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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[GDC 2012: Bigpoint discusses the Game of Thrones MMO]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-bigpoint-discusses-the-game-of-thrones-mmo/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-bigpoint-discusses-the-game-of-thrones-mmo/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-bigpoint-discusses-the-game-of-thrones-mmo/#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/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>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Massively Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Massively Event Coverage</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-bigpoint-discusses-the-game-of-thrones-mmo"><img alt="Game of Thrones screenshot" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/got-big.jpg" /></a></div>
The Game is coming.<br />
<br />
It had to be said. And for fans of <a href="http://georgerrmartin.com/">George R.R. Martin's</a> epic fantasy series <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire">A Song of Ice and Fire</a>, that one little phrase elicits some powerful and mixed emotions: excitement (to actually wander about Westeros) and dread (will it actually <em>be</em> Westeros?). There was even a collective cringe among some Massively staff when the announcement was made that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/a-game-of-thrones">Game of Thrones</a> was becoming an MMORPG. Could such a complex world translate well into the virtual realm? It made the transition to television pretty well in HBO's series, but a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/free-to-play/">free-to-play</a> browser-based MMO is a whole other beast.<br />
<br />
We're pleased to say that fans of the books and the series can breathe a little easier and even look forward to the upcoming title becuse it's going to be gritty, it's going to be gory, and power will shift like the winds across the Dothraki Sea. Massively was able to sit down with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/jorgen-tharaldsen/">Jorgen Tharaldsen</a> (Producer at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Artplant/">Artplant</a>), <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/alan-dunton/">Alan Dunton</a> (Public Relations Director at <a href="http://www.bigpoint.com/">Bigpoint</a>), and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Rob-Ollett/">Rob Ollett</a> (Executive Producer at Bigpoint) to discuss details about what's coming.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-bigpoint-discusses-the-game-of-thrones-mmo/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>GDC 2012: Bigpoint discusses the Game of Thrones MMO</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/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-bigpoint-discusses-the-game-of-thrones-mmo/">GDC 2012: Bigpoint discusses the Game of Thrones MMO</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-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/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-bigpoint-discusses-the-game-of-thrones-mmo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20188557/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-bigpoint-discusses-the-game-of-thrones-mmo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-combat</category><category>alan-dunton</category><category>Artplant</category><category>Bigpoint</category><category>browser</category><category>browser-game</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>con</category><category>conference</category><category>convention</category><category>directional-action-combat</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>game-developers-conference</category><category>game-developers-conference-2012</category><category>game-of-thrones</category><category>gdc</category><category>gdc-2012</category><category>george-r-r-martin</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>item-progression</category><category>jorgen-tharaldsen</category><category>political-system</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>pvp</category><category>Rob-Ollett</category><category>sandbox</category><category>siege</category><category>siege-system</category><category>sieges</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Funcom speaks out openly about Age of Conan criticisms]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/funcom-speaks-out-openly-about-age-of-conan-criticisms/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/funcom-speaks-out-openly-about-age-of-conan-criticisms/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/funcom-speaks-out-openly-about-age-of-conan-criticisms/#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><a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/07/funcom-defends-age-of-conan/"><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/10/jorgentha34wd.jpg" /></a>In <a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/07/funcom-defends-age-of-conan/">an interview</a> with MTV Multiplayer, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Funcom">Funcom's</a> J&oslash;rgen Tharaldsen speaks surprisingly frank about the many criticisms <em><a href="http://www.ageofconan.com">Age of Conan</a></em> has been dealt. Topics cover everything from the current state of the game to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/major-revisions-in-age-of-conan-crafting-revealed/">what Funcom is doing</a> to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/age-of-conan-pvp-gear-meticulously-laid-out/">bring back players</a> with a "come back and play for free" invite sometime in 2009, according to J&oslash;rgen. The whole read is just generally very interesting and well worth your time if you've any interest in <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Age-of-Conan/">Age of Conan</a></em> and where it's headed in the coming months.<br /><br />At the end of the interview, the question of <em><a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com">Warhammer Online</a></em> and <em><a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath">Wrath of the Lich King</a></em> come up in relation to any possibly concerns for Funcom. J&oslash;rgen delivers one of his most lucid comments about <em>AoC</em> when he says, <em>"I don't think anything is easy in the world of MMO's, and fighting to get new subscribers is a constant challenge. Now it's 'WAR' and 'Lich King' - going forward there will be many others."</em> The list of other contenders is indeed longer than a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTBUzbfSJvw">Dream Theater solo</a> and in a couple of weeks we <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/lucasarts-and-bioware-announce-impending-announcement/">may have to add yet another large contender</a> to that laundry list.