LotrO is still a relatively new game, but it has already gone through several patch cycles and had two expansion packs released. The game enjoyed modest success as a subscription-based game, but after Turbine’s success with the free-to -play relaunch of DDO, it was announced that The Lord of the Rings Online would be converted to a free-to-play MMORPG. The Lord of the Rings Online was officially released in 2007 by Turbine, the same company behind the early MMORPG hit Asheron’s Call and the now free-to-play Dungeons and Dragons Online. Most of these games were short-lived and mediocre at best, but one lives on and continues to prosper. Following the release of each movie, new editions of the books and licensed video game tie-ins quickly hit the shelves. The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy brought J.R.R Tolkien’s classic, high-fantasy franchise back into the mainstream.
