White Council convening on 360, PS3, and PC

[UPDATE] After months of rumors, the next-generation Lord of the Rings-inspired role-playing game is finally official; 'open world' title due in late 2007.

In January ex-3D Realms developer Jim Norwood gave an interview with his former employers at 3D Realms--and revealed he was at work on a new Lord of the Rings title at his current gig at Electronic Arts. "I'm currently on Lord of the Rings: The White Council at EA as a software engineer," he told 3D Realms. "It's a new RPG game. That's all public information, so feel free to look it up on the Internet or EA's website."

Apparently, Norwood spoke too soon, as EA refused to comment on the existence of The White Council. As the year progressed, though, suspicions began to grow that the game was one and the same as Project Gray Company. The title was an unnamed "next-generation" role-playing game from executive producer Steve Gray--who also headed up development of EA's first LOTR role-playing game, The Lord of the Rings, The Third Age.

A site for the code-named title described the game as being set "in a massive open world where you can go anywhere you want, and the characters in this world are powered by an incredible simulation [artificial intelligence] based on the same technology used by the makers of The Sims 2." Rumors began to boil over when Gray gave a presentation in the UK where he showed slides of his game that clearly contained design elements from the Lord of the Rings films, which EA owns the game rights to.

Lo and behold, as EA kicked off its annual summer showcase at its California headquarters today, the publisher revealed that yes, Steve Gray is indeed executive-producing The Lord of the Rings: The White Council, an "open world" role-playing game for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Gameplay will feature numerous quests within an overarching plot à la The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and players will be able to create man, elf, dwarf, or hobbit characters.

The White Council is based on an original storyline "derived from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novels" and will use design elements from director Peter Jackson's LOTR films. Details on the game were thin, but EA did say that players' ultimate goal was to serve the fabled White Council, an august body whose members included the elf queen Galadriel, elf king Elrond, wizard Gandalf, and arch-mage Saruman--before he turned to evil. [UPDATE] Later in the day at the EA press event, the publisher announced that LOTR stars Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett, and Christopher Lee would lend their voices and likenesses to the game.

The Lord of the Rings: The White Council is currently set to ship in late 2007.

87 Comments

  • maroela2

    Posted Feb 6, 2008 10:57 am PT

    It's just to bad that EA has canceld the game, and the game would of been awsome!!!!!

  • blancobo

    Posted Feb 1, 2007 7:47 pm PT

    Well this is thing is now almost dead, so check the related news articles... Nothing like the news of an opportunity for more innovative work instead of the repetitive gaming / almost consumed ideas/initiatives. The later is the sunny side to my original statement.

  • samfisher367

    Posted Dec 20, 2006 12:56 pm PT

    hopefully it isn't going to be as bad as the other lotr games.

  • springy75

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 1:25 am PT

    Sounds like a nice game

  • ewjim

    Posted Jul 28, 2006 10:57 am PT

    This can be interesting! Let's see what they got for us....

  • warriortyson

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 8:51 pm PT

    holy **** this game sounds incredible. It sounds like a Oblivion like game, which would be awesome, and set in the lord of the rings world.... its like a gift from God. 2007 is gonna own.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jul 17, 2006 4:09 am PT

    sounds like an awesome game in the making

  • asian_marine

    Posted Jul 16, 2006 7:12 pm PT

    sounds like a pretty cool game, i just might get it.

  • gillri

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 4:10 pm PT

    I will have a decent PC, a 360 and a PS3 when this comes out

    darn, what do I get it for!!!??

  • Ubersoldat87

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 2:17 pm PT

    I've know about this for a long time now

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 12:54 pm PT

    no wii?

  • calibretto1

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 11:03 am PT

    Next gen open ended fantasy RPG sandbox. Sounds like it has potential, but why not stick with an original IP instead of LOTR?

  • _Sam_

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 10:35 am PT

    Nice! Can't wait

  • japam

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 10:18 am PT

    This isn't that MMO, bro. This is an offline, Oblivion-esque RPG sandbox....

    ... or so they claim. Search for "Shadows of Angmar" to check on the development of the MMO.

  • paulyfknt

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 9:02 am PT

    wow im deff gettin this game!


    this is gonna kick all kinds of ass on da ps3!



    we can expect insane graphics!

  • juvinwo1

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 8:42 am PT

    That game is gonna rock!!!!!!!!!

  • Shingo

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 8:05 am PT

    I thought it was going to be a MMO. Wasn't someone making a LOTR MMO? Thats what I was looking forward too.

  • the_deathstar

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 7:35 am PT

    dude meat off the bone and malt beer sweet

  • BlackdogGT

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 5:04 am PT

    Oh, EA.. this could be your opportunity to make your name shine outside of the damn sports titles. Don't ruin this franchise like you did James Bond..

    We're all begging you.

