'Rings' world expands with Xbox game

LOS ANGELES - Electronic Arts is expanding its "Lord of the Rings" video game franchise beyond the scope of Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning trilogy.

The company said that "The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II," a sequel to the best-selling PC game, will become available for Xbox 360 in the summer.

"Battle II" is the first game to blend the literary source material with the actors, music and sets from Jackson's films. This was made possible by licensing deal last year that gave EA the literary rights to JRR Tolkien's original books through an agreement with rights holder Saul Zaentz.

The real-time strategy game was developed at EALA, EA's Los Angeles studio. Hugo Weaving reprised his role as Elrond, the Elven leader, from the New Line Cinema films. Weaving also serves as narrator of the game, and his likeness is featured.

The title will allow multiplayer gaming through Microsoft's Xbox Live online subscription service. It is the first "Rings" game for Xbox 360, though its development was built using the PC version as a starting point instead of being created specifically for the new console from the ground up.

Additional games also are in the works based on the literary and film "Rings," including additional next-generation titles. Sources close to the project said that a new role-playing game is in development at EA with the working title of "The Lord of the Rings: The White Council."

EA picked up the movie rights to "Rings" late in the property's life and had to combine sequences from "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers" into one game with its first release.

But the publisher has been able to explore all of the films more thoroughly since then and continues to find new game genres. Next-generation graphics open up a new opportunity for these games because they will offer a more vivid depiction of the film universe.

- REUTERS