To qualify for the Special Offers, NA Non-Lifetime Membership Subscribers to LOTRO must maintain a paid subscription from June, 30th 2010 to the launch of LOTRO Free-to-Play (currently scheduled for Fall 2010). Lifetime Membership Subscribers must have at least one active play session per month during the Special Offers Eligibility Date. Only subscribers who meet these requirements are eligible for these offers.

• Eligible Subscribers will automatically receive 500 free Turbine Points for each completed calendar month they remain eligible. This limited point grant starts on  June, 1st 2010 and continues until the first day of the month that LOTRO Free-to-Play becomes available to the general public.
• In addition, Eligible Subscribers will receive 500 free Turbine Points at launch of LOTRO Free-to-Play for each LOTRO anniversary (April 24) that has elapsed since they first joined LOTRO, up to a maximum of 1,500 Turbine Points.
• Eligible Subscribers who opted for the Founders program at the original launch of LOTRO will receive an additional 500 free Turbine Points.
• Eligible Subscribers who are Lifetime members will also receive an additional 1,000 free Turbine Points.
• Free Turbine Points will be automatically credited into the player’s account and will be made available for use in the LOTRO Free-to-Play Store after the launch of the LOTRO Free-to-Play service.
• Points associated with the Special Offers have no cash value, are not transferrable, and are awarded at Turbine’s sole discretion.
• Any points earned are accrued monthly, cannot be pro-rated, and will only be delivered to Eligible Subscribers with accounts in good standing after LOTRO Free-to-play Launches.

Today Warner Bros. has announced an important news that this fall LOTRO will begin offering a Free-to-Play option. Free-to-Play will go live with the release of Volume 3, Book 2 this autumn. Players will be able to download the game and adventure in...Click here to read full

Today Warner Bros. has announced an important news that this fall LOTRO will begin offering a Free-to-Play option. Free-to-Play will go live with the release of Volume 3, Book 2 this autumn. Players will be able to download the game and adventure in Middle-earth for free. With Free-to-Play comes the addition of the LOTRO Store, where players will have immediate in-game access to a wide variety of special items, account services, and convenience items.


Official Press Release

BURBANK, CA – June 4, 2010– Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced today that Turbine, Inc. will unveil a major update this fall, making The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO) free-to-play for everyone.  Extending its award-winning story, LOTRO delivers the ultimate adventure featuring a massive world with state-of-the-art graphics and gameplay, and a rich set of features that until now could only be found in premium subscription-based online games.

Launching this fall across North America and Europe, with Codemasters operating the game free-to-play in Europe, LOTRO will introduce Turbine’s innovative new pricing model that allows players to download the game and play for free, purchase expansions, quest packs, items, and account services a la carte from the new LOTRO Store, or join the VIP program to get unlimited access to all of the game’s content for one low price.  Players interested in getting a sneak peek of the new LOTRO can sign up for a chance to participate in the Beta program which begins June 16, 2010 at http://www.lotro.com.

"Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is bringing quality games based on The Lord of the Rings to multiple platforms, and the franchise’s expansive adventure story lends itself perfectly for LOTRO free-to-play, giving a wide range of players the opportunity to experience the game,” said Jeff Junge, Senior Vice President Online Games and Digital Games Platforms, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "We are focused on expanding our game franchises onto new digital platforms to maximize quality experiences for gamers worldwide and LOTRO’s new model is a great leading example of this."

"Turbine's Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited was the world’s first truly premium free-to-play online game that ushered in a new era of choice for online gamers seeking quality entertainment," said Jim Crowley, President and CEO of Turbine. "The popularity of DDO validated the extraordinary demand by gamers for quality entertainment they can experience at their own pace and within their budget. Extending free-to-play to LOTRO will offer another premium game to a broad spectrum of fans."

"Having successfully taken two titles free-to-play in the past we are very pleased to be doing the same with The Lord of the Rings Online in Europe," said David Solari, Vice President and General Manager of Codemasters Online. " It's a fantastic, award-winning game with a wonderfully realized world and this step will only broaden its appeal and increase its player base."

