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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Funcom back to business as usual after Økokrim document seizures]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/funcom-back-to-business-as-usual-after-kokrim-document-seizures/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/funcom-back-to-business-as-usual-after-kokrim-document-seizures/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/funcom-back-to-business-as-usual-after-kokrim-document-seizures/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/legal/" rel="tag">Legal</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/funcom-back-to-business-as-usual-after-kokrim-document-seizures/"><img alt="Funcom logo" data-credit="Funcom" data-mep="110448" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/adam/c543aeda662a3cf1f10b61da235d9ca3/fclogo.jpg" /></a></div>
Yesterday's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/29/funcom-office-raided-charged-with-suspicion-of-stock-infringeme/">&Oslash;kokrim raid</a> on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom's</a> Oslo development office is in the company's rear-view mirror according to director of communications <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/erling-ellingsen">Erling Ellingsen</a>.<br />
<br />
Ellingsen told Massively that while Funcom is "fully cooperating" with the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime, it's now back to business as usual.
<blockquote class="bq-standard">Production on all Funcom games continues as normal, and the company remains fully committed to games in development as well as the continued operation and updating of existing live games. Yesterday's events is not expected to have any impact on the company's continued operation or the development on future releases.<br />
<br />
Funcom's key priorities are the development of the upcoming LEGO Minifigures Online, as well as supporting and expanding on the live games <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan">Age of Conan</a></em>, <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world">The Secret World</a></em> and <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/anarchy-online">Anarchy Online</a></em> with new and exciting content.<br />
<br />
In terms of <em>The Secret World</em>, developers are currently in the process of finalizing its ninth content update, which will send players on a grand adventure through Tokyo, and Funcom will be releasing new information and screenshots from this update soon. Trading in the company stock was only suspended temporarily yesterday, and trading was back to normal shortly thereafter.</blockquote><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/funcom-back-to-business-as-usual-after-kokrim-document-seizures/">Funcom back to business as usual after Økokrim document seizures</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 30 Jan 2014 18:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/funcom-back-to-business-as-usual-after-kokrim-document-seizures/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20819954/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/30/funcom-back-to-business-as-usual-after-kokrim-document-seizures/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>funcom-legal</category><category>funcom-raid</category><category>legal</category><category>okokrim</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 30 Jan 2014 18:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Funcom restructures Montreal branch, keeps games operational]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/funcom-restructures-montreal-branch-keeps-games-operational/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/funcom-restructures-montreal-branch-keeps-games-operational/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/funcom-restructures-montreal-branch-keeps-games-operational/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/anarchy-online/" rel="tag">Anarchy Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/" rel="tag">The Secret World</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/funcom-restructures-montreal-branch-keeps-games-operational/"><img alt="Rumor Funcom closes Montreal branch" data-src-height="206" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/01/funcom.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom/">Funcom</a> is taking hedge trimmers to its Montreal offices today. Senior Game Designer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Tanya-Short/">Tanya Short</a> posted the following this afternoon <a href="https://twitter.com/tanyaxshort/status/292002656321404928">on her Twitter account</a>: "When your branch shuts down, I guess it's less like being fired and more like honorable discharge. Thanks for going down with the ship! Bye!"<br />
<br />
Massively contacted Funcom for an official statement. Director of Communications <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Erling-Ellingsen/">Erling Ellingsen</a> confirmed layoffs but assured us that Funcom's games will continue on: "We are currently in a restructuring process and the Montreal office is part of that process along with our other branches. This process unfortunately involves a reduction in staff, but the studio is not closing down. It will continue on, but in a different form and function than today. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/anarchy-online"><em>Anarchy Online</em></a>, as well as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/"><em>The Secret World</em></a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>Age of Conan</em></a>, will definitely continue to operate and be an important part of the company's focus going forward." He said that the studio would provide more details when it had finished with the process.<br />
<br />
Funcom <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/b2p-boosts-the-secret-world-sales-by-30-funcom-still-restructu/">previously stated</a> that it was restructuring the company to make it more profitable. The Montreal office was established in 2009 and employed 110 people.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/funcom-restructures-montreal-branch-keeps-games-operational/">Funcom restructures Montreal branch, keeps games operational</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/funcom-restructures-montreal-branch-keeps-games-operational/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20432298/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/funcom-restructures-montreal-branch-keeps-games-operational/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>age-of-conan-unchained</category><category>anarchy-online</category><category>ao</category><category>aoc</category><category>aoc-unchained</category><category>buy-to-play</category><category>classic-mmo</category><category>conan</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>f2p</category><category>faction</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>horror</category><category>hyboria</category><category>layoffs</category><category>mythology</category><category>restructuring</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>secret-world</category><category>skill-based</category><category>subscriptionless</category><category>tanya-short</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>tsw</category><category>unchained</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Funcom: Secret World 'not going free-to-play any time soon' [Updated]]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/horror/" rel="tag">Horror</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/" rel="tag">The Secret World</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/"><img alt="Funcom - Secret World 'not going free-to-play anytime soon'" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/10/tswgift.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom's</a> still riding the roller-coaster that is <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world"><em>The Secret World</em></a>, but as of today the Norwegian development firm has no plans to do away with the game's subscription fee. "No it's not going free-to-play any time soon," Funcom communications director <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/erling-ellingsen">Erling Ellingsen</a> told Eurogamer. "There's currently no plans for making it free-to-play."<br />
<br />
The game is in fact profitable as a subscription title, Ellingsen says, and creative director <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ragnar-tornquist">Ragnar Tornquist</a> says that Funcom has content plans laid out through May of 2013. Tornquist and game director <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/joel-bylos">Joel Bylos</a> spend a good bit of the interview talking about the challenges <em>TSW</em> faced last summer, from mediocre reviews to the need to launch and enable continued development to the stiff MMO competition.<br />
<br />
"MMOs are hugely expensive, and of course <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars-2"><em>Guild Wars 2</em></a> has sold a lot, and of course it's a big success. That game cost a lot of money and they're going to have to sell a lot of copies, especially without a subscription model. It is a dangerous path," Tornquist said. "It might be the right path for MMOs; as a consumer, as a player, I appreciate it. As a developer I'm with Joel in thinking that it is unfortunate for a lot of smaller companies or medium-sized companies."<br />
<br />
<strong>[Update: <em>TSW</em> may not be going F2P soon, but it's certainly getting cheaper. Tipster Brant points out that the game is currently <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/215280/">50% off on Steam</a>.]</strong><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/">Funcom: Secret World 'not going free-to-play any time soon' [Updated]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20339351/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>faction</category><category>fantasy</category><category>funcom</category><category>horror</category><category>joel-bylos</category><category>mythology</category><category>postmortem-doesnt-mean-what-eurogamer-thinks-it-means</category><category>Ragnar-Tornquist</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>secret-world</category><category>skill-based</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>tsw</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Funcom layoffs confirmed as temporary [Updated]]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-layoffs-confirmed/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-layoffs-confirmed/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-layoffs-confirmed/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/horror/" rel="tag">Horror</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/anarchy-online/" rel="tag">Anarchy Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/" rel="tag">The Secret World</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/legal/" rel="tag">Legal</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-layoffs-confirmed/"><img alt="Funcom layoffs confirmed" data-src-height="292" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/08/funcom.jpg" /></a></div>