<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/2008/10/08/funcom-speaks-out-openly-about-age-of-conan-criticisms/">Funcom speaks out openly about Age of Conan criticisms</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-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/2008/10/07/funcom-defends-age-of-conan/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/funcom-speaks-out-openly-about-age-of-conan-criticisms/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1335891/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/funcom-speaks-out-openly-about-age-of-conan-criticisms/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>activision-blizzard</category><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>bioware</category><category>blizzard</category><category>ea</category><category>eidos</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>funcom</category><category>jorgen-tharaldsen</category><category>lucast-arts</category><category>mtv-multiplayer</category><category>mythic</category><category>mythic-entertainment</category><category>war</category><category>warhammer-online</category><category>wrath</category><category>wrath-of-the-lich-king</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Funcom's product manager speaks out on Gaute Godager's departure]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/funcoms-product-manager-speaks-out-on-gaute-godagers-departure/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/funcoms-product-manager-speaks-out-on-gaute-godagers-departure/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/funcoms-product-manager-speaks-out-on-gaute-godagers-departure/#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/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a></p><a href="http://www.realitypanic.com/archives/306"><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/09/nordic07_25-sms-0908.jpg" /></a>With the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/producer-and-game-director-for-age-of-conan-resigns-from-funcom/">recent news</a> of <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a>'s Gaute Godager departing <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom</a> so suddenly, many players want to know what happened exactly. As an original founder of the company and through 16 years of employment at Funcom, one can only wonder what this says about the company<em>. </em>So <a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/09/19/funcom-on-age-of-conan-game-director-departure/">MTV Multiplayer was able to sit down to a short interview</a> with Funcom's product manager Jorgen Tharaldsen concerning this sudden departure of Godager.<br /><br />Tharaldsen is understandably positive about the new direction of the company under replacement game director Craig Morrison. He praises Morrison's work as a community manager at Funcom and as a game director for <em><a href="http://www.anarchyonline.com/">Anarchy Online</a></em>. Yet he also touches on the legacy of Godager and what he has meant to the history of MMOs in general. Not much else is said about the reasoning behind Godager's departure (besides what <a href="http://forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?p=1993007">Godager has already said himself</a>), but Tharaldsen seems optimistic about the future of the company and <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/age-of-conan/">Age of Conan</a></em>.<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/2008/09/19/funcoms-product-manager-speaks-out-on-gaute-godagers-departure/">Funcom's product manager speaks out on Gaute Godager's departure</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-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/2008/09/19/funcom-on-age-of-conan-game-director-departure/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/funcoms-product-manager-speaks-out-on-gaute-godagers-departure/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1319520/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/funcoms-product-manager-speaks-out-on-gaute-godagers-departure/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>funcom</category><category>gaute-godager</category><category>hyborian-adventures</category><category>interview</category><category>jorgen-tharaldsen</category><category>mtv-multiplayer</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Age of Conan's Jorgen Tharaldsen addresses game issues]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/age-of-conans-jorgen-tharaldsen-addresses-game-issues/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/age-of-conans-jorgen-tharaldsen-addresses-game-issues/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/age-of-conans-jorgen-tharaldsen-addresses-game-issues/#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/exploits/" rel="tag">Exploits</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/server-downtime/" rel="tag">Server downtime</a></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/06/ravenouscustomers425.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />Jon Wood from <a href="http://www.mmorpg.com">MMORPG.com</a> recently interviewed <a href="http://www.funcom.com">Funcom's</a> Product Director <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/jorgen-tharaldsen">Jorgen Tharaldsen</a> about some of the issues affecting gameplay in <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan.</em></a> The interview was primarily focused on customer service issues, and hopefully provides a good indicator as to how things are improving in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>AoC.</em></a> Some of the key issues that Tharaldsen addressed include: <br /><br />
<ul>
    <li>Customer support frustrations expressed by players.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
    <li>Inability to log in to the game's official forums.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
    <li>Funcom's actions taken against exploiters.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
    <li>Poor game performance despite meeting required system specs.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
    <li>Server downtimes during peak hours.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
    <li>Limitations on number of players in certain instances.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
