Supposedly Lord of the Rings Online is coming out some time in 2006. Formerly called Middle Earth Online, it was originally slate to come out 2 years ago. After my Asheron's Call 2 experience with a Turbine game, and their milking of players for an expansion pack knowing that they were going to shut down the servers, I'm not willing to expend any time or money on a Turbine managed MMORPG.
I waited for Middle Earth Online, joined the forum community, checked the news and waited some more. Then what seems like a year later, they annnouned an even longer delay in order to obtain the LOTR licesne. Blah, Blah - if they'd had a solid game that they thought was a winner, I don't think not having that license would have stopped them. Potential players were foaming at the mouth waiting for the game. Besides which, license or not a game will win or fail on the merit of the game. If it sucks, people aren't going to stick with not matter what it's called.
Only time will tell if Turbine hits or miss with the venture. But I can gaurantee that I won't be jumping on this bandwagon too soon.
I have the same fear. Turbine's deal making engine is clearly strong as they have both D&D Online and Lord of Rings in the works. The question is, do they have the talent and the budget to make worthy MMORPG versions of those fantastic titles. My hopes are high, but I admit, I'm rather skeptical.
Posted by: Prognosticator | December 15, 2005 at 12:44 AM