Gaming News - July 2005
Redwood City, CA (July 25, 2005) - Electronic Arts today announced
that it has been granted the rights to develop games based on the The Lord of
the Rings books.
From EA:
Since 2001, EA has developed games based exclusively on New Line’s Academy
Award winning theatrical productions of The Lord of the Rings, as depicted by
Peter Jackson. The expansion of the rights allows EA to introduce players to
depths of the fiction never before explored in an EA game. The company also
revealed today the first details of two new games in the blockbuster The Lord of
the Rings series; The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II and The
Lord of the Rings Tactics (working title). With the new games, fans will be able
to step into a world that looks like the films, but experience characters,
environments and battles that have been inspired by the books.
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II is the next PC installment
to EA’s blockbuster The Lord of the Rings series of video games. The Lord of the
Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II is a sequel to the critically acclaimed
Real-time Strategy (RTS) game from EA Los Angeles, The Lord of the Rings, The
Battle for Middle-earth. The newest The Lord of the Rings PC title will
introduce players to depths of the fiction never before explored by EA, in
accordance with an agreement with The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien
Enterprises that grants EA the rights to develop games based on the books, in
addition to a separate agreement that allows for games based on the New Line
films. Expanding on The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth, the new
RTS game will allow players to engage in heated battles with Elven and Dwarven
armies plus heroes and creatures that have never been seen in a The Lord of the
Rings film.
“The new rights have unlocked the world of Middle-earth for The Lord of the
Rings and strategy game fans alike. We’re building a deeper, richer, bigger game
based on the #1 RTS from the previous holiday season in North America with new
fantasy races, places, heroes, and battles from both the books and films,” said
Mike Verdu, Senior Producer of The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for
Middle-earth at EA.
The Lord of the Rings Tactics for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system will put
players in the universe of Middle-earth from the books and films and allow them
to lead the Fellowship or take control of the forces of Shadow. The tactical
strategy game features player-customized characters and a rich system of items,
upgrades and skills. Players can guard their heroes, seize high ground, set
ambushes and trap enemies while fighting battles across famous locations of the
books and films to determine the future of Middle-earth. The Lord of the Rings
Tactics will allow them to pit their customized heroes against up to four other
players via WiFi. A unique, simultaneous turn-taking system allows for
fast-paced play.
“Now that we are expanding our Lord of the Rings universe to encompass Tolkien’s
books, we’ll be able to combine the visual impact of the films with those
complex stories,” said Steve Gray, Executive Producer of The Lord of the Rings
Tactics at EA. “The RPG genre, in particular, is a great medium for story
telling. We are delving into unexplored depths of Tolkien’s works to deliver
new, compelling and immersive experiences. The Lord of the Rings Tactics gives
RPG fans a first look at how we will do this.”
For more information about The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth
II please visit:
www.bfme2.ea.com.
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