EA Battles for Middle-earth on the 360

Modified version of PC real-time strategy title to arrive in summer with new console-specific control scheme.

The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II

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Frodo and co. should start prepping for another journey, as Electronic Arts has announced that its forthcoming PC real-time strategy game Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II will be making the trek to the Xbox 360 for summer 2006.

As the sequel to the 2004 real-time strategy game that used assets from Peter Jackson's award-winning motion pictures based on the fiction of novelist J.R.R. Tolkien, The Battle for Middle-earth II will put players in control of hundreds of units in battles pulled from the films as well as the books.

That might sound like a little too much for one controller to handle, but EA is promising a new console-specific control scheme that will "allow novice players to enjoy the game's signature strategy gameplay while giving expert players the flexibility needed to engage in a deeply complex strategy experience."

When it arrives for Microsoft's newest console, Battle for Middle-earth II will also feature multiplayer support over Xbox Live. The Xbox 360 version isn't rated yet, but the PC game is rated T for Teen. For more, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

57 Comments

  • ArmoredAshes

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 9:59 am PT

    Well i think im gonna get it on The Pc anyways

  • R4t_K1ller

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 8:57 am PT

    i don't like strategy games in the consoles

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 4:44 am PT

    can't wait for it to come out for the 360

  • EqualPlatinum

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 1:35 pm PT

    Good because strategy games are always better with a console controller.

  • reallaughingman

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 1:09 pm PT

    well it seemes like a little disapointment, but i havnt played it and cant really judge it.

  • acummuta

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 7:13 am PT

    All you people who are so uppety about this game supporting a mouse and keyboard. If you want a mouse and keyboard so bad just play the PC version!!! Geez!

  • patjuan

    Posted Jan 15, 2006 5:33 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • patjuan

    Posted Jan 15, 2006 5:29 pm PT

    All EA is going to do is steal the control scheme implemented by Nintendo in games such as Pikmin, Pikmin 2, and Battalion wars. Where a gamer controls a single unit which can control other units by assigning them tasks, making them attack foes, and gather resources. In the Pikmin series, this is done by using the B button for an individual unit or the C-stick for groups of units. In Battalion wars units are controlled by using the Y-button while aiming at an enemy will cause your units to attack, using the Y-button while aiming at the ground will cause your units to defend an area, using the Y-button while aiming at a building, gun nest, or capture point will cause your units to occupy that building. The selecting of individual units is done by moving the C-stick, cursor, over the icons of the units on the bottom of the screen. Press the X-button and all of your units will follow the unit that the gamer controls. (For more detailed info look at reviews and game play videos of Pikmin, Pikmin 2, and Battalion wars)

    The news that EA was going to implement a real time strategy game on a console would have been more exciting if they invented the control system and not just use what some other developer, Nintendo, has created and try to take credit for their work.

  • Vornagar

    Posted Jan 15, 2006 1:28 pm PT

    Going to be a trip to see how than can transfer the gameplay onto the 360.

  • snyper16

    Posted Jan 15, 2006 10:37 am PT

    wytefang-YOU'RE CRAZY!! The best games on consoles are FPS!! But otherwise yeah, that will be pretty cool when they release it on 360.

  • townsenda1

    Posted Jan 14, 2006 11:35 pm PT

    Now this game is gonna be cool. Just another reason to have an Xbox 360.

  • wytefang

    Posted Jan 14, 2006 8:23 pm PT

    This ought to be amusing....consoles need to stick with what they do best, which ISN'T RTSs or FPSs...

  • azmodan128

    Posted Jan 14, 2006 7:51 pm PT

    Hmm...I thought retardation was only limited to the small inexperienced game
    companies, I guess I was wrong. Welcome to the new era of Crappy RTS.
    You see people it goes something like this: Make a complex RTS and then water it down so much so that the PC version will really suck. There are several
    things that are going to be detrimental to this game during the port: Controls will be so ludicrously easy it will piss off any intelligent person, maps and overall vastness of the game will be destroyed because EA will need to make sure the game doesnt require a harddrive. No harddrive means limited content
    and oversimplified gameplay. At this stage of development they might dump a
    lot of content out of the PC version so that console version will look identical so the XBOX 360 owners will not have a fit. Dont get me wrong I love console gaming, but I still like my RTS to stay on the PC unless they will allow the mouse and keyboard on the consoles and REQUIRE a harddrive-make console RTS have a hard drive prereq then we will talk about RTS future on console untill then-forget it, its been done and it failed. So there here is my two cents

  • Triplekill

    Posted Jan 14, 2006 5:43 pm PT

    All Hail! Bill Gates!!!

  • fore_runner

    Posted Jan 14, 2006 4:01 pm PT

    Gosh, I thought microsoft was exaggerating in the array of games that would appeal to everyone with teh Xbox360. unlike the xbox, which focused on halo.

    This is amazing.

  • MWRHC

    Posted Jan 14, 2006 6:27 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • lilweightlifter

    Posted Jan 14, 2006 5:27 am PT

    I don't really like these kind of games, but maybe because it's LOTR I will like it.

