Age of Conan

Most people are forgetting this aspect, but in some ways Age of Conan is the most unique MMORPG in years.

Who is not used to low fantasy aspects may think it is nothing special, but it is, not only in mmorpgs but in all kind of "video game rpg".

Almost all sword and sorcerer games are full of high fantasy aspects, and they usually fall in the good versus evil cliche, a L.F. universe can bring a lot of new aspects to immersion, role playing and depth of characters.

Funcom is taking a big risk as HF is more popular, it is even hard to bring one single low fantasy rpg or mmorpg to the table, but finally something different.

You may like it or not, but the combat is also different and more complex (after a couple of levels) than most of mmorgs and somehow, it fits better the Conan Universe.

A low fantasy lore can bring the most exotic and unique characters with the most cruel backgrounds, the mix between the sad reality and the heroic fantasy can bring much more details than the orc queen or elven ranger stereotypes we are all used to, or the Tolkien aspects where all the heroes already had big names even before the adventure and the evil ones are just blind evil and empty.

It may have some technical issues in Beta, but it is a step ahead and something new and I think, all players (even the ones that would not play AOC) should appreciate when something like this happens.

Word from testers is that the game has much improved recently, alot actually.  They did get rid of some classes and kinda morphed em into the others but overall I hear good things.

You're right Funcom really went out on a limb here... I never heard the name Conan before...

Oh... Wait...

I kinda have to disagree with your claim about risk. They built their game on an existing and rather famous IP. Even if you weren't familiar with the novels... You at least had an image of Arnie wielding a broadsword while campaigning on California.

Haven't tried AoC... I'm going to wait for the console version. I can't really run it on my laptop and... I want to support consoles as MMO platforms. That way I don't have to worry about upgrading a PC every year to run games with pretty graphics.

Well I buy it because I follow every new MMORPG in these last years.

(and I lost a lot of money on it).

But seriously as a mainland European I don't think Conan has the lore to be much interested in.

Most Europeans (even gamers) can only think of very bad B- films with the governor of California doing stupid actions in his underwear.

Or other films like Red Sonja etc... didn't do good either.

You can't even find the Conan comics (UK not counted) in Europe in the mainstream comics shops.

Like I said I will buy the game because I follow the industry, but by sheer lore I am convinced there are far more better choices for Europeans (and don't forget Germany, France, etc are HUGE markets).

Star Wars, Star Trek, Aliens, Terminator (not a B film), even Tintin would have better suited lores to lure in the Europeans.

Originally posted by Itzcoliuhqui

You're right Funcom really went out on a limb here... I never heard the name Conan before...

Oh... Wait...

I kinda have to disagree with your claim about risk. They built their game on an existing and rather famous IP. Even if you weren't familiar with the novels... You at least had an image of Arnie wielding a broadsword while campaigning on California.

Haven't tried AoC... I'm going to wait for the console version. I can't really run it on my laptop and... I want to support consoles as MMO platforms. That way I don't have to worry about upgrading a PC every year to run games with pretty graphics.

Conan movies are well known, but the Conan universe from books is not, there is a couple of action games based on the conan action aspects, but for a low fantasy rpg it is a risk, as people will always want a shinny echanted armor and other aspects from high fantasy.

It will be almost the ONLY L.F. game.

Originally posted by Zorndorf

Well I buy it because I follow every new MMORPG in these last years.

(and I lost a lot of money on it).

But seriously as a mainland European I don't think Conan has the lore to be much interested in.

Most Europeans (even gamers) can only think of very bad B- films with the governor of California doing stupid actions in his underwear.

Or other films like Red Sonja etc... didn't do good either.

You can't even find the Conan comics (UK not counted) in Europe in the mainstream comics shops.

Like I said I will buy the game because I follow the industry, but by sheer lore I am convinced there are far more better choices for Europeans (and don't forget Germany, France, etc are HUGE markets).

Star Wars, Star Trek, Aliens, Terminator (not a B film), even Tintin would have better suited lores to lure in the Europeans.

 I disagree, forget the movies, Conan lore is very rich and more based in possible historical (and unknown) facts with a mix of fantasy, this can bring a lot of new aspects to the game.

 If you think about a marketing point of view, you are right, but Tintin and even Alien ( and I really like H.R.Giger creation ) doenst have exacly a full lore.

 The first Terminator is a nice movie, but Terminator 2-3-4 arent B movies, they are D movies at best... Between all SciFi mainstream movies Bladerunner universe would be the best choice in my opinion... an Existenz online should be really nice too...

.

Originally posted by Zorndorf

Well I buy it because I follow every new MMORPG in these last years.

(and I lost a lot of money on it).

But seriously as a mainland European I don't think Conan has the lore to be much interested in.

Most Europeans (even gamers) can only think of very bad B- films with the governor of California doing stupid actions in his underwear.

Or other films like Red Sonja etc... didn't do good either.

You can't even find the Conan comics (UK not counted) in Europe in the mainstream comics shops.

Like I said I will buy the game because I follow the industry, but by sheer lore I am convinced there are far more better choices for Europeans (and don't forget Germany, France, etc are HUGE markets).

Star Wars, Star Trek, Aliens, Terminator (not a B film), even Tintin would have better suited lores to lure in the Europeans.

The point is that it wasn't an unknown IP, not even in europe. It's like the saying goes... There's no such thing as bad publicity. And if you tell me that when you saw the name associated with the game, you weren't a bit curious to see what it was all about... I know you're lying

Tintin MMO would be... special.

 I forgot to say, there is one detail that removes the "B" from "Conan the Barbarian"  -Basil Poledouris.

I'm from the U.K and a Conan MMORPG vs a Tin Tin MMORPG, that's sort of like saying "Do you want an MMORPG with PvP, gore, violence, booze, nudity and sex or an MMORPG that would be gay in more ways than one?".

If you're French, or Belgian I can accept the interest in Tin Tin past age 11. I don't understand it but accept it, however Conan easily holds the interest of any red blooded male past age 11. Also I think Conan the Barbarian is a classic movie myself and remember watching it as a child and still watch it today. As for the Tin Tin movies, how many people remember them or still watch them? Right, none. I'm sorry but if you'd rather watch "Tin Tin goes to San Fransisco with captain kipper" rather than Conan the Barbarian or even Conan the Destroyer you need therapy in my opinion!

After reading the AcC forum I wouldn't touch this game with a 10 feet pole.