Job ad hints at LOTRO for consoles

By Oli Welsh Published 29 September, 2008

Mentions possibility of redesigned interface.

The case for a console version of Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online MMO is strengthening, if a job the company is advertising is anything to go by.

Turbine is looking for a senior user interface engineer to "bring the user interfaces of our massively multiplayer titles to the next level" and do so "across both PC and console platforms".

Specifically, "this engineer may be refactoring existing user interfaces or implementing completely new user interfaces for systems such as combat, skills, inventory, treasure, and social systems".

The phrase "refactoring existing user interfaces" and mention of consoles suggests that Turbine is working to adapt an existing game - surely Lord of the Rings Online.

Indeed, it sounds as if whoever fills the new position will be working on exactly the problems highlighted by LOTRO producer Jeffrey Steefel when we interviewed him last month.

"Consoles only have a certain number of buttons, so how do you help someone use a console controller to manage inventory and skills and traits and deeds and crafting items and all that stuff in a way that's not just painful?" Steefel said, naming several gameplay elements specific to Lord of the Rings Online.

Turbine has confirmed it is working on a console MMO, but has yet to identify the project.

Meanwhile, LOTRO's first expansion pack, Mines of Moria, has entered beta testing and is due for release before the end of this year. Check out the gamepage for more information.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (3) Latest comment 3 years ago

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

  • bad09 #1 3 years ago

    the only online rings game i want is that battlefront stlye LOTR Conquest that's coming!

  • Dizzy #2 3 years ago

    I hope Turbine is going the route of cross-play. Two different games that you can play with the same character. That would solve the UI problem.

  • sneetch #3 3 years ago

    @Dizzy
    "I hope Turbine is going the route of cross-play. Two different games that you can play with the same character. That would solve the UI problem."

    Sorry, I don't get what you mean, do you mean two versions of LOTRO with the same account and character? How would that solve the UI problem? Surely the consoles would still have the same UI problems? Unless the Console version was completely different, like an action RPG or something. Ah, I think I just figured it out. :)

    Personally, I'd prefer a new 4th Ed D&D MMO to LOTRO for consoles, like DDO (although Eberron isn't the best setting, Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk would be better, IMO) the new system would really suit a fast paced action RPG.