<s>
The	B-Application
Lord	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Rings	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2006	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Being	O
second	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Middle-Earth	O
strategy	O
game	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
fantasy	O
novels	O
The	O
Lord	O
of	O
the	O
Rings	O
and	O
The	B-Application
Hobbit	I-Application
by	O
J	O
.	O
R	O
.	O
R	O
.	O
Tolkien	O
and	O
its	O
live-action	O
film	O
series	O
adaptation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
sequel	O
to	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
 '	O
2004	O
title	O
The	B-Application
Lord	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Rings	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
for	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
is	O
divided	O
into	O
Good	O
and	O
Evil	O
Campaigns	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Windows	B-Application
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
2006	O
and	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
July	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
received	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
from	O
video	O
game	O
critics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
received	O
numerous	O
awards	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Editors	O
 '	O
Choice	O
Award	O
from	O
IGN	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
March	O
2006	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
reached	O
fourth	O
in	O
a	O
list	O
of	O
the	O
month	O
's	O
best-selling	O
PC	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Windows	B-Application
expansion	O
pack	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
November	O
2006	O
,	O
called	O
The	B-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Witch-king	I-Application
,	O
which	O
features	O
a	O
new	O
faction	O
known	O
as	O
Angmar	O
,	O
new	O
units	O
,	O
and	O
several	O
gameplay	O
improvements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
official	O
game	B-Application
servers	I-Application
were	O
shut	O
down	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
in	O
2010	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
in	O
2011	O
,	O
however	O
Windows	B-Application
users	O
may	O
still	O
play	O
online	O
using	O
unofficial	O
game	B-Application
servers	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
is	O
a	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similar	O
to	O
its	B-Application
predecessor	I-Application
,	O
the	O
game	O
requires	O
that	O
the	O
player	O
build	O
a	O
base	O
with	O
structures	O
to	O
produce	O
units	O
,	O
gather	O
resources	O
,	O
research	O
upgrades	O
,	O
and	O
provide	O
defenses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
the	B-Application
first	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
build	O
an	O
unlimited	O
number	O
of	O
structures	O
anywhere	O
on	O
the	O
map	O
,	O
allowing	O
for	O
more	O
freedom	O
in	O
base	O
building	O
and	O
unit	O
production	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Units	O
are	O
classified	O
into	O
one	O
of	O
several	O
classes	O
:	O
infantry	B-Protocol
,	O
ranged	O
,	O
pikemen	O
,	O
cavalry	O
,	O
or	O
siege	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hero	O
units	O
are	O
unique	O
in	O
that	O
only	O
one	O
of	O
each	O
can	O
be	O
created	O
;	O
they	O
consist	O
of	O
characters	O
from	O
the	O
novel	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Aragorn	O
,	O
Legolas	O
,	O
Gimli	O
,	O
Saruman	O
,	O
Nazgûl	O
,	O
Mouth	O
of	O
Sauron	O
,	O
Arwen	O
,	O
the	O
Witch-king	O
of	O
Angmar	O
,	O
and	O
Shelob	O
,	O
characters	O
created	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
like	O
Gorkil	B-Application
the	O
Goblin	O
King	O
and	O
Drogoth	B-Application
the	O
Dragon	O
Lord	O
,	O
or	O
are	O
created	O
via	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Hero	O
Creator	O
(	O
only	O
accessible	O
via	O
the	O
PC	O
version	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
the	O
player	O
kills	O
Gollum	B-Application
,	O
a	O
non-player	O
character	O
,	O
they	O
are	O
rewarded	O
with	O
the	O
One	O
Ring	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
War	O
of	O
the	O
Ring	O
mode	O
carried	O
over	O
from	O
the	B-Application
first	I-Application
game	I-Application
in	O
the	O
series	O
combines	O
turn-based	O
strategy	O
elements	O
with	O
real-time	O
skirmishes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
introduces	O
three	O
new	O
factions	O
with	O
unique	O
units	O
and	O
heroes	O
:	O
Goblins	O
,	O
Dwarves	O
,	O
and	O
Elves	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Along	O
with	O
Mordor	B-Application
and	O
Isengard	O
from	O
the	B-Application
first	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
there	O
are	O
six	O
playable	O
factions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
troops	O
of	O
Gondor	O
provide	O
a	O
solid	O
offense	O
and	O
defense	O
with	O
standard	O
infantry	B-Protocol
and	O
