Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures

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: www.ageofconan.com

Official information about the Conan universe: www.conan.com

*Quote taken from PC Zones upcoming preview for May 2005: "Robert E. Howard's mystical fantasy world brought to staggeringly attractive life online (...) we can't wait to strap on our furry boots, oil up our pectorals and practice our best Austrian accents. And it takes a lot to make us admit to that kind of behaviour."

Source:

Funcom press release (April 20, 2005)

Age of Conan Wins Best MMO of E3 Awards

Durham, USA - May 22, 2006 - Funcom is proud to announce that "Age of Conan" received multiple E3 awards as the "Best Game of Show" in the MMO genre. The game went on to win awards from the three world leading gaming websites IGN, Gamespot and Gamespy.

Gamespot awarded the game "Best Massively Multiplayer Game" of E3 and said "based on what we saw it's the most promising massively multiplayer game in development today". Gamespy awarded the game "Best MMO" of E3, and stated "every time we see it, it manages to look better and better." IGN handed out two awards for Conan, both as the best overall MMO as well as the best PC MMO, and reasoned "When you talk about the greatest fantasy writers of the 20th century, there's no disputing the two names at the top of the list: J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard We've been waiting for an authentic Conan game for a long time and Funcom's certainly on track to deliver an experience worthy of the license"

"The MMO genre is one of the most competitive in gaming today, and earning an award as the "Best MMO of E3" from the three major gaming websites is a great achievement for Funcom" said Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom. "These awards are a testament to the quality of our game. They show that "Age of Conan" is seen by the world's leading gaming sites as the best MMO currently in development."

More information, screenshots, forums and a welcoming community portal can be found on the official website www.ageofconan.com .

"Age of Conan"is a Showcase Game for Windows Vista, and is scheduled for release in Q4 2006

Source:

Funcom press release (May 22, 2006)

Funcom and NVIDIA collaborating on 'Age of Conan'

Durham, USA - November 15th, 2006 - Funcom announces a strategic partnership with NVIDIA, a world leading manufacturer of graphics chipsets. The two companies have entered a strategic partnership in order to further improve the visual quality in "Age of Conan", the most technologically advanced massively multiplayer online (MMO) game in development. Engineers from the two companies are already working closely together to achieve this ambitious goal, while preparing the game for DX10, Microsoft Windows Vista and the impressive new NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800 range of graphic cards.

As a part of the agreement "Age of Conan" enters NVIDIA's "The Way It's Meant To Be Played" program, which ensures smooth compatibility with NVIDIA products as well as engineering and marketing support. As the developer of a key MMO title in the program, Funcom has received extensive onsite aid ever since the first hand-built prototypes of the DX10 enabled graphics cards came around, all to give "Age of Conan" players the best graphical experience possible.

"Solid and fun gameplay is our mantra, and we never compromise on that, but as we enter a revolutionary new generation of PC graphics technology we are given the power to create worlds with unprecedented beauty and depth," said Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom. "We are therefore delighted to match our talents with NVIDIA engineers to create the most realistic MMO graphics seen to date. Not only will this be essential for the visual experience in "Age of Conan", but also for the visual impact in our future MMOs."

Roy Taylor, NVIDIA's Vice President of Developer Relations, explains: "Our key objective in working with developers is to ensure that they have all the tools and support they need to make the most of NVIDIA's hardware's capabilities. "Age of Conan" will be a landmark game and, as a member of "The Way It's Meant To Be Played", players can be sure of a stunning graphics experience which maximises the power of DX10 and our new flagship graphics processing units, the GeForce 8800 Series."

"Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures" is a Showcase title for Windows Vista, and the game won "Best MMO of E3" awards from IGN, GameSpot, GameSpy and Yahoo. The game was a runner-up to the "Most innovative game of show" E3 award from Gamespot, and PC Gamer US named it as one of their top 10 most anticipated PC games. More information, screenshots, forums and a welcoming community portal can be found on the official website www.ageofconan.com . "Age of Conan" will also look and play great on DX9 systems. The game will be co-published by Eidos.

Be sure to check out the brand new "Age of Conan" trailer released by NVIDIA and Funcom today. The video is downloadable from http://community.ageofconan.com under "Videos" and from the nZone website hosted by NVIDIA. You can also get it directly from the following FTP address: ftp://ftp.funcom.com/media/Age_of_Conan/ - the videos are titled "“NVIDIA Trailer".

Source:

Funcom press release (November 15, 2006)

Funcom and Eidos launch Age of Conan Beta

Durham, USA - April 3, 2007 - Get ready for the most savage, sexy and action-packed MMO ever created as Funcom and Eidos finally open the floodgates to the massive world of Conan. The official Age of Conan Beta sign-up starts today, giving thousands of pioneers a unique chance to play the groundbreaking MMO months before release!

"We have been waiting for this day since we started development on Age of Conan, and it will be an epic moment as we see large waves of players charging into Hyboria," said Gaute Godager, founder of Funcom and Game Director on 'Age of Conan'. "As we get ready to unleash the most brutal MMO ever created we will let an increasing amount of players test our creation. With extended Beta testing for months to come we can hone and polish based on large-scale feedback, allowing us to fulfill the potential of the game."

