Tales of the Shire - cozy hobbit game from Weta Workshop and Private Division

[Abu Antar]

Spoiler

 

[ADL]

Weta Workshop did set design, costumes, miniatures, visual effects and props for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies are making a game with Take Two's Private Division in the literary universe. It'll be very interesting to see how different this game will be from the 'Jacksonverse' which they don't have the rights to. Everything will have to be reimagined from scratch. Notably Weta Workshop got acquired by Unity a couple months ago so I'd imagine this will be a in-house showcase for the Unity engine.

Renowned New Zealand company developing a new game set in the Middle-earth universe of J.R.R. Tolkien​

Private Division, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced they have signed a new publishing agreement with Wētā Workshop, best known for their work on Middle-earth for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. In 2014 Wētā Workshop founded an interactive game division and are now developing a new game set in the Middle-earth universe of J.R.R. Tolkien. Middle-earth Enterprises have licensed the literary works of the series, providing Wētā Workshop with the broadest creative license to interpret the underlying lore of the books.

“We are thrilled to partner with Wētā Workshop to publish a game set in such an extraordinary and celebrated universe,” said Michael Worosz, Chief Strategy Officer, Take-Two Interactive, and Head of Private Division. “The Lord of the Rings IP is home to so many remarkable stories, and no entity is better equipped than the team at Wētā Workshop to create a distinctive, new Middle-earth gaming experience.”

“It’s a privilege to create a new game set in Middle-earth, especially one that’s so different from what fans have played previously,” said Amie Wolken, Head of Interactive at Wētā Workshop. “As fans ourselves, we’re excited for gamers to explore Middle-earth in a way they never have before, and introduce new fans to the magic of The Lord of the Rings.”

This title is in early development and does not yet have an announced release date. It is expected to launch during Take-Two’s Fiscal Year 2024. Private Division and Wētā Workshop look forward to sharing more details about this game in the future.

 

[deuxhero]

Unity

Into the trash.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Weta Workshop did set design, costumes, miniatures, visual effects and props for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies are making a game with Take Two's Private Division in the literary universe. It'll be very interesting to see how different this game will be from the 'Jacksonverse' which they don't have the rights to.

I'm really not entirely sure what it would restrict other than using material directly from the films. You can bash the films for a lot of things, but they were generally a shortened version of the books, not much if any actual new material.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

also, decided to look at their site
"huh, those figures look pretty nice, how much do they cost?"
https://www.wetanz.com/shop/figures/masters-collection-the-dead-marshes

$2,599.00

From $371.29/mth on Payment Plan

payment plan for a fucking figurine?

 

[Ryzer]

also, decided to look at their site
"huh, those figures look pretty nice, how much do they cost?"
https://www.wetanz.com/shop/figures/masters-collection-the-dead-marshes

$2,599.00

From $371.29/mth on Payment Plan

payment plan for a fucking figurine?

"0 reviews"

 

[Modron]

"0 reviews"

"Pre-order Now"

 

[toughasnails]

Visuals of the movies were based on Alan Lee's artworks, I don't why they wouldn't stick to that as it isn't tied to and exclusive to movies. It's p much LOTR's visual identity in most people's heads. It would be interesting to see someone reimagining the visuals from the grounds up, coming up with something independent from Lee's version, but I very much doubt they'll do that.

 

[AndyS]

How much of the playground are they allowed to use? If the deal covers stuff like the First Age, they could make some interesting stuff based on that and wouldn't overlap with anything else; e.g., strategy games in which you choose either the Valar side or Morgoth's.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

How much of the playground are they allowed to use? If the deal covers stuff like the First Age, they could make some interesting stuff based on that and wouldn't overlap with anything else; e.g., strategy games in which you choose either the Valar side or Morgoth's.

LotR/Hobbit stuff only, most likely. They're licensing from MEE(Zaentz).

 

[Fedora Master]

Unity

Into the trash.

If the devs can't even afford a proper engine why would anyone assume the rest of the game will be quality?

 

[LESS T_T]

Notably Weta Workshop got acquired by Unity a couple months ago so I'd imagine this will be a in-house showcase for the Unity engine.

Unity acquired Weta Digital, not Weta Workshop.

Buuut in the end, you're right. Their old job posting for programmer suggests it's using Unity. https://web.archive.org/web/20211204210405mp_/https://wetaworkshop.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=52

Game Designer job posting suggests this will be some kind of an RPG. https://www.tsumea.com/jobs/2205/game-designer

• Work with other team members to create and design meaningful content involving but not limited to items, quests, and NPCs

• Experience and a passion for Life Simulation, RPG, or Narrative games a plus

 

[<3sRichardSimmons]

Weta Workshop did set design, costumes, miniatures, visual effects and props for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies are making a game with Take Two's Private Division in the literary universe. It'll be very interesting to see how different this game will be from the 'Jacksonverse' which they don't have the rights to.

I'm really not entirely sure what it would restrict other than using material directly from the films. You can bash the films for a lot of things, but they were generally a shortened version of the books, not much if any actual new material.

Osgiliath.

 

[axx]

Tom Bombadil and Saruman taking over Shire were two big parts left out of movies, which made sense. It's weird when the siege of Minas Tirith is over and you're not even half-way through the 3rd book.

 

[Hobknobling]

What is the actual demand for more LotR at this point?

 

[Drop Duck]

What is the actual demand for more LotR at this point?

Judging by Shadow of War and Shadow of Mordor sales figures there is some demand at least. What I want to know is where all the Game of Thrones games went, the prequel series is almost here and I haven't seen any Game of Thrones games announced.

 

[luj1]

also, decided to look at their site
"huh, those figures look pretty nice, how much do they cost?"
https://www.wetanz.com/shop/figures/masters-collection-the-dead-marshes

$2,599.00

tbh this shit is huge and insanely well done

ive seen lesser stuff go for 3k

 

[Zenithsan]

I love Lotr, but I never loved any of the games. I mean, the strategy games were fun, in my country all the people in the pc-cafes were playing it all the time back in the day.
And the PS2 adventure/action games were okay.
The Shadow of Mordor games were just reskinned Ubisoft shit.

It just doesn't capture what makes Lotr great, it lacks vastness and deepness.
I don't want to be that guy, and I hate derivative games as much as the next guy, but making it more akin to From Software game design could result in a more interesting Middle Earth I think.

 

[toughasnails]

Souls-like game set in Middle Earth could definitely work very well, there is a lot of material for FromSoft style set-up.

 

[Morgoth]