Apparently having suffered a mediocre launch with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/"><em>The Secret World</em></a> and a severe dip in its stock value, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom</a> has announced temporary <a href="http://www.gamer.no/artikler/119411/permitteringer-hos-funcom-bekreftet/">layoffs to its staff</a>. The layoffs are part of a company-wide cost-cutting strategy in response to <em>TSW's</em> failure to hit expected sales scenarios, which Funcom predicted in a <a href="http://www.gamer.no/artikler/117324/funcom-spar-darlig-salg-for-the-secret-world/">press release earlier this month</a>. The layoffs appear to confirm parts of the anonymous tip <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/chaos-theory-the-f2p-future-of-the-secret-world/">we referenced in our <em>Secret World</em> column</a> last Thursday.<br />
<br />
Funcom Director of Communications <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/erling-ellingsen/">Erling Ellingsen</a> confirmed the layoffs to Gamer.no, stating that operations on Funcom's three MMOs will continue and that <em>The Secret World's</em> revenue model will continue as planned.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.eurogamer.dk/articles/2012-08-21-massefyringer-hos-funcom">Unconfirmed reports</a> put the layoffs at 50% to 60% of the studio's workforce. "We're in the middle of the process and we can not go into more detail now," Ellingsen said. <a href="https://twitter.com/funcom">On its Twitter feed</a>, Funcom posted the following: "Thank you for your warm thoughts and support. More information to come soon."<br />
<br />
[Update: Funcom has made a new statement to Massively in light of the layoffs, stressing that the layoffs are <strong>temporary</strong>. "As we announced in the stock notice that went out on August 10th, Funcom is in the process of reducing operational costs and this process includes temporary layoffs as well as other initiatives. As we are currently in the middle of this process we can not provide any further comment at the present time. Rest assured however that we have long-term plans for the company and that we remain fully committed to all of our games. We aim to provide more information soon."]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-layoffs-confirmed/">Funcom layoffs confirmed as temporary [Updated]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-layoffs-confirmed/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20306032/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-layoffs-confirmed/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>age-of-conan-unchained</category><category>anarchy-online</category><category>ao</category><category>aoc</category><category>aoc-unchained</category><category>breaking</category><category>classic-mmo</category><category>conan</category><category>Erling-Ellingsen</category><category>f2p</category><category>faction</category><category>fantasy</category><category>firing</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>horror</category><category>hyboria</category><category>layoff</category><category>layoffs</category><category>mythology</category><category>pink-slip</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>secret-world</category><category>skill-based</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>tsw</category><category>unchained</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Funcom temporarily takes The Secret World Facebook tie-in offline]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/funcom-temporarily-takes-the-secret-world-facebook-tie-in-offlin/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/funcom-temporarily-takes-the-secret-world-facebook-tie-in-offlin/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/funcom-temporarily-takes-the-secret-world-facebook-tie-in-offlin/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/horror/" rel="tag">Horror</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/" rel="tag">The Secret World</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/funcom-temporarily-takes-the-secret-world-facebook-tie-in-offlin/"><img alt="Secret War loading screen" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/secretwar.jpg" /></a></div>
Earlier today <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom</a> pulled its new <a href="http://secretwar.thesecretworld.com/">Secret War</a> game from Facebook. The minigame launched yesterday in an attempt to drum up interest in the upcoming <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world"><em>The Secret World</em></a> MMO.<br />
<br />
We've received a few news tips and heard a few rumors as to why the game was taken offline, so we decided to contact Funcom directly for the full scoop. Director of communications <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/erling-ellingsen">Erling Ellingsen</a> gave us the low-down:<br />
<blockquote class="bq-standard">
	What's happened is that the activity levels on sharing to Facebook has been significantly higher than expected, and we have been asked by Facebook to make certain adjustments. So we are taking down the experience now and will be bringing it up again once the necessary adjustments have been made.<br />
	<br />
	Even shortly after launch yesterday we had tens of thousands of people playing and sharing actively, so the interest for the experience has been very high.</blockquote>
And there you have it. We'll update the story as Funcom brings The Secret War back online or if there are any further developments.<br />
<br />
[Thanks to Adam for the tip!]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/funcom-temporarily-takes-the-secret-world-facebook-tie-in-offlin/">Funcom temporarily takes The Secret World Facebook tie-in offline</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/funcom-temporarily-takes-the-secret-world-facebook-tie-in-offlin/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20219665/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/funcom-temporarily-takes-the-secret-world-facebook-tie-in-offlin/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>faction</category><category>fantasy</category><category>funcom</category><category>funcom-secret-war</category><category>horror</category><category>mythology</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>secret-war</category><category>secret-war-facebook</category><category>secret-world</category><category>skill-based</category><category>the-secret-war</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>the-secret-world-facebook</category><category>tsw</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Massively Exclusive Interview: The Secret World to open the flood gates of info soon]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/massively-exclusive-interview-the-secret-world-to-open-the-floo/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/massively-exclusive-interview-the-secret-world-to-open-the-floo/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/massively-exclusive-interview-the-secret-world-to-open-the-floo/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/horror/" rel="tag">Horror</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/" rel="tag">The Secret World</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/01/the-secret-world-20090408022815275.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
Conspiracy theorists rejoice! <a href="http://funcom.com">Funcom's</a> Lovecraftian horror MMO known as <a href="http://www.darkdaysarecoming.com/"><em>The Secret World</em></a> is looking to get substantially less secretive over the next little while, and we've got a new interview with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom's</a> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/erling-ellingsen">Erling Ellingsen</a> to prove it. <br />
<br />
The company's Director of Communications sat down with us to talk about the plans to reveal <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world"><em>The Secret World</em></a> to, well, the world, and if you're even the slightest bit curious about the skill-based MMO headed up by legendary developer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ragnar-tornquist">Ragnar Tornquist</a>, you'll want to follow along with us after the cut. Ellingsen spills the beans about the title's unique marketing campaign and also hints at the fact that we'll be treated to more traditional (and game-focused) information -- including gameplay footage -- in the coming months.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/massively-exclusive-interview-the-secret-world-to-open-the-floo/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Massively Exclusive Interview: The Secret World to open the flood gates of info soon</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/massively-exclusive-interview-the-secret-world-to-open-the-floo/">Massively Exclusive Interview: The Secret World to open the flood gates of info soon</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/massively-exclusive-interview-the-secret-world-to-open-the-floo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19803833/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/massively-exclusive-interview-the-secret-world-to-open-the-floo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>exclusive</category><category>featured</category><category>funcom</category><category>horror</category><category>interview</category><category>lovecraftian</category><category>new-titles</category><category>Ragnar-Tornquist</category><category>reveals</category><category>skill-based</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Secret World broadcasts footage from the streets of Kingsmouth]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/the-secret-world-broadcasts-footage-from-the-streets-of-kingsmou/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/the-secret-world-broadcasts-footage-from-the-streets-of-kingsmou/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/the-secret-world-broadcasts-footage-from-the-streets-of-kingsmou/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/at-a-glance/" rel="tag">At a glance</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/horror/" rel="tag">Horror</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/" rel="tag">The Secret World</a></p><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/thesecretworld/news.html?sid=6248845&amp;tag=topslot;img;2&amp;mode=previews"><img border="1" hspace="4" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/02/kingsmouthpublicaccess.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left; ">What horrors lie in <a href="http://www.kingsmouth.com/">Kingsmouth</a> when the fog comes to rest? Well that's for you to find out!<br />
<br />
Thanks to a tip from a certain <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/erling-ellingsen">Erling Ellingsen</a>, we've been pointed to <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/thesecretworld/news.html?sid=6248845&amp;tag=topslot;img;2&amp;mode=previews">a brand new trailer</a> for <a href="http://www.darkdaysarecoming.com"><em>The Secret World</em></a>. It seems that someone has hacked into the security cameras around Kingsmouth, giving us a look at the town's various areas. All of this is set to an unknown narrator explaining exactly how Kingsmouth turned from a small, All-American town into the black pit that it is today.<br />
<br />
