Turbine has secured an extended license to develop Tolkien-based MMOs. What could this mean? Rumor has it that they are working on an MMO based on The Hobbit. I don't know how this would compare to LOTRO, but with the success they have enjoyed there I am sure it would be good.

Official Release:
Turbine, Inc. announced today that in the wake of the global success of The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™, named the 2007 PC Game of the Year*, it has reached an agreement with Tolkien Enterprises to extend it’s license to develop Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games (MMORPG) based on The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien to 2014...
(Full release at source)

JelalTrueshot via gamingshogun.com »