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[edit] Funcom and SCi/Eidos sign co-publishing agreement for ‘Age of Conan’
Funcom announces the signing of a co-publishing agreement with SCi/Eidos for ‘Age of Conan’, the highly anticipated Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMO). Under the terms of the agreement, SCi/Eidos is to publish the boxed product of ‘Age of Conan’ while Funcom retains digital distribution rights. The agreement gives SCi/Eidos distribution rights for North America, Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Funcom will operate servers and provide customer service for the game and collect and retain subscription revenues.
The two parties have agreed to set the new launch window between March and May 2007. The contract contains specific sales targets, which, if met, will make ‘Age of Conan’ a highly successful game. The PC version of ‘Age of Conan’ is currently in the Beta phase of development and Funcom and SCi/Eidos are pleased with the status of the game. Funcom and SCi/Eidos will also co-operate to bring the game to the console market.
“We are very excited to work with SCi/Eidos on the publishing of Age of Conan,” said Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom. “SCi/Eidos has proven their strength in PR, marketing and distribution with series like Hitman and Tomb Raider, and we couldn’t be more pleased with our co-publishing partner. Our two companies share a strong commitment and ambition for the game, and we feel certain the partnership will increase the likelihood of success and the total sales potential for the game.”
“We have strong faith in the sales potential for ‘Age of Conan’, and by combining the knowledge and reach of both SCi/Eidos and Funcom we believe the game will become a great success,” said Ian Livingstone, Product Acquisition Director of Eidos. “The many E3 awards, the extensive worldwide press coverage, the vibrant online player community, the strong global brand and Funcom’s extensive MMO experience are all factors which bode well for the future of ‘Age of Conan’, and we will do our best to contribute to making it into a successful MMO franchise in the years to come.”
[edit] Age of Conan a showcase game for Windows Vista
Under the terms of the agreement, Funcom will work to optimize the forthcoming Online Action RPG 'Age of Conan - Hyborian Adventures' for the Windows Vista operating system. Microsoft will showcase 'Age of Conan' as a title that takes full advantage of new gaming functionality in Windows Vista.
As gaming on the PC takes a great leap forward in accessibility and quality, Funcom is preparing 'Age of Conan' to be a showcase title in a modern generation of Windows games. With stunning graphics and amazing new technology 'Age of Conan' is set to bring Massively Multiplayer Online gaming into a new era, and Windows Vista truly reveals the full potential of the title.
'Age of Conan' is scheduled for a Windows release in Q4 2006. The game earned the Gamespot award as "Best MMO" of E3 2005, as well as being runner-up as the "Most Innovative Game of Show". It recently earned the MMORPG.com award as their "Most anticipated MMO of 2006", and was listed as one of the top ten games for 2006 in PC Gamer US, as well as being among the most anticipated games of 2006 in numerous other publications.
More information, screenshots, forums and a welcoming community portal can be found on the official website http://www.ageofconan.com
'Age of Conan - Hyborian Adventures' is also playable on Windows XP. This agreement is not a publishing agreement.
For further information on the Microsoft E3 press conference and the Windows Vista title lineup please visit the following links:
Announcements from the Microsoft E3 press conference
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/may06/05-09E32006BriefingPR.mspx
Microsoft Announces Spectacular Windows Vista Title Lineup
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/may06/05-09G4WE3LineupPR.mspx
[edit] Funcom Brings SpeedTree©RT Into Age of Conan
Durham, NC – Funcom, a leading developer of multi award-winning games like Anarchy Online and The Longest Journey, has licensed SpeedTree®RT for their upcoming Online Action RPG Age of Conan - Hyborian Adventures.
“The partnership with IDV and SpeedTree helps us ensure that Funcom can continue its tradition of creating visual excellence in games,” said Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom.
“The integration of the middleware was exceptionally easy, but the results were amazingly realistic," said Pål Hansen, Funcom Project Manager. "We are thrilled to be working with SpeedTree and when our players see the results in Age of Conan, they will be too.”
