Age of Conan - anyone interested?

[Brock Sherwood]

ive been antisipating Age of Conan for sometime now. Release is just around the corner and pre-orders are out now. Public Beta starts May 1st. Game ships May 20th.

im picking it up. im gonna grab 2 copies of the collectors edition for 2 accounts. yeah i know, its the same thing i did with LOTRO and ended up spending over $500 on 2 beta pre-order collectors edition lifetime accounts for a game i dont play now. but im thinking (secretly hoping) this could be the game everyone can agree on and get back to one game we all enjoy.

new forums and new site is just around the corner. lets make it a new squad for a new game thats just around the corner.

what ya say??



Age of Conan Site

Age of Conan Community Site

Gamestop Age of Conan Prices

Pre-Order Types (at bottom)

[Brock Sherwood]

Hi everyone, as you can see we have made the big announcement you have all been waiting for today. We naturally see a lot of questions popping up, and I won’t even attempt to answer them all here. We will however try to go through the major ones so you may understand our reasoning, and hopefully get the details you need at this point.

First of all Fileplanet has posted a FAQ on their site where some basic questions are replied. You can find that here.

They will update this FAQ in the days to come as more questions pop up.

The registration to sign-up is now live, and you can find it here.

So, on to the meat of this somewhat lengthy article, read or delete at your pleasure:


WTF, only level 13 / SMART move on the level cap (pick a variant)

We have on purpose chosen to cap the Open Beta at level 13. As someone points out it is a quest junction in the game for the Destiny quests. It is however far enough to give you many (many) hours of entertainment, while giving access to both solo and group gameplay. How many hours is a bit up to you, and how many characters you create. If you are smart about it and team up (which we all know you will ;-P) you will also be able to access content for a tad higher levels. As you move into some quests which demands a certain level that will be the end of the experience. For now.

For those of you who are disappointed about the level cap; at Funcom we have always seen Beta PRIMARILY as a tool for development, a beta is there to test the game so it is as good as possible when we launch. Perhaps you have seen other solutions by other MMO games in the past, but by doing it this way we are able to test all we need, while hopefully also ensuring you get a great taste of all the new aspects we bring to the genre. As you can make several characters you can test out a lot before we launch, perhaps even making up your mind on your primary. This also means we get a focused testing on where we know the major load will come when we launch, which is at the instances running the start. Oh, for those of you wondering, when beta ends your character dies, and once we launch you will need to start a new.


Paying for Open Beta?!?!

The way Fileplanet works means that you will have to eventually pay, yes. This is not something we control, but please be aware that distributing, organizing and preparing such an activity is something extremely few gaming sites can cope with. I am not sure how well versed you are in the cost of internet downloads or what it takes to set things like this up, but I assure you, the Conan beta has a definitive cost for Fileplanet as well. Not just for the Peta byte of data going out, but for setting this whole thing up. When we started to look for a partner for Open Beta we didn’t have to think even twice, as IGN / Fileplanet are the best ones in the world on that. Simple as that. Extremely few companies are able to host and arrange something like this on the scale they do it. For us, to know that our partner can be fully trusted on everything from customer service to download speeds, was of the essence. Why we didn’t do it all ourselves? We have up until this point, tens of thousands have been selected, and we for sure will to a greater degree some weeks from now. But…as we move into final push we need final push attention too. Simple as that.

I know you will continue to discuss this aspect of it as we move on, and some of you are / will even be angry about it. Please, don’t be, this is a BETA, it is for TESTING Age of Conan BEFORE the LAUNCH. You do not have to sign up for this, it is voluntary. There is no god given right that everyone who wants should get access to a beta, remember that we are only trying to make the best possible game for launch, and the best partner we could find for that part of the Beta was Fileplanet. Age of Conan doesn’t start 1st of May, it starts when we launch. I hope I don’t come across as harsh here, we do love you guys and girls (group hug everyone) but please also understand our choices.


Will there be an NDA?

We might keep it up a bit to let the main stresstest rush go by, but it will be lifted way before we launch. Soon everyone can talk about what they are playing instead of what they think they will be playing. We really look forward to this of course! This marks the start of a new chapter for us, and you all, we are now soon moving into live services! Soon everyone


When will I get my keys and know if I am selected?

You will get a notification from Fileplanet next week, but you are able to register your email and get notification when you can sign-up next week. This does not require a Fileplanet membership. After that point in time it is a FIRST COME – FIRST SERVE rush to get keys (this is a normal way for Fileplanet to do it btw). The client downloads will go in batches though. To stagger the load this will need to be a bit staged as our MASSIVE download is a challenge for any network. This is done to ensure best possible download speeds


Is it available for everyone?

