Lord of the Rings Online Creators Talk About the Future of the MMO

The Lord of the Rings Online will be two years old on April 24, making it one of those MMOs that have not managed to get near the level of memberships of World of Warcraft but have carved a clear niche, complete with a loyal player base. And now the people at Turbine, who have created the videogame, are talking about how the MMO will evolve in the coming years.

One of the main challenges for The Lord of the Rings Online is the way it caters to the needs of long time veterans, who have been with the MMO since launch, while also making sure that it remains accessible for fans of Middle Earth who have had little experience with multiplayer online games.

Turbine is saying that it is planning to rise the level cap during this year, to make sure that gamers are interested in playing more in order to gain experience, and whishes to introduce new content.

After the Mines of Moria expansion, it's clear that the MMO needs to go closer to the fortress of Mordor. The directions for expansion will be to the south, where Mirkwood will be opened up while also nearing the old fortress of Sauron, the now decaying Dol Guldur. Some changes are also planned to the gameplay mechanics, including something called the “skirmish system,” which has not yet been detailed.

As part of the two-year anniversary of The Lord of the Rings Online, Turbine will offer a special pricing plan for subscriptions, allowing gamers to pay just 10 dollars for a month of play, as long as they sign up for a long period. New gamers can also pick up the original title and the Mines of Moria expansion for just 10 dollars, for 30 days of free playtime. More bonuses and gifts are planned for those who are currently playing The Lord of the Rings Online.