Rogash:

That's great ! :) I hope that we will see more about it soon.

witchkingshour:

Hopefully a rpg!!

zach:

Yes I hope it is the RPG, and it better have some sort of co-op. :)

Imagine LOTRO but with a max of 6 or so people, and with a fight system like oblivion. :D

erman:

I love that there is going to be a new Lotr game (hope RPG),but I wouldn't like to play Lotr somewhere in the north I mean I would like to play Lotr where was the war for the ring, not somewhere that has almost nothing to do with films.

Kessadir:

*He fells on his knees and put's his hand together*
Pls... Let me play as a dwarf... I beg thee ;-(

zach:

There is a ton of games that follow the movies. I welcome the move to the north. :)

Rogash:

I hope there will Barrow down and Bombadil's house,I love these places,(old man willow please^^)

SoraStrife:

The war in the North is a direct Tolkien reference that refers to Lothlorien's, Erebor's, and Dale's joined efforts to combat the forces of Dol Guldor in Mirkwood. No Bombadil. No Barrow Downs. No old man Willow.

krapyl:

Well...the possiablebility of playing as a dwarf is big, since it was the elves, dale and the dwarfs that lived in north.

erman:

I have almost all of them but most of them were not good, only LOTR ROTK and Battle for middle earth series were good. I would like a game something similar to white council, I mean that you are free to explore middle earth.

Puma Illahie:

LotRO was good, you forgot that one

erman:

And that one. The thing is that there isn't so much LOTR games coming and we don't know how long they will make them, so I want to explore the middle earth as much as I can.

Puma Illahie:

Then they should release expansion packs to LotRO until all of ME is filled and then you can explore all you want in that.

witchkingshour:

I always wanted a rpg where you control the heroes of Middle-earth.. But something tells me not gonna happen.

Puma Illahie:

It might happen in 2020 when video game dev tech is super advanced

zach:

Ummm the tech is there. Its just the devlopement costs to make a well made RPG. (Which is said to probably double next gen as it did this gen).

Puma Illahie:

The dev costs won't double because the increase in tech will just make it easier to develop high quality games. The graphical ceiling will be hit tech wise within the next 5 years. Beyond that is just the power to render more high quality graphics faster, which will improve dev costs.

zach:

Ummm yes they will. With technology improving that means MORE can be done with games. Models can have more polygons, higher texture sizes, etc. With this increase artists must take longer to make these models/textures. Instead of the days when most of the facial features were done with textures, Now more is done on the actual model. If a character has a scar, it will now be done on the model, etc. This increase in time leads to longer development time for games OR more artist being hired. Both of which result in an increase in dev. cost of games. Thats JUST the graphics side. More complex programming is required to simulate real-world physics and new features added to games.

It will be more than 5 years before games reach full CGI like graphics, running in real-time on personal machines. Not to mention that even when the graphics are reached we may move farther into full 3D graphics or holograms, which will require much more faster machines.

Puma Illahie:

New tech will speed up render times, make more things automatic, etc, and lower the costs. The graphical ceiling is nearly reached I promise. Look at GoW2

SoraStrife:

You also need more people and bigger computers in the developers offices to make all that happen. As tech goes up, so does the cost to make things that utilize it to its fullest. Not a hard concept.

Puma Illahie:

And as tech goes up, so too does the automation software that does it for you. How much longer until an engine like the sims would be able to create all character models because of it's huge customizability?

SoraStrife:

It never will because it will max out long before then and have to be rebuilt from scratch. Thats the thing, as tech goes up, more people have to get paid to max it out, and it costs companies more. Automation has to be programmed in, and it has to be redone every time something is upgraded. Its an endless loop that costs a little more each time.

Puma Illahie:

Automation is not something that has to be reprogrammed in. There's still DOS in windows vista

SoraStrife:

And somebody had to make sure the DOS knew how to handle all the different Vista programs, and they had to get paid for that. Thats what your not getting, each upgrade requires that everything past needs rechecked and recalibrated, and all of that costs money.