archers	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Rohirrim	O
of	O
Rohan	O
act	O
as	O
elite	O
cavalry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Elven	O
archers	O
are	O
effective	O
at	O
inflicting	O
damage	O
from	O
a	O
distance	O
,	O
and	O
their	O
support	O
units	O
,	O
the	O
Ents	O
,	O
can	O
perform	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
melee	B-Application
and	O
siege	O
attacks	O
,	O
they	O
are	O
often	O
considered	O
the	O
strongest	O
defensive	O
faction	O
due	O
to	O
their	O
strong	O
missile	O
units	O
and	O
powerful	O
'	O
silverthorn	O
arrows	O
 '	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
slow	O
and	O
expensive	O
,	O
Dwarven	O
infantry	B-Protocol
,	O
pikemen	O
,	O
and	O
axe-throwers	O
are	O
very	O
powerful	O
and	O
well-armored	O
allowing	O
them	O
to	O
prevail	O
in	O
even	O
the	O
longest	O
clashes	O
with	O
enemy	O
troops	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
only	O
advantage	O
is	O
that	O
the	O
goblin	O
archer	O
and	O
soldier	O
units	O
are	O
cheap	O
to	O
make	O
at	O
only	O
75	O
resources	O
and	O
build	O
faster	O
than	O
other	O
basic	O
infantry	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mordor	B-Application
forces	O
are	O
a	O
mixture	O
of	O
Orcs	O
,	O
Men	O
,	O
Trolls	O
,	O
Mûmakil	O
,	O
and	O
Sauron	O
's	O
lieutenants	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mordor	B-Application
Orcs	O
have	O
tough	O
armor	O
,	O
making	O
them	O
useful	O
for	O
absorbing	O
enemy	O
damage	O
while	O
stronger	O
units	O
attack	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Trolls	O
contribute	O
greatly	O
to	O
the	O
Mordor	B-Application
offensives	O
,	O
having	O
strong	O
melee	B-Application
attacks	O
and	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
throw	O
boulders	O
or	O
wield	O
trees	O
like	O
swords	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
Tolkien	O
's	O
earlier	O
novel	O
The	B-Application
Hobbit	I-Application
lends	O
several	O
elements	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
including	O
characters	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Giant	O
Spiders	O
from	O
Mirkwood	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
for	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
is	O
divided	O
into	O
Good	O
and	O
Evil	O
Campaigns	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
next	O
battle	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
Goblin	O
capital	O
of	O
Ettenmoors	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
Goblin	O
fortress	O
is	O
destroyed	O
and	O
Gorkil	B-Application
the	O
Goblin	O
King	O
is	O
killed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
their	O
victory	O
,	O
the	O
heroes	O
are	O
informed	O
that	O
the	O
Goblins	O
on	O
Sauron	O
's	O
command	O
enlisted	O
the	O
service	O
of	O
a	O
Dragon	O
named	O
Drogoth	B-Application
who	O
is	O
laying	O
waste	O
to	O
the	O
Dwarves	O
of	O
the	O
Blue	O
Mountains	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
heroes	O
make	O
their	O
way	O
to	O
the	O
Blue	O
Mountains	O
and	O
help	O
the	O
Dwarven	O
army	O
defeat	O
Drogoth	B-Application
and	O
his	O
Goblins	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mordor	B-Application
's	O
overwhelming	O
forces	O
besiege	O
the	O
Lake	O
Town	O
of	O
Esgaroth	O
and	O
the	O
Dwarven	O
city	O
of	O
Erebor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Dwarven	O
king	O
Dáin	O
leads	O
a	O
small	O
group	O
of	O
Dwarves	O
and	O
men	O
of	O
Dale	O
to	O
defend	O
their	O
homeland	O
and	O
manage	O
to	O
eliminate	O
the	O
Mordor	B-Application
presence	O
in	O
Esgaroth	O
but	O
are	O
forced	O
to	O
retreat	O
back	O
to	O
Erebor	O
to	O
defend	O
themselves	O
against	O
an	O
overwhelming	O
army	O
led	O
by	O
the	O
Mouth	O
of	O
Sauron	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
group	O
of	O
Goblins	O
led	O
by	O
the	O
Goblin	O
King	O
Gorkil	B-Application
attacks	O
the	O
Grey	O
Havens	O
by	O
land	O
and	O
sea	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Hobbits	I-Application
of	O
the	O
Shire	O
are	O
chosen	O
as	O
the	O
next	O
target	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gorkil	B-Application
's	O
horde	O
manages	O
to	O
crush	O
the	B-Application
Hobbits	I-Application
and	O
burn	O
their	O
country	O
to	O
the	O
ground	O
,	O
but	O
Saruman	O
's	O
servant	O
Gríma	O
Wormtongue	O
suddenly	O
appears	O
with	O
a	O
large	O
army	O
of	O
Isengard	O
Uruks	O
and	O
claims	O
the	O
land	O
for	O
his	O
master	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Goblins	O
annihilate	O
the	O
well-trained	O
army	O
and	O
kill	O
Wormtongue	O
,	O
taking	O
the	O
Shire	O
for	O
themselves	O
while	O
enslaving	O
the	B-Application
Hobbits	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gorkil	B-Application
continues	O
marching	O
west	O
and	O
besieges	O
Fornost	O
,	O
the	O
fortified	O
ruins	O
of	O
the	O
ancient	O
capitol	O
of	O
Arnor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
fall	O
of	O
Mirkwood	O
,	O
the	O
Mouth	O
of	O
Sauron	O
leads	O
his	O
horde	O
to	O
Withered	O
Heath	O
to	O
recruit	O
the	O
Dragon	O
Lord	O
Drogoth	B-Application
after	O
