As a current beta-tester for LotR Online (don't worry, NDA is expired), I must say it is a FUN game. You really feel like your part of the story. It has breaks in the story like Guild Wars, but very little instancing unless its an important story moment that you and you alone need to experience. I'm seriously considering buying the game on release because of my testing time.

Hmm, it's interesting that older games seem to be doing that a lot. I went back to Asheron's Call after I chatted with a Turbine guy at PAX 2006, and while some things have improved, and I loved fighting Olthoi again, I didn't like how fast you could level. I really used to enjoy those early levels, and it used to take a long time to get to level 20... but in the blink of an eye, I was level 40.

I liked DAOC when they first added the low level RvR combat where you had to take the castle in the middle of the map. I know there have been a ton of expansions since then... perhaps it's time for me to pick up a compilation and try it again.

For LOTR, I am getting very tempted now. The preorder price promise is a good deal, locking in at only $9.99 a month... do you know how much it would be without that discount? $14.99? I also noticed that you can buy lifetime subscription for $200. I can't commit to that without playing the game, but it's a superb deal for those that do commit.

Arabin

Heh, an Orc is the only way to go. At last, you can slap those pansy elves silly

If the game is a smooth and easy to pick up as WOW, with very nice graphics in a less cartoony style, and based on one of the best known and most popular franchies ever, it has a pretty good chance of going well. AC, and even UO are still both running... though AC2 did die a horrible death.

Do you know, when you pre-order the game and set up your beta account, do you have to choose right then what your option will be or can you test out the game with the free month before deciding? If you can test it, I'll do that, otherwise I'll have to go with the monthly.

Arabin

I figured as much from the other comments I've been reading. Probably best that way.

Good to hear that you should have time to decide on the pricing though. I guess I'll be ordering this soon. We'll have to try and hook up on the same server. What have you found most fun to play so far?

Arabin

Picked up my physical pre-order of LORTO from Best Buy. I looked at other options online, and last time I tried Amazon, I lost out on the pre-order goodies (NWN2). With the physical pre-order, I already have my code and a map

As for Guild Wars, the buy it once, play it forever, it great... but I just couldn't keep interested. It's well worth picking up one of the games, and they all play individually. Nightfall is supposed to have the best single player experience due to npc companions...

Arabin

I would definetly recomend nightfall, the ability to custom talior heroes (special npc henchmen you can train and level) really improves the solo game (the only way I ever play). The also fixed a problem with exp in it, in the second campaign you level way too fast in the early game (you can easily hit the level cap of 20 before even getting to the main island where the game realy starts). You still level a little faster than you do in the first campaign but not so fast you get board. The only real grip I have about it is that the quest don't stand out like in other campaigns and you have to really track them down. You go to point A to open quest B, once completeed you can go to points C,D,E,and F and do other quest but to get any further you have to go back to A and take another quest that just opened. A little to much back tracking in it to make sure you don't miss anything

Well my Oblivion just came in and all I can say is WOW! The graphics are fantastic.

I spent all day playing it instead of cleaning house and working.

What a great game!

Well so much for that monitor. Completely crapped out on me. Just purchased a new one but this time with a 3 year warranty.

Back to the old monitor. Man not only is it small but everything looks like crap on it.

ACK!

What happened? refurbed monitor?

Yeah no warranty on it

The video cable is hardwired right into it. I would need to open the whole thing up and then disconnect it.

Live and learn. The new monitor has a 3 year warranty, I just hope it gets here fast.

Oh my aching eyes! You know I never needed glasses until I started working at the police department with the dozen CRT monitors they had. They did not switch to TFT until my last year there! They really make a difference!

Rough...what brand was that monitor again? I'll make sure and boycott them. No warranty and dead after 6 months? What the heck...

I bought it second hand. It's a Xerox and I plan never to purchase another of their products again. Not just because of the monitor but I bought a brand new Xerox scanner then I switched to a 64 bit OS and it does not work with a 64 only 32. When I contacted Xerox they pretty much said too bad they are not going to make a new driver for it but I could sure purchase one of their other products. As if!

Live and learn. I'm starting to hate electronics.

I ordered my son a Dell 20" widescreen, then decided to get myself a Dell 24" widescreen, and upgrade the whole house to 802.11N.

Great Graphics now and fast wireless.

MMMM MMM GOOD!

CCotD'