Electronic Arts announced today that the highly anticipated, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE BATTLE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH II has shipped to retailers nationwide. The sequel to the critically acclaimed THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE BATTLE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH.
Developed at EAs Los Angeles (EALA) studio for the PC under the EA brand, the game includes all new content from J.R.R. Tolkien's original fiction, and allows the player to delve deeper than ever before and engage in new battles that go beyond the award-winning movie trilogy. The development team at EALA have brought THE LORD OF THE RINGS world to life in accordance with an agreement with The Saul Zaentz Co. d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises that grants EA the rights to develop games based on the books, in addition to a separate agreement that allows for games based on the New Line Cinema films.
"THE LORD OF RINGS, THE BATTLE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH II introduces players to new heroes, creatures, places and stories from Tolkien's fiction brought to life in the visual style of the films from New Line Cinema," said Mike Verdu, exec producer at EA LA. "The game combines a rich and wonderful world with innovations in real-time strategy game play to deliver the complete Middle-earth experience. This is the Middle-earth you've never seen."
In THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE BATTLE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH II, players wage war in the Northern regions of Middle-earth where they can choose to assume command of the most storied civilizations in all of Middle-earth history the Elven and Dwarven armies or fight on the side of Evil with heroes and creatures that have never been seen in the films. Reprising his role as Lord Elrond, Hugo Weaving lends his voice to the game, helping to set the scene and tone for each mission.
Players can customize their experience by creating their own hero and building all new customized RTS units. Build landmark castles with fully customizable and upgradeable fortresses and walls or control the entire war with War of the Ring Mode; a high level Risk style meta-game on the Living World Map with all new strategic AI.
In conjunction with the shipping of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE BATTLE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH II PC game ($49.99), EA will release a special Collectors Edition. For the first time ever, fans of THE LORD OF THE RINGS can see what goes into the making of a blockbuster PC game with the DVD release of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE BATTLE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH II COLLECTORS EDITION ($59.99) as well as experience exclusive in-game content. Both versions of the game are rated T for Teen by the ESRB.
For more information about either title, visit www.bfme2.ea.com.
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS, EA, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO. In fiscal 2005, EA posted revenues of $3.1 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. More information can be found at info.ea.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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