It's important to note, however, that this video is only a preview of the Kingsmouth location -- it's not a gameplay trailer. Erling attached this "quotable quote" in his e-mail: "<em>This is a part of a ramp up of the communication we're doing around </em>The Secret World<em>. We wanted to give gamers a very quick glimpse into the game and the universe, without giving away exactly how the game looks in motion and in all its glory. We're saving that for GDC actually.</em>"<br type="_moz" />
<br />
So GDC it is then! We'll be there! But, while you're all waiting for GDC, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/thesecretworld/news.html?sid=6248845&amp;tag=topslot;img;2&amp;mode=previews">go on over to Gamespot</a> and learn more about Kingsmouth. (Also, we saw your Lovecraft Lane street sign!  We see your references!)</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/the-secret-world-broadcasts-footage-from-the-streets-of-kingsmou/">The Secret World broadcasts footage from the streets of Kingsmouth</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/thesecretworld/news.html?sid=6248845&amp;tag=topslot;img;2&amp;mode=previews>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/the-secret-world-broadcasts-footage-from-the-streets-of-kingsmou/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19340493/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/the-secret-world-broadcasts-footage-from-the-streets-of-kingsmou/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>h-p-lovecraft</category><category>kingsmouth</category><category>location</category><category>location-reveal</category><category>lovecraft</category><category>ragnar-tornquist</category><category>setting</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>trailer</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Seraphina Brennan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Funcom threatening to delete noob Age of Conan characters]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/funcom-threatening-to-delete-noob-age-of-conan-characters/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/funcom-threatening-to-delete-noob-age-of-conan-characters/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/funcom-threatening-to-delete-noob-age-of-conan-characters/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/01/aocchardeletion_580.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
When it comes to character deletions, just about every MMO out there has a clause in their Terms of Service that indicates they have the right to delete your characters at any time and for no reason whatsoever. With that said, there are very few companies that choose to exercise that right. <br /> <br /> Up until now it has been <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Square-Enix/">Square Enix</a> as part of <a href="http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/index.shtml"><em>Final Fantasy XI</em></a> (even then they occasionally restore characters as part of 'welcome back' promotions), and <a href="http://www.alganon.com"><em>Alganon</em></a>'s new "trial" which allows you to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/22/alganon-tries-something-new-for-trial-accounts/">play for 30 days free before they wipe your character</a> if you don't subscribe. However, as you can see from the above image, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Funcom/">Funcom</a> has opted to join the ranks of "will delete characters" in regards to <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a>. <br /> <br /> When contacted for comment about whether or not this was true, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ErlingEllingsen/">Erling Ellingsen</a>, Director of Communications for Funcom said, "<em>Yes, that's correct. It's a database clean-up. We're going through all accounts that's </em>(sic)<em> been inactive for a long period of time, deleting characters under level 20 to free space in the database.</em>"<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/funcom-threatening-to-delete-noob-age-of-conan-characters/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Funcom threatening to delete noob Age of Conan characters</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/funcom-threatening-to-delete-noob-age-of-conan-characters/">Funcom threatening to delete noob Age of Conan characters</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/funcom-threatening-to-delete-noob-age-of-conan-characters/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19311866/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/funcom-threatening-to-delete-noob-age-of-conan-characters/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>breaking</category><category>character-deletion</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>level-20</category><category>low-level-characters</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Krystalle Voecks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Subscribe to Age of Conan and receive The Secret World beta access]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/subscribe-to-age-of-conan-and-receive-the-secret-world-beta-acce/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/subscribe-to-age-of-conan-and-receive-the-secret-world-beta-acce/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/subscribe-to-age-of-conan-and-receive-the-secret-world-beta-acce/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/horror/" rel="tag">Horror</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/" rel="tag">The Secret World</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/another-new-age-of-conan-deal-begins"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/11/conan-tsw.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.com/tag/funcom">Funcom</a> recently announced <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/another-new-age-of-conan-deal-begins">their plans</a> to get older players back into <a href="http://ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> and boost multi-month subscription rates. Players with inactive subscriptions are invited to retry the game for two weeks and receive a double experience bonus. Those who sign up for multi-month subscriptions will receive these additional bonuses:<br />
<br />
<ul>
    <li>3-month sub: Beta access to <a href="http://www.darkdaysarecoming.com/"><em>The Secret World</em></a></li>
    <li>6-month sub: Beta access + in-game helmet that boosts experience gain by 10%</li>
    <li>12-month sub: Beta access + helmet + a free copy of Conan expansion <a href="http://www.riseofthegodslayer.com/"><em>Rise of the Godslayer</em></a></li>
</ul>
<a href="http://massively.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> has received many updates in the year and a half since its release. However, MMO players can be an unforgiving bunch, so these incentives to give the game another shot are quite necessary. And it's extra-smart given all the excitement around <a href="http://massively.com/category/the-secret-world"><em>The Secret World</em></a>. Considering how many players would be willing to pay for beta access, a subscription to a vastly improved <em>AoC</em> is just icing on the cake.<br />
<br />
For those interested in catching up on <em>AoC</em>, check out the most recent <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/age-of-conan-directors-letter-for-october/">game director's letter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/aoc-patch-adds-veteran-points-new-dungeon-plastic-surgery/">new content</a>, and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/more-age-of-conan-subscription-incentives-coming/">revised subscription options</a>. Have a burning question for <a href="http://funcom.com">Funcom</a> about this or anything else? <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/09/age-of-conan-community-interview-ask-funcom/">Ask it here</a>.<br />
<hr />
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" style="border: 0pt none ; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: -15px;">
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            <td style="background: rgb(214, 214, 203) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><em>Having fun in Conan's homeland? Make sure to check out all of our previous <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/age-of-conan">Age of Conan coverage</a>, and stick with Massively for more <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan">news from the Hyborian Age!</a></em></td>
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</table><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/subscribe-to-age-of-conan-and-receive-the-secret-world-beta-acce/">Subscribe to Age of Conan and receive The Secret World beta access</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/another-new-age-of-conan-deal-begins>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/subscribe-to-age-of-conan-and-receive-the-secret-world-beta-acce/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19232684/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/subscribe-to-age-of-conan-and-receive-the-secret-world-beta-acce/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>Arnold-Schwarzenegger</category><category>beta</category><category>bonus</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>eurogamer</category><category>funcom</category><category>subscription</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>tsw</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brooke Pilley]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Funcom receives grant to create extreme sports MMO]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/funcom-receives-grant-to-create-extreme-sports-mmo/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/funcom-receives-grant-to-create-extreme-sports-mmo/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/funcom-receives-grant-to-create-extreme-sports-mmo/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/funcom-awarded-USD260-000-grant"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/11/conanboarding-rb-1104.jpg"  alt="" /></a></div>
In between navigating the sometimes-choppy waters of <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com/"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> and working toward the launch of <a href="http://www.darkdaysarecoming.com/"><em>The Secret World</em></a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom</a> is having a busy year, but it looks like they are adding one more project to the pile as well.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.funcom.com/wsp/funcom/frontend.cgi?func=frontend.show&amp;template=home">Funcom</a> has been given a grant worth NOK 1.5 million -- $262,000 US -- in order to create a new <a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/funcom-awarded-USD260-000-grant">extreme sports MMO</a>. Funcom's Director of Communications Erling Ellingsen says <em>"Yes, I can confirm that Funcom is working on a new project called </em>Board with the World<em>. This will be a free-to-play social MMO focusing on the world of extreme sports. [...]</em> <em> First and foremost we will be focusing on snowboarding, with the possibility of adding different sports later. We also want this to be a social world rich with different types of media content and pop-cultural elements such as music, video and even fashion. It is definitely exciting, and we look forward to revealing more on this later.<em>"<br />
<br />
</em></em>Work on the project is expected to begin in January 2010, and we can expect more details as it progresses.
