The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar has exposed an ancient evil to the light in the latest Lorebook entry. Udúnion is one of the Rogmul minions of the Balrogs still lurking in the shadows of Middle-earth.

After the Breaking of Thangorodrim, many of the Balrogs and their Rogmul minions were destroyed or banished beyond the bounds of the material world. One of these was the Rogmul Udúnion. He fought beside his lord, Thaurlach, and tried to follow him into hiding, but was trapped by two Wizards and cast into the world of shadow.

These two Wizards eventually passed into the far East, and Udúnion was forgotten by nearly all who lived. Forced to wander the shadows, able to see but not interact with the physical world, Udúnion witnessed the fall of the North-kingdom, the defeat of the Witch-king, and the power of the Dark Lord Sauron diminished as Isildur cut the One Ring from his finger. Now he bides his time, waiting for his freedom.

Although Udúnion and the Regmyl aren’t strictly canon, they seem to have been created in the spirit of Tokien’s Middle-earth. As a very high level boss, Udúnion is a great way to prepare high level characters for the horrors that await them in the depths of Moria.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Eurogamer, Jeffery Steefel believes that Turbine/Codemasters love-child  Lord of the Rings Online is the only MMO out there at present that could hope to achieve the same sort of mass-market success like World of Warcraft.

The game’s executive producer feels that eventually the game could become second only to WoW, but that they have a ways to go:

“There’s another level of success, which is reaching a certain mass-market critical mass, which to be totally fair, only Blizzard has achieved completely so far. We think that we are the game that has the most likelihood of being the second to do that, but we’re not there yet.”

I would love to be able to provide you with a number of players so that we could all get an idea of just how many subscribers the game actually has, but Turbine does not publicize figures of that sort. They do however admit that the Tolkien based game is turning a profit and is growing in numbers. Whatever their profits are, I personally do not know, but as someone who plays the game, I have seen a recent surge in the amount of new players on my server, so I can easily believe that the amount of people defecting to the game is indeed getting larger.

However, to maintain subscriber levels and to gain fresh blood you have to offer something other than your typical subscription model.  If you want your game to continue for many years to come, you have to offer a variety of ways to coerce the player to spend a monthly fee  – which is exactly how Steefel feels as well:

“This is a franchise that’s going to continue for years and years and years, and there’s no way that the singular, monolithic, $14.95 a month subscription model is going to last for years and years and years all by itself… it has to change.”

Steefel then went on to talk about the new game for the console that Turbine is currently working on which will be an extension of LotRO apparently, but that because of extensive elements in the MMO it would be hard to bring a full-fledged game like this to a box sitting on the floor in your living room:

“Consoles only have a certain number of buttons, so how do you help someone use a console controller to manage inventory and skills and traits and deeds and crafting items and all that stuff in a way that’s not just painful”

Codemasters is having a Mines of Moria event on September 23 and I will be there front row center, so hopefully I will be able to find out a little more on what else they are working on besides the upcoming expansion to LotRO. Meanwhile, you can read the full inteview with Jeffery Steefel over on Eurogamer where he also talks a bit about “the potential of two players co-operating on one machine in a persistent world”, if that sort of thing interests you.

(image courtsey of Fantasy Magazine)

Take heed dear travelers of Middle-earth, for news of the greatest kind has been uttered by the town criers in the streets of Rivendale! The all-knowing and all-seeing Codemasters is kindly taking pre-orders for a new adventure which will take you and your Fellowship into the Mines of Moria. Start packing your trusty sword, healing potions, pocket items, bow, plenty of lembas, and lore-master’s cloak now because we will be leaving in mere 50 days, so prepare yourselves well.

Should you decide to embark upon this harrowing and dangerous journey, please be aware of the many different routes that you can traverse:

Expansion Pack (Does not include original game)

• £19.99 / €29.99
• Standalone expansion (original game required, sold separately)
• Full access to new content
• 2 DVDs and game manual
• Choice of 1 bonus in-game item

Compilation Pack (Includes original game + expansion)

• £29.99 / €39.99
• Includes Original The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar & Mines of Moria
• 30-days’ free game time (new players only)
• Full access to new content
• 2 DVDs and game manual
• Choice of 2 bonus in-game items

Special Edition

• £49.99 / €69.99 (Includes original game + expansion)
• Includes original The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar & Mines of Moria
• 60–days’ free game time (new & existing players)
• Moria brooch & ring
• Moria soundtrack
• Moria Fellowship guide map
• 2 DVDs and game manual
• Choice of 3 bonus in-game items

If you are currently residing in the lands beyond, you can view the different paths here.

Our trusty Elf Hunter Stephany will be invading the land of England in a fortnight and 5 days. The Codemasters event will be talking place soon after her arrival, where she will be scouting for more information.  Therefore, most humble and dedicated servants of progress, be sure to seek out the wisdom of the Council of Elrond once she retrieves the needed information.

May the light of the Elves be with you on your journey.

Many thanks to our Allies at VG247!

