11/01/00 - Latest News
Reiner Knizia's LOTR Game News
Xoanon @ 5:49 pm EST
From: David Farquhar I have just got back from demo-ing the English version at Essen, seemed to go very well. I was rushed off my feet with requests to play. I asked if there was any more news on the US release and was told it should be in most main shops by Thanksgiving, so the end of November should be a reasonably safe bet.
10/18/00 - Latest News
Electronic Arts Circles ``Rings'' Vidgame Rights
Xoanon @ 10:36 am EST
From: Yahoo HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - New Line Cinema is finalizing a deal to license videogame rights to its ``The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy to vidgame giant Electronic Arts. Next to ``Harry Potter (news - web sites)'' (which EA obtained during the summer) and ``The Matrix'' (which is still up for grabs to the highest bidder), ``Lord of the Rings'' is one of the hottest videogame licenses available.
10/12/00 - Latest News
Electronic Arts enters the fray.
Corvar @ 10:48 am EST
According to ZDNet and Variety publication eV, Electronic Arts has entered the Lord of the Rings licensing fray. It seems to me like Lord of the Ring's gaming rights are a lawyers dream. You can read what ZDNet has to say here. [more] Thanks to Tim for the tip.
10/09/00 - Latest News
Inquest Gamer Spills its Guts...
Xoanon @ 8:19 pm EST
The 'Saint' payed me a visit during prayer last night: I just picked up the newest issue of Inquest Gamer magazine, and I saw that they printed a letter that I wrote to them. I wrote them awhile back about LOTR card and board games, and they finally printed it. The response to the letter is interesting. It was the first letter printed in the letters section. This is what i wrote: (they gave the letter the subject "Gaming Gandalf") "The Middle-Earth RPG and CCG we once knew and loved are gone forever. They'll never be back. Will a new Middle Earth CCG and RPG emerge? probably. But unlike the license for the Pez CCG, the rights to Middle Earth ain't cheap, so only a big company like Wizards of the Coast could afford to get it. Problem is, WOTC already passed on the Middle Earth CCG once and let ICE create the game we know and love. Now, if they decide to go for it to capitalize on the films, you can expect a much simpler, mass market game."
My letter: "With the release of the "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy, do you expect a resurgence in the Middle-Earth CCG (collectible card game), or in the Middle-Earth Role Playing Game? Even though they are both out of print, both enjoy a massive fan following, with the CCG still having a world championship each year. I know that Iron Crown Enterprises-the former publisher of both- lost the license for Middle-Earth stuff, but why hasn't any other company picked it up? The CCG was one of the best. Are you listening Wizards of the Coast?"
Wizards of the coast is the company publisher of Magic the Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons.
The response to the letter:
We now know that Decipher Inc. has scored the rights to the movie CCG, but i guess Inquest Gamer didn't know that yet. One main difference between Decipher's up and coming LOTR game and the former one. Dechiper's license is for the MOVIE game, based on the films, using stills and pics from it. The former game was about the BOOKS, meaning that they could make cards and games based on Middle Earth, not just on the LOTR movie. The former card game, from Iron Crown Enterprises, was licensed by Tolkien Enterprises, since the game was based on the books. Decipher's license is granted by the film and licensing company, meaning that they can only make games based on the movies. The previous card game could've done a Silmarillion card set if they had wanted, but Decipher can only use stuff from the films, unless they also get the license from Tolkien Enterprises, which cost big bucks. Hope this helps clear up some of the confusion about the LOTR/Middle-Earth card and role playing games. catch you later.
Saint
Knizia's Lord of the Rings Board Game
Calisuri @ 11:53 am EST
Ringer fan Tom Scutt sent in this update on the status of the Knizia's Lord of the Rings Board Game: "I just phoned up Sophisticated Games in the UK to see if I could find out a UK release date for Knizia's Lord of the Rings. A nice man told me that as far as he knew it should have gone out on Friday 6th October, and so should be in the shops this week. Apparently, as well as going to specialist board game shops, it should be available at W.H. Smiths. As with all release dates, it might be worth taking this with a pinch of salt, but it sounds like it should be soon... He also told me about the previously unadvertised website: http://lordoftherings-boardgame.com/ Lots of new images, not a great deal of new information, but worth a look." And you can even put your order in online!
9/29/00 - Latest News
Sierra and The Tolkien Estate
Berendir @ 9:34 pm EST
Well, a Ringer was good enough to send me this very interesting bit about Sierra and the Tolkien estate. Read on! hey y'all. just got the new Computer Gaming World Magazine, and found a bit of an article about LOTR.
pg. 49, READ.ME column, article name: Stealthmode:
"The orcs have come home to roos at Sierra. As faithful readers may recall, Mr. Sneaky previously mentioned that Sierra was about to lose the Middle Earth license after they fired MIDDLE EARTH ONLINE team and shut down production. I hinted at developments more dire, and its happened: Sierra has sued the Tolkien Estate to establish their rights to make Middle Earth games be returned to them.
As part of the contract with the Tolkien Estate, Sierra was supposed to deliver a Middle Earth game or they would be in breach of contract. So they did, or so they say. Earlier this year, Sierra supposedly finished a game set in Tolkien's Middle Earth mythos. Why wasn't it released? Apparently, Sierra wasn't allowed to publicize it or sell it without prior approval, and the Tolkien estate said no. It's likely that the Tolkien people thought the game stunk, and that Sierra threw something together to satisfy the contract and to hold on to the rights. Sierra says that they would love to talk about the game, but they can't. Hmmm."
and thats the end of the article. enjoy.
Super-Duper-Ringer-Saint
9/22/00 - Latest News
New stuff on "Gandalf"
Berendir @ 9:46 pm EST
Word from Smeagol17! Well news has come slow as of late.. but I was speaking with the creator of the game.. in development, "Gandalf". The person helping him is Nathan Lindsell and he's working on background paintings and sprite animation. The game is also being made with a program called, "The Games Factory." More news as it comes.
9/18/00 - Latest News
Reiner Knizia's Lord of the Rings
Xoanon @ 11:39 am EST
From: Dave Farquhar Reiner Knizia's Lord of the Rings Board Game is now rolling off the presses, and it looks great. Enclosed are jpegs of two of the cards that I don't believe have been published on the net anywhere. The game will be released in Germany next month, and I think the English edition will be around the same time. Not sure yet about other countries.