Yes, people from all over the world can sign up. Just last month we had people from a whopping 191 countries who visited the Age of Conan site, so of course we worked with Fileplanet on making it global. It will play towards US datacenters though. We are now moving into launch universes for our server parks, and this means that for this test other gamers will play on US ping times.


Only 50.000 players?

Only?!! Yes, it is what we need to stress test this part of the beta. Please understand; this will give us the data we need to move to launch. It is a small premiere for us if you like. At the same time it allows us to check strain over numerous servers, while at the same time giving us enough time to scale and fix for launch set-up.


Will general beta go on?

Yes, general beta will go on at different universe (Euro server parks). If you have already signed up through our own beta pages you might still have a chance of being picked, even though the chance is getting a tad slimmer as you may understand. We are soon launching though!


What about all the other questions?

This hopefully answered some of the most important ones, and our forum addiction means we will follow upcoming topics as well.

I hope that those of you who want to will get a spot in the beta, and that you will all have great fun when you get there. You have been amazing and waited for us and now everything moves into final stage. You have been part of the same rollercoaster we have been through, but this is it! Open Beta! Then launch!! Even though I know many of you would have wished for “complete, open, every single one being able to play for weeks for free, for as many levels as possible Beta” (TM); if you think about it, really think about it, and if you were working in Funcom, I am sure you would have agreed we have made the best approach. We chose this way because it is the best course of action to prepare for launch, and that is after all the goal of any beta.


WTF, what a lot of marketing “#??#%

It’s the truth, hopefully you will understand our choices. This is a major hallmark in the development history of Age of Conan, and actually, it is great fantastic news. Isn’t it? Should some of you still be angry when you do get to enter the game; do like me, vent some steam by chopping of a few Pict heads

Have a great night everyone, hope to see you in Hyboria soon


Best regards

J?rgen Tharaldsen
Product Director

[Brock Sherwood]

----------------------------------------------
*** Official Collector's Edition Information ***

Note: All Collector's Edition boxes come with these bonus items unless specified differently!

Ring of Acheronia (Exclusive In-Game Item)
The Drinking Cape (Bonus In-Game Item)
Hand-Finished Collectors Edition Box
Hyborian World Faux Leather Map
Unique Bonus DVD
Official Age of Conan Soundtrack
Age of Conan Art Book
Five Free Guest Passes
------------------------------------------
North American Collector's Edition Sites
------------------------------------------
Store/Site Amazon
Local Price 78.99 USD

Store/Site Buy.com
Local Price 88.99 USD

Store/Site CDUniverse
Local Price 88.95 USD

Store/Site DVDBoxOffice
Local Price 87.19 CAD

Store/Site EBGames
Local Price 89.99 USD

Store/Site Gamestop
Local Price 89.99 USD

Store/Site GoGamer
Local Price 84.90 USD

Store/Site Overstock
Local Price 77.95 USD

Store/Site SuperDuperClub
Local Price 75.99 USD

Store/Site WalMart
Local Price 78.82 USD

Store/Site Virgin Megastore
Local Price 84.99 USD
---------------------------------------
European Collector's Edition Sites
---------------------------------------
Store/Site 12Game
Local Price 59.99 EUR

Store/Site Absolutt Spill
Local Price 469.00 NOK

Store/Site Alapage
Local Price 69.90 EUR

Store/Site Coolshop
Local Price 449.99 DKK

Store/Site Game
Local Price 59.99 GBP

Store/Site Gameheaven
Local Price 89.99 EUR

Store/Site GamesPlanet
Local Price 69.90 EUR

Store/Site Gamezone
Local Price 469.00 NOK

Store/Site Papasotiriou
Local Price 69.99 EUR

Store/Site Sinclair-Software
Local Price 69.99 EUR

Store/Site SoftXChange
Local Price 449.99 DKK

Store/Site Zupernova
Local Price 396.99 DKK
---------------------------------------
Oceanic Collector's Edition Sites
---------------------------------------
Store/Site EBGames Australia
Local Price 109.95 AUD
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X360 Edition

Store/Site Gamestop
Local Price 59.99 USD

Store/Site Newegg
Local Price 56.99 USD

Store/Site VideoGameCentral
Local Price 53.99 USD
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Age of Conan: Hyborean Adventures Official Strategy Guide

What is inside (According to Play-Asia.com):

* Platform: PC
* pages: 256
* Strategies for online gameplay.
* This strategy guide features a complete walkthrough of the entire game.
* Detailed area maps.
* Extensive listing of items and equipment.
* Expert boss tactics.
* In-depth bestiary.
---------------------------------------
Store/Site Amazon
Price 16.49 USD

Store/Site Amazon.co.uk
Price 9.34 GBP

Store/Site Chapters/Indigo
Price 21.27 CAD

Store/Site Countrybookshop
Price 16.99 GBP

Store/Site EBGames
Price 24.99 USD

Store/Site Gamestop
Price 24.99 USD

Store/Site Play-Asia
Price 24.90 USD

Store/Site Target
Price 16.49 USD
---------------------------------------
Currency Legend:
USD = United States Dollar
AUD = Australian Dollars
CAD = Canadian Dollars
DKK = Denmark Kroner
EUR = Euro
GBP = British Pounds
NZD = New Zealand Dollars
NOK = Norway Kroner
SEK = Sweden Kronor

For currency conversion go to XE.com
---------------------------------------
Special thanks to all those who contributed to this thread.

[Brock Sherwood]

Since this list is now growing quite rapidly, I have decided to remove what bonuses come from which site. It seems that most sites now offer some type of bonus with their order, so I will leave it up to you guys to scout them out.

PC Version Officially Releases: May 20th, 2008
X360 Version Unofficially Releases: September 1st, 2008
---------------------------------------
North American Regular Edition Sites
---------------------------------------
Store/Site Amazon
Local Price 49.99 USD

Store/Site BestBuy.ca
Local Price 49.99 CAD

Store/Site Buy.com
Local Price 48.99 USD

Store/Site CDUniverse
Local Price 49.49 USD

Store/Site CDWow.us
Local Price 47.95 USD

Store/Site DVDBoxOffice
Local Price 54.70 CAD

Store/Site EBGames
Local Price 49.99 USD

Store/Site FamilyVideo
Local Price 47.47 USD

Store/Site Gamestop
Local Price 49.99 USD

Store/Site GoGamer
Local Price 44.90 USD

Store/Site Newegg
Local Price 46.99 USD

Store/Site Overstock
Local Price 48.95 USD

Store/Site WalMart
Local Price 49.82 USD

Store/Site Virgin Megastore
Local Price 49.99 USD
---------------------------------------
European Regular Edition Sites
---------------------------------------
Store/Site Bol.com
Local Price 44.99 EUR

Store/Site BoxGame
Local Price 349.99 DKK

Store/Site ChoicesUK
Local Price 24.99 GBP

Store/Site CDWow.ie
Local Price 37.99 EUR

Store/Site CoolShop
Local Price 313.00 DKK

Store/Site DynaByte
Local Price 43.99 EUR

Store/Site Eplaza
Local Price 49.95 EUR

Store/Site Freemans
Local Price 40.00 GBP

Store/Site Game
Local Price 24.99 GBP

Store/Site GamesPlanet
Local Price 49.90 EUR

Store/Site GamePlay
Local Price 17.99 GBP

Store/Site Gameseek
Local Price 29.97 GBP

Store/Site Gamezone
Local Price 349.00 NOK

Store/Site Komplett.co.uk
Local Price 30.50 GBP

Store/Site Papasotiriou
Local Price 49.99 EUR

Store/Site Play.com
Local Price 34.99 EUR

Store/Site PCMedia
Local Price 43.95 EUR

Store/Site Puolenkuunpelit
Local Price 46.90 EUR

Store/Site Sinclair-Software
Local Price 49.95 EUR

Store/Site SoftFair
Local Price 369.00 DKK

Store/Site SoftUK
Local Price 20.99 GBP

Store/Site SoftXChange
Local Price 275.00 DKK

Store/Site SpieleGrotte
Local Price 45.99 & 47.99 EUR

Store/Site Webhallen
Local Price 379 SEK

Store/Site Zavvi
Local Price 27.00 GBP

Store/Site Zupernova
Local Price 298.99 DKK
---------------------------------------
Oceanic Regular Edition Sites
---------------------------------------
Store/Site Chaos.com
Local Price 84.29 AUD

Store/Site DStore
Local Price 73.30 AUD

Store/Site DVDOrchard
Local Price 72.95 AUD

Store/Site EBGames Australia
Local Price 79.95 AUD

Store/Site Ezygames
Local Price 87.47 AUD

Store/Site GameHead
Local Price 72.15 AUD

Store/Site GamesMan
Local Price 89.99 NZD

Store/Site GamePlanet
Local Price 79.95 AUD

Store/Site GamePlanet NZ
Local Price 99.95 NZD

Store/Site GamesWarehouse
Local Price 73.95 AUD

Store/Site TopShop
Local Price 75.25 AUD