LOTRO will offer players unlimited choice!

• Free means Free! Players will download LOTRO by visiting www.lotro.com and join with millions of other adventurers as they explore the most complete and authentic recreation of Middle-earth ever created and participate in LOTRO's award-winning epic story up to level 50 for free.
• Visit the new LOTRO Store! The LOTRO Store is loaded with thousands of convenience items as well as expansion packs, premium content, additional character slots, potions, character customization and more! The LOTRO Store is seamlessly integrated into the game and lets the player identify new and exciting ways to enhance and customize their experience using points which can be purchased in the store or earned through gameplay.
• Be a LOTRO VIP! Players who elect to become a LOTRO VIP will have unlimited access to all premium content, receive priority server access, 5 character slots, a shared bank slot, and a monthly allotment of points to spend in the new LOTRO Store.

The Lord of the Rings Online is the ultimate adventure. This award-winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most famous fantasy of all time. From the picturesque surroundings of the Shire to Moria, the most fearsome underground realm ever imagined, players will soon experience the world of Middle-earth for free! For more information, visit www.lotro.com

Official Press Release Jeff Junge has been named Senior Vice President, Online Games and Digital Games Platforms, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Junge is charged with driving the...Click here to read full

Official Press Release

Jeff Junge has been named Senior Vice President, Online Games and Digital Games Platforms, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Junge is charged with driving the growth of Warner Bros.’ burgeoning digital games business. Junge recently led the Studio’s acquisition of Turbine, Inc., one of the largest privately-held online gaming studios in North America, further increasing Warner Bros.’ presence in the online games and direct-to-consumer spaces. As Senior Vice President, Online Games and Digital Games Platforms, Junge will oversee Turbine and will be responsible for the Company’s digital games business. He will also continue to oversee the integration of TT Games, which the Studio acquired in 2007. Beyond games, Junge will work to expand and leverage Turbine’s robust digital publishing and community platforms across all of the Studio’s home entertainment businesses.

[Source]

The LOTRO forums will be pruned on June 1, 2010. Any thread that has not been active in the previous 90 days will be deleted. If you are aware of a guide, resource or other informative thread that should saved, you can do so by making a relevant...Click here to read full

The LOTRO forums will be pruned on June 1, 2010. Any thread that has not been active in the previous 90 days will be deleted. If you are aware of a guide, resource or other informative thread that should saved, you can do so by making a relevant post into that thread.

Note: Sticky threads, the Hall of Fame, Postcards from Middle-earth, and the J.R.R. Tolkien forum will not be pruned.

[Source]

After the big "Warner Bros - Turbine" announcement many of you have asked what this means for your game experience? The simple answer is that we don’t expect much to change for the foreseeable future. We remain committed to each...Click here to read full

After the big "Warner Bros - Turbine" announcement many of you have asked what this means for your game experience?

The simple answer is that we don’t expect much to change for the foreseeable future. We remain committed to each of our games as we move forward. This change in corporate ownership is not expected to affect our current product portfolio. We’re still the company that brings you AC, DDO, and LOTRO.

Most importantly, not only do we remain fully committed to our core franchises but will seek to grow them aggressively going forward. We’re looking forward to putting our newfound muscle behind your favorite games as we grow into our new role within the WB family of companies.

Overall, this change is a great thing for Turbine. We’re excited for the future of our games and we hope you’ll share the excitement with us in the months and years ahead.

[Source]

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group announced today the acquisition of Turbine, Inc., the largest privately-held online gaming studio in North America, further strengthening Warner Bros.’ position as one of the industry’s fastest...Click here to read full

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group announced today the acquisition of Turbine, Inc., the largest privately-held online gaming studio in North America, further strengthening Warner Bros.’ position as one of the industry’s fastest growing, full-scale games publishers.

"Turbine is a leader in online entertainment and a strong strategic fit for Warner Bros. as we continue to broaden our games portfolio and development capabilities," said Kevin Tsujihara, president, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. "Turbine's renowned online game development and publishing expertise will help us develop additional online product offerings, while also providing us with new and innovative ways to market and communicate with our consumers."

