04/19/2002

Overview

System: GameCube Developer: Inevitable Entertainment Inc. Publisher: Sierra Entertainment, Inc. Genre: Adventure Number of Players: 1 Peripherals: Memory Card Disk Size:1.35 gigabytes ESRB: RP

The age of Middle Earth is upon us! Ever since director Peter Jackson announced that New Line Cinemas would be producing the Lord of the Rings movie, many things Tolkien related have been popping up. It is no surprise then, that Sierra has announced that it will be publishing The Hobbit for Nintendo GameCube. Since its publication in 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit has sold 40 million copies around the world, and has been translated into 25 different languages. It is considered a classic work of literature by most respected critics. Sierra Entertainment is planning to release The Hobbit for Nintendo GameCube in 2003. This means that both The Fellowship of the Ring, and The Two Towers (the first two parts of The Lord of the Rings trilogy) will have both been in the theatres. Since I have read the LOTR trilogy, I can tell you that at the end of the The Two Towers is one of the biggest cliff hangars ever, and people will be just dying to get there hands on anything Tolkien-related. The Hobbit for GameCube will closely follow the book. As Bilbo Baggins, you will help discover the One Ring, confront elves, battle Smaug the dragon and much more, and even witness the Battle of Five Armies first-hand. This third-person adventure will surely have an awesome story as it already exists. Since 2003 is still far away, you could satisfy thirst for Middle-Earth by reading the Hobbit in your spare time. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: More information has now been released regarding The Hobbit. Here is the Press Release: "The Hobbit" is a third-person action/adventure game set in the world of Middle-earth. In the game, you take the persona of Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming Hobbit who has been unwittingly thrust into an epic adventure. Explore the mystical world of Middle-earth where you'll need to jump gaping chasms, climb treacherous mountains, solve mind bending puzzles and battle hordes of enemies just to survive. Meet enchanting Elves, battle-ready Dwarves, a powerful Wizard, massive Trolls, bloodthirsty goblins, and more as you traverse from the peaceful lands of the Shire to the harrowing forests of Mirkwood. And that's just the beginning. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have set the standard for fantasy writers and creators of epic worlds. The novels are massive best sellers, having sold close to 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into 26 different languages. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the subject of three movies being created by New Line Cinema, the first of which, The Fellowship of the Ring, was released on December 19, 2001 and is one of the hottest movies of 2001/2002.

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Tidbits

• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien has sold 40 million copies
• The story of the game will follow closely with that of the novel
• This is the novel that started the fantasy genre we now know and love
• The word "Mithril" which is now used by many video games, was created by Tolkien when he wrote The Hobbit.
• Play the official game based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic story, "The Hobbit." As Bilbo Baggins, travel across Middle-earth from Hobbiton to the Lonely Mountain and take part in the historic Battle of the Five Armies.
• On your way, you'll meet legendary characters such as Gandalf, Thorin,, the dragon Smaug, Elrond, and Gollum.
• Experience massive levels in such recognizable areas as Rivendell, Mirkwood, Laketown, and the Lonely Mountain. Over 30 different enemies stand in your way on your epic quest.
• A true adventure game, combining the best elements of action, stealth, roleplaying, and puzzle-solving. Master the game's deep combat system and the five different abilities that grow and change based on what you do in the game.
• Conquer the strategic game of Stonelords (a mini-game within the game), collect and trade all the Stonelords (found in the world), and challenge your friends or characters in the game to matches.

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