Turbine makes Lord of the Rings Online free to play

Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff

An online video game based on the fantasy novels of J.R.R. Tolkien can now be played free of charge.

Turbine Inc. of Westwood, which makes Lord of the Rings Online under license from the Tolkien estate, is offering a free version of the game to players who don't want to pay $15 a month for a standard game subscription.

Free players will be able to enjoy many of the game's standard features. But they'll be encouraged to visit the game's online store, and buy virtual weapons and tools for use in the game's more advanced levels. Players can also keep paying monthly subscription fees. Those who do get "points" they can use to buy tools and weapons inside the game.

Turbine spokeswoman Elicia Basoli said that one of Turbine's other games, Dungeons & Dragons Online, doubled its number of players when it offered a free-to-play version last year.

Turbine, which was acquired earlier this year by Time Warner Inc., plans a major marketing effort for the free version of Lord of the Rings Online, including a television commercial during Sunday's episode of the Fox television series Family Guy.

(The image above this post is a company hand-out. It shows a scene from The Lord of the Rings online game.)