Developer Interview, Part II

Louis Castle, vice president of Creative Development at Electronic Arts' Los Angeles studio, took some time out of his busy schedule to talk about some of the new gameplay elements in Electronic Arts' first real-time strategy (RTS) game for Xbox 360™, The Lord of the Rings™, The Battle for Middle-earth™ II .

Although the game is a sequel to the best-selling PC title, it's the first time Xbox 360 owners, or any console gamers, will have the opportunity to experience first-hand the epic battles from both Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning films and J.R.R. Tolkien's literary works. If you missed Part I of the interview, you can catch it here.

The forces of Rivendell clash with their enemies.

Xbox.com: What were some of the complaints from the first game that you listened to and improved for this sequel?

Castle: We were very aware that the firstBattle for Middle-earth for the PC would need to appeal to first-time strategy game players as well as seasoned veterans of the genre. The few misgivings we had on the first title were mostly from very experienced players who wanted more detailed features and finer control of the strategy elements.

I'm happy to say that we have managed to give them more than they asked for in Battlefor Middle-earth II while retaining the elegance and ease of use of the first game. Being able to build your camps anywhere; customize elaborate fortresses and castle walls; command your units in formations; have naval battles; and more has extended an already great product in ways which should win over the first-time player and the most experienced veteran. It is upon this great platform that we were able to use an additional team to build a true full-featured strategy game specifically designed for Xbox 360.

There are still many stories that can be told in
Middle-earth. The power of the settings,
characters, and events is truly timeless.

Xbox.com: Can you talk about the creation of fortresses?

Castle: Sure! You start many scenarios with a fortress or the ability to build one. Once it has been erected you are able to quickly customize the types of defensive or offensive capabilities you specifically want to have through upgrading the basic design. Most races allow you to then add walls onto your fortress to build your own idea of a Middle-earth fortress to rival those of Helms Deep, Minas Tirith, and Edoras.

Xbox.com: What does naval warfare bring to the gameplay?

Castle: Naval warfare is a new feature inBattlefor Middle-earth II. At times, there are large bodies of water between you and your enemy and you cannot simply march to your enemy's fortress and engage them in battles. At these times it is beneficial to capture or build a shipyard and create vessels for carrying your troops or even just to bombard your enemy's seaside positions. You may also build ships designed specifically for ship-to-ship combat and upgrade them with munitions suitable to your specific strategy.

Xbox.com: Can you explain the hero system?

Castle: Middle-earth is as much about the characters as it is about the fantastic places and events. ForBattle for Middle-earth II on Xbox 360 we have opened the door to the player to use legendary characters from the films and the books and even add their own to keep the variety truly endless. Each hero has their own skills progression and they grow in ability as you lead them from mission to mission in a campaign. Their unique combination of skills or magical abilities is at your fingertips and each one can be the deciding factor in a battle. Careful use of heroes is truly a skill worth developing for the single-player game or the online battles.

A chaotic battle at Sauron's dark fortress of Dol Guldur.

Xbox.com: What types of multiplayer games are there?

Castle: We let you play free-for-all or team battles on all of the territories of Middle-earth. In a typical multiplayer game, you and other players will start by exploring the world around you, then build up your bases and armies, and finally engage in combat.

If you're lucky enough to run across Gollum while you're exploring, you can take the One Ring from him—and if you get the Ring back to your fortress, you'll be able to build a hugely powerful Ring Hero. Evil players can summon Sauron onto the battlefield and Good players can bring Galadriel into action. This isn't the benign elf you might remember from the fiction; when Galadriel fights for you she is a dark Storm Queen that draws on the terrible power of the One Ring.

In Battle for Middle-earth II for Xbox 360, players will be able to challenge their friends online and battle it out via Xbox Live®. The game features exclusive new multiplayer games including King of the Hill, Capture and Hold, and Hero versus Hero.

Xbox.com: How do Xbox 360 and Xbox Live open up new gameplay opportunities for the RTS genre to potentially succeed in this new generation?

Castle: The simple fact of being able to communicate with other players while you play online will greatly enhance the strategy gaming experience. If anyone has ever played a PC strategy game over a LAN, they don't need to be told what a phenomenally engaging experience that can be. Xbox Live for Xbox 360 brings that experience to people all over the world. We have also added new game victory conditions to further ensure that the Xbox 360 Xbox Live fan has plenty of ways to challenge their skills against similar opponents.

Xbox.com: With both the literary and movie rights now in place, do you see more room to grow this franchise with sequels?

Castle: Absolutely! There are still many stories that can be told in Middle-earth. The power of the settings, characters, and events is truly timeless.

Electronic Arts is making the most of its extended movie license with New Line Cinema and its newly-acquired literary rights from the Tolkien Estate. Xbox 360 opens a much wider door for console gamers to get in and explore the vastness of this great fantasy world. By now, everyone's seen the films. Battle for Middle-earth II lets fans go beyond the films.

Xbox.com: Thanks for you time, and see you in Middle-earth!

Article by John Gaudiosi

• The Battle for Middle-earth II official site.