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Massively's Age of Conan launch day giveaway
Happy launch-day, Age of Conan! For those of you who are curious about the game but haven't picked up your own copy, you're in luck! We're celebrating the game's launch with a giveaway -- we have eight copies of Age of Conan (worth about $50 each) and three guides to Hyboria (worth about $10 each) to share with you, dear readers. So if you've got a hankering for Hyboria, it's easy to enter: all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us why you're interested in playing Age of Conan before 7:00 AM EST Wednesday, May 21st. (Please, only one entry per person -- we can only deal with so much enthusiasm at once!) When the contest closes, we'll pick eleven winners at random and ship you a shiny prize. To win you must be age 18 or up and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec) -- for full eligibilty details, please read our official rules.%Gallery-9836%
Breakfast Topic: Did Age of Conan pull you away this weekend?
Funcom's Age of Conan opened yesterday to those who pre-ordered. Considered one of the two MMO's this year that has a chance to take a chunk out of WoW (Warhammer Online being the other), this newest entry into the overcrowded fantasy genre officially goes live on Thursday, but Early Access was granted to those willing to lay out the cash.Now, I'm not fool enough to predict that AoC will take down WoW, but I do believe it will take a chunk out of WoW's playerbase in the short term. There is a malaise setting in among WoW players and guilds now that we are in the long wait until Wrath's launch. And nothing kicks you out of gaming doldrums like something new and shiny (not to mention bouncy and bloody.)This morning we ask you not if you are leaving WoW for AoC, but if you are indulging in a little weekend sideline fun in the lands of Hyboria. Or have your stalwart guildmates suddenly disappeared yesterday?
AoC Lore: Boat Captain Amyr
Down in Stygia there's a river called Styx. Of all the boat captains in the Khopshef Province the most well known is Amyr, master of the Pride of Luxor. Unlike most of the other boats the Luxor is old, but so well maintained that you'd swear it was better than new. Decorated with bright colors, she glides across the lapping waves with little effort. No matter what it is (people or cargo) -- when it absolutely, positively has to get there... Amyr will get it there.The captain is a barrel chested, imposing man with a booming voice who has the command presence that even King Conan would admire. Blunt and forthright are his hallmark characteristics. While he may be stern he's also very shrewd, and can haggle with the best of them.There may be one (and only one) weakness. Rumors suggest that he has soft spot for a woman named Semira, a priestess of Derketo who lives on the island of Pashtun. No soul alive would openly suggest such a thing to Amyr's face.
April Fools' in Age of Conan
We should've known those merry pranksters at Funcom wouldn't let the day go by without something. Age of Conan is best-known for its Barbarians, of course, but did you know that there were elves to be played as well?According to the site, 'Their graceful nature and beautiful appearance will often garner a few coin from passers-by simply by existing, and elves are granted first access to all taverns in the land, while others may have to wait for an instance to open up just to get in, and their exclusive, elf-only tree cities provide a relaxing respite from a wearying world.' So basically, elves are the celebrities of Hyboria. What else is new?For extra points, make sure you check out the elf character creation video at the bottom of the page![Thanks, Rollins!]
Age of Conan Product Developer interview, with gameplay video
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Age_of_Conan_interview_and_video'; On December 5th, I was invited to the Eidos/Funcom Age of Conan press event, where I was privileged enough to be granted access to both the game itself and the development team. I was able to play the opening area, leading into the first town. I sussed out the combat and the conversation interface. I spoke with Jørgen Tharaldsen, the Product Developer, and he let drop a metric ton of knowledge upon my fevered noggin. I reprint here our conversation, interspersed with my handheld-shot video pieces, the first of which is shown above, which is where the game starts, with you as a survivor of a shipwrecked slaver ship. I'd like to thank Jørgen and the entire Eidos/Funcom team, all of whom I found to be gracious, witty, and enthusiastic about their game, which is refreshing to see. My take? The game looks incredible, and it's extremely immersive from the get-go. They say they're on schedule for an early 2008 release, so this is something to anticipate indeed. More videos and the interview after the jump!
