Licensing firm picks up new game-related Web addresses focused on J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy novels.

Are gamers being called back to J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth? New domain name registrations indicate a new game--Legends of Middle-earth--is in the development pipeline.

Who are the legends of Middle-earth?

As spotted by trademark and domain name sleuthing site Fusible, The Saul Zaentz Company (owners of Middle-earth Enterprises) grabbed the following domain names on March 12: LegendsofMiddleEarthGame.com, LOMgame.com, and LOMEgame.com.

None of the websites are operable, and as of press time, Warner Bros. had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment. Warner Bros. has held the Lord of the Rings games license since 2009.

If a Legends of Middle-earth game comes to fruition, the name won't be a surprise to everyone. A pen-and-paper role-playing game of the same name was designed by a fan and posted online in 2004. It is unclear if the domain name registrations are in any way tied to this project.

The most recent Lord of the Rings title to hit shelves was 2011's tepidly received Lord of the Rings: War in the North, developed for Warner Bros. by Snowblind Studios. And according to an October report, a game based on The Hobbit is planned to ship prior to the film, which hits theaters on December 14.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot