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Age Of Conan's All-Dancing, All-PVPing Evolution Plans
Posted by Mike Fahey at 12:40 AM on June 14, 2008
So Funcom and Eidos released Age of Conan, and hundreds of thousands of players have signed up...what now? The two companies have revealed their plans for evolving Age of Conan over the coming months, with heaps of new content influenced directly by player feedback in the pipes.
It all starts out later this month with a major PVP update, which they are calling "To The Death". The update will institute consequences and rewards for engaging in PVP battles, including the promised PVP leveling system and a Fugitive system, that will make it easier for other players to hunt you down the more lower-level characters you kill.
Other planned updates include guild alliance warfare, allowing guilds to team up and even form alliance keeps while fighting over "wonders of the world" that grant special powers, a system of in-game achievements called Powerpoints that will reward players for completing various tasks with points they can spend on special gear and powers, new areas to quest in, and a combo-based dancing system motion captured from professional dance artists. Joy! Hit the jump for more details on the evolution of Age of Conan.
Funcom and Eidos Announce Massive Evolution Plans for Age of Conan
- Massive PvP Update in June - New Areas and Dungeons - Powerpoints and Guild Alliance Warfare to Come -
DURHAM, N.C.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—After the incredible initial success for Age of Conan, a whole world of MMO players are eagerly anticipating the future plans for one of the most popular online games ever released. While Age of Conan has already evolved massively since launch, numerous expansive additions are yet to come. Funcom and Eidos are therefore proud to lift the veil on Age of Conan's promising future, and today the two companies reveal selected features which are now in production.
"While we have enjoyed the initial success for Age of Conan, we know that a solid launch is but the start when it comes to the MMO genre," said Gaute Godager, Game Director on Age of Conan. "As we look ahead we are preparing a huge amount of new content, and what we are presenting today will evolve Age of Conan even further. It's naturally an incredibly ambitious update plan for a live MMO game, but we are certain our players would want nothing less."
Without further ado, here are some of the cool things to expect in the months to come:
PvP evolved - To the Death
The great combat system in Age of Conan has taken MMO fighting to a new level of fun, and Player versus Player combat plays a major part in this. As a result, a massive new PvP update is planned for late June. Aptly called To the death, this update brings more consequence and rewards to PvP, and an important part of it is the Fugitive system. The more lower level players you kill, the easier it is for others to hunt you down. In addition, ten PvP levels with additional ranks will be introduced, as well as specific gear and weapons for PvP.
Guild Alliance Warfare
Preproduction has started on a MASSIVE free update which will come later this year. Currently titled "Kingship!," large clusters of guilds will be able to form alliances, and rule and conquer on a massive scale. Everyone in a guild alliance will play a part in this system, and together they can even erect unique looking alliance Battlekeeps. The alliances can also fight over, and build, culture-specific "wonders of the world," with a direct link to higher powers! As part of the system Funcom will also facilitate larger amounts of players in massive battles.
Powerpoints
This fall, a unique reward and character evolution system called Powerpoints will be introduced. This rewards active in-game behaviour, and allows for gathering points through numerous methods, including owning a Battlekeep, playing the end-game at level 80, winning PvP matches, or simply being an active guild member or subscribing to the game. There will be many ways to obtain Powerpoints, and numerous rewards, ranging from exclusive Powerfeats to weapons, armour and potions. Powerpoints may even allow you to level faster!
New areas and dungeons
You won't need to wait for an expansion pack to explore exciting new areas. In the next period, Funcom will include several new areas, as well as evolving already existing areas. This includes a brand new dungeon in Aquilonia, reshaping three dungeons in Stygia, and an entire mountain range in Cimmeria!
Improved player-made villages and Battlekeep systems
While the guild alliance system brings a whole new level to the game, Funcom will continue to expand the existing player-made areas and the systems running them. A focus on evolving the massive elements of the game even further continues, ranging from placing NPCs in the cities to more choices and benefits.
Social updates
An MMO is nothing without a good social scene. While Conan is all about crushing your enemies, social enhancements are also getting some love. A fun example is the combo-based dancing system which is now coming to the game, and it's entirely motion captured by professional dance artists.
