So, after six hours of free download, the darn thing doesn’t install. Suggestions on forums to fix the problem don’t work.

At this point, Turbine has lost a potential customer. I’m not going to go back and try to download it again when they are showing no sign they are serious in trying to deliver a quality experience. First impressions count for a lot, and theirs was terrible.

Right now the biggest kid on the block, Blizz, are also stagnating. This means there are a gazillion WoW players (including me) who might well have liked a look at LotR but havent jumped as they’re waiting for F2P.

I’ve been off work for weeks ill, banned from physical stuff so pretty much sat at my PC playing games. I’ve previously played LoTR briefly….and if F2P was available I’d have jumped in and tried it as there’s damn all to do in WoW right now. I’m sure I’m not the only customer they’ve missed! They have a month or two before Cata but the window is narrowing fairly sharpish

Europe is not China…so I am not see’ing the issues that could prevent these Codemasters from releasing the updates to keep up with their NA counterparts. Perhaps I am missing something.

But what’s up now? I know less about this than you, and apparently there is no reason given why they still delay F2P Europe.

What’s up? We don’t know and we don’t get told. I am quite afraid, here are my speculations:

1.) They plan a slightly different shop system. I fear it might turn out to be greedier. It would be cool if fast travel would not be a subscriber privilege, the “pay for 1h fast travel with (albeit the small price) Turbine Points” thing was a real WTF moment for me.

2.) LOTRO goes back to the USA/Turbine. Just like DDO. Strategic decision by the management. LOTRO probably makes money, even Ultima Online does still make money. But maybe they want to get out of this business or focus on another title.

It is also a bit embarrassing that even my very casual WoW playing buddies know that LOTRO is F2P in the USA but have already forgotten (!) that I am playing LOTRO on EU servers. Maybe Turbine was not that wrong when they filed that lack of promotion lawsuit against Atari regarding DDO.

December and Cataclysm are coming. The time when the tourists rush back to their usual WoW routine and are happy about it. LOTRO players might also take a diversion.

Everyone knows the answer why: The Enedwaith alone does not seem to be much, so people can go on raiding Dol Guldur or they are simply out of content since February. Despite all its atmosphere and high quality Mirkwood was still only a mini-expansion.

I guess people are looking forward to GW2 which is rumored to be released in spring or summer of 2011 and won’t bother with GW1 anymore, and STO is not that great that I can recommend it without a “it’s not for everyone” disclaimer.

Unless something major like Rohan comes in 2011, I see a hard time for LOTRO as Cataclysm, GW2 and SWTOR are looming on the horizon. It might not be LOTRO, but it is for sure quite a lot of fun content for MMO gamers.