destroying	O
the	O
Dwarves	O
in	O
the	O
area	O
and	O
freeing	O
the	O
captive	O
Fire	O
Drakes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Mouth	O
of	O
Sauron	O
wins	O
Drogoth	B-Application
over	O
by	O
bringing	O
some	O
fire	O
drakes	O
that	O
they	O
freed	O
from	O
the	O
Dwarves	O
to	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
final	O
battle	O
against	O
the	O
Good	O
factions	O
in	O
the	O
North	O
,	O
the	O
Goblin	O
horde	O
and	O
Sauron	O
's	O
forces	O
from	O
Mordor	B-Application
converge	O
at	O
Rivendell	O
,	O
the	O
last	O
surviving	O
stronghold	O
against	O
Sauron	O
in	O
Middle-earth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tolkien	O
Enterprises	O
granted	O
the	O
publisher	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
,	O
the	O
rights	O
to	O
develop	O
The	O
Lord	O
of	O
the	O
Games	O
video	O
games	O
based	O
on	O
The	O
Lord	O
of	O
the	O
Rings	O
books	O
on	O
July	O
22	O
,	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
same	O
announcement	O
,	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
revealed	O
two	O
games	O
that	O
its	O
EA	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
division	O
would	O
be	O
developing	O
with	O
the	O
license	O
:	O
The	B-Application
Lord	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Rings	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
for	O
Windows	B-Application
—	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
The	B-Application
Lord	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Rings	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
—	O
and	O
The	B-Device
Lord	I-Device
of	I-Device
the	I-Device
Rings	I-Device
:	I-Device
Tactics	I-Device
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Portable	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
10	O
,	O
2005	O
,	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
announced	O
that	O
Hugo	O
Weaving	O
,	O
who	O
played	O
Elrond	O
in	O
the	O
Lord	O
of	O
the	O
Rings	O
film	O
trilogy	O
,	O
would	O
reprise	O
his	O
role	O
as	O
Elrond	O
and	O
be	O
the	O
lead	O
voiceover	O
talent	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
13	O
,	O
2006	O
,	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
reported	O
that	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
was	O
under	O
development	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
was	O
promised	O
to	O
feature	O
a	O
"	O
unique	O
and	O
intuitive	O
control	O
scheme	O
"	O
developed	O
by	O
video	O
game	O
designer	O
Louis	O
Castle	O
,	O
co-founder	O
of	O
the	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
developer	O
Westwood	O
Studios	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
would	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
play	O
online	O
via	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castle	O
was	O
excited	O
to	O
port	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
a	O
console	O
,	O
stating	O
,	O
"	O
Living	O
these	O
cinematic	O
battles	O
in	O
high-definition	O
with	O
stunning	O
surround	O
sound	O
,	O
all	O
from	O
the	O
comfort	O
of	O
your	O
living	O
room	O
couch	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
is	O
an	O
extraordinary	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
 [ ... ] 	O
Adding	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
battle	O
it	O
out	O
with	O
friends	O
via	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
is	O
also	O
really	O
exciting.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
water	O
effects	O
received	O
substantial	O
upgrades	O
because	O
of	O
the	O
large	O
role	O
naval	O
battles	O
play	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Water	O
was	O
chosen	O
as	O
the	O
first	O
graphical	O
component	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
to	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
DirectX	B-Application
9	I-Application
programmable	O
shaders	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
cinematic	O
director	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
Richard	O
Taylor	O
was	O
responsible	O
for	O
designing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
opening	O
and	O
closing	O
sequences	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
campaign	O
and	O
mission	O
introductions	O
and	O
endings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
by	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
on	O
March	O
2	O
,	O
2006	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
and	O
July	O
5	O
,	O
2006	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Electronic	O
Arts	O
released	O
a	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
that	O
includes	O
a	O
bonus	O
DVD	O
with	O
supplemental	O
high-definition	O
media	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
full	O
original	O
music	O
score	O
;	O
in-game	O
cinematics	O
and	O
trailers	O
;	O
the	O
documentary	O
The	O
Making	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
;	O
and	O
The	O
Art	O
of	O
the	O
Game	O
,	O
a	O
gallery	O
featuring	O
hundreds	O
of	O
cinematic	O
paintings	O
and	O
concept	O
art	O
