Shadow of Mordor

[Tar-Jêx]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

Yes, those are the real reasons why. I was being semi-sarcastic, although people watching the videos and not liking what they see would be a problem for the developer and publisher.

From what I've seen, all of the people who got a review copy had seen the movies (obviously), a few had read the books, the vast minority had read extended universe lore like the Silmarillion, but none had a historian's knowledge of it. Nobody was incredibly well versed in the lore, so it didn't really bother them.

[Morthoron]

There will never be a concerted effort to devise a canonistic version of a Middle-earth video game. That went out the door when Middle-earth Online (MEO) was abandoned for the farcical Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO). I was among several well-versed gamers who spent a few years offering input into the original MEO, but the developer (Turbine, may their name be forever cursed) abandoned the original concept for a World of Warcraft knock-off renamed LOTRO that Turbine wanted to market as direct competition for said WoW.

I alpha and beta tested LOTRO, levelled out several times with several characters, and became violently ill at the inane end result. I never played a Middle-earth based game again. As a farewell present, I offered a blistering review of the aborted offspring of Turbine, and I am sure the name Morthoron the Dark Elf is still whispered fearfully in dark corners of their misbegotten forums.

[Kuruharan]

Originally Posted by Tar-Jêx

From what I've seen, all of the people who got a review copy had seen the movies (obviously), a few had read the books, the vast minority had read extended universe lore like the Silmarillion, but none had a historian's knowledge of it. Nobody was incredibly well versed in the lore, so it didn't really bother them.

That's not surprising. You cannot expect somebody who doesn't care about something to care about it.

However, to provide further context for the quoted post I was meaning that people might see the gameplay itself and not like it, thus deterring them from buying the game.

There will never be a concerted effort to devise a canonistic version of a Middle-earth video game.

Not by major developers, but there are some fan based projects underway that either have, or look likely to produce positive results.

[Tar-Jêx]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

.



Not by major developers, but there are some fan based projects underway that either have, or look likely to produce positive results.

Minecraft Middle Earth is a pretty good fan community project. The only problem is that there is a different community who sit on teamspeak and do nothing all day.

[Kuruharan]

I came across a synopsis of the plot of this game. Let's just say it gave me a new appreciation for Peter Jackson's gifts as a storyteller and an appreciation for his faithful adherence to the letter and spirit of Tolkien's works.

You may mark this day on your calendar.

[Tar-Jêx]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

I came across a synopsis of the plot of this game. Let's just say it gave me a new appreciation for Peter Jackson's gifts as a storyteller and an appreciation for his faithful adherence to the letter and spirit of Tolkien's works.

You may mark this day on your calendar.

I haven't dared set foot near the story. If it's as hopeless as the War in the North story, then that's just shameful.

I really don't understand how hard it is to set something in the first age around an event with basically no details, then invent your own characters for it.
That way, nobody can complain are lore breaking, because you confined it to a certain event, you made your own characters that nobody can criticize for not being what the character was actually like, and the gameplay can still be amazing.

What idiots we have making our games.
Seriously, the title 'Middle Earth: Insert Name Here' will sell. Doesn't need to be recognizable by anyone, because they will buy it.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

I came across a synopsis of the plot of this game. Let's just say it gave me a new appreciation for Peter Jackson's gifts as a storyteller and an appreciation for his faithful adherence to the letter and spirit of Tolkien's works.

You may mark this day on your calendar.

Nonsense, Kuru! I’ve already read two articles explaining how Shadow of Mordor is totally canonical because spiritoftolkienappendicessilmarillion!

[Kuruharan]

Originally Posted by Tar-Jêx

I haven't dared set foot near the story. If it's as hopeless as the War in the North story, then that's just shameful.

It is far worse, in fact. War in the North at least didn't directly contradict or interfere much with the plot of LotR. Shadow of Mordor directly contradicts things that Tolkien wrote.

What idiots we have making our games.
Seriously, the title 'Middle Earth: Insert Name Here' will sell. Doesn't need to be recognizable by anyone, because they will buy it.

Sadly, it doesn't make them idiots, it makes them smart. Cynical exploitation has worked wonders.

Originally Posted by Nerwen

Nonsense, Kuru! I’ve already read two articles explaining how Shadow of Mordor is totally canonical because spiritoftolkienappendicessilmarillion!

One wonders how one is supposed to deal with people like those who wrote those articles who seemingly believe, "If I say it then it must be true because I'm awesome."

The plot of the game is contrary to the letter and spirit of Tolkien falling literally under the label of something Tolkien repeatedly criticized in "trying to use the weapons and means of the Enemy against him" with first Celebrimbor and then the Celebrimbor/Talion wraith-hybrid dominating and using orc armies to fight Sauron and trying to set themselves up as the "Bright Lords of Mordor."

Vomitus stuff, really.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Tar-Jêx

I haven't dared set foot near the story. If it's as hopeless as the War in the North story, then that's just shameful.

I played the War in the North game and found that the plot wasn't bad. The writers took a whole swath of ME, otherwise largely unaddressed in the trilogy, and made something that (for the most part) fit the trilogy.

It could easily have been an appendix in the RotK, or had some mention in the main story, as a background/aside.