Just think of it - You - There - On the battlefield. Unleashing devastating damage and death, laughing in the face of danger as you rally forth. Steel and magic, power and war, gods and demons, a barbaric world on the verge of collapse - this is the Age of Conan, this is your chance to shape one of the most anticipated PC games in development.

Go to beta.ageofconan.com to sign up.

'Age of Conan' will release on the 30th of October. The game is consistently listed as one of the most anticipated PC games of 2007, and won 'Best MMO of E3' awards from IGN, GameSpot, GameSpy and Yahoo. 'Age of Conan' is a key title in Microsoft's Games for Windows line-up, as well as being a showcase DX10 title for nVidia. More information, Beta sign-up, forums and a welcoming community portal can be found on www.ageofconan.com

Source:

Funcom press release (April 03, 2007)

Funcom announce new release date for Age of Conan

Durham, USA - August 10th, 2007 -Funcom announce a new release date for 'Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures'. The highly anticipated MMO is now set to release on the 25th of March 2008. By setting a new release date for the game, Funcom can continue the focus on honing, polishing and improving the heralded qualities of the game, ensuring a fantastic MMO experience when it launches next spring.

"We naturally regret that we have to push back "Age of Conan". However, after careful consideration, and analysis of recent Beta feedback, we believe that the new release date is in the best interest of the gamers, our company and our owners," said Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom. "We are fully committed to delivering games with absolute qualities, and in the current MMO marketplace we know that only the best is good enough to truly succeed. With the new release date we have therefore given ourselves more time to meet and deliver on the massive expectations for the game. We are certain that our choice will ultimately pay off, and that all "Age of Conan" players will get a special online experience."

"We are honored by the immense reception our game is constantly getting, with an astounding amount of positive press coverage, awards and magazine covers, but we still see that we need to polish some aspects of the game even further, especially when it comes to the entry barriers," said Gaute Godager, founder of Funcom and Producer / Director on "Age of Conan". "With the added development time we can now deliver something even more unique and powerful, something which is worthy of the incredible Conan legacy."

"Age of Conan" is consistently mentioned as one of the most anticipated PC games in development. It has received numerous magazine covers and awards, including 'Best MMO of E3' awards from IGN, GameSpot, GameSpy and Yahoo. "Age of Conan" is a key title in Microsoft's Games for Windows line-up, as well as being a showcase DirectX 10 title for nVidia. The game is currently in general Beta, and applications for testing are available at www.ageofconan.com.

Source:

Funcom press release (August 10, 2007)

GET READY FOR AGE OF CONAN, THE MOST SAVAGE, SEXY AND BRUTAL MMO EVER CREATED.

LIVE

SHAPE A UNIQUE CHARACTER AND FORGE YOUR DESTINY AS A ROGUE, MAGE, PRIEST OR SOLDIER.

FORM GUILDS, SOCIALISE, TRADE AND BUILD EVERYTHING FROM DEADLY WEAPONS TO SPRAWLING CITIES.

FIGHT

CHARGE INTO BATTLE ON HORSES AND MAMMOTHS AND LAY SIEGE TO HOSTILE CASTLES IN EPIC BATTLES.

CRUSH OTHER PLAYERS WITH SAVAGE COMBAT MOVES AND WIELD MAGIC, STEEL AND BOWS WITH DEADLY EFFECT.

EXPLORE

ROAM KONG CONAN'S TREACHEROUS WORLD AND EMBARK ON A BRUTAL JOURNEY IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST FANTASY HERO.

HEADS WILL ROLL!

Source:

Back of Keep Case - Windows (The Netherlands)

Age of Conan Enters First Phase of Beta Testing

Durham, USA - June 30, 2006 - Funcom announces that "Age of Conan" is entering the first phase of beta testing. The "Age of Conan"Beta will evolve gradually with more and more external testers being added as the game moves closer to launch. The first stage of Beta will include people from Funcom's Quality Assurance Department and selected, experienced Beta testers under NDA. During the fall more external testers will be included in the Beta. Beta signs-up will be announced broadly when Funcom is ready to process applications.

"We have worked hard on "Age of Conan" for more than two years, and it's great to see that our collective effort has led us to this point" said Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom. "The game already looks stunning and it's a lot of fun to play. We are looking forward to include our community, partners and press once we move into the later stages of the Beta."

"Age of Conan" is a Showcase title for Windows Vista, and the game recently won the "Best MMO of Show" E3 awards from IGN, Gamespot, Gamespy and Yahoo Games. More information about the MMO "Age of Conan", screenshots, forums, newsletter sign-up and a welcoming community portal can be found on the official website www.ageofconan.com.

Funcom would like to remind interested Beta testers that signing up for the Conan newsletter as well as registering on the official forums will increase the chance of getting a Beta spot.

ABOUT AGE OF CONAN - HYBORIAN ADVENTURES - In "Conan" the players will encounter a lush, brutal 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.

Source:

Funcom press release (June 30, 2006)

Funcom and SCi/Eidos Sign Co-Publishing Agreement for Age of Conan

Oslo, Norway - July 24, 2006 - 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."

