Lord of the Rings Online Now Free to Play
Lord of the Rings fans can now play the MMORPG for free.
Warner Bros. Interactive and Turbine announced Friday that Lord of The Rings Online is now officially free-to-play for gamers across North America. The new free-to-play model offers a maximum level of 50, and the means to purchase premium items--expansions, quest packs, items, account services and more--from within the client.
Along with the new free-to-play model, the latest update--Volume III, Book 2: The Ride of the Grey Company--also extends the MMORPG's overall story and adds a new Middle-earth region called Enedwaith. Book 2 also consists of fifteen solo-able chapters "full of exploration, exciting combat and a healthy dose of mystery."
"Turbine’s innovative pricing model, first introduced last year with Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited, has become a proven success with over two new million registrations since going free-to-play," said Kate Paiz, Executive Producer of LOTRO. "We expect LOTRO’s free-to-play launch will only continue to increase the player base and catapult the game to new heights of success."
According to Turbine, anyone can join the game as a Free player--no credit card is needed. However players will automatically be upgraded from Free player to Premium player status with their first purchase of Turbine Points in the LOTRO Store. For a monthly fee, LOTRO's VIP program offers the "best value and the most options for players who like the convenience of having unlimited access to all of LOTRO's game content and features."
The client comes in two flavors: Standard Resolution and High Resolution (for high-end systems).
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
How much does this cost in the store?
I'm pretty sure there was an article a while back here stating that Blizzard is, at the least, considering making WoW free to play as well. I guess it's only a matter of time until we really find out.
Wow the trolls rated you down this time. +1
One ring to enslave them all.
My guess is that this model will work...get them hooked on playing and make them play for additional content...
as a "lifetime" subscriber I am disgusted.
they basically plastered "buy it now" on everything. there is now a store icon on the HUD that can not be removed.
Not to mention no one has stated that you need to buy quest packs for lvl 10+. the way LOTRO is going this is you can buy points for the quests or do deeds ingame that give 5-10 points each. The quest packs start at 600-750 points for quests. so if u truly want to play for free expect hour upon hours grinding on mobs that dont give you exp and doing other tasks before you can afford to buy that quest pack to move on.
In the end its probity cheaper and faster to level to just pay for a VIP account its $9.99 a month and allows you to play LOTRO like it was before F2P and gives you 500 points a month to use in the item store.
For me, I hated having to buy a MMO game with the first month being free. That's $60 - if you don't like it after a month, it's not like you can sell it and get some money back, and you can't play just a little every month. It's always been play as long as possible for the first month, then realize how bright the sun is outside after you're done.
SW:TOR won't be free...that's for sure...
Umm technically speaking it can be free to play. It takes a bit but once you have enough isk you can buy plex off of contracts for 250/300mil and about 400/450mil during the summer at first that might seem like a pipe dream but after you get your first billion you can start investing your isk and then 300mil or so a month doesn't seem that bad. If you get help I think you can make that much in about 4-6 months if you save up and don't waste isk like I did.
Launch WoW 2