# Making a Good Lord of the Rings video game **URL:** \ **Category:** Unrelated Discussion\ **Created:** [October 4, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853 "2013-10-04T02:54:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![YoyoGeezer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyogeezer/32/755_2.png) [@YoyoGeezer](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/YoyoGeezer)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 6:00am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/21 "2013-10-06T06:00:14Z")
There is probably good reason why there is not a plethora of LOR games to be had in the app-store or on for free. You are dealing with a multi-billion dollar entertainment empire that will protect its franchise with large amounts of money and lawyers. If you have a good idea for game-play, why drag the LOR characters into it? Make-up your own characters to play your own game with them. Using your own characters gives you greater creative freedom. If the game itself revolves around the characters from LOR, then you need to focus on what makes those characters interesting to game players. I don’t just want to roam aimlessly around Middle-Earth with Frodo and Bilbo killing Orcs and Goblins. I want to do something with the guys I know and like. Then, target game-platform and explore available tools and technology. I would look into WebGL if this is your first game. It is free, easy to use; and works on any device. Programming is done in Javascript; which comes free with any web-browser. Get what you need from Google/Chrome and apple’s Safari Developer website for free. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![PerspectiveDesigns](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/perspectivedesigns/32/1288_2.png) [@PerspectiveDesigns](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PerspectiveDesigns)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/22 "2013-10-06T14:36:03Z")
> [@YoyoGeezer](#): > > There is probably good reason why there is not a plethora of LOR games to be had in the app-store or on for free. You are dealing with a multi-billion dollar entertainment empire that will protect its franchise with large amounts of money and lawyers. I’m not planning on making an app (that will probably help avoid some licensing issues as well). I honestly don’t think Peter Jackson’s going to care that I’m making a LOTR game. [quote=“YoyoGeezer,post:21,topic:59853”] Exactly! That’s the whole reason I want to make this game! I have loved The Hobbit and LOTR my whole life (not that long in the grand scheme of things) and I’m really frustrated that every game in Tolkien’s universe is just continuous combat. I want to make a game that thoroughly sticks to Tolkien’s vision while still being fun. Maybe that’s impossible, but at least I can try. ---
**Author:** ![PlasticWhip](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/plasticwhip/32/896_2.png) [@PlasticWhip](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PlasticWhip)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/23 "2013-10-06T15:32:03Z")
> [@PerspectiveDesigns](#): > > I’m not planning on making an app (that will probably help avoid some licensing issues as well). I honestly don’t think Peter Jackson’s going to care that I’m making a LOTR game. Realistically, Jackson is just licensing it too. ---
**Author:** ![PerspectiveDesigns](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/perspectivedesigns/32/1288_2.png) [@PerspectiveDesigns](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PerspectiveDesigns)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/24 "2013-10-06T16:12:48Z")
> [@WildCat23](#): > > Realistically, Jackson is just licensing it too. Yeah. I believe it’s the Tolkien Estate (if that’s what it’s called) that owns the rights. ---
**Author:** ![Yonut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yonut](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yonut)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/25 "2013-10-06T19:18:22Z")
That’d be so awesome, I would buy it without hesitating. Even cooler, you should base it off of something like the Narn i Hîn Húrin, or some other work from the early Third Age. Here, you already have a pretty small target audience, but doing something unique could really draw more people from that miniscule audience. I am quite familiar with the early works of Tolkien, but not so much Lord of the Rings itself. If you get the lore right, it would be the best game based on the works of Tolkien, at least in my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![PlasticWhip](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/plasticwhip/32/896_2.png) [@PlasticWhip](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PlasticWhip)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/26 "2013-10-06T21:50:28Z")
This is why you need to use CryEngine.  Watch in 1080p. [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/3/f/4/3f4e423847e2a3cd293e1953e253b35424134199.jpeg "The new CRYENGINE (3.5.3) - Features + Improved ToD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NSG2VrSUX8) ---