<p> </p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/funcom-receives-grant-to-create-extreme-sports-mmo/">Funcom receives grant to create extreme sports MMO</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/funcom-awarded-USD260-000-grant>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/funcom-receives-grant-to-create-extreme-sports-mmo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19222708/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/funcom-receives-grant-to-create-extreme-sports-mmo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>extreme-sports</category><category>funcom</category><category>grant</category><category>new-titles</category><category>sports-mmo</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rubi Bayer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[More Age of Conan subscription incentives coming]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/more-age-of-conan-subscription-incentives-coming/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/more-age-of-conan-subscription-incentives-coming/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/more-age-of-conan-subscription-incentives-coming/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Funcom/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/10/5437trwhi32486h23.jpg" alt="" /><br />
</a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Funcom/">Funcom's</a> Erling Ellingsen recently <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/more-aoc-subs-initiatives-in-pipeline">informed Eurogamer about</a> future <a href="http://community.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> subscription "initiatives" being planned, which are to follow the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/king-conan-lowers-prices-on-long-term-subscriptions-for-all/">new price reduction of multi-month subscriptions</a> . It's of particular interest that Funcom is planning further pricing specials, as they've been doing a lot to bring players back to the game ever since launch. Should their efforts pay off, it's likely that <a href="http://www.darkdaysarecoming.com/"><em>The Secret World</em></a> will see a significant development boost, which is something we'd be very happy about as fans of <a href="http://ragnartornquist.com/">Ragnar Tornquist.</a><br />
<br />
However, nobody knows yet if the current "initiatives" have been helping, as Erling wasn't able to comment on current numbers. So until some hard numbers come in -- hopefully of the positive nature -- it's anybody's guess on how the game will perform. It's possible that there's a free-to-play model in the game's future, especially since <a href="http://www.anarchy-online.com">it wouldn't be the first time</a> a Funcom game has gone that route. However, only time will tell where King Conan and his followers end up.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/more-age-of-conan-subscription-incentives-coming/">More Age of Conan subscription incentives coming</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/more-aoc-subs-initiatives-in-pipeline>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/more-age-of-conan-subscription-incentives-coming/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19215184/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/more-age-of-conan-subscription-incentives-coming/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>anarchy-online</category><category>ao</category><category>aoc</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>eurogamer</category><category>funcom</category><category>launch</category><category>ragnar-tornquist</category><category>subscription</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New The Secret World info at PAX to be 'biggest thing yet']]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/new-the-secret-world-info-at-pax-to-be-biggest-thing-yet/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/new-the-secret-world-info-at-pax-to-be-biggest-thing-yet/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/new-the-secret-world-info-at-pax-to-be-biggest-thing-yet/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/" rel="tag">The Secret World</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/08/tsw3_580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
It looks like <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/GamesCom/">GamesCom</a> won't be getting all the late summer glory this year, as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/PAX/">PAX</a> now has two large MMO events tied around its massive people-crushing finger. The first is of course the <em><a href="http://www.swtor.com">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a></em> public demo in the main hall, but the second seems no less grand.<br /><br /><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Funcom">Funcom's</a> Erling Ellingsen <a href="http://www.vg247.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-world-pax-showing-to-be-biggest-thing-yet/">has told VG247</a> that the reveal for <em><a href="http://www.darkdaysarecoming.com/">The Secret World</a></em> at PAX will be<em> "the biggest thing on TSW yet."</em> which is certainly a statement that delivers a lot of excitement. However, beyond the confirmation of new details being revealed in Seattle, WA on September 4th through the 6th, Erling's lips were sealed.<br /><br />Rest assured that Massively will be speaking with Funcom, potentially with a high amount of fervor. So if you're looking for that new info come the first weekend of September, it should be awaiting your acumen right here.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/new-the-secret-world-info-at-pax-to-be-biggest-thing-yet/">New The Secret World info at PAX to be 'biggest thing yet'</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.vg247.com/2009/08/14/the-secret-world-pax-showing-to-be-biggest-thing-yet/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/new-the-secret-world-info-at-pax-to-be-biggest-thing-yet/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19139194/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/new-the-secret-world-info-at-pax-to-be-biggest-thing-yet/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>bioware</category><category>dark-fantasy</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>gamescom</category><category>gamescom-2009</category><category>lucasarts</category><category>pax</category><category>pax-2009</category><category>ragnar-tornquist</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>swtor</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>tsw</category><category>urban-fantasy</category><category>vg247</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Free to play an option for Age of Conan]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/free-to-play-an-option-for-age-of-conan/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/free-to-play-an-option-for-age-of-conan/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/free-to-play-an-option-for-age-of-conan/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/07/aoclgo325478d.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
It would appear that for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Funcom/">Funcom</a>, going the way of free-to-play with <em><a href="http://www.ageofconan.com">Age of Conan</a></em> isn't entirely off the table. At least so says Erling Ellingson in a <a href="http://www.incgamers.com/Interviews/197/Interview-Turning-AoC-Around">recent interview with IncGamers</a>. There's certainly a precedent with <em><a href="http://www.anarchy-online.com/wsp/anarchy/frontend.cgi?func=frontend.show&amp;template=main">Anarchy Online</a></em> having gone that route long ago and its director -- at that time -- was also Craig Morrison. So really, all bets are off on this one.<br /><br />Still, for the time being subscription remains the primary method of play. Our guess? Funcom is probably waiting for the first expansion or two before opening the original game for free to play access, much like they did with <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Anarchy-Online/">Anarchy Online</a></em>. So if anything, this probably won't be happening for a couple more years. That is, unless things rapidly go south for the Norwegian games developer. But with <em><a href="http://www.darkdemonscrygaia.com/">The Secret World</a></em> looking quite interesting. they've got a good chance at making a comeback.<br /><br />[via <a href="http://www.mmorpg.com">MMORPG</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/free-to-play-an-option-for-age-of-conan/">Free to play an option for Age of Conan</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.incgamers.com/Interviews/197/Interview-Turning-AoC-Around>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/free-to-play-an-option-for-age-of-conan/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19097553/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/free-to-play-an-option-for-age-of-conan/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>anarchy-online</category><category>aoc</category><category>craig-morrison</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>incgamers</category><category>the-secret-world</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Age of Conan to unveil new expansion at GamesCom]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/age-of-conan-to-unveil-new-expansion-at-gamescom/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/age-of-conan-to-unveil-new-expansion-at-gamescom/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/age-of-conan-to-unveil-new-expansion-at-gamescom/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.ageofconan.com/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/07/aocexpanrevealatgamescom_580px.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
The first proper expansion for <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com/"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> will be unveiled this August at <a href="http://www.gamescom-cologne.com/">GamesCom</a> in Cologne, Germany. Funcom's Erling Ellingsen confirmed the news:<br /><br /><em>"Yes, we will be revealing the first expansion for Age of Conan at the GamesCom show in August. We have lots of exciting stuff to reveal and Conan players and gamers in general are in for a real treat, but for now, our lips are sealed until then!"<br /><br /></em>The unveil will feature in-game footage and a preview of the quests, monsters, new environments and other additions that will make up the expansion. This news comes not long after the release of a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/age-of-conans-update-5-goes-live-game-director-hints-at-future/">major content patch</a> for<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"> <em>AoC</em></a>, and should help keep that positive momentum going.