EA Unveils Next Generation Lord of the Rings RPG

Electronic Arts announced today the development of The Lord of the Rings, The White Council, an all-new RPG for the Xbox 360, PlayStation3, and PC. The game, inspired by the New Line Cinema feature film trilogy that grossed more than $3 billion, will feature an original storyline derived from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings novels under an agreement with EA. The game is scheduled to ship in late 2007.

“Our extremely talented and dedicated team is committed to creating an incredible new experience for fans of The Lord of the Rings and role playing gamers,” said Steve Gray, executive producer, The Lord of the Rings, The White Council. “With its next generation gameplay and epic new storyline, we think The Lord of the Rings, The White Council will be a huge success.”

Players have the freedom to explore the open world of Tolkien’s Middle-earth™ in The Lord of the Rings, The White Council. Players can choose their role as a man, an elf, a dwarf, or a hobbit. Each role’s destiny is to become a hero allied with the White Council, whose members include the famed characters Gandalf, Saruman, Galadriel, and Elrond.

A combination of stunning graphics and expansive environments, along with the freedom of movement demonstrates the innovation and quality of the next-generation RPG, where players can create their own adventures.

Source: EA

[Marriot VP]

It's about time, make it better than oblivion and please for the love of all that's decent make it ONLINE. MMORPG

[Sphinx]

It sounds like Oblivion with less options... only 4 races? But, if they were to allow for Mulitplayer or online options, it would more than make up for it.

[zypher]

Oblivion meets LotR? count me in. your hero/heroine must have to achieve some pretty lofty goals (aka hard quests) to seek membership with such an exalted lot as the White Council. maybe they'll have specific nations as an option for race class, such as Rohirim or Gondorian for humans, Rivendal or Lothlorein for elven, etc. glad to see EA making use of the novels as a source moreso than just the movies.

[rocky5000100]

will never be as good as oblivion. but they should have mmorpg

[Asuka]

Must pick this one up! It would be sooo awesome if it was an MMORPG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Aflac]

EA sucks. in each level of their games you're just doing the same thing over again in different backgrounds. They don't deserve the rights to this franchise, it should be given to Bethesda or Rareware, they know how to make long, nonrepetative, interesting games that have great replay value (take oblivion, morrowind, donkey kong 64, and goldeneye for examples). So far EA's lotr games can be beaten within 3-4 hrs -totally not worth what they cost.

[Asuka]

only problem i see in your post is about giving the rights of lotr to Bethesda or Rareware. Why? Because then this new lotr would only end up on the 360 and PC. I'm not saying that's really a bad thing, i just think it would be better if it were released on many platforms.

[Jambi]

i completely agree with post 6. but i do hope for the best, maybe things will change

[Fuzz McDeath]

Let's not forget the reason EA got the LoTR franchise from both the Tolkien estate and from New Line Cinema - they paid handsomely for it. Neither Bathesda nor Rareware could hope to make an offer that could compete with EA, nor could they meet its marketing budget. Sometimes the honor doesn't go to the most deserving, it goes to the deepest pockets.

[mikeeno7]

EA= crap.
LOTR WC= crap.
So simple.

[PS360PCROCKS]

I knew this was a LOTR game like 3 months ago when they gave a hint to what it was, "Project gray company" guess we'll see if it's good

[xXbebofisherXx]

truthfully EA isnt that bad at all. yea it would be better in the hands of bethesda but like the guy said deepest pockets always wins in the game community. as long as i get to have my elf dude with dually swords and a bad a$$ bow and arrow or a dwarf with a huge freakin axe i will be happy. but i guess we'll see when it comes out whther its good or not. i hope for the best. lotr deserves an awesome rpg. and mmorpg would be flipping sweet. and none of this playonline ff11 type crap. let it use xbl since we already paid 50 bucks for the year.

[dfb1977]

Look, I loved nearly all of your games on the Megadrive but just lately you've gone a bit stale. It'd be nice to see an original game not attached to a big franchise but if you can't manage that then go through your back catalogue and bring back some of the good oldies. Next gen Desert Strike for instance (and make it good). My faith would then be restored.

[Jormin]

I can see this game either being totaly kik arse or really bad . I sorta like the feel of how it will tie into the book but like I said this could have some really good potential in it with the right little modifications