Were We to Share One Final Word

[Passive Chicken]

Hello, my companions - I know not how many of those of you who I know are left, but I know that you are few. This forum has seen better days, but alas! War in the North is done, and the world must move on. For me, that is not so easily accomplished.

Video games are such a strange thing, how they can steal a person's attention and swallow their time up. Yet, we never leave the couch, and we peel our eyes at a television screen, but can do this for hours on end. Video games can capture our imagination and appear, almost, like a work of art alongside the most epic of novels. Some people did not feel this way, and even hated the game, wanted their money back. Many who did were well-provoked. As for myself, I cannot help but feel the same way about War in the North as I did about Lord of the Rings: Conquest way back when - (mind you, all emotion aside, WiTN is an all-around better put-together game) I feel like I had a role in shaping it, however minute, and that makes me love it all the more.

Yes, I love this game. The story is firmly established in Tolkien's world and feels as if Tolkien himself could have written it. The graphics of the game are beautiful, the atmosphere absolutely phenomenal. When I strode through Rivendell, I had to take pause to observe the beauty leagues off in the background. There is depth in the combat, and several ways to take each character, which provides variety. All of this is not even to mention the conversation mechanics, which, although genuine choices are very few, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to move through a conversation in which I set the tone. As for the main characters, I thought that they were bland at first, but the more that I explore the story the more I begin to pick up on their subtle characteristics. Eradan, Andriel, and Farin have slowly found their way into my heart, and I thoroughly enjoy every sarcastic comment and quip made by them, including the rhyming-battle that Andriel and Eradan have as they move through Mirkwood. Personally, I do not believe that these characters are bland at all, they just have subtle personality, much like a variety of Tolkien's characters. Again, skillful work on the part of the Snowblind Team.

Unless I am mistaken, these words are falling on deaf ears and empty space. I do not believe that the developers even attend these forums anymore, but perhaps some day in the future when nostalgia strikes as does an arrow, they will return for the sake of the old memories and come across this message, for it is more towards the developers than anyone else. My dear developers, allow me please to express just how much pleasure I have taken from War in the North, and know that I have a genuine love of the material that you have used and the game that you have formed with it. I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of your video game, and while there may be some who dislike it, I, for my part, will cherish it. In conclusion, you all did a very good job, and you should be proud.

Now I have nothing that I can give, as I am not a high-profile scripter, visual effects artist of the like; rather, I am only a humble writer and poet, but I feel obligated to extend my support to any of your projects in the future, even if all that I can do is spread the news by word of mouth. There are a lot of poor video games out nowadays, and gamers such as myself and others thoroughly enjoy making a mockery of their flaws. So too, we take pleasure in pointing out and praising games that get it right and give to us what we what. However, while incredibly high-profile games such as Red Dead Redemption, Mass Effect 3, and Skyrim gain their accalades from award ceremonies, jems like War in the North are often looked over. So, as a few final words to Snowblind and the team that they have merged with, WB Seattle, allow me thank you. Thank you.

With fondest regards,

Passive Chicken, Elijah

[aron the dwarf]

Well, I'm...I'm choked up.
I really am sad to see that this forum has slowly died and even though we all knew this would happen at one point or another, I'm sure many of us didn't think we'd be so sad when it did. I agree with you Passive, that WITN was overall a great game and I will cherish the memories I had of slaying evil in the magnificent world of Tolkien, made stunningly beautiful by the dedicated Snowblind team. Thus I too would like to thank the team for their work, but I would also like to thank the forum-goers and especially the mods for their diligent work to make this forum such an excellent community of Tolkien fans.
Thank you guys, thanks for the memories.

Aron the Dwarf

[Marveleg]

I'd say it's a good game , but I think we need to be objective : a lot of people have been dissapointed , even some websites clearly said it was a deception . IMO , the game was the best to be released those 6 last years , so it is far to be bad , but I wish I had more levels , more longer and harder levels , more side quests and semi-linear game in final . The rest is good , and it is immersive . I'm a bit sad the community no really longer lurks on the forums , but it had to happen .

[Fexelea]

I'm still here. To whatever end

[ElveHaldir]

Me too :P

If I look back on the game now, I still think it's a great game that's fun to play. Maybe it's not the best game out there, but I think it's one of the most fun games to play, especially with friends.
I do realize however that this game has its flaws too, and I think it's a pity we're being left in the dark a bit by Snowblind or Warner Bros.
In both the case of this forum and the game I dare to state: It was a lot of fun while it lasted

[TolkienIsTruth7]

My hat (Or pehaps more appropriately - my helmet) certainly goes off to a truly fun, immersive, exiting, and creative experience with this game - despite it's frustrating flaws - it has a lot of passion and heart and depth about it... and i think we can all appreciate something about it - i truly adore this community and wish nothing but the best for all it's inhabitants - even though i have become to consumed with the business of life to be very active... Here's to the very best for the future of this company, and to a hasty recovery of this game's issues... and also to a deeper appreciation for the better parts of this game.

Farewell.

[Diablojd05]

As a snowblind game veteran, I did thoroughly enjoy this game when I played it. I guess that is all I can ask for. There is nothing that makes me want to play through the game again, which I'm not sure I can say the same for Champions of Norrath and Baldurs Gate. In that sense it is a little disappointing. I know old Snowblind forum members like Shifty Geezer probably feel the same way. It was a good game, but it just wasn't the same. Cheers to Snowblind though.

[SecretNerd]

Thanks for the positive feedback guys (and girls)! It's great to hear that a number of people really enjoyed the game, imperfections and all!

- Anonymous Snowblind Developer

[HolyTemplarKnight]

I'd actually take WITN over Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance any day. I have no idea why people like games like Baldur's Gate: DA, Torchlight and Diablo since they simply consist of bashing one button against impossible waves of enemies and what do you get out of it? Better equipment? There's no fun, challenge, variety and stories in these games are most often terrible. WITN was different though as the combat system was straight out of an action-RPG and the skills made it varied. There was dialogue and while the story wasn't amazing it did provide a reason to continue playing the game other than for better loot and combat.

It's one of the best loot RPG's on consoles in my opinion. It has flaws but it's a great game nonetheless. I only wish Snowblind created a patch to deal with those bugs because it's clearly damaging their reputation with some people refusing to buy whatever game they develop next. As for the forum dying down that should have been expected really. War in The North was always a game developed by a company that wasn't really that massively known. Like the Two Worlds 2 forum, the attention has died down mostly.

[SnowblindTina]

I agree,

This was really quite beautiful. Thank you so much for your thoughts Elijah... and just so you know it's not on deaf ears, I've just sent this to the team. Your sentiment will be really meaningful, and we appreciate it (and you) so very very much!