The Lord of the Rings Online developers have been spending a lot of time updating us on how the new level 60 cap will affect all of the classes. They've already done Burglar, Lore-master and Hunter (covered here ) and Champion, Minstrel and Rune-keeper (covered here ). Well, now it's time for the Captain, Guardian and all-new Warden to shine in the spotlight.

As always, the diaries focus on three trait sets, improved skills and class items. Keep reading for some quotes from each entry, or check out the above links for the full entries.

Gamasutra talked to Turbine CEO Jim Crowley about Turbine's future support for cross and multi platform support!

Crowley noted that in Japan and the West -- less so in China, Korea and other parts of Asia -- "the game platform of choice for many people tends to be the next-gen console platform. We think it’s important that we participate in that community."

He feels the market "has very strong appetite" for the experience of an MMO on consoles -- "And we're not disclosing yet how we're going to do that, but it's fair to say that is a very important part of how we look at the world going forward, and one that we have devoted a significant amount of time and resources to already."

I'm sure we'll be hearing more and more on this subject as folks in the MMO making business are scrambling to grab console fans!  What that means for those of us committed to a PC market for our beloved games, well, we can only hope that we're not taken over by the console folks!

Yesterday we linked to a developer diary outlining the creation of the Warden class. Well, now they've gone one step further and posted a full article on mastering the Warden.

The Warden class represents the brave citizen-soldiers of Middle-earth, the vigilant defenders of the realm patrolling at the edge of the firelight, where civilization meets the Wild. Whether she takes after the Rangers of the North or the infantry of Gondor, the Warden is a quick and cunning skirmisher, shunning heavy and restrictive armor in favor of nimble shields and flexible leathers. Joining spear and javelin with gall and guile, the Warden stands ready to fight the Enemy at home or abroad.

The full entry can be found here or below. It gives some helpful tips on how to make the most of the class, which mainly involve learning the new Gambit system.

In the newest developer diary featuring class changes and additions in Mines of Moria, the creation of the Warden is discussed in full.

When I was first asked to lead the design for one of LOTRO’s new classes I was given two main directives. The first was that the new class should be able to function as a main tank in grouping situations, and the second was that the new class should be visually distinct from all the other classes. Those goals, along with the class name formed the foundation of the Warden.

For more information on the spear-wielding class, including an in-depth discussion of Gambits, which are special combos of skills, read the diary entry.

The Lord of the Rings Online developers recently outlined how the Burglar, Lore-master and Hunter classes will change as the level 50 cap is broken in Mines of Moria and you level to 60. Next up in the dev diary series are the updates for the Champion, Minstrel and Rune-keeper classes.

Each diary outlines the three trait sets, new skills and Legendary Items that will be available in the next 10 levels. They're all quite long and in-depth, so read them to either catch up on the Minstrel and Champion changes, or find out about the all-new Rune-keeper class.

For a summary of the Rune-keep class diary, keep reading below.

We received a press release today from Turbine, the creators of Lord of the Rings Online, announcing the opening of their new development studio in Redwood City, Calif.

In addition, Turbine has hired Dave Brevik as creative director, Jeff Lind as engineering director and Matt McKnight as studio director of its new California studio. Allakhazam readers may be most familiar with Brevik, who spent seven years as both president for Blizzard North and as a director of Blizzard Entertainment

According to the press release, "The new studio will be a vital part of Turbine’s corporate vision as it brings new titles to market, expands the platforms it supports and introduces new technologies to expand and grow the communities that are the foundation of online games."

This news comes a month before the release of the Mines of Moria expansion, which will be in stores Nov. 18. The full press release on the new studio announcement is below.

A massive Hero's Guide to the Flaming Deeps has been posted on the official Lord of the Rings Online Web site. It covers a myriad of topic, from Anazârmekhem quests that further the epic battle in the halls of the Flaming Deeps to the enemies and hazards adventurers will face in their travels.

Now new heroes of Middle-earth must brave the dangers of Moria in the fervent hope of conquering the world beneath and returning this once-great realm to the control of its rightful owners, the Dwarves.

As we previously announced, the Mines of Moria expansion will be released on Nov. 18.

Mark your calendars! Turbine has officially announced that the Mines of Moria expansion will be released on Nov. 18 so players can continue their epic journey into the depths of Middle-earth.

Gamers who pre-order or purchase an early digital upgrad eof the expansion will have access to many perks, including a subscription price of $9.99 per month when purchasing a multi-month plan, a $199 lifetime membership option, and special in-game items and titles.

As if that wasn't enough, Turbine is also hosting a Treasures of Moria contest with prizes valued at $25,000. Each specially-marked retail box of the expansion contains instant win codes, or you can get one simply by visiting moria.lotro.com. The full rules can also be found on that Moria site.

When Mines of Moria hits the shelves, players will suddenly find themselves with the opportunity to break the level 50 cap and work their way toward 60. What exactly will that mean for the various classes? How will the access to new traits, virtues, skills, and class quests affect the way you play?

Well, three new developer diaries begin to answer those questions for the Burglar, Lore-master, and Hunter classes. These are only the first in a series of diaries, so you can expect to see more down the road.

These diary entries are quite long an in-depth. Keep reading for a summary of the updates for each class, but I recommend checking out the full entries if you're truly curious about what the Mines of Moria expansion will truly mean for your characters.

Lord of the Rings Online fans received a pleasant surprise in their e-mail inboxes today as Turbine announced in their September newsletter that players will enjoy +25% bonus experience boost from Oct. 2-6. This event is to get characters ready for the upcoming Mines of Moria expansion, and also coincides with the Harvest Festival , which runs until Oct. 12.

In addition, a community manager posted on the official LotRO message board that Oct. 2-6 will also be "Welcome Back Weekend," which grants free access to returning Lord of the Rings players. If you left LotRO and want to get your old character back, now's the time to do it for free with an XP bonus, to boot.