Founded in 1994 and operating primarily in Boston, Turbine has created some of the most popular and exciting gaming worlds on the Internet, including Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited, the world’s best free-to-play massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) and The Lord of the Rings Online, the first and only MMORPG based on the books of J.R.R. Tolkien. Previously, Warner Bros. held all The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) games rights, with the exception of the literary MMO (massively multiplayer online game) rights. Now all games rights for the LOTR franchise will be unified under the Warner Bros. shield.

"We have been looking to expand access to our online worlds to more players and more markets," said Jim Crowley, president and CEO, Turbine, Inc. "This acquisition is very exciting because it allows us to expand globally while continuing to focus on creating spectacular online games that our loyal fans and players have come to expect."

Additionally, the acquisition of Turbine provides Warner Bros. with access to a proprietary digital publishing platform that enables dynamic direct-to-consumer relationships, robust online merchandising opportunities and vibrant e-commerce functionality for online games. Turbine has also developed a social networking platform that can integrate their self-developed online communities with popular third-party social networks. Outside of the games arena, these platforms present unique opportunities for Warner’s other home entertainment businesses.

"Turbine is recognized globally for its industry-leading technology, groundbreaking graphics and its unique ability to create and operate massive and persistent online worlds which greatly enhance players’ social gaming experiences," said Martin Tremblay, president, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. " The Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons & Dragons Online have both been an enormous success for Turbine and we look forward to working with their talented development team to continue creating award-winning online games."

In 2007, Warner Bros. acquired TT Games, developer of the hit LEGO-based game franchises, including LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Indiana Jones and LEGO Batman, which have wide appeal with players of all ages. Early in 2009, Warner Bros. acquired Snowblind Studios to develop its The Lord of the Rings games franchise, with the first title The Lord of the Rings: War in the North expected to be released in 2011. Also in 2009, the Studio purchased the primary assets of Midway Games. Midway published the Mortal Kombat franchise, which has sold over 26 million units worldwide. Most recently, Warner Bros. acquired a majority stake in Rocksteady Studios, a privately held developer of interactive entertainment targeted at teens and adults.

Warner Bros. continues to grow its games business through key acquisitions, building internal development capabilities, leveraging its global video distribution infrastructure, and focusing on developing major games franchises such as Batman, F.E.A.R., Mortal Kombat, The Lord of the Rings and LEGO.

[Source]

The LOTRO Game Servers will be brought down on Wednesday, April 21 from 6:00AM - 10:00AM Eastern (-5 GMT) for an update to the game. Patch notes are now available: Happy Anniversary! The Anniversary Token Collection event has been revamped...Click here to read full

The LOTRO Game Servers will be brought down on Wednesday, April 21 from 6:00AM - 10:00AM Eastern (-5 GMT) for an update to the game. Patch notes are now available:

Happy Anniversary!

The Anniversary Token Collection event has been revamped! Tokens can now be collected throughout all of Middle-earth. Tokens will now drop from the appropriate monsters as follows:

• Tin Token – level 1-10
• Iron Token – Level 11-21
• Silver Token – Level 22-32
• Gold Token – Level 33-42
• Platinum Token – Level 43-52
• Ancient Silver Token – Level 53-59
• Ancient Gold Token – Level 60-65

Note: Ancient Gold Tokens will drop for Monster Players. These can be exchanged for an Ashen Skull Box. In addition, Free Players may also exchange the Ancient Gold Tokens in the Ettenmoors. These gift boxes will have a slightly different loot pool and will include Spirit Stones as well as Cosmetic Items that will not be available in gift boxes from other vendors. Tokens and Gift Boxes have also been added to the Lottery System! Beginning April 21, check my.lotro.com often for your chance to win tokens, gift boxes and other items!