  • Jedi_Osborn

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 4:32 am PT

    sounds awesome!

  • Doolum

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 3:13 am PT

    LOTR on the PS3...hmmmm!!!..graphics would be jaw dropping....Go PS3

  • rynmls

    Posted Jul 14, 2006 2:51 am PT

    lotr are making a name in gaming community...

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 7:52 pm PT

    Hopefully it will be worth it. LotR: The Third Age sure wasn't.

  • _shadow_mage_

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 4:31 pm PT

    "..You're going to join the White Council? Freaking JOIN THE WHITE COUNCIL?

    Count me out. Next time, EA, actually THINK about the lore of Middle Earth, don't just come up with the crappiest plot possible and then stick it in the LOTR universe."

    If you check the latest preview for it, it says the player will become allied with the White Council.

    Believe it or not, EA isn't dumb enough to let the player join the
    White Council. Unless it's a really intricate storyline.

  • MariusSE

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 4:14 pm PT

    This is not an MMO m8

  • japam

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 4:11 pm PT

    Errrr, someone else is making a LOTR MMO, and it's not going particularly well. Look up "Shadows of Angmar" for details.

    And as for "The White Council", I'd curb my enthusiasm until the reviews come out. This is EA, so don't get your hopes up for nothing.

  • soulknight63133

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 3:37 pm PT

    I'm not a big EA fan, but I have to admit Battle for Middle-Earth II was a decent title (still playing it). So I'll wait to see how it pans out before passing judgement.

  • SpiderFreak

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 3:24 pm PT

    "Also the character will actually bump into other characters instead of clipping right through them."

    ...Yeah. That's NEVER happened before in games. I mean, characters won't clip through them? WHEN WILL THE AWESOMENESS END?!

    SF

  • 7_armageddon_7

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 2:41 pm PT

    Awesome! I've always dreamed of a game like this one! I'm looking forward to it. (EA's LOTR games weren't bad. I mean Battle for Middle-Earth was awesome, and if they show the same dedication to this game, it should be top-notch)

  • Dench

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 2:07 pm PT

    Hmm, this game is getting negative buzz. I hope you all are wrong. I saw video of the facial animation and it is superb. Also the character will actually bump into other characters instead of clipping right through them. Also, the world looks to be bigger than that of Oblivion.

  • vamroc

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 1:44 pm PT

    Burger Time 3
    Lord of The Onion Rings : Battle for White Castle LOL Haaa ha ha ha ha DAMN thats funny. EA should really make that game. There is a McDonalds sim that came out for the PS1 in Japan only.

  • metroidlink1030

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 1:11 pm PT

    EA's LOTR games aren't bad, guys. Lighten up. I think a LOTR MMO would be really cool, whether it's made by EA or not.

  • thekey

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 1:04 pm PT

    Suck EA keep sucking.

  • doomed51

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 1:03 pm PT

    this is what happens when u give a classic to a company like EA, they make it die

  • roadrunner1178

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 12:58 pm PT

    Sounds cool. Might have to get it on PC.

  • friky00

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 12:56 pm PT

    Hope this one is good, all after Tolkien inspired all classic RPGs

  • blacklodus

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 12:43 pm PT

    I am buying this .. depending on if l upgrade my AMD FX -53 and gig of ram 6800 ultra to what ever top of the line is at the time the game comes out or not .. lf i dont then l'll get it for the PS3

  • VincentV21

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 12:33 pm PT

    I'm happy it's going to be an original title, but the story will probably blow. I hate when people try to expand on other peoples works....

  • MaChaorules

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 12:27 pm PT

    i wonder if the combat is still gonna be turn based..

  • PKD_619

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 12:15 pm PT

    they should just stop making more LOTR games. it gonna be garbage

  • jman183

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 12:10 pm PT

    YES!!!!

  • Oni_Ryu67

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 12:10 pm PT

    Hopefully EA dosn't mess up this one. I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens.

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 12:00 pm PT

    sounds awesome. Can't wait.

  • DUBBIE46

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 11:55 am PT

    "White Council convening on 360, PS3, and PC" for a second i thought White Supremacist had taken up game reviewing.... guess i was wrong

  • cyckosic

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 11:42 am PT

    This game will be awesome.

  • xbox_1

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 11:41 am PT

    "gamerchikrpg
    open world?! awesome! i hope it's not dissapointing..."

    Don't worry, it will be

  • ccruzer

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 11:38 am PT

    Hope it doesn't have any framerate issues like the current LOTR II

  • xbox_gamer1

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 11:37 am PT

    Keep the games coming to the 360!

  • gamerchikrpg

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 11:33 am PT

    open world?! awesome! i hope it's not dissapointing...

  • paradyme777

    Posted Jul 13, 2006 11:25 am PT

    Awesome, I will keep an eye out for this game.

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