In ‘Age of Conan’ the players will encounter a dark, lush, violent and sinful universe, presented in fantastic graphics and stunning 7.1 surround audio. In a world filled with cruel gods, mythical creatures, lost civilizations and a struggling human race, the mighty barbarian has finally seized the throne as king of Aquilonia. But Conan’s rule is on the brink of chaos, spiraling towards the doom of ancient evils. In this twisted fantasy world, dark magic and brutal combat lurks around every corner, and each man and woman must carve their own unique destiny under Conan’s reign.
“Age of Conan – Hyborian Adventures” is scheduled for a Windows release in Q4 2006. The game won the Gamespot award as “Best MMO” of E3 2005, as well as being runner-up as the “Most Innovative Game of Show”. It recently also won an MMORPG.com award as their “Most anticipated MMO of 2006”.
Screenshots are available at http://www.ageofconan.com/conan/media/screenshots/index.html
[edit] Funcom announces Age of Conan – Hyborian adventures
Durham, USA — April 20, 2005 – Funcom announces 'Age of Conan – Hyborian Adventures', an Online Action RPG scheduled for Windows in the first half of 2006. A mix of 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. Now you can enter the brutal domain of the world’s greatest fantasy hero.
In 'Conan' the players will encounter a dark, lush, violent and sinful universe, presented in fantastic graphics and stunning 7.1 surround audio. In a world filled with cruel gods, mythical creatures, lost civilizations and a struggling human race, the mighty barbarian has finally seized the throne as king of Aquilonia. But Conan’s rule is on the brink of chaos, spiraling towards the doom of ancient evils. In this twisted fantasy world, dark magic and brutal combat lurks around every corner, and each man and woman must carve their own unique destiny under Conan’s reign. In the true vision of Robert E. Howard’s dark universe it’s now time for you to become a messenger of death.
In addition to incredible graphics and sound, the game will be filled with unique features like the "Real Combat" engine; a revolutionary new multi-point melee system which allows the players to swing their weapons where they direct it, in real-time! This easy to learn and fun melee system lets the players truly feel they are on the battlefield, and goes head-on against the formulaic nature of online RPG combat. In 'Conan' you can also, for the first time in an online RPG, create player-made battle formations where you can command NPC’s and other players in combat, making for epic multiplayer battles. The multiplayer game also allow the players to form guilds and lay siege to enemy castles, letting their catapults sing their merry song of death as the enemy is crushed to a pulp.
"I have always been a huge fan of Conan and his Hyborian universe, and to direct this game is a dream come true" said Game Director Gaute Godager, one of Funcom’s founders and Game Director of ‘Anarchy Online’ and the heralded masterpiece ‘Anarchy Online – Shadowlands’. "We are truly trying to make this the ultimate representation of Conan’s world, and we are filling it with features never before seen in an online game. Have you not felt the urge when a great single-player RPG ends to have your character live on and interact with other fellow travelers? To enter an even greater world? This is that opportunity, to have a detailed RPG all about you, your choices and your character, and if you win – to share that victory at an even greater stage."
'Age of Conan' will have a plethora of additional features, as is expected from a Funcom online game. A presentation of the game, including more information about its features, will be held at E3 in May.
The Conan brand is destined to become THE fantasy license of 2006 as over 45 companies are working on a massive coordinated re-launch of the world’s greatest fantasy hero. With a movie from Warner Brothers and an anime movie from Swordplay Entertainment underway, an ongoing comic series from Dark Horse Comics, new novels from Penguin, a collectible toy line from McFarlane Toys, an Online Action RPG from Funcom and a vast range of official merchandise, Conan is reentering the global scene of entertainment with a brutal beheading of the competition.
“This is the first time fans will be able to experience Conan’s incredible world first-hand, and be in awe at the scope of it” said Fredrik Malmberg, Head of licensing and Creative Affairs at Conan Properties International. "The game is incredibly true to the works of Conan creator Robert E. Howard, who envisioned a violent, visceral world akin to a volcano about to erupt. Heads will roll."
More information and screenshots from the game can be found on the official website: http://www.ageofconan.com
