From the moment Age of Conan was first conceived, it has always been the goal of the designers to create a massively multiplayer online game with graphics unlike any you have ever seen before in a game of this genre. They set out to create a world where graphics were so detailed that you would want to pack your bags and move there for good. One way to reach that goal is utilizing the brand new DirectX 10 technology.
(read more...)

Earlier this week Funcom released a new video showing some of the game’s graphics capabilities with the new DirectX 10 technology. The video shows visible improvements in the game’s graphics, most noticeably when it comes to improved parallax mapping, better lighting and more realistic shadows. While the game is going to look and run stunningly well on DirectX 9, those of you who are lucky enough to own Windows Vista and have DirectX 10 compatible hardware when the game is launched, will be able to enjoy Age of Conan with a level of visual realism unmatched in the MMO genre.

You can find the video on numerous websites, such as Gamespot, Gamespy, IGN, PC Games Germany (and many more).

In addition to the video showing off the new DirectX 10 graphics in Age of Conan, we’ve also made available several new screenshots that gives you an insight into what exactly is improving with this new technology. Even at this early stage of DirectX 10 development, the visual improvements are obvious when looking at these screenshots that show off many of the functionalities that this new technology has to offer.
(check out the DX10 screens)

The sacred burial ground of Cimmerian chieftains for centuries, the Field of the Dead lies at the eastern end of Conall’s Valley in the northern part of Cimmeria. Situated at the very foot of Ben Morgh, the towering mountain where Crom himself is said to dwell, the Field of the Dead bears a close resemblance to Cimmerian descriptions of the afterlife.
(read more...)

There are reasons why the honored dead are laid to rest on biers of stone, with trophies of past deeds and treasures piled at their feet. Their deeds in life earned them honor and respect, and their long service and sacrifice bought them hard-won rest in the afterlife. But such fierce spirits do not rest easily. As in life, they are quick to offense and all too willing to take action against those who have wronged them.

(read more about the Specter Chieftain and Werewolf)

Funcom is proud to present the Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures comic magazine! Created by the talented people over at Dark Horse Comics, it tells a story that ties into the game perfectly. The magazine has been produced in several hundred thousands copies, mostly bundled with various gaming magazines, and we will now start putting them onto our website. We’ve added eight pages to the PDF so far (including the front page), and we’re adding another three pages today – making it a total of eleven pages so far!

Read the updated comic book here! (PDF)

Every month website MMORPG.com will interview one of the many talented people that work on Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures here at Funcom to create a developer profile which is then posted on their site. This month Art Director Didrik Tollefsen is featured. MMORPG.com sat down with him to pick his brains about everything from his childhood to what he does at Funcom.

The article will be published on MMORPG.com

Every month we try to bring you some selected press coverage from
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. If you find something you would like to tell us about, please drop us an email. This is some of the coverage over the last couple of weeks:

16.01.07 — Report from CES 2007 on MMORPG.com
11.01.07 — Report from CES 2007 on TeamXbox
10.01.07 — Q&A with Art Director Didrik Tollefsen at Yahoo!
10.01.07 — Q&A with Game Director Gaute Godager at Yahoo!
08.01.07 — Report from CES 2007 on IGN
08.01.07 — Report from CES 2007 on GameSpot
03.01.07 — Preview on Valhalla.pl (Polish)

More news on the Community Site!

Every week we give you an update on Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures by posting our special Friday Update on the community website. Here are some of the Friday updates we’ve published recently:

19.01.07 — Class preview – Scion of Set
12.01.07 — Class system review
05.01.07 — New concept art feature
29.12.06 — New lore updates

More news on the Community Site!

This month we’re featuring an in-game location video from the Field of the Dead. Take a look at this quick flyby that will give you a sneak-preview on what to expect once you are able to enter this hostile area yourself. This area holds many secrets, many of them hidden below the ground and in the many burial mounds scattered across the land.

The location video will be exclusively carried on these partner websites over the weekend: Gamespy.com, Gamigo.de, JeuxVideo.com, Juegaenred.com, Goha.ru and InsideGamer.nl.

Take a look at this month’s exclusive screenshots! We’ve added four screenshots from the Field of the Dead, showing off some of the many locations you will be able to find in this part of Cimmeria. This cold, wet and uninviting environment is as challenging to the mind as it is to the muscles of the adventurers who dare to venture there.
(check out the new screens)

This month we bring you an exclusive wallpaper themed according to this newsletters’ primary focus: the Field of the Dead. The wallpaper comes in four different sizes.
(check out the new wallpaper)

Just because we are such incredibly kind people here at Funcom, we have decided to give away free loot every month. All you need to do is send us an email and hope for the best. Every month we pick out three people who will be sent a bunch of exclusive loot such as inflatable Conan swords, the Age of Conan comic, games and even hardware.

These three people will also receive a guaranteed place in the
Age of Conan beta test!

If you want to be one of the lucky three who gets Funcom loot delivered in the mail, you will need to send us an email and include your full name, your home address, and your telephone number in order to be eligible. You must also keep the subject of the email “Age of Conan January Newsletter Sweepstakes”. Those who enter and get picked out will have the opportunity to receive one or more exclusive prizes such as:

•  Concept Art print signed by the artist
•  Dreamfall: The Longest Journey PC game
•  Full-colored Age of Conan comic book
•  Inflatable Age of Conan toy swords

Send us an email by February 20th and you might get lucky!

No purchase necessary. Prizes are three (3) inflatable swords, three (3) comic books, three (3) copies of the Dreamfall PC game and one (1) Concept Art print signed by the artist. Odds of winning dependant on number of entries. Competition open to residents of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S. (except Rhode Island and Puerto Rico). Drawing will be made by random draw in Oslo Norway one day after the entry deadline. Any applicable taxes or customs fees are responsibility of winner. Entry to this competition is void where prohibited by local laws.

This month’s community site is the French site aoc.jeuxonline.info, part of the JeuxOnline network. They have managed to combine a beautiful design with frequent updates, and at the same time have made sure to capture as much of the information surrounding Age of Conan as possible and putting it on their website. We applaud all the hard work of the people behind this, and hope that they will continue to maintain it as Age of Conan progresses towards open beta and launch.

Visit aoc.jeuxonline.info

Have a suggestion for Community site of the Month? Email us now!