GGL Wire

Turbine, creators of the Tolkien-based MMORPG Lord of the Rings Online, announced the first major expansion for the fantasy game, The Mines of Moria.

From the press release:

BIRMINGHAM, UK – March 14, 2008 - Turbine, Inc. and Codemasters Online today unveiled Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online™, 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 Online™: Mines of Moria™ 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. Continued…

British character actor Andy Serkis, best known for his portrayal of Sméagol/Gollum in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings film trilogy, announced the founding of Games Eden, a new video game industry network to promote the burgeoning Cambridge videogames development community.

Serkis performed motion capture for Heavenly Sword, as well as the voice of the main villain. He served as Dramatic Director for the game.

Companies based at the East of England game development community hub in Cambridge employ about 600 staff, responsible for titles like Wallace and Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Kung Fu Chaos, 24: The Game, MediEvil, GhostHunter and GoldenEye 007.

Companies that have pledged to support the network include Cambridge Wireless, TiGA, EMMA, Gameware Development, Zoonami, Geomerics, Sony, Jagex, Nicetech and Ninja Theory.

Link.

Turbine released the second free update to The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar.

Book 10: The City of the Kings continues the epic story, adds over 100 new quests, implements significant enhancements to monster play, and introduces Reputation and Bartering systems. Continued…