More adventures
Age of Conan has received tremendous praise for immersion and the great voice-over quests. This is but the start of the adventure, and numerous new quests are coming into the game, spread across the entire world and across the level ranges. Soon 60 additional quests will also get full voice acting, further improving immersion.
Embracing community feedback
Since launch several enhancements and fixes have been implemented to Age of Conan, and Funcom has continuously staffed up the service departments to improve customer satisfaction. This has already resulted in a better game experience, but the work will continue. At the heart of all of this stands the Age of Conan community. A lot of the upcoming improvements to the game will be based directly on community feedback, and the wishes and concerns players have when it comes to the future of the game will always be taken into account.
By reading the community websites, official forums and the monthly Clan of Conan newsletter you can expect additional information about upcoming features and released updates, as well as an arena to give your feedback. A new Clan of Conan newsletter is also going live today, with more detail on the upcoming features. http://funcom.cachefly.net/WebFiles/Newsletter/Issue17/
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
jeffreybt
Posted 2:01 AM 14/6/08
out of the ~25 people in the guild (all friends from other games) 1 is left
this game needed another six months to a year in beta.
it's broken, and the combo system, while nice can be defeated by well, walking to the left or right of the person attacking.
they need to fix and add what was promised before they talk about adding new.
jeffreybt
Sir_Crocidile
Posted 1:57 AM 14/6/08
Heh, the dancing system is just amazing. We got like 7 people in a circle and had a break dancing contest. Pretty funny to see a barbarian start doing back flips and spins on the ground. As for pvp penalties, it might stop higher levels killing lower levels, but how is it going to stop the (or even prevent promoting) ganking of players mid combat?
Sir_Crocidile
darvos
Posted 1:55 AM 14/6/08
@StopTheOncoming: Everyone hates WoW the same reason everyone hates Microsoft. If Blizzard had a 's' in it, it would have been Bli$$ard by now.
darvos
The_Foo
Posted 1:46 AM 14/6/08
As someone said, dancing's already in the game, with some "combos". Stygian women bellydance, which is fine by me.
The_Foo
aka Bitter
Posted 1:44 AM 14/6/08
Does "professional dance artists" = strippers? If it does, sign me up! =)
aka Bitter
Galvatron
Posted 1:41 AM 14/6/08
I really enjoy AoC thus far. Can't wait for the fugitive system.
Galvatron
StrikerGold
Posted 1:39 AM 14/6/08
Powerpoints, eh? Hopefully this will help spread the word that people with access to the AoC end game can excel no matter how much time they can put into it.
Or not.
StrikerGold
DesmondHume
Posted 1:29 AM 14/6/08
@aka Bitter: Those are some awesome changes to me. I am going to make a PvP character once that update hits. For now I'm sticking to PvE...get used to the area and gameplay and which class is right for me.
DesmondHume
fuchikoma
Posted 1:29 AM 14/6/08
Fugitive system sounds a bit like what I saw in Lineage II, which was pretty good. This sounds usefully tweaked.
@Brereton55:
Yeah, I don't get why MMOs haven't taken the Korean model more and offered the client for free... I have since bought two and neither was good past the free month so I'm done trying that. Also, TechTV FTW.
fuchikoma
Tajfoon
Posted 1:28 AM 14/6/08
they have already implemented the dancing system, at least to a degree. Though the stygian dance suck, the cimmerian is pretty cool.
Tajfoon
StopTheOncoming
Posted 1:21 AM 14/6/08
Notice how everyone was ripping on WoW for possibly using "Achievement" points. But when AoC does something similar, its fine.
StopTheOncoming
Coquiton
Posted 1:21 AM 14/6/08
Man, this is great!
I knew there was gonna be some sort of news update released today (we were told about it in the forums), but this??
AoC just keeps getting better and better!
Coquiton
kdot
Posted 1:19 AM 14/6/08
I am glad they are continually adding things to the game is a good thing to see.
I am enjoying the game so far (lvl 38) and hopefully when the necro changes come along I can go back to it
The new things sound cool, I was thinking the other day that alliances would be cool considering you share the instance with 3 or 4 other guilds.