**Author:** ![PerspectiveDesigns](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/perspectivedesigns/32/1288_2.png) [@PerspectiveDesigns](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PerspectiveDesigns)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/27 "2013-10-06T23:42:17Z")
> [@Yonut](#): > > That’d be so awesome, I would buy it without hesitating. > > Even cooler, you should base it off of something like the Narn i Hîn Húrin, or some other work from the early Third Age. Here, you already have a pretty small target audience, but doing something unique could really draw more people from that miniscule audience. I am quite familiar with the early works of Tolkien, but not so much Lord of the Rings itself. If you get the lore right, it would be the best game based on the works of Tolkien, at least in my eyes. That’s what I’ve meant by making a REALLY good Tolkien game! All the LOTR games I’ve played have always seemed like a different game painted to look like LOTR. They’re still pretty fun, but they just don’t feel right. My hope is that if I can get the lore right and have really fun gameplay (that fits the story) than this will be the best Tolkien game. I don’t know exactly when I’ll start working on this, but I’m hoping to get started soon. I haven’t actually heard of the Narn i Hîn Húrin. I think a game dealing with more of the lore could be really cool! (especially the Silmarillion). ---
**Author:** ![PerspectiveDesigns](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/perspectivedesigns/32/1288_2.png) [@PerspectiveDesigns](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PerspectiveDesigns)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/28 "2013-10-06T23:43:38Z")
> [@WildCat23](#): > > This is why you need to use CryEngine.  Watch in 1080p. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NSG2VrSUX8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NSG2VrSUX8) That looks awesome! But I think I’ll stick to 2D. I’ve been working on some concept art that I’ll upload soon though. ---
**Author:** ![Yonut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yonut](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yonut)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/29 "2013-10-07T00:14:28Z")
> [@PerspectiveDesigns](#): > > That’s what I’ve meant by making a REALLY good Tolkien game! All the LOTR games I’ve played have always seemed like a different game painted to look like LOTR. They’re still pretty fun, but they just don’t feel right. > My hope is that if I can get the lore right and have really fun gameplay (that fits the story) than this will be the best Tolkien game. I don’t know exactly when I’ll start working on this, but I’m hoping to get started soon. > > I haven’t actually heard of the Narn i Hîn Húrin. I think a game dealing with more of the lore could be really cool! (especially the Silmarillion). The Narn is the source material for the story of Túrin, meaning it wasn’t edited by Christopher Tolkien nearly as much. It isn’t really all that polished, as it is a rough draft of sorts, but contains information the Silmarillion and Children of Húrin don’t. I’d take dialouge and other things you want to directly quote from the Children of Húrin, but the Narn paints a better image in your head, at least for me. Sorry for poor writing, I’m not on a keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![PerspectiveDesigns](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/perspectivedesigns/32/1288_2.png) [@PerspectiveDesigns](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PerspectiveDesigns)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/30 "2013-10-07T00:21:58Z")
> [@Yonut](#): > > The Narn is the source material for the story of Túrin, meaning it wasn’t edited by Christopher Tolkien nearly as much. It isn’t really all that polished, as it is a rough draft of sorts, but contains information the Silmarillion and Children of Húrin don’t. I’d take dialouge and other things you want to directly quote from the Children of Húrin, but the Narn paints a better image in your head, at least for me. Sorry for poor writing, I’m not on a keyboard. Sounds awesome! I’ll have to read it. ---
**Author:** ![Yonut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yonut](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yonut)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/31 "2013-10-07T00:39:31Z")
> [@PerspectiveDesigns](#): > > Sounds awesome! I’ll have to read it. It is part 2 of Unfinished Tales FYI. ---
**Author:** ![PerspectiveDesigns](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/perspectivedesigns/32/1288_2.png) [@PerspectiveDesigns](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PerspectiveDesigns)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/32 "2013-10-07T03:05:02Z")
> [@Yonut](#): > > It is part 2 of Unfinished Tales FYI. Thanks! I’ve been planning on buying that. ---