Turbine is showing up at Penny Arcade Expo 2008 to show off the first Lord of the Rings Online expansion, Mines of Moria. Moria will take players into the ruins of an ancient Dwarven wonder. While this underground city is still a place of great beauty, its now home to creatures that fear the light and thrive in darkness.

For those of you not attending PAX, Turbine has released new screenshots for Moria which I’ve included in this article for your viewing pleasure. These and other screens and videos for LotRO: Mines of Moria can be found on FileFront. Look for the expansion to hit store October 15 in the States.

If you have not figured out that I am extremely excited over the Mines of Moria expansion for Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, then I am not as easy to see through as I initially thought.

Every time a screen comes out for the game, it is a constant reminder that Fall is just a scant few weeks away and I will soon be able to see the enormous underground Dwarven complex with its vast network of tunnels, chambers, mines and huge halls deep within the Misty Mountains. Just think of all the neat places within Moria that are part of Tolkien lore that we will be privy to: The Doors of Durin, Dimrill Gate, Chamber of Mazarbul, the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, the Tomb of Balin, the Endless Stair and many more could be included within this expansion – the possibilities for adventure and danger are endless.

This new artwork depicts some of the environments and monsters to be added with the expansion, as well as non-player characters (Durin VI and Nain) and the first new classes to be introduced since LptRO’s launch (Rune-keeper and Warden). You can view more artwork for the Mines of Moria by hitting this link. The expansion is expected to be released for the PC on October 15.

Speaking about World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King during a conference call yesterday, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime stated that the expansion, will launch between October and December of this year. That is not only unsurprising, but pretty vague as well.

“We have said that it will be coming out this year. I can tell you it’s not coming in the July to September quarter.”

Sigh. With the amount of hype and excitement that has been surrounding this expansion, you would think that they would be a little more concrete with the details, but alas, no.

It looks as if the last quarter of the year is going to be full of competing MMOs, what with WAR: Age of Reckoning launching, the LotRO: Mines of Moria expansion, and now Wrath of the Lich King expansion all coming out around the same time. Gee, I wonder who will be the ultimate winner in sales?

As if we needed more proof of how popular WoW still is, the Wrath of the Lich King beta is not only testing rather well according to Morhaime, but recently we learned that one desperate gamer even went so far as to spend $1000 on a beta key. Talk about not having a life commitment!

Thanks: Shacknews

In case you all have not figured it out by now, I play LotRO all the time. It was my first MMO, and although originally being forced to play it by our former News Editor Ron – and kicking and screaming the whole way – I enjoy the game very much.

Being a huge Tolkien nerdette I am pretty excited about the new Mines of Moria expansion, so when the trailer arrived in my inbox this morning, I was a happy girl. While the trailer is not the most informative trailer I have seen, or the best one, I am happy they have given us something nonetheless. So, if like me, you are excited about the new expansion coming out this Fall, this trailer should make you look forward to it a bit more even if it does not show us any actual gameplay.

Turbine announced today its partnership with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to distribute The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria at retail in North America.  As part of the announcement, Turbine unveiled its fall product lineup which includes two titles that will be available at retail, The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Complete Edition and The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Collector’s Edition, as well as a digital only title for existing subscribers, The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Digital Expansion.

The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria expands the online world of Middle-earth to let players continue the ultimate interactive adventure in the largest and most dangerous online underground environment ever created.  Players will be able to 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.  In addition to the Legendary Item system, The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria features groundbreaking dual height map technology that creates a seamless, vast, and epic environment that brings Moria to life like never before. The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria extends the challenge to new heights with two new classes, ten additional levels and hundreds of new quests.

The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria – Fall 2008 Product Lineup:

• The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Complete Edition will include the original The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar game (Volume I), all content updates released since launch, and The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria (Volume II).  The Complete Edition will be available at retail stores nationwide and offers new players who wish to journey through the most complete and authentic recreation of Middle-earth the full, award-winning  experience.

• The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Collector’s Edition will feature the content of the Complete Edition as well as compelling digital and physical items for collectors.  Limited quantities of the Collector’s Edition will be available at retail outlets in a unique leather-bound book packaging and will include:

• • 3 exclusive tokens that can be exchanged for the player’s choice of 8 different in-game items
  • 22” x 22” premium quality cloth map of the Mines of Moria
  • Special gold-plated ring complete with chain and pouch
  • Mines of Moria poster
  • The Lord of the Rings Online Art and Music Collection with the official Mines of Moria Soundtrack
  • A full color Collector’s Edition Starter Guide

• The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Digital Expansion is a digital upgrade that will allow existing subscribers to The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar to continue the ultimate interactive adventure into the vast, terrifying and unparalleled world beneath Middle-earth.

This award-winning massively multiplayer online role playing game delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most beloved fantasy of all time. From the picturesque surroundings of the Shire to Moria, the most fearsome underground realm ever imagined, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before.

The expansion is expected to be released in the Fall. Check back with us often for a solid release date.

