The Lord of the Rings: Conquest Preview

VideoGamer.com: You're releasing the PC version of the game at the same time as the 360 and PS3 versions. PC piracy is a hot topic at the moment, and we've seen many developers go on the record to say the PC game market dead. What's your opinion on the subject, and how much of a risk is it to release the PC version of Conquest at the same time as a console version?

EG: Different territories have different markets. PC may not be the top of the list in the United States, but it still dominates in countries like Germany. Our goal is to deliver a great game play experience no matter what platform you choose. That said, the game was built for the consoles, not the PC. So the PC game is not going to need Crysis-spec equipment to run. It's a fun game for fans of The Lord of the Rings and Battlefront.

VideoGamer.com: I understand you've used some elements that were cut from the films. What elements?

EG: We've expanded on some of the locations and battles mentioned in the books and turned them into fully formed missions. For example, in the books they make mention of Minas Morgul, an evil fortress in between Minas Tirith and the path to Mordor. In the trilogy they just pass over it, but for the game we've created a full battle within the walls of the sinister castle.

VideoGamer.com: A cooperative mode is available for up to four players. Some commentators have said that this generation will be remembered as the generation of co-op play. Why do you think co-op play has become so essential and how do you see it evolving in the next five years?

EG: Online gaming is still coming out of its infancy, especially in the console sector. While the hardcore like playing online against anyone, most casual gamers prefer to play online with someone. There's a satisfaction in working together, providing voice feedback to enable a team rather than simply smack talk. With games like Left for Dead, I think we'll continue to see a large crop of co-op games offering new game play experiences and bringing further innovation to our industry.

VideoGamer.com: Any chance of a Conquest demo for Xbox LIVE and PSN?

EG: You bet! And expect it to hit prior to launch.

VideoGamer.com: Final question. The game was originally planned for release this Christmas. Was it put back to January in order to improve the quality of the games or to avoid drowning in the Q4 deluge of titles? What is your personal opinion on the industry's focus on Q4? Is it ultimately damaging?

EG: Mostly we wanted to make sure the game could come out at a time where it would rise above the clutter of the holidays. But there are always little tweaks you can do to improve the overall game experience, and we definitely took advantage of the extra time. Now just be sure all your readers save their holiday gift cards. Jan 13 will be the perfect day to cash them in!

Lord of the Rings: Conquest is due out for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and Nintendo DS on January 16, 2009.