Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has today released the first gameplay trailer for their upcoming MOBA title Guardians of Middle-earth. Featuring a host of Lord of the Ring characters including Gandalf, Golum and Sauron, it seems this console-only MOBA wants to ensure you feel like you're part of the Tolkien lore.

Guardians of Middle-earth is a new multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Monolith Productions, set to be released in autumn 2012 exclusively for Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network. The console-based MOBA offers more than 20 iconic guardians including Gandalf, Sauron, Gollum, Galadriel, Legolas and many more for players to control in PVP arena battles. Gamers will have the ability to connect with other players via an in-game voice communication system, as well as access to a comprehensive online stat and leader board system where they can track friends’ victories and defeats, and more.

While the existence of MOBA titles has been strictly PC related since the original concept of Aeons of Strife, a Starcraft mod that helped push the genre, a console-only title might just be a good thing for the genre.

Check out the trailer below (HD here) to see the characters showing off some of their lore-based skills and abilities in an attempt to conquer the other team’s fortress.