On Visualizing A Virtual Middle-Earth

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to the Middle-Earth Online website's new developer diary, in which the PC MMORPG's production designer Marc 'Taro' Holmes talks about the "epic responsibility" of visualizing Tolkein's world. He discusses some of the visual controversies: "The debates go back and forth, seemingly without end - does the Balrog have wings or is he made of living flame? Do dwarven women really have beards? How tangible are the Nazgul? How beautiful are the elves?", and shows some early concept art for the barrow-downs at Tyrn Gorthad.

Comments

Oh yeah...

[BigDork1001]

just think of all those sexy bearded dwarven women. Can't beat that. You can keep your scrawny PEF elves. Human women are so boring. Gimme a nice stout, hairy she-dwarf any day.

Middle Earth...

[Azadre]

The possibilities of this game are endless. Ents, Orcs, goblins, hobbits, trolls, humans, elves, and dwarves would be the starting species. You could farm potatoes or craft rings(at max level) or even go looking for loot. Imagine farming potatoes for some cash, then being invited by a group of elves to hunt for loot.

Movies reducing your options

[evilhayama]

For a lot of people now, the LoTR movies will have defined exactly what many of the aspects of middle earth look like. Previously it was mostly about imagining it yourself from the books, but now elves, dwarves and even balrog have a certain look. This would be especially true for the Masses who didn't even read the book. but saw the movie and now know what a nazgul steed looks like...

Re:Movies reducing your options

[lafiel]

"know" what Nazgul steeds look like... a sad state of affairs, as a big LotR fan I really don't like the direction I see this going. The movies, while impressive, still rob people the ability to imagine the leader of the Nine reach out for Frodo as he huddles, alone, frightened...

I just see this as an opportunity for LotR to reach the masses and become just some big fad, where everyone raves over how great the visuals are and how great the movie's story is (of course.. you're taking a revised script from one of the best six-book series of all time, it better be damn good!).

Sadly, I rather the movies never existed, and this online middle-earth scrapped. Let middle-earth exist in the imaginations of those willing to read, not those who were enchanted by someone else's thoughts (a movie director's) and firmly believe that Legloas can use an arrow like a dagger.

Re:Movies reducing your options

[ConceptJunkie]

Well, I guess you didn't mind the fact that the Hildebrandt brothers had defined the visuals of the LotR a generation ago in the Tolkien calendars. Or the Ralph Bakshi movie, which certainly capitalized on the huge popularity that Tolkien had in the 70's, and defined many of the visual elements of Tolkien (admittedly poorly in places). There were "Frodo Lives" bumper stickers and Harvard Lampoon riding the wave with their brilliant parody "Bored of the Rings". I had a LotR board game, which was actually very well implemented for a fairly simple game.

The fact remains that fads will come and go, but the story will remain. You will always be able to read the book. So what if someone else's exposure to Tolkien consists solely of having seen the movies and having a Burger King fake-crystal glass shaped like Aragorn's head. Anyone not willing to take the opportunity to read the books doesn't deserve to experience what you and I have cherised. That's their loss, not ours.

Leave us not forget...

[freeBill]

...the eternal debate about Gollum.

Almost every artist who has ever portrayed him has made him the color of a blind cave fish. This directly contradicts Tolkien's unequivocal descriptions in numerous places, where he is always portrayed as completely black, with glowing green eyes.

The translucent grey is just easier to do.