Puma Illahie:

And when they never have to reupgrade? What about when that ceiling is reached?

SoraStrife:

That ceiling can never be reached until quantum computing is reached, which is currently thought to be impossible. We are at a never ending loop of having to upgrade and pay out the *** to fix everything upgrading breaks.

Puma Illahie:

There will be a time when someone says that graphics cannot improve any more, and that time is coming. At that point, the ceiling will be reached.

SoraStrife:

No its not. Graphics will only reach their max when computers reach their max, and that can only come with quantum computing, which as I stated, is currently considered to be impossible for at least another 50 years, possibly 100.

Puma Illahie:

When they can render a google polygons a second, the computer will clearly not need to be upgraded anymore.

Heron:

Wow. Way off-topic.

Let's stop arguing about the eventual progression (or lack thereof) of computers, ok?

Puma Illahie:

I'm sorry; I guess I'm bad at that.

Freek:

Anyway I think this is all a bit besides the point. Games like Oblivion, GTA IV , FarCry 2 and Fallout 3 have shown that MASSIVE open world are possible, and in different gaming genres too. Granted, it will take a lot of time to develop an entire Middle-earth to explore.

If this IS an open world RPG (which I truly hope it is, linear RPG's only work when you're Bioware...) then obviously they are going for a smaller approach, which I would guess involves about this area:
Attachment 340

Elfman117:

Wow. War in the North huh? LOTR WITN... sounds good to me :P

I really REALLY hope it is an RTS, I would love that. Just imagine, a BFME with a new, modern and cutting edge engine, melee soldiers finally engaging in "melee" combat, much more detailed models, and more effects like better lighting and such.

It would be great. I just hope WBIE don't screw this one up. Is Batman, Arkham Assylum coming from them?

Meh, on to Third Age TW for now xD

erman:

I'm a big fan of open world style, actually I think that games can't get better than an open world one and I'm still waiting for Lotr open world.

zach:

Well I have a full post on the War of the North. http://www.middleearthcenter.com/for...ad.php?t=19044

That map shows a perfect example of the events that DID happen although I think rivendell may be added(if just as a swift travel action) because they did have counsels there.

Cheeky Hobbit:

I don't think it's a case of there being a scenario when the 'ceiling is reached', but rather when the big boys like Microsoft and Sony decide that they're going to go for innovation as opposed to refinement/optimization. Given the undisputed success of the Wii, you can already see Microsoft and Sony starting to introduce 'innovative' additions to their respective consoles (e.g. Natal). I'm willing to bet that, while the next generation of consoles will undoubtedly have upgraded technology, a larger emphasis will be placed on more innovative ways of gaming - this may be a trend which is maintained in the future of gaming, meaning that it will be a long time until the actual tech boundary is breached. But who really knows what the future holds? I'm hardly a tech genius, so I personally can't say how much further technology can go. It's also worth pointing out that a large part of upgrading technology involves improving the efficiency of the development process as much as the technology itself. While the technology available will mean that development will be a much more complicated process, the means with which the devs work will be made more accessible and efficient. Engines such as the Unreal Engine have already started to introduce more efficient design tools that allow developers to access certain models much more easily than ever before. Yes, game development will become more costly and time-consuming when the technology is upgraded, but it won't be as drastic as some believe.

Wow, talk about off-topic... how very naughty of me! :whistle:

To stay on-topic, I agree with Freek; this needs to be an open world RPG as opposed to a more linear experience. I think it's fair to say that LoTR has all the right ingredients for a potentially fantastic open world game - I personally have been waiting ages for one, and I'm sure many others have as well.

It's also worth pointing out that 'The White Council' was going to based in the North, although I'm probably being hopeful in assuming that there is a connection between the two.

Rogash:

Rumors says that it's Snowblind Studio who make it,they are very good in RPS's,Champions of Norrath and an expansion of Baldur gate are from us.

d3an-extreme:

all the speculation is answered in one line of that trademark application, under the description is the line

role-playing computer and video game software which are designed for hardware platforms, namely, game consoles and personal computers

this is the rpg :) time to get excited

Cheeky Hobbit:

All the current available jobs at Snowblind Studios point towards a 'fantasy action RPG', which is 'high profile' and 'currently in production'. It all sounds quite promising.