  • mikekare79

    Posted Jan 14, 2006 2:06 am PT

    Gotta get this one

  • rock790

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 7:50 pm PT

    the right analogue will be to move the screen, the left will be the pointer, and the triggers will be right and left click. Duh.
    It will work just fine.

  • S7ATER

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 4:58 pm PT

    If anyone has played Starcraft for N64. You know exactly what I mean when I say that RTS do not belong on a console. It dosn't matter what you do for the controller scheme, it just dosn't work.

  • SSBMFighter

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 3:22 pm PT

    I really won't be planning on getting this becuase I dont plan on getting the Xbox 360

  • Khimarhi

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 3:01 pm PT

    never liked rts for consoles (better with a mouse and keyboard) but i may have to give it a try

  • 777rak

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 2:10 pm PT

    lol^ I will also be wating for the Revolution version as well. And yea the Revmote would be fun playing this game.

  • MrPolitics

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 1:53 pm PT

    I'm waiting for the Revolution version.

    Seriously the Revmote would make this game so much fun.

  • n3oS7oRm

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 1:34 pm PT

    sweet can't wait for this one, I loved the first one made for the pc.

  • musicgenerator

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 1:09 pm PT

    stop making ports, thats all EA does make a new game, oh i forgot you don't know how

  • KillerFPS

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 12:37 pm PT

    This decision could be good or bad. The only RTS properly done on consoles was the Army Man RTS but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this plays well with a controller.

  • Dutch_Mix

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 12:35 pm PT

    I can't wait for this. I've always wanted to play this game.

  • CaptSunshine

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 12:28 pm PT

    J.R.R. Tolkien is turning in his grave at being referred to as a "novelist."

  • 777rak

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 12:17 pm PT

    I agree with Paul_TheGreat " These games should stay on PC. " They should remain on the PC.

  • GreyFoxV1

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 12:06 pm PT

    Anyone else hear a rushing torrent of watered-down?

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 11:59 am PT

    These games should stay on PC.

  • blackIceJoe

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 11:50 am PT

    I think this is great now I have another reason to get the 360 when I can find it.

    Any thing LOTR should be good

  • nemes1s3000

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 11:47 am PT

    If you played Red Alert or War Games for the PlayStation, then you'll know the feeling.

  • XlpranksterlX

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 11:36 am PT

    Never been a fan of the Lord of the rings games.

  • 677325

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 11:26 am PT

    This is gonna be ****ing amazing!!!!!!!!

  • miragels00

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 11:21 am PT

    Im down if theres a mouse and keyboard.

  • 777rak

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 11:18 am PT

    Are u kidding me EA??? Well I do not think it is going to work well with the controls and all.

  • trice554

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 11:17 am PT

    Real time strategy why? What the 360 needs are good Role Playing Games
    besides Morrowind they are almost void. Why EA does not capitalize on this is beyond me.

  • Theman3788

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 11:02 am PT

    thats awesome! I love RTS. Red alert is the original king. Hated RTS on consoles though, will be interesting to see if EA can pull something like this off. Im thinking no but will be interesting to see anyway

  • SiBaba

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 11:00 am PT

    LOL, RTS on a console.

  • Hawko7090

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 10:57 am PT

    Red Alert for N64, anyone?

    RTS are for PC's. Unless the new "Control Svheme" Includes a mouse and a keyboard.

    INCOMING FLOP! GET SHELTER!

  • balindos

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 10:53 am PT

    GOOD LUCK.........Pull this off and the world of consoles will soar. remember Starcraft on the N64. I say go for it and give it a chance to open a new window to consoles but if it fails you better ask microsoft for a mouse and keyboard.

  • koho17

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 10:52 am PT

    To me, this is unfortunate. Console games tend to sell better than PC, and rather than dedicate their efforts on a niche market, they will release a broken port so as to simply maximize sales, and the game quality be damned.
    EA bashing is such a cliche these days, but I seriously doubt their integrity when they release something that really only belongs on a PC to the console market.

  • saanzaman

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 10:51 am PT

    FInally another RTS on the 360... the other one is Spore

  • keanuwwu

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 10:46 am PT

    Just think... If they do this well and their new fangled control scheme is nice then many more developers might start putting RTS games on consoles, which would be sweet...

    Plus, it's really not a disadvantage to support mouse and keyboard... FPS's don't do it because it gives the user more percision... but for RTS's that's not the case...

  • HardWood

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 10:35 am PT

    nice!

  • SilverArrows

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 10:27 am PT

    I agree with gamemasterchief ..... they better freaking support the mouse and keyboard. Let them have a "dumbed down" version for the controller, but ppl who are used to the mouse/keyboard, should have the option of using it.

  • Donkeljohn

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 10:22 am PT

    Console RTS experiences have traditionally been poorly translated.

  • birdinflight

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 10:21 am PT

    I think it's a great idea, but I also hate it when they release sequels without the previous versions on the system. Maybe they'll consider releasing the first Battle for Middle-Earth if the sequel sells well.

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