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Announcing The Lord of the Rings: War in the North

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Image from The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth

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For the last eight years Electronic Arts has been publishing The Lord of the Rings franchise games for the various gaming platforms but now Warner Bros. is set to get a shot at producing a version for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  Named The Lord of the Rings: War in the North and slated as an epic multiplayer action/RPG video game based on the renowned novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, it is set to launch sometime in 2011.

Developed in association with Middle-earth Enterprises, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North explores both original and familiar narrative elements as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment holds the rights to develop video games based on both the literary and motion picture content from The Lord of the Rings. Breaking new ground as a mature RPG video game set in Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North advances the RPG paradigm through innovative online, interdependent co-op play for up to three players who form their own Fellowship to fight Sauron’s forces in the North.

Warner Bros. intends to take a mature approach to the widely celebrated property with authentic portrayals of battles and all new storylines.  Snowblind Studios, an award-winning and passionate development team, will evolve the RPG experience and deliver The Lord of the Rings game fans have been waiting for. In The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Snowblind will deliver an action RPG for core gamers featuring authentic narrative and environmental locations from J.R.R. Tolkien’s original The Lord of the Rings, stated the Founder and Studio Head of Snowblind Studios. “This game is a natural evolution of the acclaimed RPG gameplay that Snowblind has consistently delivered over the past years. Players and fans will experience an innovative approach to online co-op gameplay, woven throughout every facet of the game in a way that only Snowblind can deliver.”

In The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, players can become the heroes in the great battle of the North as part of the epic War of the Ring. Exploring unseen lands, story elements and characters from Middle-earth as well as elements familiar from past feature films, gamers will experience extensive character customization and development, expansive co-op gameplay options and upgradeable weapons, skills and special abilities.