Turbine publishing Middle-Earth Online in '06
Lord of the Rings-inspired license no longer wrapped around VU Games' finger, MMORPG delayed one year.
In its march toward greater control over the games it develops, Turbine today said it will develop and publish The Lord of the Rings: Middle-Earth Online in 2006. Previously, VU Games had been the publisher for the massively multiplayer role-playing game, which was slated for a June 2005 launch.
"Our rights extend to any and all MMORPGs based on Tolkien's literary works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. As a result, we are now the developer and publisher of Middle-Earth Online," a Turbine spokeperson told GameSpot today.
Today's news recalls a similar move that saw Turbine buy back rights to the Asheron’s Call franchise from Microsoft in early 2004. The next game in that series, Asheron's Call 2: Legions, is due to retailers in May. Another game in development at Turbine, Dungeons & Dragons Online, is being self-funded by the company. In the case of D&D Online, Atari is acting as Turbine's marketing and retail partner only.
In a statement today, the self-described "once-small contractor" says it is now the largest privately held online game studio in North America. "Turbine now directly owns or holds significant interest in each of the games and services that it produces."
Additionally, the statement said the dev team was "considering changes" to the game--a likely reason that Middle-Earth Online is slipping to 2006. A spokesperson for the developer called the delay an "unfortunate, but necessary" measure.
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
Dragon Age: Origins Interview with Ray Muzyka
We chat with Ray Muzyka about some of the features in Dragon Age: Origins. Full Story
- Posted Jul 8, 2009 4:06 pm PT
-
Left 4 Dead 2 Doug Lombardi Interview
We talk to Doug Lombardi about Left 4 Dead 2 at a recent preview event in London. Full Story
- Posted Jul 3, 2009 4:42 pm PT
Featured Stories
-
Sony dismisses Activision threats, PS3 price cut rumors
Sony Corp. CEO Sir Howard Stringer brands third-party publisher's comments as "noise," SCEA CEO Jack Tretton says other consoles don't deliver the same value. Full Story
- Posted Jul 8, 2009 1:15 pm PT
- 955 Comments
-
PS3 MGS4/Killzone 2 bundle now available
Best Buy begins offering rumored $400 retail configuration, which packs in 80GB console with nearly $90 of top-rated games. Full Story
- Posted Jul 7, 2009 11:19 am PT
- 481 Comments
-
Battlefield 1943 suffers server snafu
EA Dice's multiplayer-only downloadable shooter experiencing matchmaking technical difficulties after Xbox 360 launch this morning. Full Story
- Posted Jul 8, 2009 12:48 pm PT
- 141 Comments
-
Blizzard: Free-to-play WOW 'possible'
Lead designer Tom Chilton says the multiplatinum MMORPG champion could abolish monthly subscription plan by adopting microtransaction system. Full Story
- Posted Jul 7, 2009 12:43 pm PT
- 340 Comments
-
Square Enix retires Eidos publishing label
Japanese pub consolidates operations in Europe and NA, confirming some headcount reduction; British company's name will live on through dev studios. Full Story
- Posted Jul 7, 2009 11:15 am PT
- 136 Comments
Submit News
Related Game
- Atari
- Turbine Inc.
- Fantasy Online...
- Release: Feb 28, 2006 »
- ESRB: Teen
Recent News
-
Following two preemptive reveals, Electronic Arts has officially confirmed the final chapter in the Command & Conquer series.
Site Blogs
-
Sony gets Netflix streaming...for Bravia HDTVs
Ever since Netflix video streaming came to the Xbox 360, Microsoft has been touting it as a major advantage over its competing consoles....
0 Comments