"Age of Conan"is a Showcase title for Windows Vista, and the game recently won the "Best MMO of E3" awards from IGN, GameSpot, GameSpy and Yahoo Games. More information, screenshots, forums, newsletter sign-up and a welcoming community portal can be found on the official website www.ageofconan.com.

ABOUT AGE OF CONAN - HYBORIAN ADVENTURES - In "Conan" the players will enter a mature, brutal and barbaric universe, presented with 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 of Aquilonia. But King Conan's rule is on the brink of chaos, spiraling towards doom as ancient evils rise again. 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.

Source:

Funcom press release (July 24, 2006)

Age of Conan wins Best Online Game awards at Games Convention 2007

Durham, USA - August 24th, 2007 - Funcom and Eidos' highly anticipated massively multiplayer online game "Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures" has been awarded the prestigious, official "Best Online Game of the Show" award at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany. The trade show is one of the largest gaming conventions in the world and by far the largest in Europe, with all of the major upcoming game titles represented.

The award was won in competition with online games from all genres and across all platforms, and was presented by a jury consisting of gaming industry press and mainstream press.

Funcom and Eidos are also very proud to have won the OMEGA award for "Best Online Game", presented by a German online games magazine association made up of the most important gaming media in Germany; including two of the largest gaming web sites. Other nominees for this award included: "Warhammer Online", "Hellgate: London" and "Unreal Tournament 3".

"This is a great honor to everyone working on "Age of Conan" says Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas. "These awards really show that our massive efforts are paying off and that the public, the press and the industry are recognizing the very strong qualities of the game."

"Age of Conan" is heavily represented at this year's Games Convention. The game is being shown in the Microsoft area, the Eidos area and behind closed doors to select press. Funcom is showing all new content, including player-versus-player sieges and mini-games.

"Siege warfare and player-versus-player battles are some of the most anticipated features in "Age of Conan" says Game Director Gaute Godager. "We recognize the tremendous importance that Games Convention has in the industry and that is why we chose this to be the arena for first showing off these features, letting gamers play player-versus-player for the first time."

"Age of Conan" is consistently mentioned as one of the most anticipated PC games in development. It has received numerous magazine covers and awards, including 'Best MMO of E3' awards from IGN, GameSpot, GameSpy and Yahoo. "Age of Conan" is a key title in Microsoft's Games for Windows line-up, as well as being a showcase DirectX 10 title for nVidia. The game is currently in general Beta and you can sign up at http://www.ageofconan.com.

Source:

Funcom press release (August 24, 2007)

Funcom Sets New Release Date for Age of Conan

Durham, USA - January 21, 2008 - Funcom announces a new release date for Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. The highly anticipated MMO receives 8 more weeks of development, allowing Funcom to deliver a more polished MMO experience when the game launches on the 20th of May 2008. Despite great feedback on vital aspects like immersion, fun factor and the exciting combat system, the management of Funcom has decided to polish the game even more. Eight weeks of development work is therefore added to stress game systems and polish the game further leading up to launch.

Funcom is fully committed to its communities and the quality-level they demand and deserve, and has previously postponed the Age of Conan launch. The changes implemented as the game was moved to a 2008 release have proven to greatly improve the experience for newcomers, while introducing a more involving and accessible character progression throughout the game. Press and beta feedback in the aftermath of these changes has been very positive. As a result, the ongoing presentations of the game have continued to increase the anticipation for Age of Conan. To date, Age of Conan has received more than 20 magazine covers and 15 industry awards, and is widely considered to be one of the most anticipated MMOs in development.

Funcom has great faith in the Age of Conan game, and feels certain that further polish is in the best interest of the hundreds of thousands of gamers who follow the game. "The companies standing apart in the gaming market today are those with a relentless drive to achieve quality. Even though we regret delaying the launch, I am certain we made the right choice. I hope that our followers and fans will support our decision, and respect our commitment to quality," said Gaute Godager, Producer and Game Director of Age of Conan.

Funcom will also continue the beta efforts for the title with continued testing on its large server parks in North America and Europe. Players can already sign up at pre-order programs in several countries and enjoy the recently released website at www.ageofconan.com, displaying part of the wealth of marketing and game material already prepared for the game. A special Collectors Edition of the retail box is available for pre-order at select retailers. Thousands of players have been invited to the beta of the game, and the number will continue to go up as Age of Conan moves towards launch. If you too want to join the Beta of Age of Conan you may sign up for the Beta on www.ageofconan.com

Source:

Funcom press release (January 21, 2008)

Age of Conan gets ready for launch

Durham, USA – April 16, 2008 – Funcom and Eidos announce that Age of Conan pre-order programs are now fully available in all major territories, including USA, Germany, France, Spain, UK, Oceania and the Nordic countries. Conan fans and MMO gamers are already raving about the incredible pre-order items, including the War Mammoth and Killer Rhino, and today Funcom ups the ante and confirms that everyone who pre-orders may access Hyboria several days prior to the retail launch.*

Ever since Funcom and Eidos started the first pre-orders in early 2008, the program has received great feedback. The exceptional Age of Conan Collector's Edition has topped the charts in numerous online retail chains for weeks, including being #1 on several all-format lists. The most eager fans are therefore urged to order their copy of the Collector’s Edition immediately as it only comes in one print-run.

Funcom now also confirms an early access program which will give customers a chance of a head-start in Age of Conan. Funcom reveals that American, European and Oceanic players may enter Age of Conan as early as the 17th of May. Mere weeks away, early adopters can now live, fight and explore in Hyboria, as well as getting an essential head-start before the hordes invade.

“We are very pleased with the reception Age of Conan has had in retail and we naturally hope that the early interest and our early access programs will materialize in an eventual success,” said Morten Larssen, VP Sales and Marketing of Funcom. “The positive indications are naturally an honor, but they also bring a great responsibility. As we prepare the roll-out, we know our servers will be put to the test. We therefore hope potential players will aid us by signaling their interest as soon as possible so we can scale our servers and services accordingly.”

Age of Conan launches on the 20th of May and is consistently mentioned as one of the most anticipated PC games in development. It has received more than twenty-five magazine covers and more than fifteen major awards, including numerous "Best MMO of E3" awards and the "Best Online Game of Show" award at GC 2007. Age of Conan is a key title in Microsoft's Games for Windows line-up, as well as a showcase title for nVidia.

Visit www.ageofconan.com to join the thriving community or to sign up for the Beta

For a list of participating retailers or to get more information about the game, please visit www.ageofconan.com

* The early access program is only available with certain retailers. A participant list can be found on the official Age of Conan websites. The early access is entirely voluntary, and opens up on the 17th of May for Oceanic and North American gamers, and on the 20th of May for European gamers. Pre-loading of the client will commence in advance. You need to pay a nominal 5 USD / EUR fee to take advantage of the offer, which includes client download and 10 days of subscription. When the early access offer expires you must enter the physical retail box gamekey to continue playing.

Source:

Funcom press release (April 16, 2008)

Heads Will Roll as Age of Conan Moves into Open Beta

Durham, USA – April 17th, 2008 – Funcom, Eidos and IGN are proud to announce that Open Beta for Age of Conan will start on May 1. The Open Beta will be hosted exclusively by IGN’s popular game download site, FilePlanet.com, as well as being offered through partner IGN sites such as Gamespy.com, Tentonhammer.com and Warcry.com. The application pages at FilePlanet.com are now open for registrations, and gamers from across the world can sign up. As 50.000 gamers prepare their Hyborian assault, rivers of blood are about to flow, and it’s exclusively available through FilePlanet and IGN partner sites.

“When we started development of Age of Conan four and a half years ago we truly wanted to move away from the standards of the MMO genre. We wanted to bring something new, exciting and fresh to the gamers,” said Gaute Godager, Game Director on Age of Conan. “As we get ready to show everyone what Conan’s savage world is all about, we need final stress testing. Teaming up with the Beta Masters at IGN was a perfect opportunity for us! We simply couldn’t ask for a better partner for this crucial stage of our Beta.”

“The IGN and FilePlanet audience has consistently told us that Age of Conan is one of their most anticipated games of the year, and we are very pleased to partner with Funcom and Eidos on the Open Beta,” says Senior Vice President of Consumer Products at IGN, Jamie Berger. “The Funcom team has developed a truly unique, visceral gaming experience that players will have to see to believe.”

Funcom would like to point out that the primary function of the Open Beta is to stress test Age of Conan prior to launch. This means that Funcom will not make the entire game available to the Open Beta testers, and a level 13 cap will be applied. The Beta experience will still give hours and hours of entertainment, and complete class and culture variety, while at the same time giving Funcom the needed focus for an Open Beta.

You are required to be a FilePlanet member in order to sign up for the Open Beta. Preloading of the client will start prior to the launch of the Open Beta, and applicants will receive more information should they receive a beta key. The Open Beta will start on the 1st of May at 1500 GMT / 0900 EST.

Age of Conan is consistently mentioned as one of the most anticipated PC games in development. It has received more than twenty-five covers on high-profile gaming magazines across the globe and more than fifteen major awards, including numerous "Best MMO of E3" awards and the official "Best Online Game" award at the Games Convention 2007. Age of Conan is a key title in Microsoft's Games for Windows line-up, and a showcase title for nVidia. The game is set to launch in several territories on May 20th, 2008.

For more information on Age of Conan – either in English, German, French or Spanish – visit the official website at www.ageofconan.com where you also can access the respective community websites.

Source:

Funcom press release (April 17, 2008)

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures Goes Gold

Durham, USA – April 22, 2008 – After four years of development co-publishers Funcom and Eidos are proud to announce that Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures has gone gold. One of the most highly anticipated MMO games in history is about to hit the store shelves, and the gates to the world of the mighty barbarian will soon be open to the millions of gamers around the world.

“Even though it feels like this great adventure is coming to an end, it’s really not at all. The launch is just the beginning” says Game Director/Producer Gaute Godager. “I believe we have created a game that will stand the test of time by its own accord, but we are already busy planning future features and expansions. We want to continue expanding Conan’s world for many years to come, and we have great ideas on what to do!”

After years of development and testing Age of Conan is now finally ready for prime time! To prepare for launch, tens of thousands of players have tested the Beta, enabling Funcom to polish the game prior to going live. While the game gets closer to release the anticipation for the title is also building steadily. Just last week 475.000 unique visitors went to the official Age of Conan websites, and the pre-order numbers in some important retail chains track as among the highest for any MMO launched.

“Age of Conan has been in development for a long time, as with all MMOs, but we have spent that time well and ended up with a game we are incredibly proud of,” says Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas. “Creating a game of such epic proportions is an ambitious and challenging task, but we believe we have truly succeeded in realizing the vision of the game. We simply can’t wait to let the players in and let them experience the amazing adventures we have created.

Age of Conan is consistently mentioned as one of the most anticipated PC games in development. At launch the game will have received more than thirty covers on high-profile gaming magazines across the globe and more than fifteen major awards, including numerous "Best MMO of E3" awards and the official "Best Online Game" award at the Games Convention 2007. Age of Conan is a key title in Microsoft's Games for Windows line-up, and a showcase title for nVidia. Age of Conan launches 20th of May in North America / Oceania and 23rd of May in Europe

For more information or to pre-order Age of Conan – either in English, German, French or Spanish – visit the official website at www.ageofconan.com where you also can access the respective community websites.

Source:

Funcom press release (April 22, 2008)

Polish version of Age of Conan coming in second half of 2008

Durham, USA – April 24th, 2008 –Funcom and CD Projekt are delighted to announce the signing of a Service Partnership Agreement for a Polish version of Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. According to the agreement CD Projekt will fully localize voice and text and operate local customer service, communities, websites and in-game support for Age of Conan in Poland, while Funcom will take care of back-end technology, server infrastructure and continuous development of the game.

“It is with great pleasure and satisfaction that we are announcing this partnership, one that proves to be yet another milestone for our company – releasing the first subscription MMORPG fully localized into Polish.” said Micha³ Kiciñski, joint CEO of CD Projekt. “We are committed to providing a new level of game experience through the use of local game masters, community managers and customer support. For years we have waited for the right MMO game to come along and now it is here, in our hands."

“CD Projekt has an impressive track record both as a developer and distributor, and they have done excellent localization and distribution work on other Funcom titles such as The Longest Journey. Escalating our collaboration to a whole new level is something we truly look forward to,“ said Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom. “We believe a key aspect in making Age of Conan successful around Europe is to work closely with great local partners such as CD Projekt. In many countries it is essential to release in the local language to truly succeed, and Poland is definitively such a territory. CD Projekt is through its agreement with Eidos the chosen partner for retail distribution, sales and marketing in Poland so it’s a perfect match. Together we aim to make Age of Conan a great local success.”

Age of Conan is consistently mentioned as one of the most anticipated PC games in development. At launch the game will have received more than thirty covers on high-profile gaming magazines across the globe and more than fifteen major awards, including numerous "Best MMO of E3" awards and the official "Best Online Game" award at the Games Convention 2007. Age of Conan is a key title in Microsoft's Games for Windows line-up, and a showcase title for nVidia. Age of Conan launches 20th of May in North America / Oceania and 23rd of May in Europe. The release date in Poland is still to be set.

For more information or to pre-order Age of Conan – either in English, German, French or Spanish – visit the official website at www.ageofconan.com where you also can access the respective community websites.

Source:

Funcom press release (April 24, 2008)

More than 1 million people sign up for the Age of Conan beta!

Durham, USA – May 13, 2008 – Funcom and Eidos are proud to confirm some of the impressive figures powering the Age of Conan launch, and the two companies are happy to reveal that the Age of Conan Beta has passed 1 million sign-ups! As one of the most anticipated MMO’s ever, the 1 million mark confirms the amazing interest in the game.

“Funcom has not been able to find any higher beta numbers for MMOs in the western world,” said Morten Larssen, VP of Funcom Sales and Marketing. “We believe it represents the largest ever beta sign-up figure in the history of the genre.”

In addition to the incredible beta numbers, Funcom confirms that almost 800.000 gamers have signed up for the Clan of Conan newsletter. The hundreds of thousands following the development of the game have moreover resulted in a rapidly growing forum community. Last week Funcom registered over 115.000 posts on the official forums, across four languages. This comes in addition to Age of Conan discussions on external forums and in other languages.

In 2008, Funcom has also seen a tremendous growth in the amount of people who visit the official Age of Conan websites. Since January 2008, Funcom has registered more than 5 million unique visitors, from more than 200 countries. Last week alone over 725.000 unique visitors came to the Age of Conan sites.

The coverage and interest on external gaming sites has skyrocketed as a result of the growing anticipation. Age of Conan has topped numerous charts as the most read about, most popular and most anticipated PC game in development. As an example, GameSpot.com has Age of Conan as the #1 most read about upcoming game over the last month, on any format. The game has seen a similar interest on genre specific sites, including being the #1 most popular MMO over the last 12 months on MMORPG.com. Print gaming publications have also covered the game widely, and the game now has over 20 covers, including the coveted cover of PC Gamer US.

“How all of our strong figures convert into later sales and subscription figures is still unknown,” continued Larssen. “But our pre-order numbers in some important retail chains track as among the highest for any MMO launched.”

Age of Conan launches 20th of May in North America / Oceania and 23rd of May in Europe.

To celebrate the amazing community figures surrounding Age of Conan Funcom and Eidos today unveils a brand new trailer. Aptly called the Femme Fatale trailer, the new video can be downloaded in HD quality from the media section at http://community.ageofconan.com. For more information or to pre-order Age of Conan – either in English, German, French or Spanish – please visit the official websites.

Source:

Funcom press release (May 13, 2008)

Age of Conan One of the Fastest Selling PC Games of All Time

Durham, USA – May 26th, 2008 – Funcom is proud to announce that Age of Conan is one of the fastest selling PC games of all time. More than 400.000 gamers have entered Hyboria over the last few days, with almost half coming from the North American market. This amazing figure for a PC game shows that the positive pre-order trend has transferred into actual sales, and people from all over the world are now flocking to the most savage, sexy and brutal MMO ever created.

Over the weekend an astounding amount of concurrent gamers were logged on to the game, making Age of Conan one of the busiest MMOs in the western hemisphere. With stock flying out of several retail chains, Funcom expects the number to increase in the days to come. In addition to the many gamers logging in, there was also substantial traffic to the Age of Conan websites, with more than 2,2 million unique visitors during the last ten days.

As a result of the great launch, players and press have been raving about the unique qualities of the game, and the first 20 reviews give Age of Conan an average score above 90%. The first US reviews are also live, with Gamezone.com giving the game an Editor’s Choice Award, a 9.4 of 10 score, while heralding Age of Conan as a “Benchmark MMO”. Sci-Fi.com was also an early mover and gave the game a straight A, stating that “If Robert E. Howard had been a game designer.., this is the Conan he would have invented.”

“The initial sales and reviews are very encouraging, and it’s great to see that so many are enjoying Age of Conan,” said Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas. “This is just the beginning, and we already look forward to massive updates and cool new features. We believe our focus on making Conan unique and groundbreaking is a key reason for the initial success. This is a focus we will keep and reinforce, and players can expect continued quality and innovation as we enter a new era for the game.”

For more information about the game, please visit www.ageofconan.com.

Source:

Funcom press release (May 26, 2008)

Age of Conan Reaches one Million Milestone

Durham, USA – June 6th, 2008 – Funcom is proud to announce that Age of Conan will pass the astounding “One Million Copies Shipped” milestone, in less than three weeks after the launch of the game. Due to overwhelming demand Funcom’s retail partner is now re-supplying retail boxes rapidly while also including new markets to the mix. As a result of the tremendous interest from gamers, Age of Conan has for the past few weeks been claiming number one spots on the sales charts across the western world – including the US, Germany, France and the UK – while receiving glowing review scores from gaming media.

“Sales data shows that Age of Conan is the biggest MMO launch since World of Warcraft,” says Funcom Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Morten Larssen. “The numbers are very promising, and we are very proud to be one of the fastest selling PC games ever in a launch month and the biggest simultaneous Europe/US MMO launch in history.”

In the US, Age of Conan has a strong # 1 chart position and is now moving past the 500.000 shipped mark. Meanwhile the attention for the game is growing across the globe, with over 8 million unique visitors from over 200 countries to the Age of Conan websites so far in 2008. The community surrounding the game is also growing fast, with over 800,000 signing up as members of the Clan of Conan fan club.

Age of Conan was launched May 20th in the US and May 23rd in Europe, receiving critical acclaim from media across the globe. “Age of Conan has raised the bar,” wrote US gaming website Gamezone, giving the game a score of 94 out of 100. Gamespot, one of the world’s leading gaming websites, rewarded Age of Conan a 8,5 score calling it “one of the finest online RPGs available”. The game is also receiving acclaim in Europe, where a broad range of early reviews gave an average score of over 90 percent. Funcom is committed to continue to expand and improve on the game by adding more content, features and fixes in order to make Hyboria a favorite place for gamers across the globe, and players can expect some exciting news in the weeks and months ahead.

More information about the game can be found on www.ageofconan.com

Source:

Funcom press release (June 06, 2008)

Funcom and Eidos announce massive evolution plans for Age of Conan

Durham, USA – June 13, 2008 – 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 behavior, 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, armor 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 NPC’s 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

Source:

Funcom press release (June 13, 2008)

Russian version of Age of Conan coming in Q4

Durham, USA – July 31, 2008 – Funcom and 1C Company announces the signing of a Service Partnership Agreement for a Russian version of Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. According to the agreement 1C will fully localize voice and text and operate local customer service, communities, websites and in-game support for Age of Conan in Russian, while Funcom takes care of back-end technology, server infrastructure and continuous development of the game. A dedicated Russian realm is to be created, giving the Russian community an opportunity to stay together and communicate with each other in their native language.

The agreement shows Funcom and 1C Company’s full dedication to the growing Eastern European market, and is another important step in ensuring long-term success for Age of Conan through-out numerous languages and regions.

“1C Company is a clear leader in the Russian speaking regions, and we are confident we have found the perfect partner,” said Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom. “We have already shipped a substantial amount of English boxes into Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, but we know that the real key to success is achieved through localized servers and services. Together with 1C Company we will do our uttermost to make Age of Conan a success for many years to come.”

“We are happy working together with Funcom on bringing Age of Conan to Russia. The game has already gained success here, reaching top places in many retail charts. With an already established fan base in Russia I’m sure it will become even bigger after the localized version appears on the market,” said Nikolay Baryshnikov, International Sales Director of 1C Company. “Age of Conan is a great mix of action, RPG elements and adventure. I believe that the game has potential to become a big hit in Russia.”

Age of Conan launched this spring, and instantly became one of the fastest selling PC Games of all times, topping the charts in more than 17 countries. The unique mix of real-time action combat, incredible graphics and mature MMO content turned it into a massive success. Russian gamers will get access to the same version, and all updates and additions to the game will be released in Russian at the same time as other languages. The final release date for the Russian version is still to be set, but the game will come out during Q4 2008.

Russian will be the sixth language Age of Conan becomes available in, and launch in additional languages and territories is actively pursued by Funcom. For more information or to order Age of Conan – either in English, German, French or Spanish – visit the official website at www.ageofconan.com where you also can access the respective community websites.

Source:

Funcom press release (July 31, 2008)

Age of Conan coming to Korea!

Durham, USA – November 12th, 2008 – Funcom is proud to announce that ‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures’ will be launching in Korea. Online media publisher Neowiz Games will be responsible for publishing the highly acclaimed massively multiplayer online game, and will be working closely with Funcom in producing an adapted and fully localized Korean version. Neowiz Games will act as a full service provider, handling everything from distribution to customer service and community management.

“Bringing ‘Age of Conan’ to Korea is something we have wanted to do for a long time now,” says Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas. “This is a very exciting and highly dynamic market, and we know that Korean gamers are amongst the most active online gamers in the world. With their solid legacy in online gaming, Neowiz Games is one of the most successful and knowledgeable companies in the market and we are very pleased to be working with them.”

“We are very excited to introduce the world class large scale MMORPG, ‘Age of Conan’ with it’s popularity and great reputation in the industry“ says Neowiz Games CEO Choi, Gwan-ho. “This will be the first large scale MMORPG for Neowiz Games and the both companies will also work tightly together to adapt and implement a fully localized game for Korean users”

The Korean release of ‘Age of Conan’ will include all updates and content added to the game after the US and European launch. It is also important for both Funcom and Neowiz Games to adapt the game to the local market, and the two companies will work closely together in making sure ‘Age of Conan’ meets gamers’ expectations. A release date for the Korean version of ‘Age of Conan’ has not yet been finalized.

‘Age of Conan’ launched in May this year and immediately topped sales charts around the world. It has received more than thirty magazine covers and more than fifteen major awards, including numerous "Best MMO of E3" awards and the "Best Online Game of Show" award at GC 2007. The game has received numerous glowing reviews, including a 9.4 score from US website GameZone. ‘Age of Conan’ is a key title in Microsoft's Games for Windows line-up, as well as a showcase title for nVidia thanks to its jaw-dropping graphics.

For more information on the game and instructions on how to order your copy today, visit www.ageofconan.com.

Source:

Funcom press release (November 12, 2008)

Major Content Update For Age of Conan Now Live

Durham, USA – November 14th, 2008 – This week Funcom updated the ‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures’ live servers with the largest gameplay content addition since launch. By visiting the vast, new outdoor area of Ymir’s Pass players will now be able to find new quests to solve, new characters to meet, new monsters to slay and a dramatic new storyline to unravel. The update also includes a new dungeon – The Amphitheater – that holds one of the most epic and memorable monster encounters ever created for the game.

“This is an important update that opens up a lot of new gameplay content for players who have already passed the level fifty mark,” says Game Director Craig Morrison. “In the months ahead we will introduce even more new content, and coming up soon are two exciting new high-level dungeons intended for players who have reached the maximum level. At this stage adding more content and keeping people entertained is very important to us!”

This free update is available to all ‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures’ subscribers and the content will be downloaded automatically when launching the game. In the months following the launch of the game, Funcom has addressed several of the key concerns voiced by the players and have also added a series of new content and features. Recently the live servers received a major update to the player-versus-player part of the game, allowing players to become criminals based on their actions when battling other players. New armor, weapons and other content have also been added, and from a technical perspective the game has also seen major improvements in terms of stability and performance. Funcom remains determined to keep updating and improving the game, and will keep players posted on the updates that are planned in the months ahead.

‘Age of Conan’ launched in May this year and immediately topped sales charts around the world. It has received more than thirty magazine covers and more than fifteen major awards, including numerous "Best MMO of E3" awards and the "Best Online Game of Show" award at GC 2007. The game has received numerous glowing reviews, including a 9.4 score from US website GameZone. ‘Age of Conan’ is a key title in Microsoft's Games for Windows line-up, as well as a showcase title for nVidia thanks to its jaw-dropping graphics.

