Free World Tour Of Middle-Earth For The Lord Of The Rings Online Begins Today!
Over Two Weeks of Free Game Play Leading Up to April 24th Launch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Westwood, MA - April 6, 2007 - Turbine, Inc. announced today that the World Tour of Middle-earth has officially begun! Over one million North American gamers are planned to be invited to this unprecedented event where they can experience The Lord of the Rings Online TM : Shadows of Angmar TM for FREE from April 6th until its scheduled launch on April 24th. Even more exciting, the World Tour also serves as a head-start for pre-order customers, allowing them to roll their characters into the launched game.
"The only thing better than adventuring in Middle-earth is being able to adventure for free!" said Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "The World Tour is a unique opportunity to try The Lord of the Rings Online for yourself before the game launches."
During the World Tour, players will be able to advance up to level 15 and experience the most authentic online persistent recreation of Middle-earth ever created. Players should visit www.lotro.com/worldtour to get more information on how to obtain a World Tour key.
Players can still pre-order The Lord of the Rings Online at www.lotro.com/preorder or at select retail stores nationwide until April 24th to take advantage of the exciting Founder's Program. The Founder's Program is available for a limited time and rewards all players who pre-order the game with the following benefits:
- Two special membership options: $199/lifetime or $9.99/month
- Unique in-game bonus items
- Ability to roll World Tour characters into the launched game
The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) is the first and only massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the Books of J.R.R. Tolkien. Having been in development for over four years, Turbine has painstakingly re-created the unique and mystical worlds from the Books of J.R.R. Tolkien, creating a virtual world that brims with life and opportunity for endless adventure. LOTRO's immersive storyline delivers an experience that takes players beyond the Books to where they can create their own story within the most famous fantasy world of all time.
The Lord of the Rings Online is scheduled for official release on April 24th, 2007. For more information, visit: www.lotro.com
About Turbine
Turbine, Inc. is a premier developer, publisher and operator of subscription entertainment and is headquartered in Westwood, Massachusetts. The company is one of the largest privately-held online games companies in North America. Turbine's catalogue includes some of the most famous online entertainment brands, including Asheron's Call ® , DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE TM : Stormreach TM , and The Lord of the Rings Online TM : Shadows of Angmar TM . For more information on Turbine and its 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 almost 30 years. Its headquarters are in Berkeley, California, and its website may be found at www.tolkien-ent.com.
"The Lord of the Rings Online," "Shadows of Angmar," "Middle-earth," "The Lord of the Rings," and the names of the characters, events, items and places therein are trademarks or registered trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises under license to Turbine, Inc. Turbine and the Turbine logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Turbine, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Contacts:
Adam Mersky
Turbine, Inc.
781-407-4487
amersky@turbine.com