LoTR fans - I could be wrong on that though.
You're correct about the movie and book rights zach; Warner Bros. actually own the movie rights, but simply have access to the book rights.
zach:
Yes I agree Bethesda would have a very small chance at even making a remotely disappointing game. I dont think that its that there not lotr fans because as a fantasy rpg studio in addition to sci-fi, they have to have some love for lotr as tolkien pretty much was the lead of modern fantasy. I think its simply that they prefer their own IPs since they are totally unrestriced while in lotr the are resticted to a certain degree by the lore.
el kevo:
Bethesda doesn't just use their own IPs. Fallout 1 and 2 were not made by Bethesda. For Fallout 3 Bethesda juts managed to get the IP.
Its also fair to point out that Bethesda has a big chance of screwing it up. Fallout 3 was a terrible game (In my opinion) and completely left out everything Fallout was before. I have a feeling that Bethesda could easily screw up any IP that is not their own.
zach:
I dont like Fallout 3 simply because of its plot. Its a good RPG, but the story is pretty boring. (At least what I have played)
guilemaster:
Well, Bethesda did say once, i can't remember where, that the "Battle for Bruma" was epic "on the scale of The Lord of the Rings." Which it somewhat was. So I guess they are fans, which is reasonable, because they probably had some influence. I mean, take a look at the elven bows. They look pretty similar to Legolas' bow, what with all the leave embroidery.
zach:
Well lotr has influence on pretty much every fantasy. :)
Cheeky Hobbit:
But, as el kevo points out, Bethesda don't just use their own IPs - they purchased the rights to the Fallout series, which was originally developed by Black Isle Studios (I think).
So yeah, not entirely impossible, but quite unlikely unfortunately.
guilemaster:
Actually, it didn't just influence the genre, it pretty much defined the genre! You can see the effects of it everywhere! We've got halflings appearing in Baldurs gate type games, Elves are now tall and long haired, its actually quite profound how far the books have reached.
zach:
el kevo:
Back to on-topic. If any Developer deserves the IP to make a LotR RPG then it is Bioware. They have proved countless times that they make THE Best Western RPGs. I'm very sorry but Bethesda is actually quite a terrible developer. Elder Scrolls 4 was fine but it really lacked in the Fighting Mechanics and sometimes the RPG elements could come off light. Fallout 3 was just a steaming pile of dung
guilemaster:
Sorry about the off topic-ness
Anyways, i don't think that Bethesda, who had pretty much awards thrown at every one of their games, is terrible. I've never played Fallout 1-3, so i cannot say anything about that. But Oblivion's was fantastic! Yes the fighting wasn't as advanced as it was in, say, Daggerfall or Morrowind, but none can deny the whole character customization and growth depth involved in it. So, i do believe that they could fulfill a passing LotR game, but their vision would probably much different than we would be prepared to accept. After the movies, anything that came out not looking like Viggo Mortenson or Orlando Bloom was pretty much shot dead on the spot.
zach:
Anyways, i don't think that Bethesda, who had pretty much awards thrown at every one of their games, is terrible. I've never played Fallout 1-3, so i cannot say anything about that. But Oblivion's was fantastic! Yes the fighting wasn't as advanced as it was in, say, Daggerfall or Morrowind, but none can deny the whole character customization and growth depth involved in it. So, i do believe that they could fulfill a passing LotR game, but their vision would probably much different than we would be prepared to accept. After the movies, anything that came out not looking like Viggo Mortenson or Orlando Bloom was pretty much shot dead on the spot.
Regarding Tolkiens influence on fantasy. el kevo I believe you underestimate his impact. Very few fantasy books were written after he published lotr, mainly because of the criticism that he received, it wasnt until the 80's when people began to accept tolkiens work when fantasy books started to realy pick up.
Broadyy:
regardless wat people think of WB, if they do want to make a LOTR game, base it on the Oblivion RPG style. i mean imagine creating you own charecter and searching for fallen heroes stuff :O. it doesnt really matter if the story in the game is bollucks, well by bollucks i mean not based on Tolkeins books, or the films. sure stick in a few events like helms deep, minas tirith and the black gate fight and moria and stuff.
zach:
Then it wouldnt be a good rpg, story is what makes an rpg and an amazing story is what makes lotr so good. What you are describing is a open world conquest which would be horrible. No offense.
Broadyy:
ermm.. wat ?? of corse u gotta have a good story ...i said that the story doesnt necessarily have to relate to tolkeins books or the films..
zach:
Then why would it be lotr.... It would just be another fantasy RPG.
jericho3456:
I think it would be awesome if they made a LOTR just like oblivion where it was free roaming and you coud pretty much do whatever you want. and the battle at helms deep with friends on xbox live and relive famous battles that are actually porportional to the movie, and not like conquest where thers only eight people on each side
jojobaker:
I have a question. What games has Warner Borthers made, and how good of games were they. I havent heard of any Warner brother games but I hope they're able to make good games because Lotr is a perfect thing for games.
zach:
Games distributed
Upcoming titles
roytjuh:
They only have the liceense.
zach:
guilemaster:
Oh, that's interesting. I had no idea that they were involved in Fear 2 or the Mines of Moria. This gives me a little more hope for their cause.
zach:
Well they had no involvement in the production of Mines of Moria. They just funded it. If you remember about a year or so ago is when Warner Bros. teamed up with Turbine with a huge financial backing. That lead to Turbine opening up spots for a console MMO which the chances are in our favor that it will be LotrO. :)
el kevo:
They actually funded or Published most of those games. In fact the games like Condemned and F.E.A.R they didn't even touch in development. Just because there name is on the box that doesn't mean they had anything to do with development. For example Arkham Asylum is being developed by Eidos but Warner Bros. is publishing it so that way copyright infringement wouldn't take place.
The vast majority of the games they developed themselves ended up being gigantic trash. Unless an outside developer develops the next LotR game then players are screwed
zach:
The vast majority of the games they developed themselves ended up being gigantic trash. Unless an outside developer develops the next LotR game then players are screwed
My bet is for Snowblind... nice timing too ...
Snowblind Studios is a video game developer located near Seattle, WA. They were founded in 1997, specializing in RPGs. In 2009, Snowblind Studios was acquired by Time Warner, through its Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment division.
benzo:
it would be good if you picked your race and you went to rivendell and went with the fellowship and did what they did.
then at amon hen you go with aragorn legolas and gimli.
you don't have missions, you have just got to kill orcs and get to the destinated place. then at the sceen of a battle you can move anywhere around the ap.
at dunharrow you can either go with the rohirrim or with aragorn legolas and gimli
Cheeky Hobbit:
As for the games Warner Bros. has had some involvement in, it's a mixed bag at best.
roytjuh:
Freek:
However, a WBIE rep said that they were working on another game for this christmas (presumably the LotRO console game or its rumoured second expansion)
zach: