Why On Middle-Earth Is Turbine Releasing The First Lord of the Rings Online Expansion Five Days After WoW: WoTLK?
Posted 10/09/08 at 11:02:48 PM | by Nathan Grayson
“Beginning November 18th players across North America and Europe will journey with the dwarves deep into Middle-earth to reclaim the ancient kingdom of Khazad-dûm from the minions of Saruman,” said Jeffrey Steefel, executive producer of The Lord of the Rings Online.
And no, this isn't a loquacious announcement that LOTRO has slipped to November 18th, 2009 -- but that'd make far more sense than what Turbine is actually doing.
For the uninitiated (aka, those who don't read article titles), WoW: Wrath of the Lich King -- possibly the most-anticipated MMO expansion ever and one of the few 2008 PC releases that can challenge Spore to a bout of sales-fisticuffs and match the game blow-for-blow -- is crashing down the gates (and probably its own servers) on November 13th. Add to that the fact that LOTRO is basically WoW plus little big-footed people and minus about 9 million players, and you have a painstakingly composed financial suicide note ready to go.
However, I'm doubtful that Turbine simply glazed over while staring at the "Doomsday" label stamped across its calendar in place of its rival's big day, so the November 18th release date can't be an absent-minded slip-up. So why did Turbine decide to chuck its baby in front of WoW's double-decker 18-wheeler-Batmobile hybrid? I don't know, but here's my guess:
Blizzard obviously hopes WoTLK will send players flocking back to WoW -- just as Burning Crusade before it -- and Turbine knows this is a strong possibility. But if LOTRO receives a nice infusion of new content around the same time as WoW, the Tolkein-inspired MMO's fanbase may not be so apt to drop their flutes and return to Blizzard's breadwinner.
What do you think?
Comments
Print
Email
Doesn't Matter
Submitted by BetterOff on Fri, 2008-10-10 08:39
"Add to that the fact that LOTRO is basically WoW plus little big-footed people and minus about 9 million players"
Lol! Really? Sounds like another WoW fan that automatically dismisses every other MMO out there. I think WoW has a few things over LOTRO, PvP gameplay & Popularity. In my opinion, LOTRO has better overall gameplay mechanics, graphics, and a more mature community.
Either way is doesn't matter when the game is released as WoW fans will play WoW and LOTRO players will play...hmm... LOTRO.
Submitted by mike2060 on Fri, 2008-10-10 06:57
This is the dumbest article ever. LOTR players will buy their expansion and WOW players will buy theirs. Don't really see what the problem is. They probably thought about the release date with some care and know what they're doing.
Submitted by dracoress on Fri, 2008-10-10 05:06
When you have time invested in these MMO's and you make guilds and friends, it is very difficult to leave.
I was in SWG for pretty much from the start all the way to the second big revamp. It was very difficult to for me to leave.
I meandered about iin different MMO's and almost gave up on them. Then I decided to face my distaste to try the cartoony WoW. I have never looked back. I should have known that it was Blizzard and I have liked every game that they have come out with.
Every change they make betters the game for me, the content is great, and the look isn't cartoony, it is an artistic style and I have come to realize it. I'll be playing it for a long time to come.
Submitted by Randy M. on Fri, 2008-10-10 00:37
It simply doesn't matter when they release their expansion. You play WoW or LOTR or something else and you will be loyal to that game pretty much no matter what with only a very minute audience being influenced by the whole who, what, where and when questions.
It doesn't matter what company you are. What game you have created. What licensed content you have locked up... WoW will rule for at least several more years at the very least. The rest of you are fighting over second place.
The only game so far that has given me pause to maybe try out is Warhammer. And even still I won't, because I have to much time invested in WoW and its still great and fun.
Not to mention Blizzard is about to release Diablo 3.... omg the meaning of time sink has been re-written. I'll be playing Diablo 3 and playing my WoW account at the same time.
I wish all you non WoW peoples luck, because the battle is one sided and you will need every bit of luck available... and even then it won't be enough.
"You play WoW or LOTR or
Submitted by Vahn16 on Fri, 2008-10-10 08:30
"You play WoW or LOTR or something else and you will be loyal to that game pretty much no matter what with only a very minute audience being influenced by the whole who, what, where and when questions."
I wouldn't say that's necessarily true. Plenty of WoW players (myself included, at one point) jumped ship for LOTRO because they were looking for something slightly different after playing WoW for two years. But, with the hype WoTLK is going to generate, it's pretty much a sure bet that former WoW players will want to check it out.
And that's why Mines of Moria is releasing around the same time as WoTLK: damage control.
I see it like this: hardcore MMO players -- the ones who gobble up content faster than devs can release it -- have fairly short attention spans. Each new big-budget MMO -- be it Conan, Warhammer, or what have you -- always ends up being hyped as "The game to finally steal some of WoW's player base." Notice I didn't say "beat" WoW, because, as you said, WoW isn't coming down from the top for a long time. The problem, then, for developers, is that hardcore MMO players, looking for a change of pace, will play a new MMO, but only for as long as it takes to see upper level content. Then many of them return to WoW. The LOTRO expansion, I'm guessing, is a more aggressive attempt to keep players from continuing this pattern.
RESOURCE CENTER
THIS MONTH's ISSUE 
FEATURE Windows Tips: Find out what works and what doesn't as we test the most commonly prescribed Windows tipsHOW TO Customize and streamline your Windows desktop Core i7 Check out Intel's next-gen chip, up close and personal The Reactor We preview the first production-ready oil-immersed PC
Technology News
Computer Cooling Fans
Computer Cases
PC Game Controllers
PC Games
Computer Hardware
Headphones
MP3 Players
Stream Video
Computer Mouse
Monitors
Motherboards
NAS Storage
Networking
Laptop Computers
DVD Burner
Digital Cameras
Portable Storage
Computer Accessories
Smartphone
Antivirus Software
Sound Cards
Speakers
Computer Systems
Thumb Drives
Video Cameras
Video Card Reviews
Water Cooling
Gadgets
- Keyboards
© 2008 Future US, Inc. All Rights Reserved.