    <li>Increasing the number of GM's to handle the petition backlog.</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/191/feature/1969">Check out the interview</a> over at MMORPG.com, where's there's <a href="http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm?THREAD=183570&amp;bhcp=1">quite a string of comments</a> from the readers. Do you think Funcom is handling customer service issues properly (given that <em>AoC</em> had such a recent launch), or are they dropping the ball?<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/2008/06/04/age-of-conans-jorgen-tharaldsen-addresses-game-issues/">Age of Conan's Jorgen Tharaldsen addresses game issues</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-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/feature/1969>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/age-of-conans-jorgen-tharaldsen-addresses-game-issues/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1214962/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/age-of-conans-jorgen-tharaldsen-addresses-game-issues/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>customer-support</category><category>downtime</category><category>exploit</category><category>exploits</category><category>fantasy</category><category>forums</category><category>funcom</category><category>gm</category><category>instance</category><category>instances</category><category>interview</category><category>jon-wood</category><category>jorgen-tharaldsen</category><category>mmorpg</category><category>peak</category><category>server-downtime</category><category>support</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Egan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[An all things Age of Conan interview with Jørgen Tharaldsen]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/an-all-things-age-of-conan-interview-with-jorgen-tharaldsen/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/an-all-things-age-of-conan-interview-with-jorgen-tharaldsen/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/an-all-things-age-of-conan-interview-with-jorgen-tharaldsen/#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/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Massively Interviews</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
<div align="center"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/age-of-conan-gallery/721710/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/21351.jpg" /></a><br /> </div>
<div align="left">There's been a lot of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/26/six-reasons-to-be-excited-about-age-of-conan/">discussion</a> here at Massively about <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan">Age of Conan</a></em> -- it's a given that you probably know we're just a little excited about its impending release. So when we recently got the chance to interview <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom's</a> own J&oslash;rgen Tharaldsen on several subjects concerning the upcoming barbarian invasion, our minds were instantly exploding with questions to ask -- it was difficult not to overload the poor man with endless queries. Rest assured that our craniums are still in one piece and J&oslash;rgen hasn't sent barbarians to lop off our heads -- at least for the moment.<br /><br />The end result turned out fairly well, we think. Within this interview you'll discover the skinny on matters of whether or not pre-order customers really are getting <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/04/rumor-some-age-of-conan-pre-orders-to-get-early-access/">early access</a>, user interface customization, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/age-of-conan-faq-reveals-system-requirements/">system requirements</a> and all sorts of other <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/kalanthes-answers-first-round-of-questions/">topics</a> that we're sure you'll find very interesting. <div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/age-of-conan-artwork/">Age of Conan Artwork</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/age-of-conan-artwork/#529927"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2007/12/thirstydoginn_900_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Thirsty Dog Inn" title="Thirsty Dog Inn" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/age-of-conan-artwork/#529926"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2007/12/gore4_900_thumbnail.jpg" alt="gore 4" title="gore 4" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/age-of-conan-artwork/#529925"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2007/12/yeti_900_thumbnail.jpg" alt="yeti" title="yeti" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/age-of-conan-artwork/#529924"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2007/12/guardian_900_thumbnail.jpg" alt="guardian" title="guardian" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/age-of-conan-artwork/#529923"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2007/12/gore1_900_thumbnail.jpg" alt="gore 1" title="gore 1" /></a></div></div>
</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/an-all-things-age-of-conan-interview-with-jorgen-tharaldsen/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>An all things Age of Conan interview with Jørgen Tharaldsen</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/2008/03/27/an-all-things-age-of-conan-interview-with-jorgen-tharaldsen/">An all things Age of Conan interview with Jørgen Tharaldsen</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-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/2008/03/27/an-all-things-age-of-conan-interview-with-jorgen-tharaldsen/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1150138/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/an-all-things-age-of-conan-interview-with-jorgen-tharaldsen/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>barbarian</category><category>eidos</category><category>featured</category><category>funcom</category><category>interview</category><category>jorgen-tharaldsen</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Age of Conan Product Developer interview, with gameplay video]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/#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/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/anarchy-online/" rel="tag">Anarchy Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</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/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-on</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Massively Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Massively Hands-on</a></p><center><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/age-of-conan-artwork/529924/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/aoc-guardian-425.jpg" alt="" /></a></center><span style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 7px;"> <script> var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Age_of_Conan_interview_and_video'; </script> <script src="http://digg.com/api/diggthis.js"></script></span>