Freek:

So was Conquest :P Lets just hope they take their time with this project, most LotR games thus far have been rushed (even BfME1)

Cheeky Hobbit:

Haha, good point. I'll try not to let my LoTR fanboyism take over this time!

Balin38:

Any Oblivion quality open world RPG would be the greatest game ever. Let's hope someone in these companies reckons that too.

Rogash:

I am so exited guys ! An RPG in Middle Earth is just great !^^

erman:

RPG open world would be even better.;)

SoraStrife:

Sucks it wont be open world, not if Snowblind does it at least.

Expect something more linear and Baldur's Gate-y

Rogash:

Middle Earth is too huge for an open world,an RPG like KOTOR would be amazing too.

d3an-extreme:

lets not jump the gun though, it could be open world, we wont know until they officially announce it.

SoraStrife:

Not if Snowblind does it, Snowblind never makes things open world.

Well, they do, but theres nothing to do in that world except the questlines that are in the main town hub, and its feux open world, meaning you can only follow a set path in the various maps that make up the different zones.

d3an-extreme:

well i woudlnt mind that, in oblivion the most fun things are just to stroll around or play the main storyline, side quests dont move the game forward and dont feel as worthwhile to me. obviously open world would be best but i would still take a heavily scripted one over nothing :)

erman:

It's not too huge, White Council was going to be an open world game, so it's possible.

Freek:

Well Mass Effect 2 and KotOR were great games, although they had a bunch of planets you could go to at a time of your choosing, those planets usually had only a few small paths, nothing like Oblivion.

Yams In a can:

i hope they actually do TOLKIENS interpretation of the war in the north,because in the bfme2,there was no battle of rivendell(at least since the end of angmar) and the wars was more in the Northeast and i cant beleive that ea did not include the three besiegements of lorien on the good campain,or the battle of mirkwood for the good campain,they used esgaroth to replace the battle of dale,and i am pretty sure tolkein said somewhere that there are not any more dwarves in the blue mountains,there were,but not during the war of the ring and even if it was a good idea to make war in the north west,they didn't even include the rangers of the north in the good campain! or the scourging of the shire(the actual one!!) and by rpg,do you mean like the lord of the rings two towers game or lord of the rings tactics

Rogash:

In seeing some videos from Snowblind's games,I'm sure that the next LOTR game will be a diablo-like game.

Cheeky Hobbit:

Neither.

Fine by me. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance was awesome.

Rogash:

Me too,I love these games,and it may be the first diablo like in LOTR universe ?:cool:

SoraStrife:

Yeah, the vast majority of Snowblinds stuff borrows extremely heavily from Dungeons and Dragons/Diablo like systems. Even their DC comics based game, Justice League: Heroes, was very much in the vein of Baldurs Gate. I cant imagine this game being much short of that. Expect to be able to control a few heroes, in a path based world, with a lot of emphasis on proper skill use and leveling up/slotting equipment correctly.

witchkingshour:

Lol yep I can't tell you how many times I heard Lord of the ring fans say Conquest sounds promising and successful only to be utterly disappointing.. I fell in that trap as well.. Hopefully we can get a fully explorable rpg.

erman:

+1.....:)

bloodstain:

you do love sandbox style dont you, hehe


*runs off to make toast*

okey im back!

A diablo style game would be pretty sick, I think we should hold the excitment a bit and not get our hopes up haha.

Oblivion game style is fantastic! Just the game engine sucks a bit and theres a few bugs etc, rain falling through balconies etc etc, dont think im downing it, i think its one of the best games ever made and i would defend it violently :P

SoraStrife:

Yeah, but this is Snowblind, not Blizzard or Bethesda. Snowblind likes to stick to its tried and true Baldurs Gate formula.

kylej13:

I just hope that they make the game very expansive, and not be limited by the movies.

