Amazon’s making a new Lord of the Rings MMO

[Thereandbackagain999]

Amazon Game Studios is co-developing a new massively multiplayer online game based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. The free-to-play game will be based on Tolkien’s literary trilogy, not the Peter Jackson-helmed films, and is unrelated to Amazon’s upcoming original TV series based on The Lord of the Rings that will be set in the Second Age.

https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/10/20...o-athlon-games

[istvana]

Old news though it adds some details about what studios will be involved and specifically says that the game will be for consoles (and computers) as widely expected.

[Thereandbackagain999]

Old news though it adds some details about what studios will be involved and specifically says that the game will be for consoles (and computers) as widely expected.

I'd love to see some competition for SSG in this area, and it looks like that is going to happen.

Competition usually helps the players, as they have choice of where to play Lord of the Rings as an MMO.

[Arnenna]

The "free to play" aspect of this new game means it will have to financially survive through players spending money in some other way other than subbing. That's alarm bells right there. That said, if it's just free to play and players use a monthly budget, that could be ok, as everyone will face the same grinds and available purchased progressions. Nobody will be paying a sub and still be facing those same grinds and progressions regardless of their financial input through their subscription. That's what let's LOTRO down.

[Nymphonic]

I'll pass. After playing MMOs since 1999, I'm done with the whole thing. When LOTRO closes, that'll be the last MMO for me.

[Raegaen]

I'd love to see some competition for SSG in this area, and it looks like that is going to happen.

Competition usually helps the players, as they have choice of where to play Lord of the Rings as an MMO.

Personally I'd love to see SSG sell this game to a developer that will actually improve the game and listen to it's fanbase, as they certaintly don't. Many people state that F2P is what is keeping this game alive and that could be true, however, FFXIV proves that a sub only game can survive and even thrive in the current gaming environment. FFXIV is even gaining more players with every new expansion they come out with. Maybe SSG should be looking into how they do it, or how this new LOTR MMO will affect them and FINALLY do something to make this game great again. If they don't, this game won't survive and they'll be stuck with just DDO - and that won't pay the bills alone.

[djheydt]

I'll pass. After playing MMOs since 1999, I'm done with the whole thing. When LOTRO closes, that'll be the last MMO for me.

Same, I think. I figure I'll stick with LotRO till it dies or I do, a tossup which happens first.

[Thereandbackagain999]

Same, I think. I figure I'll stick with LotRO till it dies or I do, a tossup which happens first.

Why would you not take a look at a free LOTR MMO to see if you prefer it to LOTRO, what do you have to lose?

[Arnenna]

Why would you not take a look at a free LOTR MMO to see if you prefer it to LOTRO, what do you have to lose?

Probably because most people know that games cost money to develop, especially brand new games that are being designed from the ground up and hope to be competitive. "Free" is just a word. It will mean you can log in, but after that, it will likely be extremely limited without a wallet.

Many games make their bacon through that wallet by offering a free game (which is only free to install and play at the most basic of levels), then pay to get anywhere. Some make their money with subs. LOTRO tries both without realising that their free to play model encroaches so hard on their VIP model, that it kills it and makes it worthless.

[Thereandbackagain999]

I agree but my point was why not have a look at it, I love The Lord of the Rings and am happy to soon have a second MMO in the same universe to look at.

[Nymphonic]

Why would you not take a look at a free LOTR MMO to see if you prefer it to LOTRO, what do you have to lose?

I cannot speak for djheydt, but for me, I'm just not interested. Nothing against the game, i just have zero interest in trying it out.

[LotroVidz]

How much would it cost SSG to re-launch original SOA? I heard when the legendary server was about to release that they tried to run the old game but it would not coop with the new tech they have. But at least we know now that they have the old code/client available, so what would it take to make it run?

[SSG_RedPanda]

Thread moved to off-topic section.

[LotroVidz]

Old news though it adds some details about what studios will be involved and specifically says that the game will be for consoles (and computers) as widely expected.

We didn't know Amazon was involved before, that is not old news..

