Since the late 70s there have been over 100 computer games set explicitly in Tolkien's Middle-earth and hundreds—probably thousands—of others strongly influenced by it (just count the number of games containing Orcs). But would Tolkien, had he been alive, have welcomed such a development? Or is computer gaming in Middle-earth nothing short of heresy? I am not sure, but in this article I will bring forth some thoughts on the subject.
I think it is a safe guess that Tolkien never saw or used a computer. If he had, he no doubt would have thought it one of Sauron's contraptions. Computers, even in the 70s, were large, noisy and very unfriendly to anyone without a degree in science and a couple of years of computing experience.
However, he also liked electric typewriters (Letters: 344) and I think he would very much have enjoyed the word processing capabilities of today's personal computers. Just imagine all the work it would have saved him when revising The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion again and again.
So in spite of Tolkien's dislike for machines and other modern inventions—he once said that "Labour-saving machinery only creates endless and worse labour" (Letters: 88)—I think that he would probably have approved of computers as they look today (although he would certainly have disliked the Internet with all its preposterous Tolkien pages).
But as a general rule, Tolkien did not think so highly of adaptations of his works to other media. The Letters contain several comments on the BBC radio dramatization and on a proposed animated movie with which Tolkien was not pleased. He did not like liberties taken with his plot, nor how the characters were handled, how the story was abbreviated and several other things.
In light of this, I think it safe to say that he would not have approved of nearly all the games that have so far seen the light of day. One of the worst examples are Lord of the Rings: Game One (published by Melbourne House in 1985, and by Addison-Wesley under the title The Fellowship of the Ring Software Adventure in 1986) where the authors have shown absolutely no regard for the spirit of the original, including in the game such things as photographs, a gramophone player, Radagast living in a monastery in the Blue Mountains, a heavy metal Orc band in the Barrow-downs, a cannabis plant close to Tom Bombadil's house and three black riders sitting in a pub drinking. In spite of this, the game was licensed by the Tolkien Estate.
It is even questionable if it is possible to make a computer game adaptation of The Lord of the Rings which is true to the original. It lies in the nature of a computer game that it is always something of a simulation. As such, there is no telling in advance exactly what the final outcome will be. It is still, however, within the powers of the game designer to decide exactly what liberties the player should be allowed to take; what parts of the story should be manipulable. And this is a source for conflict: the designer can either decide to make a very flexible design (as with the MUDs or a strategy game such as War in Middle Earth, published by Virgin Games under the Melbourne House label in 1988) in which case the story line will certainly not follow the plot of the original book, or he or she can make a very rigid design, of which the Spanish game El Señor de los Anillos, Parte 1: La Communidad del Anillo (Libro 1) (shareware game written by Dimas Caparrós Gómez in 1991 without a license) is the best example, which results in a dreadfully boring game.
In my opinion, The Lord of the Rings is simply unsuitable as a basis for a game. Philip Mitchell (designer of the above mentioned Lord of the Rings: Game One) discovered this, and says that "[The Lord of the Rings] was not as well suited to the style of game we were doing then as The Hobbit was—at least we had a great deal more trouble coming up with an adventure game based on the stories (OH 18)." Why is this? I think one reason might be the epic scale of the book. There are few opportunities to take liberties with the plot without screwing up the spirit of the book.
If Tolkien computer games are ever to earn their raison d'être, I think the game designers must first realize a few things: It is easier (in a way) to make a game that is not based on any of the books, but merely takes Middle-earth as the setting of the game. Additionally, it is not enough just to read The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. For a more thorough understanding of Tolkien's ideas and motivations, a great deal of research into posthumous publications is necessary.
I could go on here and talk about making use of new technology and fancy stuff like that, but I will not, since I do not think it important. It all boils down to just one thing: respect for the original. I think it appropriate to end this article with the words of Scott Bennie from the introduction to the manual of The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers (Interplay, 1991): "I am not certain that Tolkien would have approved of computer games....Hopefully, this adaptation of 'Lord of the Rings' will transform the machine into an object of delight...; something more fit for Rivendell than Mordor." I do not know if Tolkien would have agreed that he succeeded (nor even that I would) but if more designers showed such respect, I am sure that we would see better games.