I'm scared of Tolkien license holders

gogogogone

Tolkien's copyright keepers (change from year to year) entered licensing agreements with several companies on various products over the years.  If something is not going their way, they have taken all the marbles and gone home.  I'm worried about playing an on-line game where my toon and the inventory can be turned off one day by someone that doesn't even play the game.  It has taken place in a couple different deals where this company (and others), have told their partners to cease and desist, so I never even looked at the LOTR box.  I can imagine all the threads, trolling, and strangness this might generate, but let me say I keep hearing the game play is smooth, and the crafting system is decent.  So, I my question is: Will Turbine be allowed to keep the game going, add content, modify and grow a game that Tolken has the license to if Tolkien tells them to stop?  They have a $199.99 Lifetime subscription (not that I'd ever do that), but what good is it if the Tolkien people get cranky and go to another developer?  idk, maybe we send them some tea and crackers with jam, or whatever they eat over there, but it didn't help Tabula Rasa stay up.  Somewhere in little tiny magnified laywer-lingo-modified-font-text it must read, "Yo, if you put a mustache on Bilbo, or any of the dwarves, that don't already have mustaches, you are soooo gonna get your cord pulled!  And, if you can't keep more than 2,000 subscribers we'll take all the hobbits back too."  Can you add this to Wikipedia if you find it?

beaverz

Are you serious?

How long has lotro been going for?

Newt time you try meth remember that it's all in your head, the turbine license holders rarely come and rape you.

2 posts and one is a very retarded rage vs one of the few nice games out there : /

DarkPony

I am not sure how the deal with Turbine is made and if there is any time limit involved, but you can bet your behind that a mmorpg developer will not go for an IP if there is a remote chance that it gets retracted at a whim by liscence holders. Your risk is a (discount priced) box. A developers risk would be millions and millions. So I guess the license to the Tolkien IP currently includes the clause that Turbine has the right to use the IP for their mmorpg, and / or that they have the right to prolongue the contract when it runs out.

edit: Just try the game. It is beautifull, has a great community, nice crafting system, even better char customization and is pretty immersive at that. Unless you crave for the risk of pvp in the open world. In that case Lotro is not for you.

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Death1942

i am pretty sure Tolkien license holders would be getting a share of profits (royaltees) from Lotro and i am pretty sure that is one of the few consistant performers for them.  Why would anyone willingly give something like that up?

gogogogone

Originally posted by solareus


Turbine has the lisence to 2014, which is  more then 5 years away. (5x12)x14.99 = $899 . or 1 payment of $199 Turbine also has made the contract, with a opt to renew at 2014.

 

That's what I was looking for.  ty ty!