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/age-of-conan-to-unveil-new-expansion-at-gamescom/">Age of Conan to unveil new expansion at GamesCom</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/age-of-conan-to-unveil-new-expansion-at-gamescom/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19088293/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/age-of-conan-to-unveil-new-expansion-at-gamescom/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>breaking</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>expansion</category><category>funcom</category><category>gamescom</category><category>germany</category><category>new-expansion</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[William Dobson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA["No retreat, no surrender" for Age of Conan]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/no-retreat-no-surrender-for-age-of-conan/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/no-retreat-no-surrender-for-age-of-conan/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/no-retreat-no-surrender-for-age-of-conan/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a></p><center><embed height="360" width="433" src="http://media.gamespy.com/spy/flashvideo/ev.swf" all="" flashvars="object_ID=743392&amp;downloadURL=http://pcmovies.ign.com/pc/video/article/910/910561/aocha_developercom_091608_flvlowwide.flv&amp;allownetworking=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></center><em><a href="http://www.ageofconan.com">Age of Conan</a>'s</em> Game Director Craig Morrison <a href="http://au.pc.gamespy.com/pc/age-of-conan-hyborian-adventures/949095p1.html">recently had an interview</a> at Gamespy to dicuss his game's future. In the end though, he ended up speaking more about the past, and in particular, past problems and mistakes that have now been seen to. Technical game client issues, a lack of PvE content at certain levels, and an unsatisfying PvP system were all cited as causes of people turning their back on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>AoC</em></a> -- followers of the game since launch would agree with all of these things being issues -- but Morrison went through this list and explained how his team has improved the game on each of these fronts. The embedded video, featuring Erling Ellingsen, shows off some of the current and planned improvements.<br /><br />As for talk of the future, Morrison reminded us that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/new-dungeon-pvp-options-coming-to-age-of-conan/">Xibaluku is coming</a> for the PvE junkies, and mentioned the PvP resource system, which should bring a new level of interaction to PvP gameplay. He believes that the biggest issue still remaining from launch is to do with a shortage of good gear, and an itemization overhaul is in the works to address this. We can also expect some more guild and community functions later in the year. The stage is set for a comeback; now we'll just have to wait and see if the players come to the party.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/no-retreat-no-surrender-for-age-of-conan/">"No retreat, no surrender" for Age of Conan</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/age-of-conan-hyborian-adventures/949095p1.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/no-retreat-no-surrender-for-age-of-conan/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1445435/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/no-retreat-no-surrender-for-age-of-conan/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>comeback</category><category>craig-morrison</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>game-director</category><category>hyborian-insider</category><category>pvp-resource</category><category>xibaluku</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[William Dobson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Funcom reaffirms commitment to AoC on PC and Xbox 360 following layoffs]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/funcom-reaffirms-commitment-to-aoc-on-pc-and-xbox-360-following/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/funcom-reaffirms-commitment-to-aoc-on-pc-and-xbox-360-following/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/funcom-reaffirms-commitment-to-aoc-on-pc-and-xbox-360-following/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/consoles/" rel="tag">Consoles</a></p><a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/12/01/funcom-staffing-cuts-update"><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/12/funcomstandsbyaocpostlayoffs_225px.jpg" /></a>After the rumors of staffing cuts at Funcom <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/funcom-layoffs-not-what-you-think-or-are-they/#comments">turned out to be true last week</a>, many of you may have been predicting bad things for the future of <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> -- or at least, enough of you to have Erling Ellingsen provide MTV's Multiplayer blog with <a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/12/01/funcom-staffing-cuts-update">a short statement regarding the health of their flagship title</a>:<br /><br /><em>Our aim is for this to not affect development of 'Age of Conan,' or any of our other games, at all. We are sticking firmly to our plans. The Xbox 360 version of the game is still in production, but as before we are not committing to any specific dates. I wish I could give you more information, but I can't at the time being.</em><br /><br />This backs up what Funcom had to say last week, that this is simply "business as usual" and not anything to be concerned about. It is good to hear about the Xbox 360 version once in a while, even if essentially nothing was revealed other than "it's still coming". We're pretty sure, however, that most of our readers that are interested in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/"><em>AoC</em></a> haven't been held back due to waiting on the console release, because let's face it -- if you're an MMO-fan, you've got a PC. The 360 release stands to reach a new audience, one which will cause <em>Conan</em>'<em>s</em> roleplaying-racism to join together with real-life racism through the magic of Xbox Live, and might just make the internets spontaneously combust.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/funcom-reaffirms-commitment-to-aoc-on-pc-and-xbox-360-following/">Funcom reaffirms commitment to AoC on PC and Xbox 360 following layoffs</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/12/01/funcom-staffing-cuts-update>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/funcom-reaffirms-commitment-to-aoc-on-pc-and-xbox-360-following/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1388148/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/funcom-reaffirms-commitment-to-aoc-on-pc-and-xbox-360-following/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>conan</category><category>ellingsen</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>layoffs</category><category>staffing-cuts</category><category>xbox-360</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[William Dobson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Daedren pulls no punches on Erling Ellingsen interview]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/daedren-pulls-no-punches-on-erling-ellingsen-interview/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/daedren-pulls-no-punches-on-erling-ellingsen-interview/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/daedren-pulls-no-punches-on-erling-ellingsen-interview/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a></p><a href="http://www.funcom.com"><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" alt=""  src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/09/erling-ellingsen-sms-0908.jpg" /></a>A few weeks ago, we pointed the <em>Massively</em> readers to an article entitled <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/age-of-conan-a-postmortem-analysis/"><em>Age of Conan: A post mortem analysis</em></a>, written by the Daedren over at <a href="http://www.r1ft.com">r1ftgaming</a>. In that lengthy article, Daedren gave his top reasons for <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>AoC</em></a>'s demise, and even offered it as a lesson learned for future developers. Comments on his site, and here at <em>Massively</em> were quite heated concerning players' malcontent with <span style="font-style: italic;">Age of Conan</span>. <br /><br />Since then, Daedren was able to grab the attention of <a href="http://www.funcom.com">Funcom</a>, and hence <a href="http://www.r1ft.com/age-of-conan/hell-froze-over-an-interview-with-erling-ellingsen/">an interview with Product Manager Erling Ellingsen</a>. In true Daedren style, he doesn't beat around the bush and asks the questions plaguing the minds of most former and current <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/age-of-conan">AoC</a> subscribers. Where is this PvP system we've heard so much about? Why announce a new expansion when the current game still needs so much work? <br /><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/daedren-pulls-no-punches-on-erling-ellingsen-interview/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Daedren pulls no punches on Erling Ellingsen interview</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/daedren-pulls-no-punches-on-erling-ellingsen-interview/">Daedren pulls no punches on Erling Ellingsen interview</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.r1ft.com/age-of-conan/hell-froze-over-an-interview-with-erling-ellingsen/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/daedren-pulls-no-punches-on-erling-ellingsen-interview/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1315565/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/daedren-pulls-no-punches-on-erling-ellingsen-interview/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>daedren</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>interview</category><category>opinion</category><category>r1ftgaming</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Erling Ellingson confirms Age of Conan subscriber numbers, says thankyou]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/erling-ellingson-confirms-age-of-conan-subscriber-numbers-says/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/erling-ellingson-confirms-age-of-conan-subscriber-numbers-says/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/erling-ellingson-confirms-age-of-conan-subscriber-numbers-says/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a></p><a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/erlingsmall.jpg"  alt="" /></a>In another video from <a href="http://www.onlinewelten.com">onlinewelten.com</a>, again recorded over at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Erling Ellingson addresses the <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> community directly. As we'd noted, there was debate as to whether the figure of 415,000 subscribers mentioned in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/funcom-quarterly-report-reveals-age-of-conan-performance/">the Funcom quarterly report presentation</a> referred to August 14th or June 30th, but in this interview Ellingson has now confirmed <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>AoC</em></a>'s active subscriber numbers as over 400,000. Working from the figure of 800,000 boxes sold, that gives a clear retention figure of around 50% right now.<br /><br />As well as talking at length about how good the launch was (yes, Erling, we know) Ellingson proceeds to reassure the audience that he and the other developers won't be resting on their laurels. He's obviously read the forums between giving these interviews, as two of the biggest issues are mentioned specifically: the PvP patch is due '<em>any moment now, cross your fingers</em>' and the memory leak (arguably the biggest issue of all as it impacts even those who love the game as it is) is getting plenty of attention. There's also a flying mention of the new Funcom MMO, <em>The Secret World.</em> <br /><br />Check out the video after the cut. By the way, at time of writing, the video had been mistakenly captioned as a <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com"><em>Warhammer Online</em></a> interview. Whoops.<br /> <hr />
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            <td align="right" valign="top"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/age-of-conan"><img border="1" alt="Warhammer Online Coverage" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/aocswipimage.jpg" /></a></td>
