Midway and Turbine have officially released Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar to an eagerly awaiting public. Well I know they were eager, but after the massive open beta it’s not like we could say they were waiting. Fans from the beta will finally get to see Tolkien’s world the way the developers wanted them too as the low-rez graphic gloves are off, and the level 15 cap has been removed. While I don’t know if this will become the One MMO to Rule Them All, it will at least give the non-WoW gamers a viable fantasy-MMO option. No I did not forget about Vanguard, the key word was “viable”.

While we’re talking about LotR Online, before the launch date has even arrived, Turbine has already announced their first free content update, Shores of Evendim. This update, billed as the “first of many free updates,” will allow players to journey to Evendim, and to adventure there. They’ll even get to help Aragorn in his quest to reforge Narsil.

This update will include new monsters, new quests, new zones, and even changes to the music system. It will also add a raid encounter. In many cases, announcing new content prior to launching a game is highly suspect, but if this update is what we can expect from Turbine, maybe LotR Online will break that paradigm.

With Lord of the Rings Online launching in the US this Tuesday, April 24th, Turbine is teaming up with Gamestop to host “Midnight Madness” launch events at five Gamestop locations throughout the country. Fans who show up at these events will not only get their copy of the game, they’ll get to meet members of the development team as well. There will be contests to win signed posters, pre-paid game cards, and exclusive event t-shirts. Heck, they’re even holding contests for the best LotR themed costumes, with each location awarding prizes to the three best costumes. The only downside to this is that the five locations are: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle. If you’re not close to one of those locations, you’re out of luck. If you can’t make one of these events, which run from 11:00PM – Midnight on the 23rd, the game will be available in stores nationwide on Tuesday, April 24th.

In case you were somehow unaware, Midway and Turbine are still taking applications for the Lord of the Rings Online Beta program. The only excuse I will buy is that you recently got over being turned to stone while trying to decide the best way to eat a little person. Short of that, what’s wrong with you? 1) The game looks better than Liv Tyler in elf ears. 2) It’s a chance to experience Middle Earth in your own way. 3) Umm Free? So sign up, and Game On.