For more of the new artwork sent to us by Turbine today from the Mines of Moria expansion, click here.

Via: Press Release

I did not do my normal Saturday post last week because covering E3 assets and the like basically beat me down to a bruised and battered version of my former self. Therefore, I was completely a.w.o.l. last Saturday ans was dog tired with good reason. So, today, I have decided to combine the past two weeks into one post, and instead of covering all the demos and patches for each week, I will instead just post the ones with the highest amount of downloads – which basically means the most popular ones. Honestly, during E3 week we did not get many in anyway, so the list should be relatively short as usual.

Demos:

• Lights of Dreams V2.25: This is the demo version V2.25 of Lights of Dreams : The Angelical Blade.It is free to play. Play as Xylvan to find a way to save the future Earth of 3800. Walk, Run, Jump Fly in 50(3 available in the demo) flowers and grass vasts inspirationnal worlds to find 10 Spheres, 11 Parchements and 10 uniques Elements and more than 20 unique items to accomplish your mission. This version provides more lifelike effects… including potion, magic, regeneration and mass attack.

• Full Metal Soccer v1.0 (Windows): The game is set inside a futuristic arena in the distant future. Each player controls his own tank from first-person-perspective and tries to achieve the primary target of every soccer game: shoot more goals than the opposing team.

• Pro Cycling Manager – Tour de France 2008 : Cyanide Studio and Focus Home Interactive are pleased to offer you the playable demo for Pro Cycling Manager 2008. This 760 MB demo, integrating the latest 1.0.1.4 patch, puts players at the head of the Euskaltel team as they race to win today’s stage of the real Tour de France 2008, the 16th stage: Cuneo – Jausiers. In the demo, your team is beginning its last week of competition before the grand final on the Champs-Élysées, but you still haven’t won any stages yet, and your sponsors are beginning to put some pressure on you to see their colours on the podium. Through this 157.4 km mountain stage, you’ll need to display all your talents as a Director of Sports to finally get the victory you need. Surrounded by the col de la Lombarde and the col la Bonette, the highest saddle point in Europe, this 16th stage will be the perfect field for the best climbers of the Tour, while the breathtaking downhills at the end of the cols ensure a spectacular end-of-stage. So it’s up to you to find the best strategy that perfectly combines the skills of your mountain specialists and prevents breakaways that could ruin your chances of victory. This Pro Cycling Manager 2008 demo will also offer players, for the first time ever, the opportunity to participate in track cycling events with a Keirin race. Face six awesome riders racing at nearly 50 kph for three laps of the most nerve-wracking and intense races during which the victory might be measured by only a wheel’s difference! Lastly, this demo also offers a tutorial mode that will help you get the best of your team during the race!

• I-Fluid: I-Fluid is an original platform game in which you control a drop of water facing various and surprising situations. Just imagine having to cross a messy schoolboy working desk while avoiding falling pens and adhesives, to get out of a generous breakfast or Mexican lunch, to cross vegetables cooking in a burning pan or to face thirsty cockroaches while being a fragile drop of water!

• X Motor Racing v1.08: An updated demo version of X Motor Racing has been released. It includes one track (highway) and one car with some physics profiles.

Here are the patches that hit FileFront within the past two weeks, other than the WoW and LotRO patches that were already covered:

• Supreme Ruler 2020 v5.2.1
• AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage v1.04
• Shadow of Legend v0.8.7.0 to v0.8.10.0
• PCM: Tour De France 2008 v1.0.1.4
• SC 2 Patton Drives East Expansion (v1.01)
• C&C 3: Kane`s Wrath SecuROM Fix
• Lost Empire: Immortals v1.03 to v1.05
• Frontlines: Fuel of War v1.1.1 (US/Euro)
• Sword of the Stars: Born of Blood v1.5.3

As always, for the full list of demos and patches, click here and here. See you next week.

Codemasters has announced the EU release of Book 14: The Ring Forges, the latest free content update for LotRO Shadows of Angmar.

Book 14: The Ring-forges of Eregion brings a wide array of changes to LotRO, including the addition of Eregion, the continuation of the epic questline, and preparations for Moria.  Codematsers has also been hard at work adding even more player-requested features to the game.

Highlights:

• Eregion: Journey to where the Elven Rings were forged
• Epic Quest: The epic quest continues with world events that open up the adventure to every player across all servers
• Moria Prelude Quests: Aid the Fellowship of the Ring as they prepare to leave Rivendell and make their way toward Mordor.
• Dungeons: The loot dropped in all instances and raids is being upgraded, and bosses and mobs are being adjusted to make for even better play experiences! Now is the time to prepare for the dangers that dwell in Moria
• Animation Improvements: LOTRO continues to polish the experience
• Animations and sounds for each Minstrel skill using their equipped instrument (no longer just the Lute!)
• Monster play emote animations for Orc, Uruk, Spider and Warg
• New animations for 12 emotes – plus three new animated emotes

You can get the EU Patch by hitting the badge below. Full release notes are listed after the jump.

Read the full article