            <td><em>Having fun in Conan's homeland? Make sure to check out all of our previous <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/age-of-conan">Age of Conan coverage</a>, and stick with Massively for more <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan">news from the Hyborian Age!</a></em> </td>
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</table><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/erling-ellingson-confirms-age-of-conan-subscriber-numbers-says/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Erling Ellingson confirms Age of Conan subscriber numbers, says thankyou</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/erling-ellingson-confirms-age-of-conan-subscriber-numbers-says/">Erling Ellingson confirms Age of Conan subscriber numbers, says thankyou</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/erling-ellingson-confirms-age-of-conan-subscriber-numbers-says/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1294142/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/erling-ellingson-confirms-age-of-conan-subscriber-numbers-says/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>interview</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Adrian Bott]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Erling Ellingsen steps up to the plate on Age of Conan forums]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/erling-ellingsen-steps-up-to-the-plate-on-age-of-conan-forums/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/erling-ellingsen-steps-up-to-the-plate-on-age-of-conan-forums/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/erling-ellingsen-steps-up-to-the-plate-on-age-of-conan-forums/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/erlingdefensive.jpg" /></a>He may not be the most popular man in <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> right now, but after this, you have to accord him at least a sliver of respect. Funcom Project Manager Erling Ellingsen made a personal appearance yesterday to give some answers on a thread where the atmosphere was, frankly, extremely hostile. <br /><br />The fact that after a warm-up that mentioned wanting to throw things at the screen whenever his face appeared, he began his opening comment '<em>My friends...</em>' <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chutzpah">is also worthy of respect</a>. <br /><br />He went on to provide some honest answers to concerns, assuring <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan">AoC</a> </span>players that features that weren't in at launch <em>will</em> be added (with a special mention of Drunken Brawling) and pointing out that <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com"><em>WoW</em></a> didn't have anything like the amount of end level content at launch that it does now. Ymir's Pass, we learn, is '<em>just about done</em>', though Ellingsen wouldn't commit to a date, for the obvious reason that he'd get 'crucified' if it wasn't met.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/erling-ellingsen-steps-up-to-the-plate-on-age-of-conan-forums/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Erling Ellingsen steps up to the plate on Age of Conan forums</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/erling-ellingsen-steps-up-to-the-plate-on-age-of-conan-forums/">Erling Ellingsen steps up to the plate on Age of Conan forums</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=155049>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/erling-ellingsen-steps-up-to-the-plate-on-age-of-conan-forums/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1283385/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/erling-ellingsen-steps-up-to-the-plate-on-age-of-conan-forums/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>lord-orion</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Adrian Bott]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Age of Conan rep talks Kingship, new zones, and more]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/age-of-conan-rep-talks-kingship-new-zones-and-more/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/age-of-conan-rep-talks-kingship-new-zones-and-more/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/age-of-conan-rep-talks-kingship-new-zones-and-more/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/39381"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/ellingsencomiccon.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/39381">The folks at Ten Ton Hammer met with Funcom Product Manager Erling Ellingsen</a> at <a href="http://www.comic-con.com">Comic Con</a> over the weekend. Ellingsen described many of the planned updates to <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em>.</a> We'd already heard about most of them, but this video interview is a good place to go for a round-up of what's to come.<br /><br />Ellingsen did reveal a tantalizing new detail about the Kingship system, though. If you're not familiar with Kingship, that's not surprising; it was only <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/holiday-edition-of-aoc-box-in-the-works-360-version-on-track/">mentioned in one interview</a> before now. It allows guilds to form alliances. Those alliances can build and fight over "legendary battle keeps." The new info: alliances can build "wonders of the world" in those keeps. We're intrigued by that idea; it sounds like something from Sid Meier's <a href="http://www.civilization.com"><em>Civilization</em>.</a><br /><br />Ellingsen also talked about plans to add more NPCs walking around guild cities, and to greatly expand visual customization options for the cities.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/age-of-conan-rep-talks-kingship-new-zones-and-more/">Age of Conan rep talks Kingship, new zones, and more</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/39381>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/age-of-conan-rep-talks-kingship-new-zones-and-more/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1268990/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/age-of-conan-rep-talks-kingship-new-zones-and-more/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>comic-con</category><category>comic-con-08</category><category>comic-con-2008</category><category>comiccon-08</category><category>comiccon-2008</category><category>comiccon08</category><category>comiccon2008</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA["Holiday" edition of AoC box in the works; 360 version on track for late 2009]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/holiday-edition-of-aoc-box-in-the-works-360-version-on-track/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/holiday-edition-of-aoc-box-in-the-works-360-version-on-track/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/holiday-edition-of-aoc-box-in-the-works-360-version-on-track/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/consoles/" rel="tag">Consoles</a></p><a href="http://community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&amp;template=content&amp;func_id=2360&amp;table=CONTENT"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/aocholidaygamebox_225px.jpg"  alt="" /></a>In another of Funcom's E3 interviews (<a href="http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm?FEATURE=2059&amp;GAME=191&amp;bhcp=1">this time</a> with MMORPG.com) Erling Ellingsen and Senior Marketing Manager Rick Reynolds discussed a new edition of <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> which they hope to release in time for the holidays. For now they could not say what else this version might entail besides a fancy box (<a href="http://community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&amp;template=content&amp;func_id=2360&amp;table=CONTENT">Keaira</a> with a big candy cane?), but it may be something along the lines of a unique piece of gear -- undoubtedly it won't have any must-have function after the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/pc-gamer-offers-exclusive-age-of-conan-item/">Totem of Origins</a> debacle.<br /><br />A lot of the rest of the interview runs similar to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/e308-erling-ellingsen-talks-patch-timeframes-for-age-of-conan/">what we've seen already</a>, but there is a brief mention of the Kingship system. We don't really find out anything that wasn't <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/age-of-conan-newsletter-previews-new-pvp-dungeons-and-dancing/">mentioned in the newsletter</a> which announced the system back in June, although Ellingsen and Reynolds commented that graphics engine improvements currently being made should allow "hundreds" more players to participate in massive PvP <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/age-of-conan-the-siege-warfare-is-a-buggy-lagfest/">without issues</a>.<br /><br />The last section of the interview covers the Xbox 360 version of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>AoC</em></a>, which is slated for a release at the end of 2009. These uber-latecomers will be able to choose between mixed platform servers, or a console-only affair.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/holiday-edition-of-aoc-box-in-the-works-360-version-on-track/">"Holiday" edition of AoC box in the works; 360 version on track for late 2009</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm?FEATURE=2059&amp;GAME=191&amp;bhcp=1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/holiday-edition-of-aoc-box-in-the-works-360-version-on-track/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1263291/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/holiday-edition-of-aoc-box-in-the-works-360-version-on-track/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>christmas</category><category>christmas-2008</category><category>console</category><category>e3</category><category>e3-2008</category><category>e308</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>holiday</category><category>keaira</category><category>kingship</category><category>product-manager</category><category>rick-reynolds</category><category>senior-marketing-manager</category><category>xbox-360</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[William Dobson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Funcom confirms attendance at Comic-Con for AoC]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/funcom-confirms-attendance-at-comic-con-for-aoc/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/funcom-confirms-attendance-at-comic-con-for-aoc/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/funcom-confirms-attendance-at-comic-con-for-aoc/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a></p><a href="http://www.freakygaming.com/gallery/cosplay/final_fantasy/cloud_black.jpg"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/aoccomicconattendance_225px.jpg"  alt="" /></a>Attendees of this year's Comic-Con International at San Diego will be able to catch up with members of the <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> team, as <a href="http://community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&amp;template=content&amp;func_id=2578&amp;table=CONTENT">Funcom has confirmed</a> that two of their big names will be visiting the convention. Product Manager <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/e308-erling-ellingsen-talks-patch-timeframes-for-age-of-conan/">Erling Ellingsen</a> and US Community Manager <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/interview-with-aoc-cm-pulls-some-punches/">Glen "Famine" Swan</a> will both be in attendance and ready for the fans.