For an LotR game, LotR: Conquest is looking rather spiffy. Imagine controlling the mighty Balrog as you raze the Shire down to the ground! Oh, joy! Scream, pesky hobbitses! Scream! Yeah, being evil was never this fun! Check out the full article for a developer diary with Pandemic Studios, talking about the Evil campaign. More gameplay clips included!

More jaw-dropping, demon-slashing gameplay in this latest video of Capcom's Devil May Cry 4 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, titled Nero's Rage Direct Feed. We get you the skinny on what's new with the man with the Devilbringer for an arm.

In this video, we see Nero tearing it up with the enemies we've already seen, namely the ice demons and the monster that looks like a cross between Tolkien's Balrog and a centaur. The action is fast, furious, and smooth as silk - there's also a bit at the beginning with Nero grabbing onto an enemy and using it as a projectile of his own. Shades of God of War's Kratos, perhaps?

Similarities aside, what really got yours truly going was the fact that the giant balrog-centaur thing actually got blown back - hard and far - by one of Nero's strikes. Totally gives Nero that unearthly-stronger-than-thou feel and look, as well as giving him tons of awesome points to spare. The scene to really watch out for? The monster's last-ditch attack that looks painful. PAINFUL.

Enough spoilers from us, enjoy the video!

Now we know why EA is asking everybody about what they want from a video game console...

As you all know, The Lord of the Rings series of video games on consoles is being handled by Electronic Arts (EA). If you happen to like those games, you might be delighted to know that the publisher just signed a new license with the film company New Line Cinema, thereby assuring the extension of the partnership.

EA's Executive VP and general manager of North American publishing Frank Gibeau is quite excited as he quipped, "The Lord of the Rings is an incredible canvas to create epic games. We look forward to our next project with New Line Cinema and Tolkien Enterprises scheduled to ship in 2008."

Furthermore, EA slipped in an exciting development saying that an all new LOTR title is coming up. The publisher wouldn't divulge any information on what platform it will be released on (or platforms, for that matter), or when the new title will be released. "We have a long history of making great games with EA and are thrilled to extend our longstanding relationship," remarked David Imhoff, New Line's Senior Exec. VP of Worldwide Licensing and Merchandising.

The list of current LOTR video games from EA includes:

• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II (PC, 360)
• The Lord of the Rings: The White Council (360, PS3)
• The Lord of the Rings: Tactics (PSP)

Electronic Arts announced the expansion of The Lord of the Rings universe with The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, The Rise of the Witch-king. In the The Rise of the Witch-king, players will cross to the dark side of Middle-earth as the evil Witch-king rises to power, rules over Angmar and launches an invasion of Arnor, home of Aragorn’s ancestors. To fully experience the evil side of Middle-earth, gamers can now play as the Angmar faction in the skirmish, multiplayer, and War of the Ring modes.

The expansion pack provides a new depth of strategy and upgraded War of the Ring and Create-A-Hero features. Create-A-Hero’s Troll class has additional weapons and armor for even greater freedom in customizing game play. War of the Ring offers upgraded army persistence, a new siege dynamic on the Living World Map, and unified territories.
 
"The Lord of Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, The Rise of the Witch-king will transport players to a new time and place in Middle-earth while adding strategic depth to the innovative gameplay gamers loved in The Lord of Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II," said Mike EALA. "Fans will love exploring the evil side of Middle-earth as described in Tolkien's fiction and brought to life in the visual style of the New Line Cinema films. This game is set to deliver the ultimate RTS Middle-earth experience."

 

After months of rumors, intriguing screenshots, and press releases shrouded in mystery, Electronic Arts (EA) finally revealed what Project Gray really is. During a presentation at the Studio Showcase event in San Francisco, EA surprised the audience by confirming that Project Gray is the latest installment in the Lord of the Rings franchise. In addition, the next-gen action RPG real name was revealed: Lord of the Rings: The White Council. This was revealed a couple of days after EA confirmed that another LOTR game is in development.

With the official announcement comes new information about the game, starting off with the storyline.

