Now we know why EA is asking everybody about what they want from a video game console...

As you all know, The Lord of the Rings series of video games on consoles is being handled by Electronic Arts (EA). If you happen to like those games, you might be delighted to know that the publisher just signed a new license with the film company New Line Cinema, thereby assuring the extension of the partnership.

EA's Executive VP and general manager of North American publishing Frank Gibeau is quite excited as he quipped, "The Lord of the Rings is an incredible canvas to create epic games. We look forward to our next project with New Line Cinema and Tolkien Enterprises scheduled to ship in 2008."

Furthermore, EA slipped in an exciting development saying that an all new LOTR title is coming up. The publisher wouldn't divulge any information on what platform it will be released on (or platforms, for that matter), or when the new title will be released. "We have a long history of making great games with EA and are thrilled to extend our longstanding relationship," remarked David Imhoff, New Line's Senior Exec. VP of Worldwide Licensing and Merchandising.

The list of current LOTR video games from EA includes:

• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II (PC, 360)
• The Lord of the Rings: The White Council (360, PS3)
• The Lord of the Rings: Tactics (PSP)

For a J.R.R. Tolkien geekmeister, if there's anything better then getting a full set of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (+ "The Hobbit"), it's probably getting a full set of LOTR: The Battle for Middle-earth on PC. It's quite a big franchise that's been kept alive by Electronic Arts across the years. And surely, even some of the fans might have missed out on some installments in the series.

Well, just in case you want to eat, drink, and breathe LOTR for the next couple of weeks/months, EA just announced their shipping of the LOTR: The Battle for Middle-Earth Anthology. It's be on sale March 22. This compilation (worth for only US$ 39.99) puts together all of the installments in the series, namely:

• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II Collector's Edition
• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch King.

While the first two in the list could have been enough, it's glad to see the Collector's Edition and Rise of the Witch King tagging along for the ride. The Collector's Edition gives players access to limited special content, including "behind the scenes" features, various exclusive maps, and control over an exclusive fire-breathing Dragon unit on the battlefield.

Before I start gabbing on and on about The Rise of the Witch-king expansion, I should probably say that this post is for those who are still lingering on LOTR: The Battle For Middle-Earth II limbo just trying to decide whether to grab a copy or not. If you're thinking that you don't really need new units, strategies, abilities, factions, and tons more to enjoy LOTR, these screens should make you think twice, podnah.

As we've been mentioning in earlier articles, Rise of the Witch-king takes place before the whole hullabaloo with Frodo Baggins began. Yep, before all that fuss over the ring began, and before we saw the beauty that is Gollum. Hahaha. Instead, the expansion's story focuses more on the Witch-king’s rise to power (Wha'? Who could've guessed? *sarcasm*). Seriously though, if you didn't like the new units you saw in the vid we gave you earlier, you might wanna give it more thought once you getta load of this coven of screens we have today.

It wouldn't be an expansion pack without new units to turn Middle-Earth into a veritable cesspool of spilled blood, torn skin, burning flesh, ruined hopes and shattered dreams. Oh, how good it is to be the B****-King of Angmar. GameTrailers presents this interview with Amir Rahimi, Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-Earth II: Rise of the Witch-King producer, to talk about the new units that will tear flesh, spill blood, ruin hopes, and shatter dreams all over Middle-Earth.

Here he talks about the mini-hero hordes he was talking about with IGN, although this one comes with gameplay video, so it should be more exciting to see in action (the video is related, right GT?). And he even reveals here that EALA has finally caved in to the pressures of LOTR fans, and added Gothmog as a playable character in the game. Great, now you can spit on the stones of the White City of Gondor like he did in the movie... right?

Interestingly enough, nothing much revealed about the units of the Witch-King of Angmar. This vid is dedicated to the new units of existing factions. Oh, that's just a...witch. What did you think we were gonna say?

Lord of the Rings, The Battle For Middle-Earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king, which should be in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest title of any PC game, has released new screenshots.

Electronic Arts' expansion pack for The Lord of the Rings will enhance every existing feature of the RTS game, as well as give players the chance to play the bad guy. As the commander-in-chief of the evil faction in Middle-earth, one gets to express the dark side that lurks even in the heart of lily-white Gandalf.

LOTR, The Battle For Middle-Earth II, The Rise of the Witch-king takes place before the time of Frodo Baggins and the rest of the cast of the film trilogy. The expansion pack is reeking of entirely new faction, completely new single player campaign, and additional units for all six existing factions. The new single player campaign tells the story of the evil Witch-king’s rise to power, his domination of Angmar and invasion of the great kingdom of Arnor - the home to Aragorn’s ancestors.

PC gamers looking for an outlet to nurture their bad side should look no further than Lord of the... oh what the heck, you know the rest of the title. This expansion pack requires The Battle for Middle-Earth II in order to play. It will be available Winter 2006.

View the rest of the screens after the jump.

Fans of Electronic Arts' The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth II have been are bracing themselves for the release of the expansion pack The Rise of the Witch-King. The anticipation stems from the introduction of the Angmar faction, which is considered the evil counterpart of the Dwarven faction. There's always an added excitement when evil becomes an option in the game. But the fans are not too keen on switching factions, as game producer Amir Ramihi found out while scouring the LOTR forums. In fact, fans tend to stick to one faction.

With that important info in mind, the development team decided to give what the fans want - new units, new strategies, new abilities, and new toys to play with.

While the Angmar faction would be the highlight of the expansion, existing factions will also be getting some love in the form of new units. This is where the mini-hero horde comes into the picture. Think of it is a combination of hero and elite units. The hordes have special abilities that enhance certain factions' strategies. They also heal when not in combat, which makes them fit for the next round of battle.  

Amir used the Rohirim force as an example. The mini-hero horde feature will allow the Rohirim force with have a charge of power similar to that of Theoden. What's more, even the knights can come charging with Theoden. It's enough to make you paint a picture of Rohirim soldiers and knights gloriously charging to battle.

Amir also talked about the Mordor faction, the added Elite Orc, horse archers, level 7 bloodlust, and pretty much everything that's new in the game. Make sure to watch the video so you won't miss all the new features of the expansion pack. Enjoy!

Download: [LOTR: The Battle for Middle-Earth II interview]

In the words of Gandalf the White after his battle with the Balrog: "I come to you at the turn of the tide." But this time around, Gandalf isn't arriving as a white wizard but, in game development lingo, he's gone GOLD! Electronic Arts has forged the One Ring and now, the LOTR: Battle for Middle-Earth II's expansion pack The Rise of the Witch-king is now ready for shipping.

This expansion for the RTS game will enhance every aspect of the original and now allow gamers to play the side of evil in Middle-Earth. Now you can command the epic battles that have been waged even before those wars seen in the movie trilogy. The new single player campaign will transport you to the story of how the Witch-king gained power by invading Aragorn's home kingdom Arnor. As for multiplayer mode, fans can also now choose the Angmar faction and wreak havoc in skirmishes great and small.

Everyone has their evil side. With this expansion, you can let lose with your dark heart and ravage the lands of Middle-Earth. Fine, you might think that in the end, good triumphs over evil once Frodo's sent the One Ring back to the flames of Mount Doom, but still. Getting to play the bad guys still has its rewards.

The expansion hits retail shelves on November 30 for US$ 39.95 and is rated T (teen) by the ESRB.