Visit Sierra's Middle Earth Online

Sierra FX is launching an introductory web site of its upcoming multiplayer Middle Earth game on Tuesday in order to coincide with the shared birthday of two of the story's well-known characters, Bilbo and Frodo.

The web site is fashioned as a "living atlas," providing starting information and story background from some of the better-known areas in Middle Earth. Regular monthly development updates, giveaways, new geographical maps, screenshots, and a host of other features Sierra would rather keep mum about will be made available in the months to come.

"We hope the middle-earth.com web site will become an atlas and reflection of our interpretation of Middle Earth, rather than a 'list of features and screenshots' game site," said Daniel James, writer on Middle Earth. "In time, the site will feature extensively the game's art - which is presently under wraps - and material direct from the world and its players, all the while adhering to our central mission: to create a true rendering of Professor Tolkien's classic work."

Developed by Yosemite Entertainment for Sierra FX, the massively multiplayer game will be based on J. R. R. Tolkien's famous works and is set for release in the year 2000.