Euro LOTRO trial tomorrow

By Robert Purchese Published 30 August, 2007

One week for free.

Codemasters Online Gaming has waved its wand and confirmed to us that the Lord of the Rings Online free trial will be available in Europe tomorrow.

Those of you in the US were treated to it yesterday, and will probably already be enjoying your rent-free week of exploring Middle-Earth. Of course, after those seven days have passed you'll be asked hand over some gold for the full game and pay your monthly subscription, just like everyone else. But you will get the option of keeping your characters created during the free period.

You can download the game client from the official site, but it wobbles in at a whopping 3.9GB, so you might want to cook dinner, have a shower, say hello to friends or sing to yourself while you wait.

The Lord of the Rings Online launched in April to wide critical acclaim, and has since grown in size by over 20 per cent, thanks to updates Book 9 and Book 10.

These days there are around 200 more quests to keep you occupied, and Legendary Play to enhance the Monster Play aspect of the game. Legendary lets you take the form of a massive Troll or powerful Ranger if you hand enough trophies in, so you can stomp on others in player versus player combat for a limited amount of time.

Bartering, Reputation and Music systems have all been fiddled with, too, largely because you lot said you wanted it that way - developer Turbine is listening to you, apparently.

Upcoming content patch Book 11 was shown behind closed doors at this year's Games Convention in Leipzig, and will add the much sought after player housing to the game, as well as new areas, massive Cave Trolls, and the legendary Balrogs.

Head over to our Lord of the Rings Online gamepage for our review, plus all the latest news, screenshots, and trailers.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (41) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Cannibal #1 5 years ago

    I'm still waiting for one that doesn't involve mages and shit before I upgrade my PC.

    Football Manager Live will def find it's way into my disc tray though.

  • M83J01P97 #2 5 years ago

    I assume this is as a result of Eye of the North?

  • aburt2001 #3 5 years ago

    yeah i've just downloaded it, and so far its appalling. I definitely will not last the full free week with this game

  • ZuluHero #4 5 years ago

    it's good, although my account is deactivated its well worth a try - but i will be playing GWEN come tomorrow :)

  • foamy #5 5 years ago

    Nice servers. Downloading at 800KBps.

  • George-Roper #6 5 years ago

    LotRO is bollocks.

    Any MMORPG that locks players away in their own little instances, as a regular occurance, can get fucked. Frankly.

    I recall trying this turd with a mate. We both started new characters and agreed to meet up. However, after both standing next to an NPC for 5 minutes, trying to locate each other, it dawned that the intro quest lines are all instanced...and you can't choose which instance to be in.

    Reeks of Dungeons and Dragons Online, way waaaay too much. Reuse tech much, Turdine?

  • Hamflank #7 5 years ago

    George, that seems like a thorough review. As I recall, the starting quest is instanced, after that you can roam freely.

    Nevertheless, I didn't like the combat system and the looks of the characters, so it didn't work out for me either.

  • George-Roper #8 5 years ago

    The starting quest is instanced but after its done, if you dont 'opt out' of the intro quest line, you continue to be instanced with other players without having any choice of the instance youre put in.

    I'm talking after the chuff start where you 'save the hobbits'.

    Such a bad game. And it chugged like a twat. Talk about unoptimized, 1.5 engines.

    Total Bollocks (tm)

  • JediMasterMalik #9 5 years ago

    Really? It got quite frankly excellent reviews almost everywhere..

  • M83J01P97 #10 5 years ago

    I'm not criticising any one's opinion here, but what I don't understand is why this game has been received very well by the gaming media (Eurogamer included) yet everyone else seems to hate it?

  • SamH #11 5 years ago

    It's not a perfect game, but then what MMORPG is? Lotro started pretty well when it launched just 4 months ago, and to think of the amount of content that has been added already since then, it's a very good sign for the future.
    I'd say that those people who have posted detrimental comments before me are either not fans of the genre as a whole, or simply don't know what they're talking about and didn't give the game a chance, such as George Roper.
    If he'd played beyond the first 5 minutes he'd have realised that the first 6 levels are indeed instanced (but not privately, all the starting players (of the same race) are there in that same starters "instance";), but that's both as an aid to the introduction story (the starting areas all take some sort of twist, such as Archet burning down at level 6ish), and then remains a burnt wreck for the remainder of the game once you leave the starters instance and join the world proper), and as an opening tutorial section to avoid players wandering out before they know how to use their skills, etc.

