Lord of the Rings: The White Council Announced

[bapenguin]

Electronic Arts today announced their latest LOTR franchise tie in with, The White Council. Electronic Arts announced today the development of The Lord of the Rings™, The White Council™, an all-new role playing game (RPG) for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and PC.

Players have the freedom to explore the open world of Tolkien’s Middle-earth™ in The Lord of the Rings, The White Council. Players can choose their role as a man, an elf, a dwarf, or a hobbit. Each role’s destiny is to become a hero allied with the White Council, whose members include the famed characters Gandalf, Saruman, Galadriel, and Elrond.

Full press release Inside (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=341525#post341525).

So a totally new story set in the LOTR world done by EA? Lets hope they can deliver the goods.

[bapenguin]

EA UNVEILS THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE WHITE COUNCIL
Next Generation Lord of the Rings Game Introduces First Epic Open World Adventure

CHERTSEY, UK July 13, 2006 – Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today the development of The Lord of the Rings™, The White Council™, an all-new role playing game (RPG) for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and PC. The game, inspired by the New Line Cinema feature film trilogy that grossed more than $3 billion, will feature an original storyline derived from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings novels under an agreement with EA. The game is scheduled to ship in late 2007.

“Our extremely talented and dedicated team is committed to creating an incredible new experience for fans of The Lord of the Rings and role playing gamers,” said Steve Gray, executive producer, The Lord of the Rings, The White Council. “With its next generation gameplay and epic new storyline, we think The Lord of the Rings, The White Council will be a huge success.”

Players have the freedom to explore the open world of Tolkien’s Middle-earth™ in The Lord of the Rings, The White Council. Players can choose their role as a man, an elf, a dwarf, or a hobbit. Each role’s destiny is to become a hero allied with the White Council, whose members include the famed characters Gandalf, Saruman, Galadriel, and Elrond.

A combination of stunning graphics and expansive environments, along with the freedom of movement demonstrates the innovation and quality of the next-generation RPG, where players can create their own adventures.

The Lord of the Rings, The White Council has not yet been rated by PEGI. For more information about the game, please visit: www.whitecouncil.ea.com.

[MSUStud911]

Sounds cool, but I'd like to know what they mean by "RPG". I mean, is it an action RPG, turn-based, or what?

[Varsity]

Sounds cool, but I'd like to know what they mean by "RPG".
Rehashed Pap + Gandalf.

[megaman]

So this was the rpg game they'd let slip out a while ago?

[MSUStud911]

lol @ Varsity.

C'mon though, it could be good.

[Amalor]

In light of the PSP ad drama is "The White Council" really a good name? lol j/k

[Jack Random]

Didnt they do this already? I can't remember the name, but i definatly remember it sucking

Edit: The Third Age (http://ps2.ign.com/articles/562/562643p1.html)

[SexualChoc]

Could be good, but isn't it getting a bit old with the LoTR stuff? I mean we have had game after game and game.... Granted, Star Wars is still going strong after all these years, but it's EU has much to offer. All these games seem to focus on the movies.

Also, I hope Radagast the Brown is in it. He's awesome.

[Reanimated]

Is the EA website not working for anyone else?

[digitalErich]

Seems to me this will be an action-RPG/adventure game/Zelda-clone/what-have-you type game. This is the first LoTR license game to interest me, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Venkman]

Didnt they do this already? I can't remember the name, but i definatly remember it sucking

Edit: The Third Age (http://ps2.ign.com/articles/562/562643p1.html)

I liked The third age. The particle effects and sound were top notch, it had classic turn based gameplay, and you could play co-op.

The plot sucked, but I would galdly trade that for a game which didn't make me manage 50 stats on a weapon, another 40 on armor, and then stupid ass sidequests and characters with amnesia.

[holysin]

Glad to see they're going to make it for the PC as well, but I doubt they'll actually optimize the controls for it, as usual.

[Skytram]

Is the EA website not working for anyone else?

Doesn't work for me, either. Let's hope this isn't a sign of server stability in multiplayer...

[Doctor Setebos]

Hey guys, let's whore out the Lord of the Rings license some more! We need another game! It doesn't even have to have a point, all it requires is a hobbit, some elves, and Gandalf.EA == lame. :p

[TrackZero]

Hrm. Sounds very open concept. EA probably looked at Oblivion and realized they could do that same type of game but in Middle Earth. Which, hey, if it's good, I'm all for.

[Royal Fool]

Sounds like Oblivion.

WHOOPS.

[Kefkataran]

This could either be really good or really terrible. Here's hoping, though.

[Spigot]

As long as this turns into the game that The Third Age should have been instead of the "Follow The Fellowship" quest that TTA was, colour me mildly interested.

The Third Age was sort of fun but it was limited by having it basically retell the LOTR story one step removed and having about 8 different enemies to fight. The Balrog was really cool though.

[Com_Gaunt]

Too bad you can't be an Orc also :) I like being an Orc in the Lord of the Rings themed mod of Mount & Blade! :)

[Flatpicker]

If it's like Oblivion and plays 1/2 decent I'm in.
I'd like to see someone go beyond the Fantasy genre with the Oblivion gameplay though.
How about EA doing a Crusader or Syndicate game like that?
Heck I'll even take a Fantasy setting if it means bringing Ultima back.

[digitalErich]

If it's like Oblivion and plays 1/2 decent I'm in.
I'd like to see someone go beyond the Fantasy genre with the Oblivion gameplay though.
How about EA doing a Crusader or Syndicate game like that?
Heck I'll even take a Fantasy setting if it means bringing Ultima back.
You, sir, are awesome. The Crusader games were great and don't get mentioned nearly enough.

Edit: If I'm not mistaken, EA actually owns the Crusader IP...they would have aquired it when they bought up Origin.

[Spigot]

Ooo... A Syndicate RPG would be awesome.

[Amalor]

The Crusader series was very cool it definately needs a remake! In addition , I want a new System Shock game and a 1st person RPG with a ultra realised world like in "Oblivion" but the game centers around a post-zombie cataclysm world with a rich emotional story and open-ended sandbox play that allows for many styles of play...mmmmmm zombies :)
And yes I have dreamed of this game since I first saw the origional "Dawn of the Dead".

-Cheers
-Amalor

[BigJonno]

Elder Scrolls + cyberpunk (Shadowrun or 2020 by preference) = Greatest game ever.

[Spigot]

Elder Scrolls + cyberpunk (Shadowrun or 2020 by preference) = Greatest game ever.
Add in some time travel and a zombie pirate fighting a robotic ninja monkey on the back of a flying squid (IN HELL!) and you have the last game anyone will ever need to buy... ever.

[BigJonno]

You forgot the nazis.

[Spigot]

You forgot the nazis.
Pshh.. Nazis are so cliché.