Platform: PC
Genre: Real-time Strategy
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Los Angeles
ETA: March 2, 2006

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Tolkien, Fair Tolkien what a world ye have granted
Despite many leechers, your legacy is planted
In the hearts of your faithful, as the Silmarils chanted
"The unworthy will be severely reprimanded"

It is quite assuring to myself that while many hubris filled carrion may attempt to expand upon the Tolkien canon, nary a one of them will escape judgment on the last day. And what a righteous judgment it will be! Electronic Arts will stand directly nigh the scoundrel Jackson before the great gilded throne, and with fear and reverence they will kneel uncertain of their standing before the great Tolkien legacy. It is questionable if the upcoming Battle for Middle Earth 2 will in any way harm EA's chances for the afterlife, but it is clear that the ante has been upped. A special agreement between the Tolkien families' licensing firm and EA has allowed the giant game developer to utilize content from the books not explored in the Lord of the Rings films'. Needless to say, this opens the floodgates for further desecrations of the sacred texts. My prayers go out to ye EA.

Many significant improvements on Battle for Middle Earth are promised for BfME 2. Extensive implementation of naval warfare and upgraded fortress building options are the most intriguing inclusions. The revamped "Build Anywhere" construction feature is especially noteworthy considering that fortress building was one of the weak points of its predecessor.

In addition, EA claims that the character customization aspect of the game will advance the form by incorporating nifty in-game avatar functionality (whatever the hell that means only the Valar know).

BfME 2 will reveal much of middle earth previously unseen , and only alluded to in the original works. Dol Guldur, The Misty Mountains, and Mirkwood will be fully traversable and conquerable. It takes gumption to rip these lands from the cozy confines of our imaginations, but baby, imaginations are so 80's. In addition to the new places, 3 new races will be available for command including Elves, Dwarves and Goblins. New races, places, faces...the Sugarhill Gang should write the theme song.

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The RTS genre has been seeing steady improvements over the last few years as titles have incorporated more sophisticated strategic elements. Civilization IV, Age of Empires III and an expansion to Rome: Total War have been released since the the first Battle for Middle Earth, so naturally, the bar has been raised. EA has access to perhaps the most extraordinary content any RTS could hope for with the entire LOtR text at its fingertips. It is a massive responsibility indeed...And behold, the day of reckoning is nigh!

Tolkemingway

(February 21, 2006)