Writ of Virtue

The Writ of Virtue: This special scroll will show the Bards that you know the value of revelry and celebration! The Writ grants a passive skill that gives you a 20 percent discount with Bards all across Middle-earth. Starting on April 21st and running throughout the celebration, we’re giving all current, new and returning subscribers a special gift: the Writ of Virtue, a reward for loyalty and a steadfast heart. But you have to come to the party to get your gift; make sure to log into the game between April 21 and June 30th for this token of our appreciation. Note: You must have space available in your Character’s inventory for the writ to be granted. Please confirm that you have free space (more than one slot is recommended)available before you log out on Tuesday April 20.

The Spring Festival has returned for a limited time.

Players will be able to complete all the Spring Festival events until April 26. In addition, Will Peartree has returned and will now barter for your choice of Spring Steed or Blue Roan steed at the correct price.

Festivals

The Inn League

• Delivery quests have been revamped!
  • They're now repeatable.
  • Each quest is bestowed in a more centralized location, and does not rely upon finding each NPC out in the world.
  • Each quest now gives negative rep to the Ale Association and Vice-versa. (yeah i went there.)

Spring Festival

• Will Peartree (the festival horse reward vendor at Hengstacer Farm) has seen the error of his ways! He now sells the Document of Mount Ownership for the correct price.
• No more erroneous mail for completing your Spring Sprung Deed!

Summer Festival Sneak Peek

• There is a new horse available for the summer festival: "The Pale Golden Summer Steed."
• New rewards have been added to the Summer Festival, the Inn League faction vendors, and the Ale Association faction vendors.
• A Spring Festival Horse Vendor will be hanging out during the SUMMER festival to extend the offer of rewards that were held up by a bug from the Spring Festival.

[Source]

Turbine has launched the Official Twitter feed for The Lord of the Rings Online! If you want to stay up to date with the latest news and information about The Lord of the Rings Online you can follow Turbine team at http://www.twitter.com/lotro.Click here to read full

Turbine has launched the Official Twitter feed for The Lord of the Rings Online! If you want to stay up to date with the latest news and information about The Lord of the Rings Online you can follow Turbine team at http://www.twitter.com/lotro.

Reliance Big Entertainment is a well known company in India in areas such as movies, music, sports, internet and games. A few days ago Codemasters (The Lord of the Rings Online publisher for EU) has confirmed that India's Reliance Big Entertainment...Click here to read full

Reliance Big Entertainment is a well known company in India in areas such as movies, music, sports, internet and games. A few days ago Codemasters (The Lord of the Rings Online publisher for EU) has confirmed that India's Reliance Big Entertainment has a 50 percent stake in the firm and it's gaming division Zapak  will supervise the Codemasters investment.

Rod Cousens, CEO of Codemasters, said:

The opportunities arising from this partnership are truly exciting. This is great news for our development and publishing teams. Reliance and Zapak have immense resources and will help us realize the full potential of our game coding and online excellence across so many platforms, and especially in the world's fastest growing markets. The future of Codemasters has never looked brighter. It's a whole new game!"

Rohit Sharma, CEO of Zapak 

We are excited to partner with Codemasters and believe it's very strong technology, development and distribution presence will complement our global gaming portfolio. Additionally, Zapak's global strength in mobile gaming will enhance Codemasters' ability to fully leverage its attractive franchises such as its racing and cricket games.

[Source: Develope-online]

As part of this festival, you can barter three leaves for two cookies (Extra Delicious Tasty Biscuits), and each cookie you eat gives you a fortune inside. Collecting all 50 of the numbered fortunes nets you five titles: 1-10: Same Old...Click here to read full

As part of this festival, you can barter three leaves for two cookies (Extra Delicious Tasty Biscuits), and each cookie you eat gives you a fortune inside. Collecting all 50 of the numbered fortunes nets you five titles:

1-10: Same Old Song
11-20: the Peculiar
21-30: Writing on the Wall
31-40: the Enlightened
41-50: the Poetical

Not only are these fortunes fun to read, but they can be traded. When you give a fortune to someone else, it progresses their deed. Give them all 10, and you've just shared a title!

[Belisana]