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Bounty Hounds Online closed beta featuring new content
Bounty Hounds Online is talking up its AAA characteristics in the latest press release from Wicked Interactive. According to the blurb, the sci-fi MMORPG "brings triple-A quality to the free-to-play genre" and allows players to choose from five different mercenary class types while directing their avatars through "multiple worlds and environments." Beginning today, Wicked is rolling out a substantial update to the title's closed beta client. The new content includes five high-level Cambria group instances. There are also new missions and events on tap including objectives in the Wastelands that give both stat and skill point reset items. Finally, earned character titles now unlock unique stat-boost accessories, and XP requirements have been adjusted "so you'll spend less time grinding." Sound interesting? Head to the official Bounty Hounds website to learn more. [Source: Wicked Interactive press release]
Monthly update lays out Age of Conan development roadmap
The year ahead is shaping up to be a busy one for Age of Conan, and Funcom's Craig Morrison lays down a rough foundation for the next few months in his latest monthly development update. If you're looking for the short version, it's this: Now that the Dreamworld deployment is in the books, AoC is continuing to pick up new dev talent and will be adding more content going forward. In the immediate future, players are getting crowd-control balances, two level-80 group dungeons, and a faction progression revamp, all of which are slated for the next update and currently available on the test server. Following that, we can look forward to The Forgotten City and The Breach, two new solo auto-content generation dungeons designed for levels 40 to 80. There are also a handful of technical improvements, optimizations, and general balancing scheduled to accompany the new content, and of course the much-anticipated Blood and Glory PvP server ruleset is coming sometime this summer. Finally, Morrison teases fans with a blurb about AoC's late-2011 updates, specifically "two new and important elements incoming." He also hints at some sort of tie-in with the upcoming Conan film reboot. Head to the official AoC boards to see for yourself.
Age of Conan monthly update details new high-level content, faction grind relief
Good news abounds for fans of Funcom's Age of Conan, and game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison has the details in today's monthly development update. The list of positive changes coming to the dark fantasy MMORPG is a long one, and it begins with two new team instances set in the Khitain capital of Paikang. First up is the T'ian'an District, which Morrison says is "all about boss encounters." It also features a speed-run component, and doing a full clear of the zone in one attempt looks to be something only the most elite groups will manage. Next is the Ai District which features two set-piece boss battles as well as "the odd secret to be revealed from careful investigation." The much-reviled Khitai faction grind is also receiving a makeover, though the specifics remain something of a mystery. Morrison explains that faction quest rewards will be substantially increased, but the tweaked content will also bring lockout timers, "forcing some variety into your play sessions." While Morrison doesn't specify the exact nature of the reward increases, he does indicate that we'll be able to see for ourselves very shortly on AoC's test server. Finally, Silirrion reminds PvP-focused players to vote on the Blood and Glory ruleset polls, and provides a tentative release schedule for all of the upcoming content (including the previously mentioned solo instances).
