LOTRO cheapens entry fees into Middle-Earth

by: Randy - posted: 4/25/2009 12:48:00 AM

Double dipping this week into the PR coffers is The Lord of the Rings Online.  Yesterday they announced the launch of Russian and Korean servers, and now developer Turbine is spilling details on LOTRO's second anniversary celebration.  First off, special pricing from now through June 30:  choose any multi-month plan (90 days or longer) and you nab the $9.99/month plan for as long as you keep that account active.  That purchase includes the baseline game, too; so you could be rolling through Middle-Earth from now until late July for only $10 bucks.  Not a bad move by Turbine, since MMO numbers can start dipping profusely during the summer months.

Also, during this time of in-game celebration, monsters will be dropping rare items which can be traded in for "a special gift box" that contains other presumably rare items.  Plus, if you've got an active subscription as of June 30, you'll receive a "Writ of Passage" which acts as a 20% off coupon at the stable masters.

I'm personally leery of MMOs that start creating in-game rebates.  It always leaves a cheap, please like me! taste in my mouth.  But I know that it's sometimes enough to get other new players off the couch to make a purchase.  And LOTRO has a healthy population of players still enjoying this award winner.  We wants it.

tURBINE CELEBRATES THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF the launch of THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™

WESTWOOD, MA—April 24, 2009—Turbine, Inc. announced today a special promotion featuring limited-time pricing offers to celebrate the second anniversary of The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO), the award-winning massively multiplayer online roleplaying game.  The LOTRO Anniversary celebration will run from April 24, 2009 to June 30, 2009.

“It’s been another incredible year for LOTRO and Turbine,” said Jeffrey Steefel, Executive Producer of The Lord of the Rings Online™.  “Being named both 2008 MMO of the Year and Best Expansion of 2008, coupled with the overwhelmingly positive response to the game from fans, has firmly cemented LOTRO as one of the world’s premier online entertainment experiences.  Our anniversary is a chance for us to celebrate with our past and present players and enjoy everything that is special about Middle-earth and thank them for their wonderful support with some special subscription options.” 

The Lord of the Rings Online Second Anniversary Celebration includes:

Ø  Anniversary Pricing Plans:  From April 24^th through June 30th, Turbine is offering special anniversary pricing plans.  Players can choose any multi-month plan (90 days or longer) and lock in a monthly price of $9.99 for as long as they maintain the new subscription plan.*

Ø  In-Game Celebration: 

o    During the anniversary celebration, monsters throughout Middle-earth will drop rare items when defeated.  Players can exchange these rare items for a special gift box that will reward them with a variety of in-game items to aid them in their adventures in Middle-earth.

o    Turbine is also giving players who have active subscriptions as of June 30^th a special in-game gift—the Writ of Passage, which provides 20% discounts at stable masters throughout Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings Online is the ultimate interactive adventure.  Join Gandalf, Frodo, Bilbo, and many other characters to save Middle-earth in the war against the Dark Lord Sauron!  This award-winning MMORPG recently expanded with the launch of the critically acclaimed Mines of Moria, where players can adventure into one of the largest and most dangerous online underground environments ever created while extending the challenge to new heights with two new classes, ten additional levels, and hundreds of new quests including a face-off with the Watcher, the Balrog and more!  The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria™ is available for purchase across North America and Europe.  For more information or to download a free trial, please visit www.lotro.com.

About Turbine
Turbine, Inc. is a premier creator, operator and publisher of massive, persistent online worlds that foster powerful social gaming communities.  Turbine is the largest privately held online gaming studio in North America and was recently chosen by AlwaysOn as one of the OnHollywood 100 Top Private Companies, a power list of the top private emerging technology companies in digital entertainment and media.  The company has created some of the world’s most popular and award-winning online games, including The Lord of the Rings Online™, Dungeons & Dragons Online™ and Asheron's Call®.  For more information on Turbine, its products and services please visit www.turbine.com.

About Tolkien Enterprises
The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises is the holder of worldwide motion picture, legitimate stage, merchandising, and other rights in J.R.R. Tolkien’s literary works The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.  Tolkien Enterprises has been producing and licensing films, stage productions and merchandise based on Tolkien’s works for more than 30 years.  Its headquarters are in Berkeley, California, and its website may be found at www.tolkien-ent.com.