Everything you want to know about
The Lord of the Rings Online
You will find here a listing of all posting, links and info about the game.
LOTRO Main Site ~ LOTRO Facebook ~ LOTRO Twitter ~ LOTRO Twitch ~ LOTRO Reddit ~ LOTRO YouTube
The Lord of the Rings Online, also known by it’s abbreviation LOTRO, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) for Microsoft Windows and OS X set in the fantasy universe based upon J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth writings and licensed from the Tolkien Estate. It takes place during the time period of The Lord of the Rings.
This game has a long history of development the goes all the way back to 1997! It began with Sierra On-Line which initially developed the game as Middle-earth Online, but they fell on hard times the property was eventually sold to Vivendi Universal, who took over the license in 2001. However, Vivendi was also facing trouble in their gaming division and in 2003 decided to farm out development to Turbine, who worked on the existing platform for several years without success. Turbine struggled with the “obsolescent mess” of MEO that had been worked on since 1998, before scraping everything and starting over in 2004, securing the full MMO rights in 2005, and launching the game in 2007, ten years after it was first conceived. Go HERE to Massively Overpowered to read more details about the games early development.
The game launched in North America, Australia, Japan, and Europe on April 24, 2007. Oit was originally subscription-based, but has been free-to-play since 2010, though it still offers paid VIP player options. In addition to regular free updates, five expansion packs have been released to date: Mines of Moria in 2008, Siege of Mirkwood in 2009, Rise of Isengard in 2011, Riders of Rohan in 2012, and Helm’s Deep on November 20, 2013.
Turbine successfully maintained and updated the game for nearly 10 years, making it one of the best MMO on the market. In 2010, the NPD Group reported that the game was “the third most played massively multiplayer role-playing game” with Turbine citing their free-to-play model as the reason for the growing subscriber base. However, on December 19, 2016, it was announced that LOTRO would be developed and maintained by Standing Stone Games, a newly created company formed from members of the LOTRO team.
Lord of the Rings Online has just celebrated it’s 10th Anniversary and has been through many exciting changes in the last year, and none so anticipated as the new Mordor Updates!
Go HERE to learn more about the just released Mordor Expansion!
The folks at Standing Stone Games are now marching into unknown territory as they enter into Mordor after the fall of the Dark Lord and begin a new chapter in the Middle-earth Legendarium. An exciting time for LOTRO Gamers!
Go HERE to purchase the Standard, Collector’s and an Ultimate Fan Bundle of the Mordor Expansion!
Lord of the the Rings Online will release Update 21: Mordor during the week of July 31st, and three versions of the Mordor Expansion are now available for pre-0rder!
Go HERE to see the first walkthroughs of Mordor on the Beta Server!
Anglach & Durthang in the ruins of Udûn, scary swamps of blood in Seregost, a ruined Mount Doom runs red over Gorgoroth, the remains of Barad-dûr and Cirith Ungol!
Go HERE for info on the Gameplay Preview for Update 21: Mordor
Check out this gameplay video and live discussion about the game from developers. Cordovan, QuartermasterU, DrOctothorpe, Severlin, Chris Pierson, and Tybur provide an early look at Update 21: Mordor, the day before our first preview on Bullroarer.
Go HERE so see the commissioned artwork by Ted Nasmith for Update 21: Mordor
Enjoy this fantastic new artwork by Ted Nasmith showing Mordor after the fall of Sauron. Mount Doom has collapsed and the Captains of the West look on in wonder… but is their already another evil on the rise?
Go HERE to read about the newly launched Update 20: Battle of the Black Gate
On Tuesday Lord of the Rings Online uploaded Update 20, which allows players to engage in the Battle of the Black Gate! Probably one of the most anticipated moments in the history of the game. Update 21 will allow players to enter Mordor and still a third Update will come later this year.
GO HERE to discover all about the 10 Year Anniversary
“LOTRO’s 10th Anniversary is approaching quickly and we want you to be a part of our celebration! We would like extend a gift as our way of saying thank you for joining us on our journey over the last ten years! During the Anniversary Festival, which runs from April 20th through May 8th, all players will be eligible to receive gifts based on your account status* as of 11:59am EDT on April 19th, 2017. Gifts will range from set of fireworks for all, to more exclusive items for our most steadfast premium and VIP players.”
Go HERE for info on the release of a commemorative 10th Anniversary Soundtrack for the game!
In this interview with Sara Reed from Musician’s Toolkit, composer Chance Thomas talks about how he first began composing music based on the Lord of the Rings literature back in 1998. (This was long before Peter Jackson’s movies came out, and even years before LOTRO itself launched.) Chance talks with Sara about the stories behind the music, sings one of his themes, and even offers up a little “name that tune”. It’s a wonderful trip down memory lane.
Go HERE to see a cool fan trailer…
Watch this Fan-made Trailer for updates 20, 21 and 22 in Lord of the Rings Online that will take players into the dark depths of Mordor! Images from Lord of the Rings Online and the music The Ocean On His Shoulders by Garry Schyman.