For more information on the game and instructions on how to order your copy today, visit www.ageofconan.com.

Source:

Funcom press release (November 14, 2008)

Age of Conan Ready for Russia and Poland

Durham, USA – February 23, 2009 – Funcom is proud to announce that Age of Conan has launched in Russia, and Poland. As the game gets ready for full service in two new languages, Funcom has seen a clear trend towards strengthened feedback from the current player community, which praises the many improvements to the game.

The Russian and Polish versions of Age of Conan mark the first time Funcom works directly with an external publisher who take care of all service aspects related to the running of a MMO. The partners 1C and CD Projekt are responsible for localization, customer service and community management, as well as sales and marketing.

“Eastern Europe is quickly becoming one of the most important markets for massive online games, and it will be a continued focus for Funcom to strengthen our presence there. Together with our partners we will therefore focus on making the game a success for many years to come,” says Morten Larssen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Funcom. “Since we launched Age of Conan last year, the game has taken large strides. This means that all new customers get a fuller Conan experience and nothing pleases us more.”

Launched in May last year, ‘Age of Conan’ quickly became a smash hit in retail, shipping over 1,2 million copies around the world. In North America, the most prominent online gaming market in the west, Age of Conan became the third best-selling PC title of 2008, only beaten by ‘World of Warcraft’ and ‘Spore’. In the weeks after launch, Age of Conan simultaneously topped the charts in 17 countries, even in some all-format lists. This showed the enormous marked demand for brutal, barbaric MMO fun. This was further highlighted by the 15 million unique visitors to the Age of Conan website during 2008.

After having lower customer retention than anticipated in 2008, Funcom is now seeing a distinct turn of events when it comes to Age of Conan. Not only has the company seen a significant improvement in subscription retention, the trend is also that the players spends more time in-game. As a result Funcom continues to invest heavily in the game, and currently more than 120 people are working on adding new content.

Funcom sees that the challenges from 2008 are now turning into positive opportunities going forward, and the many content updates since launch have resulted in a better gaming experience. This is evident not only from the feedback in Eastern Europe, but also through the current word of mouth among the many active players of the game.

With launch in new markets, an upcoming expansion pack, consistent content updates and numerous marketing initiatives Funcom is excited about the outlook for Age of Conan.

For more information on the local Russian version of ‘Age of Conan’ please visit http://ageofconan.1c.ru/ For more information on the local Polish version of ‘Age of Conan’ please visit http://www.aoc2009.pl/

Source:

Funcom press release (February 23, 2009)

Многопользовательская ролевая онлайн-игра во вселенной Роберта Говарда - полностью на русском языке!

Мир мечты

Прославленные герои живут, сражаются, трудятся, любят и дружат в опаснейшем мире, где царствует король Конан — легендарный персонаж героического фэнтези. Игра создавалась в тесном сотрудничестве с компанией Conan Inc., а потому здесь детально воссозданы все особенности огромной вселенной, описанной в книгах Роберта Говарда и его многочисленных последователей. Роскошная графика на движке DreamWorld позволила перенести на компьютерные мониторы мир Хайбории во всей мифологической красе.

Герои и роли

Выбор причесок, телосложения, роста и веса, татуировок и многих других черт позволит создать собственного уникального героя, а система развития навыков, специальных способностей, боевых качеств и магических знаний сделают его яркой и запоминающейся личностью среди других жителей мира Конана. Игроку предстоит выбрать одну из трех народностей — стать либо варваром из Киммерии, либо гражданином Аквилонии, либо коварным стигийцем, что, в свою очередь, повлияет не только на сюжет, но и специализацию персонажа. Стоит ли говорить, что самым смелым игрокам выпадет шанс увидеть короля Конана лично. В игре представлены двенадцать классов героев, от весьма оригинальных — таких, как шаман-медведь или вестник Ксотли — до вполне традиционных ассасина и рейнджера. Все классы могут быть поделены на четыре архетипа: священники, маги, разбойники и воины, причем каждая группа имеет свои особенности, определяющие манеру игры.

Вместе и врозь

Путь в мир Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures начинается с одиночных заданий на острове Тортаж: так у игрока будет время овладеть премудростями игры. Однако вскоре вместе с друзьями ему предстоит отправиться в самые зловещие места Хайбории и схватиться со страшными чудовищами и жуткими монстрами. Игрокам предстоит создавать свои гильдии, строить города, захватывать крепости и отбивать атаки других претендентов или же самим инициировать осаду вражеских поселений. Для улучшения собственного и гильдийского благосостояния игрок сможет создавать собственные предметы и даже строить различные здания. В этом помогут сотни специальных квестов, выполнение которых направленно на улучшение ремесленных навыков.

В атаку!

Система боя в Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures предполагает активное участие игрока в кровопролитных схватках: можно контролировать буквально каждый взмах своего оружия и чутко реагировать на вражеские действия. Уникальная система кавалеристской атаки позволит участвовать в бою, находясь в седле лошади, носорога или даже мамонта!

Source:

games.1c.ru (Publisher's website)