Turbine Inc., creators of Lord of the Rings: Online and Dungeons & Dragons: Online, has been awarded $40 million in venture capital funding, according to an online report created by investment site Private Equity Hub.

This latest infusion of cash brings Turbines total venture funding to $88 million.

Turbine spokesman Adam Mersky has promised to reveal information on the companys future plans within the next two weeks.

While we wont know exactly what Turbine has planned until it sheds more light on things, I would like to point out a few things that we do know.
Both LotRO and D&DO are reasonably successful and are presumably running under their own self-propagating revenue streams. Theres no need for Turbine to use this new cash on either of those games.

Turbine is a company with a history of creating massively multiplayer online games, and only massively multiplayer online games. Its unlikely that the company would suddenly opt to create a first-person shooter or a historical strategy title.

Turbine, in general, tends to create games based on existing IP. Asherons Call was the last original MMO the company created, and that was nine years ago.
So, Turbine suddenly has a lot more cash, is well-versed in creating MMOs, and may need an existing IP to work with.

Other companies have already covered essential geek fodder like Star Wars and Warhammer, so whats left? Thundercats? Buffy The Vampire Slayer?
The curiosity might kill us.

Turbine secures $40 million in funding