Coming very quickly, as in this fall, The Lord Of The Rings Online will be turning into a free to play game.

“Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is bringing quality games based on The Lord of the Rings to multiple platforms, and the franchise’s expansive adventure story lends itself perfectly for LOTRO free-to-play, giving a wide range of players the opportunity to experience the game,” said Jeff Junge, Senior Vice President Online Games and Digital Games Platforms, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We are focused on expanding our game franchises onto new digital platforms to maximize quality experiences for gamers worldwide and LOTRO’s new model is a great leading example of this.”

This means that I will soon be downloading LOTRO and getting online with my roommate.  Heck, the financee might even want to download this considering she won’t have to pay for it.  From the looks of it, to offer this as a free to play game with options to purchase content really won’t limit the free players at all.

Here’s some of the features offered.

• Free means Free! – Players will download LOTRO by visiting www.lotro.com and join with millions of other adventurers as they explore the most complete and authentic recreation of Middle-earth ever created and participate in LOTRO’s award-winning epic story up to level 50 for free.
• Visit the new LOTRO Store! — The LOTRO Store is loaded with thousands of convenience items as well as expansion packs, premium content, additional character slots, potions, character customization and more! The LOTRO Store is seamlessly integrated into the game and lets the player identify new and exciting ways to enhance and customize their experience using points which can be purchased in the store or earned through gameplay.
• Be a LOTRO VIP! – Players who elect to become a LOTRO VIP will have unlimited access to all premium content, receive priority server access, 5 character slots, a shared bank slot, and a monthly allotment of points to spend in the new LOTRO Store.

In fact, there will be a beta to test out these new features.  Be sure to visit http://www.lotro.com/betasignup/ to get signed up for that.

“Ho!”, you snark at me saying “I already know about the Halo: Reach release date”!  “Yo Ho”, I snark back, “but what else is coming out?”

Bwah, Who would dare place their games release date head to head with Bungie’s last master piece of Halo?

More importantly, who would adjust their release date just to do so?

Square Enix Would

FRONT MISSION EVOVLED breaks the mold of the franchise, delivering the action-packed experience of a third-person shooter within the distinct aesthetic of the FRONT MISSION® universe. Set in a world full of destruction, conspiracy and crumbling alliances, players will take on the role of Dylan Ramsey to face enemy armies while in control of a giant, customizable, bipedal tank known as a wanzer. Every wanzer is outfitted with extreme firepower, and players must fight through critical battles across a world on the brink of total war. As they make their way through metropolises such as New York City over 150 years in the future, FRONT MISSION EVOLVED will embed players in heart-pounding, large-scale action unlike anything they’ve ever seen before.

I don’t know what to say about this game.  I know very little myself at this moment.   The question in my head remains: Will this title fair well, or will it succumb to the riptide that is Halo?
Check out www.frontmissionevolved.com for more info on Front Mission Evolved.

Right now if you head over to Fileplanet you can get signed up for the upcoming Xbox 360 beta Blur. I know with all the things going on with Activision right now, not many people are probably interested in what games they have coming out. However, when was the last time you heard about a racing game from Activision? I can’t think of any, can you? Hit the jump for the details behind blur, but don’t forget about going to http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/blur/ to get signed up as you don’t need to be a subscriber right now. Hurry up as the beta starts on March 8th, just days away!

I ran into a quick article linking me over to Dark Days Are Coming where I was prompted to take a short assessment to determine just which secret society I would be suited for.  I could also win entry into Funcom’s beta for The Secret World, their newest MMO creation.  Turns out I’m a great choice to become a member of the Dragons.  We’ll see if I win a beta key and then I can let everyone know how The Secret World is.

Cyanide Studios has developed a new, free PC game called Dungeon Party.  This heroic fantasy universe is a team based world where users come together to fight against monsters, beasts, and other teams in order to try and gain the treasures from the dungeons.  In order to add a certain zest to the game there are deadly traps and hunted creatures that lurk the halls.  So you’ll have to develop your character carefully and choose the spells and skills you think will work best for you.  Also, each character is customizable according to the way you want it too look and fight with different costumes and weapons.  Head on over to the Dungeon Party site to get started with this free, wacky mmo.