For me continual updates are one of the best things about MMO's.
kdot
Callidux
Posted 1:18 AM 14/6/08
@Brereton55: If you're looking for an MMO that changes the formula a little bit and has a lot of growing potential, this is an MMO for you. AoC reminds me of a throwback to older MMO's, which might be your thing.
If you're looking for a grindfest, WoW-esque MMO, where you just auto-attack and read your email, then AoC is not for you.
Callidux
Herminator
Posted 1:12 AM 14/6/08
New in Age of Conan! You can now make epic powerpoint slides, with little animations for each line of text, or maybe even some WordArt, if you are a high enough level.
Herminator
angrymob
Posted 1:11 AM 14/6/08
@Brereton55: It does suck. Save your pennies. Sure, you'll enjoy the first 20 levels, but then you'll enter the land of mediocrity and all will become bland.
Just my opinion of course, so playing it is the only way you'll really know if you like it.
angrymob
taftsearlobe33
Posted 1:10 AM 14/6/08
@Piratedoom: Hey WoW realized that if they introduce a new class everyone will jump on it to play it, then you don't need to worry about balancing classes since everyone will be playing the same class.
taftsearlobe33
taftsearlobe33
Posted 1:09 AM 14/6/08
@Mustakrakish: that sounds a lot like SWGs dancing class.
taftsearlobe33
Piratedoom
Posted 1:09 AM 14/6/08
at least wow is getting its first new class.
it has only taken them 4 years.
by 2068 we will have all the hero classes!
/yay
Piratedoom
IrNoThnk
Posted 1:08 AM 14/6/08
@aka Bitter: If you're on a PVP server then you'll see people preach "Free for all PVP, get over it newb" all day long. I don't think it will hurt the system at all, when I get "ganked" it's usually mid combat by somebody within +/- 10 levels of me.
The biggest issue I saw was level 25 characters staying in the beginners area and slaughtering 8-20's (I believe 25 is the max before you aren't allowed to travel back there).
For me, that's part of the fun. Not knowing when you might be attacked, or what this person running down the path is going to do. It makes it a lot easier to form groups, it's a ganking deterrent :).
IrNoThnk
skwish
Posted 12:58 AM 14/6/08
I like the consequence system. You sit there and pound on lower ranked people all day you essentally get a bounty placed on your head...
I think that this is really cool and would allow a group of pissed off lower levels to hunt down and kill the Son of a bitch who has been driving them nuts.
Hilarity of kicking people off a cliff aside :D
skwish
Chewbenator
Posted 12:56 AM 14/6/08
@Mustakrakish: Considering "combo-based dancing system" yeah I think that's exactly what they are doing.
Chewbenator
uppitycracker
Posted 12:54 AM 14/6/08
@Brereton55: you dont have to. it doesnt. play it. if anything, there's boobies! and that should get just about EVERYONE on this site to at least give it a shot.
uppitycracker
aka Bitter
Posted 12:51 AM 14/6/08
I wonder if the PvP changes will bring more players into the game/keep them playing or do the opposite? It seemed like the free-for-all PvP was one of the main reasons people were flocking to the game. Can a AoC player enlighten me?
aka Bitter
z0phi3l
Posted 12:51 AM 14/6/08
By adding penalties and rewards for PvP (ganking), they just might have killed the game, because now they're going to have to also focus on "balance" to keep the cry babies content
z0phi3l
Mike Fahey
Posted 12:49 AM 14/6/08
@Kombinat: Bah, will never happen. I just wish they'd upgrade the character models in AO 1.
Mike Fahey
Kombinat
Posted 12:48 AM 14/6/08
I was hoping this game would flunk so Funcom can work on Anarchy Online 2.
Kombinat
Mustakrakish
Posted 12:47 AM 14/6/08
They should make a whole system for dancing that works not dissimilar to the combat one. Introduce a whole new Dance Interface which replaces the average one when you go into dance. The higher your level, and dependent on your race and class, the better your dances get with more complex combos. Eventually it could become like DDR but in an MMO environment where you can enter a tavern and have to dance to the jolly music playing there.