created	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
given	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
,	O
receiving	O
an	O
aggregated	O
score	O
of	O
84%	O
at	O
Metacritic	O
for	O
its	O
Windows	B-Application
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
was	O
given	O
the	O
Editor	O
's	O
Choice	O
Award	O
from	O
IGN	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
its	O
debut	O
month	O
of	O
March	O
2006	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
reached	O
fourth	O
in	O
a	O
list	O
of	O
the	O
month	O
's	O
best-selling	O
PC	O
games	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
peaked	O
at	O
eighth	O
place	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
second	O
month	O
after	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
was	O
the	O
12th	O
best-selling	O
PC	O
game	O
,	O
despite	O
a	O
10%	O
slump	O
in	O
overall	O
game	O
sales	O
for	O
that	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
compared	O
to	O
its	B-Application
predecessor	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Lord	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Rings	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
,	O
GamePro	O
was	O
convinced	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
had	O
improved	O
upon	O
the	O
original	O
in	O
several	O
fundamental	O
ways	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
believed	O
that	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
offered	O
better	O
gameplay	O
and	O
a	O
much	O
broader	O
scope	O
that	O
encompassed	O
more	O
of	O
Middle-earth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
considered	O
the	O
high	O
quality	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
proof	O
that	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
was	O
truly	O
interested	O
in	O
building	O
great	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
a	O
few	O
minor	O
issues	O
,	O
GameZone	O
was	O
happy	O
with	O
the	O
gameplay	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
believing	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
did	O
a	O
good	O
job	O
of	O
enabling	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
experience	O
the	O
turmoil	O
of	O
the	O
fantasy	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
admired	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
conversion	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
version	O
,	O
calling	O
it	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
PC-to-console	O
conversions	O
"	O
and	O
praising	O
the	O
developers	O
for	O
a	O
"	O
commendable	O
job	O
of	O
assigning	O
actions	O
to	O
the	O
360	B-Operating_System
controller	O
’s	O
eight	O
buttons	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
British	O
video	O
game	O
publication	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
UK	O
was	O
unhappy	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
claiming	O
that	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
chose	O
to	O
release	O
a	O
formulaic	O
game	O
because	O
it	O
was	O
a	O
safer	O
choice	O
than	O
taking	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
in	O
another	O
direction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
editors	O
of	O
Computer	O
Games	O
Magazine	O
named	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
2	I-Application
the	O
third-best	O
computer	O
game	O
of	O
2006	O
,	O
and	O
called	O
it	O
"	O
undeniably	O
a	O
labor	O
of	O
love	O
,	O
a	O
grand	O
work	O
of	O
art	O
and	O
strategy.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Smithsonian	O
American	O
Art	O
Museum	O
selected	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
one	O
of	O
80	O
games	O
spanning	O
the	O
past	O
40	O
years	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
part	O
of	O
The	O
Art	O
of	O
Video	O
Games	O
exhibit	O
that	O
ran	O
from	O
March	O
,	O
2012	O
to	O
September	O
2012	O
in	O
Washington	O
,	O
DC	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Electronic	O
Arts	O
announced	O
on	O
July	O
27	O
,	O
2006	O
that	O
its	O
EA	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
studio	O
would	O
be	O
releasing	O
an	O
expansion	O
pack	O
to	O
The	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
titled	O
The	B-Application
Lord	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Rings	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Battle	I-Application
for	I-Application
Middle-earth	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Witch-king	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Witch-king	I-Application
adds	O
a	O
new	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
,	O
new	O
units	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
faction	O
,	O
and	O
improved	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
9	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
online	O
game	B-Application
servers	I-Application
would	O
be	O
shut	O
down	O
on	O
January	O
11	O
,	O
2011	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
format	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
