Lord of the Rings Online - Interview @ FiringSquad

FiringSquad has an interesting interview with Turbine's Jeffrey Steefel on Lord of the Rings Online:

FiringSquad: Even though having the Lord of the Rings franchise for a MMORPG is a huge coup, some people will compare this game with others that have come before it. Besides having the Tolkien license to play with, what will make this game stand out from the crowd?

Jeffrey Steefel: There are millions of Tolkien fans around the world who have been waiting for the chance to wander the Shire or to conquer Weathertop since they first read the books or saw the movies. While many games have brought a piece of the experience to these fans, LOTRO represents the first time players can truly immerse themselves in Middle-earth to create their own story in Tolkien’s fabled universe.

LOTRO is the first MMO that has it all including an epic storyline that has served as the foundation for the entire genre of fantasy-based entertainment, a robust and immersive experience that is accessible by players of all levels and outstanding gameplay. So aside from the obvious benefits of the Tolkien license, what does this mean? In order for an MMO based on the Lord of the Rings to be successful, it has to be accessible to players of all levels. We have worked very hard to capitalize on the standard of accessibility that has been perfected by previous generations of MMOs to create a game that will appeal to both hardcore and casual gamers alike. For example, we have implemented a PvP system that we like to call monster play. Players can inhabit the evil creatures of Middle-earth and complete quests and battle other player characters. What makes this system so compelling is how it provides a great experience for all players. Hardcore gamers can participate in challenging “monster quests” to earn points that can be used to level-up their main character while casual players can engage in shorter play sessions and build their skills over time. We have taken this approach with each of the major game systems in LOTRO.