This isn’t exactly a new rumor, but Destructoid is reporting that LotRO may see release on consoles. Destructoid cites a “reliable” source for the rumor, which I suppose is slightly higher than the rampant speculation that previously existed:
According to a reliable source, Turbine is currently eyeing their MMO, Lord of the Rings: Online, for an Xbox 360 release. The source added that Turbine has hit a snag, unrelated to the development process. Microsoft, allegedly, won’t commit to allow Turbine to utilize a free-to-play model, which is what the developer desires for the console version of LotRO.
The good news is we’re hearing that Microsoft is close to finalizing an MMO model for Xbox LIVE. This is a model that, hopefully, won’t exclude Silver members or force Gold subscribers to pay for two services simultaneously.
We contacted Turbine today in order to obtain official confirmation of the console title. Turbine wouldn’t confirm any of the source’s information, yet none of it was denied. Our source also indicated that Turbine’s technology for a LotRO Xbox 360 title was ready to go; the assessment that the title was done and ready to be shipped, however, was “factually incorrect,” according to Turbine.
Free to play would be cool, but we’ll see what happens. EA manages its own servers for LIVE, so you think Turbine could get a similar offer. Then again, it’s not like they’re comparable in size or importance.
I always thought DDO would be a better fit for consoles, but LotRO could work. My personal hope would be that they create a version of LotRO, if this was true. As the game is now, I feel it would have to be tweaked to really be an enjoyable experience with a controller. I can’t say that FFXI is a blast on a console, for example.
See, I’d much rather see a Mac client developed for LOTRO…I for one am getting increasingly tired of having to rely on a virus-vulnerable Windows partition on my iMac to play this MMO, the only one I have any interest of playing.
I mean come on, CoH managed to find the cash to make a Mac client…why not Turbine?
I agree. I’m by no means a Mac guy by any stretch of the imagination, but look at EVE and WoW — two very successful MMOGs, both with Mac clients.
Microsoft has always had a MMOG policy for their consoles: Silver members can play MMOGs because MMOGs are played on those servers and do not utilize any of the Xbox Live services that Gold members pay for.
I’m skeptical at seeing LOTRO on a console, though. It’s a classic DikuMMO and uses all the generic UI trappings that just don’t work in a console environment. DDO would be a fit in the sense that it’s a faster action RPG, which appeals to the generic console gamer stereotype, and it’s fully instanced which fits into the technical parameters of consoles having less RAM than the typical gamer PC. However, anyone who actually plays DDO for more than a few minutes will quickly realize the game itself is actually more UI and inventory intensive than LOTRO/WoW or any other classic DikuMMO and I feel wouldn’t make a successful transition to consoles. Add all the new middleware Turbine licensed last year and either hints or outright statements in interviews that their secret in-development console MMOG would be a new property, not a port of one of their existing titles…
Some of the management stuff in DDO wouldn’t carry over, you’re right. I guess I was thinking purely from a more gameplay (i.e., action) standpoint.
As for MS, there must be more going on there than we realize if they’re at all involved in blocking Turbine not charging for their MMORPG.
MS doesn’t like free DLC, that’s for sure. They essentially force studios to charge for DLC when on the PC they’d give it away free. With a MMOG though, again those are not utilizing XBL whatsoever so I’m not sure why MS would be blocking that, or if that part of the story has any merit to it, even.
I still think MMOGs on the 360 are going to be a hard sell, especially to XBL Gold members who already pay $50/year to MS just to use the services. A MMOG would be a separate subscription, obviously so unless studios start coming up with alternate pricing that console users find more appealing, a subscription MMOG is going to have its fair share of challenges finding a player base.
Can I get another shout out for LotR for a Mac client please?
I’m inclined to agree as well that LotR as it stands right now is rather complex with mouse and keyboard. Bringing it over to a controller has been a stumbling block for MMO’s in the past. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Turbine completely rework the control interface.
.…and how do I program macros on a controller?
I would be weary of a different version of LotRO on the console. Anyone remember Everquest Online Adventures for the PS2?
I think it’s feasible, but Turbine would really want to focus on the controller and macros (FFXI does it and it works… At least as well as it does on the pc, whatever that’s worth). Trying to get console gamers to use a keyboard is just not very likely.
[…] Brad does say on the following day that it’s not an April Fool’s joke. Tony at MMeOw picked it up as did Massively both of which source the Destructoid post. Massively also references Joystiq who […]