    I'd recommend people give this one a chance and leave their pre-conceptions at the door, because behind a familiar (and dare i say it, WoW like front-end) lies quite a different, and very enjoyable game.
    Edited by 2 at 30/08/07 @ 16:50

  • Wendelius #12 5 years ago

    To each his own. I have a level 37 a level 26 and 3 more chars in their teens and I find the game a lot of fun. There are tons of things to do (I get to do new quests I hadn't done before with all my chars), the game is very solo and duo friendly (with fun, challenging fellowship quests for when you want to go hunting with your friends), Turbine keeps producing updates and the game is very stable (more than some other MMO's can say). And instances are much less prevalent than level 5 noobs seem to think.

    Apart from that, it's indeed yet another MMO and it won't amuse everyone.

    But if you think that game is shit or bollocks (your choice of words, not mine), you must not have played many games. Or you'd have a slightly better basis of comparison and know what a shit game looks like. *shrugs*

    Wendelius

  • aburt2001 #13 5 years ago

    youve got to admit though the character models and animations are pretty ugly

  • George-Roper #14 5 years ago

    Hey, if you like the game that's your opinion and choice.

    I just 100% disagree that forced instances are the way to go. WoW doesn't have forced instances for starting players. It allows people to make their own decisions, not be forced down a predetermined path, without having any friends or indeed potential friends there to assist or help.

    It just really bugs me that online games such as DnDO and LotRO force instances onto players, rather than making it a choice, at the very start. The way its also done is very badly designed. It's simply not obvious enough that you're instanced, after completing the first quest set. As I said, you have to opt out of the quest line in order to join the 'real world' and its not an option that flashes up and warns you that youre instanced.

    Very obviously borrowed tech from DnDO and that turned out great, didn't it....

  • [DVDF]Gooner #15 5 years ago

    Not sure about the forced instances thing, aside from the start area can't think of one. I am not a big instance fan and have managed to get almost to the end of the game only indulging in instances and grouped quests when the mood takes me, which isn't that often TBH. For my money the Noob area and the way it works in Lotro is a very good way to ease people into the game and drops you into the world with some idea of whats going on and the story arcs then lets you get on with it, if you dont like the story you dont really have to go near it. You get dropped into the world at level 6, looks like you missed the cut George.

    As others have said, it won't suit everyone, but its a free download and trial, and if you don't like it uninstall.

  • HMAN #16 5 years ago

    It only forces instances until you finish the starter quests which take an hour tops. After that you are in the real world as a lvl 6 and can go wherever you like with whoever who like.
    All these people coming on here slagging it off have clearly not played for more than a couple of hours.

  • lucasmax #17 5 years ago

    Well City of Heroes is the bestest game EVAR!! and that uses instanced missions.

    Its quite nice to be able to get away from the "riff raff" if you want to.

    /raises nose

  • George-Roper #18 5 years ago

    @HMAN

    Not everyone flies through games at 120mph, me being one of them. It took a couple of hours to play through some of the starter quests and it was very...meh.

    Seen it all before, with more panache, style and quality and without being boxed away from everyone else.

    They could have done so much more with it, imho.

  • Prehensile_Plant #19 5 years ago

    I do hope you can look past the first instance at the start. They really do just serve as an introduction, and some of them are superb. There's one for each race, and it means that making new toons is less of a chore really, as there's a new bit of story to uncover.
    Plus, after you get out of it, you end up in a 'newbie area' where you can meet up with others of your race who have also just started (dwarves and elves end up in the same one, Hobbits and men the other). Its actually quite nice to be out of the way of more expereinced players; I found it nice to be in a bit of a calmer area for the first 6 levels. Once you ding level 6 and finish the quest line, that's it, you're in the wider world and you can go wherever you like. Wander up to Angmar if you fancy it.

