THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™: MINES OF MORIA™ UNVEILED AT CONNECT 08
[14-Mar-2008]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™: MINES OF MORIA™ UNVEILED AT CONNECT 08
Volume II of the 2007 PC Game of
the Year Expected to Arrive at Retail This Fall
BIRMINGHAM, UK
- March 14, 2008 - Turbine, Inc. and
Codemasters Online today unveiled Volume II of The Lord of the Rings OnlineTM, the first retail expansion for the
award-winning massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG). Announced
in Birmingham, the childhood home of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings OnlineTM: Mines of MoriaTM will
expand the online world of Middle-earth to let players explore the ancient
underground cities of the dwarves, battle epic characters in the depths, face
off with the Watcher, be a part of the fateful release of Durin's Bane and
more! The Lord of the Rings
Online expects to open Volume II of its epic story in the fall of 2008 with
an increased level cap, two new classes and the introduction of a unique item
advancement system.
"The Mines of Moria is one of the most epic
settings in all of fantasy fiction," said Jim Crowley,
president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "No one delivers more quality content than Turbine
and with our journey into Moria, we will raise the bar even higher. We are adding vast amounts of content, debuting massive new environments and
unveiling numerous unique feature sets, like item advancement, which will create
entirely new dimensions of compelling game play and social interaction which
are unique to The Lord of the Rings
Online experience."
NEW FEATURES:
- Speak Friend, and Enter - Moria, called Khazad-dûm by the dwarves, was their
capital and the grandest of cities. This
enormous underground cavern in north-western Middle-earth, comprises an immense
network of tunnels, chambers, mines and huge halls that run beneath and
ultimately through the Misty
Mountains. For the first time, players of The Lord of the Rings Online will enter
this ancient city which has served as the foundation for the modern-day
dungeon-crawling adventures to battle the hordes of goblins and the Nameless of
the Deep and journey through hundreds of new quests within six new kinds of
stunning environments.
- The Epic Continues! - The Mines
of Moria represents the beginning of Volume II of The Lord of the Rings
Online. Players can experience six new books as part of this update and
participate in the release of Durin's Bane, battle the Watcher, aid Galadriel
and more!
- Increased Level Cap - Players will be able advance their characters up to level 60, gaining
access to new traits, virtues, skills and class quests. The crafting system will also expand, giving
players the ability to craft even more powerful items.
- Discover Two
New Classes - The Rune-keeper and the
Warden, the first new classes to be introduced since the launch of the game,
allow players to build exciting and powerful new characters in The Lord of the Rings Online in diverse
new ways.
- Forge Legendary Items - The Mines of Moria will introduce
Turbine's new item advancement system to The Lord of the Rings Online. Players will be able to forge weapons and
class-related equipment and evolve them to build a legacy the likes of Bilbo's Sting and Gandalf's Glamdring. These legendary weapons will level-up along with the
player, allowing customization by advancing the item's virtues, adding runic legacies,
modifying its titles and forming fables.
To
celebrate this exciting news, Turbine and Codemasters also announced today that
they will kick off a major promotion that invites everyone to unlock the Mines of Moria by visiting http://www.unlocktheminesofmoria.com. Visitors can learn more about Mines of Moria and play special mini-games
that will be periodically released over the coming months. Certain players who participate can complete
special deeds through game play and other means to unlock exclusive previews,
assets and special in-game items that may help them when they delve into Mines
of Moria this fall. The Unlock the Mines of Moria promotion is scheduled to
begin at the end of this month.
The Lord of the Rings Online is an award-winning MMORPG that delivers an
interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people,
places and monsters from the most beloved fantasy adventure of all time. From
the picturesque surroundings of the Shire to Moria, the great underground
realm, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before. The
Lord of the Rings Online is available for purchase at major retailers across
North America and Europe. For more information
or to download a free trial, visit www.lotro.com
or www.lotro-europe.com.
About Turbine
Turbine,
Inc. is the premier creator and operator
of massive, persistent online worlds that foster powerful social gaming
communities. Turbine has grown to become
one of the largest privately-held online gaming studios in North
America. Turbine has created some of the world's most popular and
award-winning online games, including The Lord of the Rings OnlineTM: Shadows of
AngmarTM, Dungeons & Dragons Online® and Asheron's Call®. For more information on Turbine, its products
and services please visit www.turbine.com.
About Codemasters
Codemasters is a leading
developer and publisher of best-selling interactive entertainment products for
a global audience on current and future gaming platforms and channels.
Established in 1986, the company's dominant brands include Colin McRae Rally,
TOCA Race Driver, LMA Manager, Brian Lara Cricket and Operation Flashpoint. The
company is headquartered in Southam, Warwickshire UK
and maintains operations in the US,
Germany, France, Spain,
and Benelux. More information about the
company and its products is available online at www.codemasters.com
About Tolkien Enterprises
The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises is
the holder of worldwide motion picture, legitimate stage, merchandising, and
other rights in J.R.R. Tolkien's literary works The Lord of the Rings and The
Hobbit. Tolkien Enterprises has been producing and licensing films,
stage productions and merchandise based on Tolkien's works for almost 30
years. Its headquarters are in Berkeley,
California, and its website may
be found at www.tolkien-ent.com.
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*Golden Joystick 2007 PC Game of the Year
"The Lord of the Rings Online," "Mines of Moria," "Shadows of Angmar," "Middle-earth," "The Lord of the
Rings," and the names of the characters, events, items and places therein are
trademarks or registered trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien
Enterprises under license to Turbine, Inc. Turbine
and the Turbine logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Turbine, Inc.
in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other trademarks are the property of
their respective owners.