As from today, gamers in the USA, Australia and New Zealand can try out Turbine's Tolkien based MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar for seven days, after downloading the 3.9gb client of course.

Visit trial.lotro.com for details, European customers will have to wait for further announcements.

LOTRO has received critical acclaim from around the globe. Since its launch in April, LOTRO has quickly become the second largest MMORPG with an estimated 4 million characters calling Middle-earth their home. The game continues to grow with two massive updates that have increased the world by over 20%:

- 10,000,000 square meters of new landscape to explore
- Over 200 new quests that extend the epic story
- Introduction of Legendary Play where players can experience PvP as a powerful Ranger or a fearsome Troll
- New and updated features including the Reputation, Bartering and Music systems

"We have surpassed our goal of combining the greatest fantasy of all time with a state-of-the-art online social experience," said Jeffrey Anderson, CEO of Turbine, Inc. "And now, we want everyone to have the opportunity to walk through the Shire, climb the Misty Mountains, fight with their own fellowship in the War of the Ring, and fully experience the greatest fantasy of all time."