    Afterwards was Meh? You didn't try delivering the post for the hobbits in the Shire or unlocking the Dwarvern puzzle Vault then? Or pie-rustling in the shire? I'd love to see you come up against a Nazgul and the Dread/Fear system.

    Speaking as someone who still has the battered paperback edition of Lord of the Rings my Mum got me for my 9th birthday (I am now pushing 30), I adore the game. Its full of little touches that show it was made by people who love the books. What inspires me with more confidence is the way the devs actually address gameplay problems. My mates and I were really pissed off with people camping rare mobs: they dropped trophies used for crafting, and I'm sure anyone who's played a MMO at all knows how these things are camped. Last week's patch totally revamped the way rare items drop for crafting in a way that eliminated the need to hunt Snowback the Snowbeast in the misty mountains for 6 hours. Hooray. Anyway, having devs who are prepared to revise game systems when it becomes apparent that things aren't fun makes me love this game a little bit more. That's just one example, mind.

    Going back to my 50 hunter and 42 Burglar now.
    Edited by 1 at 30/08/07 @ 18:16

  • ZuluHero #20 5 years ago

    @Prehensile_Plant

    Man, that’s really inspiring... I only got to 24 before i left but you are making me want to re-enable my sub, curse you! :)

  • jonnyreb #21 5 years ago

    I didn't mind the 'noob' instance levels that much, but once I had got past that and was out in the 'real' world it felt a bit like a ghost town (complete with tumble weed blowing past)

    Didn't see anyone for ages and ages except a few high levels who ignored me :)

    Kind of put me off, but it seemed like an OK game - just didn't seem to have a decent player base.

  • Prehensile_Plant #22 5 years ago

    You were on a quiet server? Try Snowborn and Evernight. They're the most populated. I play on Evernight myself, in a kinship of over 25 year olds only.

  • hula hoops #23 5 years ago

    It took me a full one month holiday to break free from the curse of WoW addiction. When I was back I quickly sold my 2 accounts and used the money to buy a treadmill.

    As much as I would like to try this game, my conscience tells me not to.

    I am in a limbo.

  • TheUnionFrag #24 5 years ago

    Right - let's see - it is a good game, yes, UP TO LEVEL 50. I hit 50 - there was absolutely fuck all to do. Monster Play? It's awful. Instances? Buggy like shit. Raids? There's only one. Crafting? Completely screwed up - all the best stuff needs incredibly rare items that are insanely farmed, and thus, stupidly expensive. High-end quests? You're having me on right?

    There is nothing to do once you hit 50. Nothing at all. Last I looked most of my old kinship were incensed with having spent so much time on a game for nothing and left. Over 3/4 of my kinship [quite large - 70 players] has cancelled their subs, including me.

    You will doubtless enjoy yourself until 50, sure, it's a good game up until then. I'm just giving everyone a heads-up.

    Oh well - just a few hours til Eye of the North. LOTRO screwed me - so screw LOTRO.

  • Prehensile_Plant #25 5 years ago

    @TheUnionFrag: Read what I posted about the last update. It sorted the crafting situation. It also added a lot more stuff for higher levels to do; though I understand many have concerns about the new reputation system being rather WoWish. I couldn't tell you, as I haven't put in a great deal of play since the update. That and I never played wow. Been busy. My kinship has reported good things about it and the new quests in Annuminas tho.
    Monsterplay has had a few sweeping changes to make it more interesting, and you can play as a chicken in the main world, should you feel the need for a bit of a diversion. Each class is slowly getting new 40+ skills (at a rate of 2 classes per update). I think 40+ will be the focus of the devs for a bit.

  • 4thVariety #26 5 years ago

    another overpriced game you basically complete and then leave forever. Level your character to max and then toss it, because the whole combat is centered around outlevelling the monsters. I stick with GuildWars where you can't outgun the monsters, you really have to play tactical.

    Meanwhile LotRo are pouring out "books" i.e. unfinished content that could not make it for release because if that is supposed to be episodic gaming, then it is appalling. That's not what you are paying for each month. Latecomers will get it for free!