**Author:** ![Legyoyo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/legyoyo/32/995_2.png) [@Legyoyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Legyoyo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/33 "2013-10-07T04:51:03Z")
The only good LOTR game was the LEGO one(s?)… But I sense this will be the one game to rule them all! ---
**Author:** ![YoyoGeezer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyogeezer/32/755_2.png) [@YoyoGeezer](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/YoyoGeezer)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 5:57am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/34 "2013-10-07T05:57:19Z")
> [@PerspectiveDesigns](#): > > I’m not planning on making an app (that will probably help avoid some licensing issues as well). I honestly don’t think Peter Jackson’s going to care that I’m making a LOTR game. > > Exactly! That’s the whole reason I want to make this game! I have loved The Hobbit and LOTR my whole life (not that long in the grand scheme of things) and I’m really frustrated that every game in Tolkien’s universe is just continuous combat. I want to make a game that thoroughly sticks to Tolkien’s vision while still being fun. Maybe that’s impossible, but at least I can try. This concept has potential. You do need to develop a compelling story-line that is well researched and adds to the LOR story Tolkien told. Sort of the Game version of the Silmarillion? If you find an interesting story-line, with a thread that involves characters we all know; engaged in a new adventure… well, we all Bilbo was a bit Tookish. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PerspectiveDesigns](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/perspectivedesigns/32/1288_2.png) [@PerspectiveDesigns](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PerspectiveDesigns)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/35 "2013-10-07T20:47:59Z")
> [@YoyoGeezer](#): > > This concept has potential. You do need to develop a compelling story-line that is well researched and adds to the LOR story Tolkien told. Sort of the Game version of the Silmarillion? If you find an interesting story-line, with a thread that involves characters we all know; engaged in a new adventure… well, we all Bilbo was a bit Tookish. 🙂 Yeah. The most important thing is the story. Gameplay is also extremely important but it will be affected a lot of the gameplay. I don’t even know if I’ll actually make this game, but I think it could be a lot of fun. > [@Legyoyo](#): > > The only good LOTR game was the LEGO one(s?)… But I sense this will be the one game to rule them all! The Lego game was pretty good, but it really annoyed me how much of the plot they cut (yeah I realize that it was a Lego game, but still…). ---
**Author:** ![Zort\_Commander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zort\_Commander](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Zort_Commander)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/36 "2013-10-23T23:59:58Z")
> [@Legyoyo](#): > > Hm… Good idea! LOTR needs a good vid game. Probably like LoZ is how I imagine it being a good game. And it should be really close to the story, but not so much reading it makes you want to turn it off. Perhaps have it read as you play, that’d reduce time waste on just sitting there What’s wrong with Lego games. We’ll I stopped playing Lego LOTR and played Skyrim (and still am) RPG Geek I know ---
**Author:** ![Legyoyo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/legyoyo/32/995_2.png) [@Legyoyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Legyoyo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/37 "2013-10-24T00:56:30Z")
> [@Zort\_Commander](#): > > What’s wrong with Lego games. We’ll I stopped playing Lego LOTR and played Skyrim (and still am) RPG Geek I know Wait, Whuu?.. > [@Legyoyo](#): > > The only good LOTR game was the LEGO one(s?)… But I sense this will be the one game to rule them all! ---
**Author:** ![Zort\_Commander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zort\_Commander](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Zort_Commander)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 10:03am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/38 "2013-10-24T10:03:52Z")
> [@Legyoyo](#): > > Wait, Whuu?.. Oops lol ---
**Author:** ![Zort\_Commander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zort\_Commander](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Zort_Commander)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 10:16am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/39 "2013-10-24T10:16:04Z")
Edit:never mind ---
**Author:** ![PerspectiveDesigns](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/perspectivedesigns/32/1288_2.png) [@PerspectiveDesigns](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/PerspectiveDesigns)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853/40 "2013-10-24T15:21:17Z")
I’ve started reading The Children of Hurin! [Previous page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/making-a-good-lord-of-the-rings-video-game/59853.md?page=3)