Freek:

Let me just chime in and say that nobody has said Snowblind is working on this game, although the fact that this game is an RPG does seem to point in that direction.

Yams In a can:

what is an rpg game like,because i do not know what they are like, and give me a game example(old NOT NEW :P)

SoraStrife:

The classic examples are Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Diablo, Dungeons and Dragons, and Baldurs Gate.

Newer examples are Oblivion and Fallout.

RangerStryder:

Lara Croft's TombRaider character. You assume a character and do something with it.

SoraStrife:

Wrong. Tomb raider has almost 0 RPG elements.

Heron:

If you're going to use a definition that vague, RangerStryder, you may as well claim that Half-Life is an RPG. It's not - it's an action shooter. There's a big difference.

Technically, yes, a "role playing game" is a game where you assume a role. However, virtually every game ever invented qualifies under a definition that vague. It's better to stick with the more standard definition - the style of games that include skills, experience, etc etc, like Final Fantasy, Diablo, etc.

SoraStrife:

The proper definition of an RPG, is games that follow the basic rules and spirit of Dungeons and Dragons.

What that means, is they are characterized by character advancement, usually through a leveling system, heavy dependence on skills, and an overlying plotline which is the primary focus of the game.

witchkingshour:

Yeah Two Towers and Return of the king were action games... I think a Lord of the ring game like Assassin's creed would be awesome.. Not so much Climbing buildings, but the combat, riding horses and just searching through areas.. Imagine seeing a city of rohan and Gondor and you can interact with heroes, rohan royal guard, gondor tower guards, etc... Or if you choose to be evil, you can witness Mordor and harad, and Isen etc... I think that be awesome.. What you guys think?

SoraStrife:

Open world action might be okay for LotR, it would be hard to pull off as more than a "ooh, ahh, pretty graphics" gimmick though. Besides, AC style game is ruled out by the fact this has an RPG label on it.

m@tt:

Tomb Raider is a 3rd person action/shooter game. As is Conquest and the LOTR movie tie-in games.

SoraStrife:

Your right on the latter two. Tomb Raider is actually the classic example of 3d platformer :)

FaceCake:

this time.....

Aragorn has a jet-pack, legolas is equipped with assault rifles, and gimli mans his own tank.

there going to mess it up somehow. after the amazing idea that was conquest, they can deffinatley mess up anything now.

Arctic Squirrel:

I think the best template for the next LOTR game would be Dragon Age: Origins.

It is linear and open world at the same time. Plus includes great graphics, has races to choose, can be good or bad, amazing character creation, and the best is the fact it is fun to play.

Look up Dragon Age: Origins, youtube it or whatever. It is a tremendous game.


p.s. it is a bioware game

zach:

Dragon Age is too much like LotRO for me. I want a real time game that is not based off skills. If I wanted a game based off skills I would just play LotRO.

witchkingshour:

I wouldn't mind another hack n slash game like Return of the king, only longer that shows off the locations of all 3 movies, plus possibly some from the books... They could also add more depth for combat, customization with characters with attire, weapons and armor and possibly more characters to be...

Freek:

I hope for once we don't play as one of the characters from the movies or a character that is forced to follow them. Free roam is a must for me tbh.

Mithrandir7:

I don't care so much as the characters as I do an open world... Fallout 3 made into LotR would be the best thing ever. Period...

Yams In a can:

I really do want a hack and slash Lord of the Rings game XD. I love hack and slash, so it would be cool.

Ranger of the Numenor:

As Mithrandir said a LotR game with the setup of like Fallout or Oblivion would be nice, total customization, character development you name it. That would be quite a game if you ask me.


Also Hey everybody been a long time :D


~Ranger

The snowking:

You know I think something like assasins creed type gameplay (the non-linearness of it) would work,

kylej13:

I don't care too much what genre the new game is, although RPG would be nice. What I care about most is that the new game is as amazing as LotR can and should be.

PS Finally I have found something to post about, I've checked the site pretty often, but there hasn't been anything I've wanted to post about in a while.