Mustakrakish
Brereton55
Posted 12:46 AM 14/6/08
Any idea when a free trial will come out? I don't want to spend 50$ and find that it sucks :(
Brereton55
Katorok
Posted 2:44 AM 14/6/08
@GreyFoxV1: What?!?! Either these guys you know are lying, or have keyloggers on their computers, or their passwords are too easy <.<...?
Katorok
GreyFoxV1
Posted 2:16 AM 14/6/08
How about they fix the broken game engine and gapping security on their forums? I know a few people who had their accounts brute forced on the forums because they didn't have a bloody retry limit for passwords.
GreyFoxV1
okenny :)
Posted 2:14 AM 14/6/08
@darvos: And the same kind of ignorance that begs such blind hate shines through :|
okenny :)
swamptrunk
Posted 3:31 AM 14/6/08
I don't know what everyone is complaining about. Yes, the game has bugs, but it's anything but unplayable. I love it, especially the loads of dungeons. Give it a try!
swamptrunk
Naia
Posted 3:25 AM 14/6/08
@taftsearlobe33: I'm reminded of the first time I saw the SWG Exotic dance. My jaw dropped.
Naia
pandafresh
Posted 5:48 AM 14/6/08
"system of in-game achievements called Powerpoints"
wait, are Excel and Word also included?
pandafresh
Ghede
Posted 4:24 AM 14/6/08
If any of those "Power Points" are in the starting Island, I'm going to have to hurt someone.
Ghede
ifalldownstairs
Posted 8:16 AM 14/6/08
wow needs something lie fugitive to stop all the horde assholes in STV ganking all the lowbies
ifalldownstairs
Channing
Posted 12:41 PM 14/6/08
Everytime I heard about AoC it just keeps sounding better and better. I don't want to buy a 800 dollar vid card to play it, though. Then again, I'm really trying to resist spending 500 dollars to play MGS4. =/
Channing
Jonn
Posted 1:33 PM 14/6/08
Is it just me, or does the woman in that pic look like Lucy Lawless?
Jonn
Nephili
Posted 3:16 PM 14/6/08
@GreyFoxV1: By default, you don't even have a login for the forums... you have to log into account management, then go to "Create or Update my Forum Login" and set up a seperate login/password just to use to access the forums. Security common sense says: don't use the same login/password for everything!
Nephili
Trencher-1
Posted 10:00 PM 14/6/08
@ifalldownstairs: WoW needs a fugitive system to stop all those Alliance a-holes from ganking lowbies in STV
Trencher-1
thenino85
Posted 3:40 AM 15/6/08
They need to implement a better combo system in the game. The original AoC combat system was like a fighter, where you would enter the combo moves into the game, and then you'd perform a move. No selection of your move involved. People didn't like that system, though, so they changed it to make it more simplistic. The current system just seems to be an exercise in frustration. Instead of hitting one key, you hit the key corresponding to the move you want, then you hit 1-3 keys after that. Why bother with the 1-3 keys if you've already selected which move you want? That's not a "new" fighting system design. That's a purposefully inefficient control scheme. The old system had its charm. Sure, people might not have liked it, but at least it was novel and innovative for MMOs. The new system is a thoughtless hybrid of the old MMO control scheme (side note: which has existed back to at least Everquest and probably even back to The Realm, get off "go back to WoW" high horses about this topic, fanboys) and the old AoC combo system, and in the end, it comes out being worse than either.
thenino85
JesusDeSaad
Posted 8:04 PM 15/6/08
So far Funcom is making all the right moves, and I'm happy about it, because in contrast to the [let's let all players whine and complain about our badly implemented tactics, let's only fix minor bugs, and let's not introduce anything new unless the players have payed 200000% its worth in subscriptions] Blizzard tactics, Funcom so far fixes pretty much everything they can get their hands on AND give us new stuff. I suspect their strategy is "Let's do everything the rest are doing, only better", and so far it works.
JesusDeSaad
FunkyJ
Posted 3:48 PM 16/6/08
My question is why wasn't this in the game in the first place, like promised?
FunkyJ