We’ve talked about the Outerra engine a few times here on Kotaku, and every time we do someone invariably asks “but what is this actually for“? Well, here’s one application: it’s great for making a 1:1 recreation of Middle Earth.
The Middle-Earth Project is looking to rebuild all of Middle Earth in the virtual space. All of it. Not some curated highlights package, not a small slice of it, but the whole damn thing, from Hobbiton to Mordor and everything in between.
It’s still a work in progress, so some areas like Mordor (which needs custom terrain the standard engine can’t create) and Moria are unfinished, but even what’s there is breathtaking to behold.
Their work is being based primarily on existing maps of the land, whose details – like everything else in Lord of the Rings – were penned pretty exhaustively by author JRR Tolkien.
Note there’s no game to it. All you can do is fly around taking it all in. But even that’s a blast.
Middle Earth Project [ME, via Fast Co.]
Comments
11 responses to “Middle Earth Is Being Recreated On A 1:1 Scale”
Now make it into a game and take my money
What he said!!!!
Yeah, I have already been to NZ.
so they just re-created new zealand right?
For GONDOR!
Goddamn, that’s a crazy project.
Misleading article – that’s not all of Middle Earth, THIS is all of Middle Earth https://edocs.uis.edu/hadleyiv/www/images/Middle_Earth_Iron_Crown.jpg
By who’s standard? As far as I can recall, most of that map is non-canonical. A lot of maps have “made up” parts added on for role playing games etc that Tolkien never mentions or details.
And middle earth changed alot between the first and third ages, the first age is not shown on the above map, so it’s technically NOT all of middle earth
Will this include caves, mines and such? Either way, shut up and take my money!
So you’re telling me we can’t simply walk into Mordor?
Genius