Funcom's showering us with new screenshots from Age of Conan in honor of the Game Developers Conference kicking off today in San Francisco. 14 shots have whizzed down our internet pipe onto the site. Don't be shy - take a look. ... » Read More

The Game Developers Conference doesn't properly start until Wednesday, but companies are taking advantage of the gathered press in San Francisco to show some 2008 wares. One of MTV Multiplayer's first appointments was an updated look at Age of Conan, currently scheduled to drop on PCs sometime in May.

But, it's also coming to the Xbox 360 - eventually. While catching up with Funcom Product Manager Jorgen Tharaldsen, he updated MTV Multiplayer on the Xbox 360 version's progress. Unfortunately, Funcom doesn't yet have a timeframe for release, as the their resources are devoted to ensuring a May ship date for the PC version.
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Age of Conan house Funcom suffered declining revenues during the fourth quarter of 2007, as well as increased operating losses.

Fourth quarter revenues were $1.75 million, down from $2.15 million during the same period last year, while group operating losses increased from $1 million to $3.1 million, "mainly due to increased cost levels related to the build up for the Age of Conan launch and exchange rate fluctuations". Nevertheless, the company said it was in a strong financial position, with cash reserves of $52.4 million.
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Age of Conan will feature full gore and "breasts with nipples" when it is released in the UK and US later this year. Funcom originally said the game would bear an M for Mature badge in North America, but later corrected itself after an uncensored version was submitted and came away with a Mature 17+ stamp.

The developer apologised for "maybe two small errors". However, the German version will differ from the rest of Europe and have to make do without decapitations, dismemberment and "over-the-top type fatalities".

Age of Conan carries an 18+ rating in the UK because it's mature and gory and about as subtle as Arnold Schwarzenegger. It's an MMORPG but focuses on an active combat system and player versus player battles, making it a hard to prospect to resist. And, according to Funcom, around 500,000 of you have already felt the attraction by joining the ever growing community. That number includes beta sign-ups, forum members and probably hairy barbarian groupies.

The PC version is due to arrive on 20th May, with an Xbox 360 version announced but languishing in the "to follow" category.
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From the article:
"The Age of Conan community has grown to over 500,000 members. A member is someone registered in the game's beta test or the official Age of Conan fan club (which include the forums, etc). Age of Conan is still on track for a May 20th launch date."

Press Release at Source.
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Shannon 'Pharamond' Drake, Community Manager of Funcom, reports that Age of Conan just gotten its rating, and he can now give us the full and complete story on what we will and won't see in each 'version' of the game:

"Please note this isn't a design decision or something we can reverse. It's a legal (or as good as legal) requirement to sell the game in that particular territory.

With that said:

The US version is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. If you buy the US version, you will not see nipples.

The German version is rated 18+ by USK. The German version has full gore, but will not have decapitation, dismemberment, and over-the-top type fatalities.

The 'elsewhere in Europe' version is rated 18+ by PEGI and is unchanged."
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Looks like they just might stick to the May 20th release date this time. A new trailer for the game has appeared, showing some borderland areas and proudly displaying the May 20th release date at the end.
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Dan Nicolae Alexa writes: "Apparently, among the reasons that hindered AoC: Hyborian Adventures' launch in March is the level of bugs found in early builds of the game."
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Funcom has slapped Age of Conan with a May 20 release date today only days after saying it was targeting March 25. An initial delay occurred last year following the developer's decision to make alterations to the game's combat system, and it's now saying the title needs additional spit and polish. "Despite great feedback on vital aspects like immersion, fun factor and the exciting combat system, the management of Funcom has decided to polish the game even more. Eight weeks of development work ... » Read More

From Playfuls.com: "But the bad news don't stop here: apparently the number of warrior-classes included in the highly-anticipated MMO RPG has been reduced to only 12, from the previously available 15.

Moreover, the blood'n'gore-filled MMO has received the "M" rating from the ESRB and an 18+ rating from PEGI."
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Funcom has once again pushed back the release of their Age of Conan MMO. The game was already pushed back last August when it received the March 25th release date because the devs wanted to "focus on honing, polishing and improving the heralded qualities of the game, ensuring a fantastic MMO experience when it launches next spring."
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Funcom's bloody MMO Age of Conan Hyborian Adventures is finally getting its official site, available at ageofconan.com with a lot of screenshots, links and news. Plus the forum, of course.

Fans of the upcoming game (that wants to dethrone World of Warcraft from gamers' preferences) will also get their fansite kit, while new visitors will have the chance of signing up for the beta version of the game, arriving in late March 2008.
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Funcom has told us that Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures is set for release on March 25. Previously the game had a hazy March-May 2008 release timeframe. Funcom had hoped to get Age of Conan out at the end of 2007, but the developer pushed it back following the decision to make alterations to the game's combat system. Oddly enough, it was the game's real-time dynamic combat system that caused a stir in the MMO community when Age of Conan was first announced. An open beta for the MMO is ... » Read More

Jan 16, 2008 It was understood that Funcom wouldn't be conducting an open beta for its MMO Age of Conan, but according to the developer wires have got crossed regarding its plans. An open beta will occur prior to the game's release - between March and May this year - however it'll operate a little differently to traditional open betas other companies have launched for their MMOs. "We are planning to have an open beta for the game as we get closer to launch, however, it will be through ... » Read More

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures is an Online Action RPG, mixing a deep, story-driven single-player experience and a massive and brutal multiplayer end-game brings forth the ultimate representation of the Age of Conan. Funcom community manager Shannon 'Pharamond' Drake revealed that there will be an open beta for ten of thousands of people ramping up to the game's launch.
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Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures is an Online Action RPG, mixing a deep, story-driven single-player experience and a brutal multiplayer end-game. In addition to the game itself the box comes with an art book, the original soundtrack, a bonus DVD, a faux leather map of Hyboria, 5additional gamekeys which can be given to friends, and priceless in-game items.
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Jan 8, 2008 Funcom's MMO Age of Conan is back today in ten new screenshots that make us wonder whether our ninja PC will actually start smoking when we play it. Take a look for ... » Read More

Funcom team is never short on news, and this Friday, they have announced the release of a major client update and a new wave of Beta invitations for those lucky enough to stick around the official forums. Additionally, all current testers will be participating this weekend in a Capture the Flag PvP minigame, similar to what was shown in DragonCon.
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Oct 22, 2007 According to Age of Conan Hyborian Adventures community team, “Hyboria will be FILLED with women of all kinds, from the “to be expected” female prostitutes to the extremely able female fighters.” They go on to reveal that in contrast to the more sexist setting of Robert E. Howards world, “any female player in Hyboria should be just as strong and able as any ... » Read More

Hyboria will be filled with women of all kinds, from the "to be expected" female prostitutes to the extremely able female fighters. In addition to a large selection of clothes, armor, and whatnot, Funcom is delivering a character creation tool which allows for a stunning variety in looks and appearance.
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