Amazon Game Studios has announced it will be leading the development on a new The Lord of the Rings MMORPG.
Amazon’s Lord of the Rings MMORPG will a free-to-play adventure set in Middle-earth as “portrayed in The Lord of the Rings literary trilogy.” Meaning the MMO will likely be based on author J.R.R. Tolkein’s original books, rather than Peter Jackson’s film trilogy.

[Thereandbackagain999]

Thread moved to off-topic section.

Can you explain why this was moved to this thread? What was wrong with it being in a forum called LOTRO General Discussion & Feedback? People are more likely to see this in the original location than in an off-topic forum.

[Arnenna]

I agree but my point was why not have a look at it, I love The Lord of the Rings and am happy to soon have a second MMO in the same universe to look at.

I'll probably have a look at it, as you say, nothing to lose by doing that, but keep in mind, the Free to play model by it's very nature is designed to hook the player. What starts as a "look" can often turn into "I'll play all that can be played for free" to "I owe the game at least some small payment for what I've got already, so I'll buy a horse and some starter stuff", to "Oh, I really want to see that other area", and before you know it, "Free" is a million miles away.

I'd love for LOTRO to launch a VIP, paid subs only server, even if only for a few months to trial it. No free to play players, no premium and no lifers, just paying customers - but no store, at all. Everything earned in game play. I'd like to see how well that would take off and how many would dip into the pocket for it. I certainly would, that would be totally worth paying for.

[Cave_Troll]

Can you explain why this was moved to this thread? What was wrong with it being in a forum called LOTRO General Discussion & Feedback? People are more likely to see this in the original location than in an off-topic forum.

My guess is because this thread is not about general discussion and feedback about LOTRO. Being a discussion about another game by another studio it fits better here in Off-Topic.

[Pontin_Finnberry]

Can you explain why this was moved to this thread? What was wrong with it being in a forum called LOTRO General Discussion & Feedback? People are more likely to see this in the original location than in an off-topic forum.

Its quite obvious why it was moved, as this thread is not LOTRO related, it talks about another MMO that is same universe yes, but again not related to lotro.

Anyway I'm not too surprised Amazon games is involved, it is interesting new news, and i did say from start there would be no new MMO if amazon never bought rights to make a TV series.

[Narthalion]

Can you explain why this was moved to this thread? What was wrong with it being in a forum called LOTRO General Discussion & Feedback? People are more likely to see this in the original location than in an off-topic forum.

I think you answered your own question.

[KadinKohle]

Can you explain why this was moved to this thread? What was wrong with it being in a forum called LOTRO General Discussion & Feedback? People are more likely to see this in the original location than in an off-topic forum.

Yeah as others have said, it's not about LOTRO, it's about an entirely different game which is considered off topic.

[Castagere]

Hopefully, it won't have quest packs. And too bad, it won't launch for a while.

[gildhur]

There's already a 10-month old thread about this that's been updated with today's news:

https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthr...LOTR-based-MMO

[Starliteyes]

Meh, I'm staying here. I still love this game--it's fresh to me with all the new lands and updates, I quit the grind and only play the good bits, it's still immersive and beautiful. Plus they don't have MoL or Scenario...

[Aelir]

Can you explain why this was moved to this thread? What was wrong with it being in a forum called LOTRO General Discussion & Feedback? People are more likely to see this in the original location than in an off-topic forum.

Precisely! Fear of competition, my dude This thread move shows they're even less secure in their Tolkien monopoly than I expected.

[Namma]

Well, I'll check it out. Doesn't mean I'll play it, it depends what they do with it.

It's all really up in the air right now. They're having to work with Middle Earth Enterprises and develop a MMO that takes place before the Lord Of The Rings according the Athlon and techraptor.

Therefore, it won't replace this game at all, perhaps it will even spark interest since a version, and a very interesting and beautiful version, of the resulting story is here.

That said, I always feel it's better to go look and know for myself rather than depend on the opinion of others. I don't allow myself to be influenced, socially engineered aka peer pressure aka "what will my friends think?", etc. The contents of my mind belong to me and the choice to share about what I choose to do is mine alone.

Namma