The game takes us back 80 years before the events of the LOTR series when Aragorn is just 10 years old and Bilbo has yet to find his precious ring. Players will be able to build up a character to become worthy of joining the White Council. Those familiar with Tolkien's work would know that the White Council is a group of elders, which includes Gandalf, Galadriel, and a yet-to-turn-evil Saruman. Before becoming an agent of the Council, a player will have to complete tasks and fight off the evil that threatens Middle-Earth.

The game will also feature newly-invented characters and environments, though we suspect that the developers wouldn't stray far from the LOTR landscape. Executive producer Steve Gray, who also played lead developer The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, confirmed that the game will use design elements from The Two Towers and Return of the King. Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, and Christopher Lee will be voicing the game-counterparts to their movie characters. Gray showed off a trailer that features breathtaking landscapes and scenery that looked like they were taken straight out of the movies.

The White Council is slated for an autumn 2007 release, but there has been no confirmation on which platform it'll arrive on. Previous EA press releases have stated that the game is in development for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

To reflect the change, EA has updated the Project Gray website. There's nothing much to see, but Tolkien fans can sign up for the newsletter.

Electronic Arts announced today the development of The Lord of the Rings, The White Council, an all-new role playing game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. The game, inspired by the New Line Cinema feature film trilogy that grossed more than $3 billion, will feature an original storyline derived from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings novels under an agreement with EA. The game is scheduled to ship in late 2007.

“Our extremely talented and dedicated team is committed to creating an incredible new experience for fans of The Lord of the Rings and role playing gamers,” said Steve Gray, executive producer, The Lord of the Rings, The White Council. “With its next generation gameplay and epic new storyline, we think The Lord of the Rings, The White Council will be a huge success.”

Players have the freedom to explore the open world of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth in The Lord of the Rings: The White Council. Players can choose their role as a man, an elf, a dwarf, or a hobbit. Each role’s destiny is to become a hero allied with the White Council, whose members include the famed characters Gandalf, Saruman, Galadriel, and Elrond. When more news becomes available for this new title we'll be sure to keep you informed.

Tolkien's masterpiece was said to have been immortalized by the movie some years back. With the magnitude of success it has gained, not a few doubt that the feat will never be achieved by any franchise in any field of entertainment. Well for people who learned to love fantasy via LOTR, it would have done them good to "fantasize" more. Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II is scheduled for release this July 5, and judging from these gameplay videos, EA, for once, may have earned their 'ring'.

It has long been mentioned how rich the gameplay of this title will be. With the abundant set of characters, a lot of story to delve into, and deep history, it's hard to go wrong with this one. Well for some, that strength might be the very source of the game's weakness. The hardest people to please are fans (have you ever seen a fanboy succumb to the views of an opposing fanboy?), so Battle for Middle Earth might be in for some serious bashing from hardcore middle-earthlings; but for the rest, it may be smooth sailing for them.

The game revolve around strategy-based moves, much like disciplines in chess where each formation suits a different type of creature, army and terrain. You can create caves to attract goblins, fissures to beckon trolls, then dig tunnels to make a path for both armies. If you're the girly type and like pretty elves, then set up woods or glamorous castles set in nature to gather their flock.

The game is a test to determine the gamer's ability to build, manage and lead armies. Numerous tactics can be used, proving that game is much more than violence and pointless enjoyment (take that Jack!). You are truly the captain of every battle, only this time with detailed orcs swinging scintars, trolls wielding clubs, giants hurling boulders, elves springing arrows and slashing elven knives, dwarves making killer cuts with their axes, and high elven heroes summoning  powerful magic. Got the picture? Yeah, all out warring chaos with a middle earth flavor!

I can go and on, but I think I've already talked too much. If you can't bear my writing (don't worry, you're not alone), just click on the links below and immerse yourself to the warring world of middle-earth.

Download: [LotR: Battle for Middle Earth II Gameplay Video 1]
Download: [LotR: Battle for Middle Earth II Gameplay Video 2]