Warner Bros. Interactive has acquired Turbine, the developer of online roleplaying games that include Dungeons & Dragons Online (pictured), Lord of the Rings Online and Asheron’s Call.
The entertainment company already has the movie rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Turbine has shown an ability to get payers to play for virtual goods in D&D Online even after shifting the game to a free-to-play model last year, so that was no doubt an attractive element for Warner as the virtual goods market is only going to expand with the success of casual games like FarmVille. Also, it gives Warner a development platform to roll out online games in connection with its blockbuster film franchises.