<br /><br />The <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>AoC</em></a> crew will be at the San Diego Convention Center from July 24th through July 27th, in Exhibit Hall G Booth 5129. To assist in your journey to meet them, you can <a href="http://www.visitsandiego.com/facilityinformation/floorplans.cfm">check out the center's floor plans</a> ahead of time. Just remember to be on your toes at their booth -- <em>Conan</em> fans are among the bloodthirstiest of gamers, so keep an eye on any twitchy cosplayers with sharp weapons.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/funcom-confirms-attendance-at-comic-con-for-aoc/">Funcom confirms attendance at Comic-Con for AoC</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&amp;template=content&amp;func_id=2578&amp;table=CONTENT>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/funcom-confirms-attendance-at-comic-con-for-aoc/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1258762/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/funcom-confirms-attendance-at-comic-con-for-aoc/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>comic-con</category><category>comic-con-international</category><category>comiic-con-international-2008</category><category>community-manager</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>famine</category><category>glen-swan</category><category>san-diego-comic-con</category><category>san-diego-convention-center</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[William Dobson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[E308: Interview reveals name of new AoC dungeon]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-interview-reveals-name-of-new-aoc-dungeon/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-interview-reveals-name-of-new-aoc-dungeon/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-interview-reveals-name-of-new-aoc-dungeon/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/aoccrom.jpg" /></a></div>
At E3, MMO bloggers <a href="http://www.keenandgraev.com/?p=1139">Keen and Graev caught up</a> with <a href="http://www.funcom.com">Funcom</a> Product Manager and all-around <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a>-spinster Erling Ellingsen. The <a href="http://vault.ign.com/View.php?view=editorials.detail&amp;id=71">Vault Network-hosted interview</a> covers a lot of the same ground that we went over <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/e308-erling-ellingsen-talks-patch-timeframes-for-age-of-conan/">in our own talk with Ellingson</a>, but there was one extra bit that we thought was worth mentioning. We know you don't want to miss a thing, so here it is!<br /><br />Ellingsen mentioned that a new dungeon instance called "House of Crom." He didn't give any information about it apart from the name, although Keen's prose suggested that he was unusually excited about it. We'd like to think that this House of Crom is, in fact, the actual house of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crom_(fictional_deity)">the deity Crom</a>, atop a monstrous mountain.<br /><br />We also find it fun to imagine that the name of that dungeon is basically a curse phrase. Crom's name is rarely invoked except in cursing and swearing in Howard's <em>Conan</em> novels. You don't want to attract Crom's attention, you know. He might kick your pathetic mortal ass.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-interview-reveals-name-of-new-aoc-dungeon/">E308: Interview reveals name of new AoC dungeon</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://vault.ign.com/View.php?view=editorials.detail&amp;id=71>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-interview-reveals-name-of-new-aoc-dungeon/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1258470/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-interview-reveals-name-of-new-aoc-dungeon/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>cimmeria</category><category>cimmerian</category><category>crom</category><category>deity</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>god</category><category>house-of-crom</category><category>instance</category><category>interview</category><category>keen-and-graev</category><category>vault-network</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Erling Ellingsen AoC interview high on promises, low on specifics]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/aoc-erling-ellingsen-interview-big-on-promises-low-on-specific/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/aoc-erling-ellingsen-interview-big-on-promises-low-on-specific/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/aoc-erling-ellingsen-interview-big-on-promises-low-on-specific/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/erlinginterview.jpg" /></em></a><br /></div>
<a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> is firmly in the spotlight right now, as gamers across the world decide whether it lives up to the hype. It has passionate supporters and equally fervent detractors; product manager Erling Ellingsen had a good opportunity to put in some words of reassurance when he was interviewed over on <a href="http://www.incgamers.com">incgamers.com.</a> He clarifies exactly what went on with the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/funcom-apologizes-for-involuntary-breast-reductions/">infamous breast size bug</a>, and then it's into the stuff we really want to know: game information.<br /><br />There's not a great deal revealed that we didn't know already. Mounted combat is to be improved, spellweaving will be expanded to be made more interesting and elaborate, and the goal for player gear is '<em>maximum balance</em>', so you won't need to specialize solely in purple raid gear or PvP gear to get the best results. The real meat is in the revealed plans for guild cities, which will become more functional and less deserted via the addition of NPCs '<em>who roam around and create a living cityscape</em>.' Erling also hints that guilds will be able to customize their cities more than they already can. Good stuff, as far as it goes - but <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/age-of-conan-the-siege-warfare-is-a-buggy-lagfest/">let's get sieges working properly first, eh?</a><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/aoc-erling-ellingsen-interview-big-on-promises-low-on-specific/">Erling Ellingsen AoC interview high on promises, low on specifics</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.incgamers.com/Games/1206/interviews/136/Age-Of-Conan-Interview>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/aoc-erling-ellingsen-interview-big-on-promises-low-on-specific/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1251604/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/aoc-erling-ellingsen-interview-big-on-promises-low-on-specific/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>interview</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Adrian Bott]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A quick developer look inside Age of Conan's combat system and player cities]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/a-quick-developer-look-inside-age-of-conans-combat-system/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/a-quick-developer-look-inside-age-of-conans-combat-system/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/a-quick-developer-look-inside-age-of-conans-combat-system/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/aoclostway.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
Smash, Burn, Maim! Combat is so crucial in a game that revolves around killing enemies to advance your character. We have been anticipating <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com/"><em>Age of Conan's</em></a> combat ever since its announcement. How did we get to this new era in combat with lopped off heads alongside a variety of other deadly reactionary combos? Well, in this <a href="http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/191/view/videos/play/1223">part one video by MMORPG.com</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/"><em>Age of Conan's</em></a> Gaute Godager and Erling Ellingsen help demonstrate the melee combat combo system and aiming with the ranger class and how it plays an integral role in the ranged combat system. <br /><br />There isn't nearly enough shown in the video to gauge the differences in combat from other MMOs, but the fact that the developers gravitated towards a combat system reminiscent to <em>Street Fighter 2</em> and other console fighting games does help explain things a bit better if you haven't tried <em>AoC</em> yet. While the pundits mull over <em>Age of Conan's</em> early start and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/funcom-unveils-the-size-of-age-of-conans-preorder-horde/">the thousands of others wait for the official launch</a> we can't help comparing the differences in this combat system from the one in <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/index.xml"><em>World of Warcraft</em>.</a> Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm?GAME=191&amp;FEATURE=1945&amp;bhcp=1">MMORPG.com's inside look</a> regarding <em>AoC's </em>player cities from the same event.<br /><br />What do you guys think: Is <em>Age of Conan's</em> combat system is revolutionary or does it take button mashing to a whole new annoyance level? <p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/a-quick-developer-look-inside-age-of-conans-combat-system/">A quick developer look inside Age of Conan's combat system and player cities</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 19 May 2008 19:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/191/view/videos/play/1223>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/a-quick-developer-look-inside-age-of-conans-combat-system/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1199852/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/a-quick-developer-look-inside-age-of-conans-combat-system/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>combat</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>gaute-godager</category><category>launch</category><category>mmorpg</category><category>street-fighter</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Warner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 19:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Erling Ellingsen describes AoC mounted combat in dev video]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/erling-ellingsen-describes-aoc-mounted-combat-in-dev-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/erling-ellingsen-describes-aoc-mounted-combat-in-dev-video/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/erling-ellingsen-describes-aoc-mounted-combat-in-dev-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.videogamer.com/videos/player.html?vid=1871"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/aocmountedcombatdevdiary_425px.jpg"  alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Videogamer.com is featuring <a href="http://www.videogamer.com/videos/player.html?vid=1871">a new developer diary</a> for <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com/"><em>Age of Conan</em></a>, presented by Erling Ellingsen, all about the mounted combat that will be found in the game. Rather than going into fine details about the system, Ellingsen elects to describe some of the cool things that will be possible when engaging in mounted combat.