@Tei: its not meant to be lord of the rings battlefront, its lord of the rings. And the reduction of players is countered by the addition of AI in multiplayer, not to mention 150 of them

Laughing_Gas

people mentioning battlefront, lord of the rings and diablo all in the same train of thought make my head want to explode thinking of the awesomeness.

TheWoj

@Tei, IGoogledMurder ,Stryker412: The linked article says 16 players with the possibility of that number rising.
That definitely seems fine with me, especially how someone mentioned how Diablo 2 only had 8 total.

Arttemis

@Kounji:

Seems that's where the 150 characters come in. AI to increase the cannon fodder, like in Battlefront.

blackfox601

Wait 16 players... I was excited for this until I read that. THis is epic melee, how epic can it be with only 8 people per side.

Kounji

Hey guys, just wanted to clarify -- the game supports up to 16 players online. There was a miscommunication during the interview translation earlier on IGN.

It's been corrected here:
[xbox360.ign.com]

Sixteen is the current online count, but it's not set in stone, and there's always a chance it could go higher. :)

CoryDLewis

Actually, just looked at the IGN article and it states 16 players not 8. Still too small but somewhat better.

Stryker412

8 players?! Epic fail on PC.

Stryker412

@Tei: It doesn't say anywhere that this game would be using the Battlefront engine, only that the game would be a spiritual successor to Battlefront. Don't jump to conclusions right after the game's been announced.

Stormrider

@NullsRevenge: dice not EA

SwindleUK

Considering how BattleFront 1 & 2 was my all time favorite Star Wars games for the PS2 (never had an original Xbox, therefore didn't get to play KotOR) And LotR is my all time favorite books and movies... I think I'll be picking this up. :)

TheUBERspectre

BattleFront is never going to happen, at least from Pandemic.

LucasArts was getting the majority of the royalties even though they didn't create the game, and they were treating Pandemic like crap from what I hear, so no love loss there.

As for the LOTR game..I'm looking forward to it. Some friends saw very early stages way back in the day and said even then it looked like it can turn into something pretty fun.

JohnnyLA

I would much rather have Star Wars Battlefront 3, with decent online for a change.

Demonbird

Eight player online despite having 150 people on-screen? What's the point? Why not, I don't know, make it like that Joint Ops game that came out a couple years ago that had 150-player online? Eight player is just stupid, and it sounds terrible for a Battlefield-style game.

IGoogledMurder

I am really excited about this. I really enjoy most of what comes out of Pandemic studios, and I love LOTR. This is a match made in heaven, and to think this wouldn't be possible if EA didn't gobble up Pandemic. Yikes.

Kdawg

@Laughing_Gas: 8 vs 64 players don't sound like a upgrad to me. It sounds like a upgrade to you?

Tei

Hmmm 150... Nice number... bit we would need thoushands! Oh well, better not get reedy... Pandemic can sure deliver a good game, Ill put this one under my watch.

Shiryu

This looks cool, but I agree with above that it's going to be pretty dependent on A.I. If you have that much going on, it could just be glitch central and a bunch of dumb guys running in circles.

lionkitten

Sold, where do I pre-order.

ghnvt

@Cartman86: <_< Um... I hate to call you out here, but yeah... it's a dumb question, since the info is right there in the post. No biggie, though. XD

It says that it'll support 8 players online and 4 player co-op.

Krackatoa

Actually Im kinda curious to see how this will work out.

Witzbold

Oh no.. Talk about scraping bottom of the barrel for a fan base.. Could Battlefront and LotR be any more different? How the do these two franchises get mentioned in the same sentence? Spiritual successor my backside, EA's hype/bs machine at work already.

bondiinsider

@Tei: @NullsRevenge:

lol at you two contradicting each other completely.

DesmondHume

Is this online? Seems like a dumb question but i've set to see anything about online with that many players.

Cartman86

I just hope there are rocket launchers and jetpacks.

Kanik

For anyone who wants a pretty nice LotR "big battle" feel in the meantime, check out Viking Battle for Asgard :)

Harteex

@Tei: well not only does it not say in the article that they are using it, have you ever heard of upgrading an engine? Call of duty 4 is built on quake 3 architecture, doesnt look a bit like it.

Laughing_Gas

*Sigh* I was really hoping for a next-gen Star Wars Battlefront game. Last gen that was definitely my most fun online experience. While the LOTR universe is undoubtedly cool, I'm afraid that the combat may not suit this type of game. On the other hand, it might be the next Diablo. Who knows, but I'm excited to hear more.

Super_Nintendo_Chalmers

Hope the AI of these 150 soldiers is not as brain dead as the one from 99 Nights and games like it. *Crosses fingers*

fronsacqc

Speaking of terrible secrets, Pandemic might also want to announce "The Dark Knight" videogame that they also happen to be working on.

Infallible

I hope they would not use the buggy Battlefield 2 engine. Not only is it buggy but there is a ton of hacks and exploits for it.

BF2 is why I stopped supporting EA.

NullsRevenge

Looks interesting though a little over-the-top. Tolkien must be turning in his grave.

NorthernAvengeR

Why use the Battlefront engine? is crap. The maps are soo small, you can't fly.

Get the "Battlefield 2" engine, it support up to 64 players, per map, and the maps could be big enough for flyiing stuff.

Using the Battlefront engine is ridiculous to me, is a substandard engine.

Also, 8 players? WTF?!

Tei

Spawn - walk to the actual battle - get eaten...

Awesome :D

marlblank

Hmm... seems like a more-than-epic Mount&Blade to me. I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

Krackatoa

Put me down for one! I love me some LOTR and some battlefront. This can only be amazing... I hope.

GOD