<div align="left">On December 5th, I was invited to the Eidos/Funcom <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan">Age of Conan</a></em> press event, where I was privileged enough to be granted access to both the game itself and the development team. I was able to play the opening area, leading into the first town. I sussed out the combat and the conversation interface. I spoke with J&oslash;rgen Tharaldsen, the Product Developer, and he let drop a metric ton of knowledge upon my fevered noggin. I reprint here our conversation, interspersed with my handheld-shot video pieces, the first of which is shown above, which is where the game starts, with you as a survivor of a shipwrecked slaver ship. I'd like to thank J&oslash;rgen and the entire Eidos/Funcom team, all of whom I found to be gracious, witty, and enthusiastic about their game, which is refreshing to see. My take? The game looks incredible, and it's extremely immersive from the get-go. They say they're on schedule for an early 2008 release, so this is something to anticipate indeed.<br /><br /> <center><embed width="425" height="319" src="http://static4.filefront.com/ffv6/player/vp_embed.swf?v=455230&amp;autorun=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></center><br /> More videos and the interview after the jump!</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Age of Conan Product Developer interview, with gameplay 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/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/">Age of Conan Product Developer interview, with gameplay video</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-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/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1061787/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>5.1-surround</category><category>age-of-conan</category><category>anarchy-online</category><category>aquilonia</category><category>archer</category><category>architect</category><category>arnold-schwarzenegger</category><category>barbarian</category><category>breaking</category><category>cimmeria</category><category>commander</category><category>crom</category><category>dark-templar</category><category>didrik-tollefsen</category><category>eidos</category><category>featured</category><category>funcom</category><category>gameplay-video</category><category>germany</category><category>guardian</category><category>hour-of-the-dragon</category><category>hyboria</category><category>interview</category><category>jorgen-tharaldsen</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><category>kushites</category><category>mage</category><category>mammoth</category><category>marvel-comcs</category><category>massively</category><category>mitra</category><category>mtv</category><category>norway</category><category>picts</category><category>prestige</category><category>priest</category><category>robert-e-howard</category><category>shadowlands</category><category>siege</category><category>stygia</category><category>the-longest-journey</category><category>thoth-amon</category><category>vanir</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Akela Talamasca]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Age of Conan product director, Jorgen Tharaldsen: "You'll see titties"]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/age-of-conan-product-director-jorgen-tharaldsen-youll-see-ti/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/age-of-conan-product-director-jorgen-tharaldsen-youll-see-ti/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/age-of-conan-product-director-jorgen-tharaldsen-youll-see-ti/#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>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a></p><div align="center"><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rj-tyGoGPRY&amp;rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rj-tyGoGPRY&amp;rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div>
<br />Gamesblog.it managed to score a video interview with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/age-of-conans-guardian-put-under-the-microscope/">Jorgen Tharaldsen</a>, product director for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/"><em>Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures</em></a> , and just in case you weren't sure yet, he makes it clear -- this game is not for kids. The interviewer poses a few questions relating to how <em>AoC</em> will be different from other MMO's out there, in particular its more mature and violent approach.<br /><br />The passionate Tharaldsen does not hold back -- much like the game itself -- with his responses. He places a lot of emphasis on Funcom wanting to be faithful to the Conan story and license, and not having to "dumb it down" or remove elements for a younger audience. Decapitations, prostitutes, and copious amounts of blood are some of the things mentioned that you may not find in your average MMO. Tharaldsen said that it was liberating to not have to worry about including aspects like this -- anything that they wanted to add, they did.<br /><br />It remains to be seen how the proposed <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/funcom-creates-a-variable-rating-system-for-age-of-conan/">server-side ratings system</a> will pan out, and whether there will be an uncut edition of the game available in every region, but it's nice to know that at least somewhere, the game will exist in a form that is exactly how the developers envisioned.<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/2007/11/15/age-of-conan-product-director-jorgen-tharaldsen-youll-see-ti/">Age of Conan product director, Jorgen Tharaldsen: "You'll see titties"</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-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://blip.tv/file/478917>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/age-of-conan-product-director-jorgen-tharaldsen-youll-see-ti/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1041087/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/age-of-conan-product-director-jorgen-tharaldsen-youll-see-ti/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>aoc</category><category>blood</category><category>conan</category><category>decapitation</category><category>funcom</category><category>hyborian-adventures</category><category>jorgen-tharaldsen</category><category>product-director</category><category>ratings</category><category>tharaldsen</category><category>video-interview</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[William Dobson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:30:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