<br /><br />Players will get to either fight while on their mount, or actually use their mount as a weapon. With the former, the faster you are moving, the more damage you will inflict upon a target, making old fashioned drive-bys the order of the day -- Ellingsen says that you can lop someone's head off as you zoom past, if you're going fast enough. It will also be possible to make your mount attack, and these attacks vary depending on the animal you're riding. <a href="http://www.videogamer.com/videos/player.html?vid=1871">Check out</a> the roughly two-minute video to see the mounts in action, rearing up and knocking crowds of enemies to the ground.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/erling-ellingsen-describes-aoc-mounted-combat-in-dev-video/">Erling Ellingsen describes AoC mounted combat in dev video</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.videogamer.com/videos/player.html?vid=1871>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/erling-ellingsen-describes-aoc-mounted-combat-in-dev-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1179526/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/erling-ellingsen-describes-aoc-mounted-combat-in-dev-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>aoc</category><category>dev-diary</category><category>developer-diary</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>horse</category><category>mammoth</category><category>mounted-combat</category><category>mounts</category><category>rhino</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[William Dobson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Erling Ellingsen shows off AoC PvP video]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/erling-ellingsen-shows-off-aoc-pvp-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/erling-ellingsen-shows-off-aoc-pvp-video/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/erling-ellingsen-shows-off-aoc-pvp-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/at-a-glance/" rel="tag">At a glance</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guilds/" rel="tag">Guilds</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a></p><a href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=187650"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/aocpvperling.jpg" alt="" /></a>Those of you not currently enjoying the closed beta will want to take a look at this: Age of Conan's Product Manager Erling Ellingsen <a href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=187650">gives us a look</a> at a couple of PvP mini-games in the latest "Hyborian Insider" video. While there isn't a ton of information in this video, Ellingsen does explain the game mechanics behind two PvP game types, Capture the Flag, and Team Annihilation.<br /><br />Capture the Flag is exactly as you'd expect, if you've ever played that type before. The object is to retrieve the enemy team's flag from their side and bring it back to your side; the team with the most points at the end of a predetermined set duration of time wins. The video shows off a few zones of combat that frankly appear very similar to each other, and could use a better color scheme to visually differentiate themselves.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/erling-ellingsen-shows-off-aoc-pvp-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Erling Ellingsen shows off AoC PvP video</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/erling-ellingsen-shows-off-aoc-pvp-video/">Erling Ellingsen shows off AoC PvP video</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=187650>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/erling-ellingsen-shows-off-aoc-pvp-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1177092/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/erling-ellingsen-shows-off-aoc-pvp-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>capture-the-flag</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>hyborian-insider</category><category>pvp</category><category>pvp-experience</category><category>respawn</category><category>siege-warfare</category><category>team-annihilation</category><category>totem</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Akela Talamasca]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New AoC interview touts the game's selling points]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/new-aoc-interview-touts-the-games-selling-points/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/new-aoc-interview-touts-the-games-selling-points/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/new-aoc-interview-touts-the-games-selling-points/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dark-age-of-camelot/" rel="tag">Dark Age of Camelot</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a></p><a href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=185239"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/aoccvginterview_225px.jpg" alt="" /></a>We've <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/the-hyborian-insider-shows-off-aoc-combat/">already heard</a> from our friend Erling Ellingsen today, but he's got more to say, as he is <a href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=185239">featured in a CVG interview</a> where he really manages to sum up why you will want <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Age-of-Conan/">Age of Conan</a></em>. You can tell that he believes what he is saying, as he talks about how close his team has brought the game to their original vision. He expects those that are familiar with MMOs will be at home in the game, but will soon find that things are taken to the next level in <em>AoC</em>.<br /><br />A couple of other MMOs get a mention by Ellingsen during the interview. He praises <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Dark-Age-of-Camelot/">Dark Age of Camelot</a></em> for its innovations in PvP, but says that his game will improve upon what was seen there. He also mentions <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/World-of-Warcraft/">World of Warcraft</a></em>, saying quite honestly that he doesn't expect <em>Age of Conan</em> will ever reach <em>WoW'</em>s subscription numbers. The goal for his team was to distance themselves from this "social phenomenom" of a game, running with the mature fantasy theme. We are assured that the game will be fully supported after release, with a live update team as well as an expansion team to work on future content. The video also features some nice footage, so <a href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=185239">check out the full interview</a> at CVG.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/new-aoc-interview-touts-the-games-selling-points/">New AoC interview touts the game's selling points</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=185239>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/new-aoc-interview-touts-the-games-selling-points/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1148396/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/new-aoc-interview-touts-the-games-selling-points/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>aoc</category><category>daoc</category><category>ellingsen</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[William Dobson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Hyborian Insider shows off AoC combat]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/the-hyborian-insider-shows-off-aoc-combat/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/the-hyborian-insider-shows-off-aoc-combat/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/the-hyborian-insider-shows-off-aoc-combat/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a></p><center><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dAzH5gmlJF4&amp;hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dAzH5gmlJF4&amp;hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></center>The first in a new video series called <a href="http://community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&amp;&amp;func_id=2355&amp;table=CONTENT">The Hyborian Insider</a> has been listed on <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Age-of-Conan/">Age of Conan</a></em>'s community site. The opening episode looks at the combat mechanics in the game, with a detailed breakdown of the system. Hosted by the game's product manager Erling Ellingsen, the video looks at things we've mostly seen before (like the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/age-of-conan-dev-video-diary-5-melee-combat/">attacking</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/age-of-conans-defense-system-detailed/">defending</a> mechanics), but it's still a good watch that sums everything up in just a few short minutes. We're looking forward to seeing what The Hyborian Insider #2 will focus on, with the big combat issue out of the way.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/the-hyborian-insider-shows-off-aoc-combat/">The Hyborian Insider shows off AoC combat</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&amp;&amp;func_id=2355&amp;table=CONTENT>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/the-hyborian-insider-shows-off-aoc-combat/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1148076/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/the-hyborian-insider-shows-off-aoc-combat/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>aoc</category><category>combat</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>hyborian-insider</category><category>product-manager</category><category>the-hyborian-insider</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[William Dobson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Age of Conan contest calls for kingly tribute]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/age-of-conan-contest-calls-for-kingly-tribute/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/age-of-conan-contest-calls-for-kingly-tribute/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/age-of-conan-contest-calls-for-kingly-tribute/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/contests/" rel="tag">Contests</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://community.ageofconan.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/ageof55511413-v01241.jpg" /></a></div>
If you live in, around or anywhere within reasonable traveling distance of central London and have an extreme craving for a certain massively title by the name of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>Age of Conan</em></a>, then read on. Product Manager Erling 'Lord Orion' Ellingsen (whew, mouthful!) and Community Manager Oliver 'Tarib' Kunz are going to be in a cinema in central London on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/new-age-of-conan-trailer-drops-thursday/">Thursday</a>, March 13th to showcase the game via GM tour.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/age-of-conan-contest-calls-for-kingly-tribute/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Age of Conan contest calls for kingly tribute</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/age-of-conan-contest-calls-for-kingly-tribute/">Age of Conan contest calls for kingly tribute</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://legal.aol.com/terms-of-service/full-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&amp;template=content&amp;func_id=2313&amp;table=CONTENT>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/age-of-conan-contest-calls-for-kingly-tribute/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1132752/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/age-of-conan-contest-calls-for-kingly-tribute/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>erling-ellingsen</category><category>funcom</category><category>london</category><category>oliver-kunz</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>