  • FooAtari #27 5 years ago

    Anyone else finding the site has problems this morning. I cant get passed the intro page. Click on Continue to Website and just get the intro page again tellin me to buy it.

    I've just started WoW though, better sticking with it?

  • elfez #28 5 years ago

    No mention of any trial on the lotro-europe site. How annoying.

  • shamblemonkee #29 5 years ago

    go to fileplanet or similar

  • elfez #30 5 years ago

    Yup, there is indeed a european trial client there. Unfortunately no mention on where to get a 7 day trial key, which would be nice to have before I download 5 gig'o'data :)

  • M83J01P97 #31 5 years ago

    Don't download the current online Clients (the versions on Fileplanet etc et al). It won't work when Codemaster get off their arse and release the European Trail, which is still apparently going to be up sometime today. The only version which will come with the 7 day Trail key is from their own site.

  • Laserbream #32 5 years ago

    Posted by Satine of euro Codemasters, not long ago:

    "Ok, I just got an update, it would appear that there are a few issues with our client hosting partners getting the client in time...

    We're still trying for launch tonight however if we don't make it, then first thing tomorrow morning..."

    Come on already, I just tried the trial of UO: Kingdom Reborn and got a nasty reminder that looking at the past through rose-tinted lenses is a mug's game.

  • newt #33 5 years ago

    everyone else seems to hate it

    Few blokes on the 'net is not "everyone". The pattern seems to be that the hardcore MMO folk hate it and on the other side people who are not interested in chasing the endgame love it (myself included). Your choice.

  • A/V #34 5 years ago

    Can people keep this undated with when the trial will be ready?

  • bushwod #35 5 years ago

    whoops, I spent all night downloading the american trial version by accident.

    Still no sign on the european trial on their website, come on codies sort it out!!

  • Lanceret #36 5 years ago

    I'm playing the game at the moment and currently have a level 40 Dwarf Minstrel. I would definatly recommend it but its nothing special right now for me its just a substitute untill Warhammer Online comes out. The gameplay is very similiar to that of other mmos on the Market such as WoW and EQ2 but thats not to say its a bad game. It probebly has the most involving storyline quests atleast in any mmo i've played. It uses Instances very effectivly so that your actions do seem to have some kind of hand in progressing the storyline unlike other mmos where you complete a major quest and the npc is still asking for help from your mates the next day, in lotro this doesnt happen since every major quest npc is in a small instance room so say you were getting quests from Aragorn in the Prancing Pony once you've done his quests he will leave with Frodo and you will never see him again in the Prancing Pony since you can no longer enter his instanced room.

    Aside from that the graphics are superb and probebly some of the best i've seen in any MMO so far. But aside from that the game is geared alot more to casual players i find and roleplayers. Casual because it is very easy to level and the raid content apparently is rather easy. Also roleplayers ofcourse with all the storyline, atmosphere, the ability to smoke, drink, play musical instruments etc.

    Anyway dont listen to all the nay sayers on here its a free trial for a reason check it out your self. :)

  • Summo #37 5 years ago

    Still no sign of this trial then, I take it.

    I don't know why I'm posting this, I know full well there's no Euro trial yet.

    :(

  • Laserbream #38 5 years ago

    Looks like Euro Codemasters has a healthy case of country-cousinism

  • jonnyreb #39 5 years ago

    Demo is up now.....26hrs to download at 80kbsec.

    Tell me why I pay for 20mb broadband again?

  • M83J01P97 #40 5 years ago

    Apparently the trail is glitchy as hell, and it makes new players (using the trail at least) wait in a que before they can actually start playing.

    That alone doesn't fill me with great confidence...

  • rustynuts #41 4 years ago

    you all talk shit. it prob lags cus u got shit computers
    the game is great and u can fellow with anyone that is also doing the intro instances if they are in same area. i fellowed with my mate and we completed the intro together and now we are lvl 50's.
    I hate geeks like you who think they know everything and slag a game off without trying it properly.
    this game totally kills WoW

    George U talk bollocks and fluffy u should go play with ur barbie dolls