Age of Conan will be more "player-centric"

By Oli Welsh Published 22 September, 2008

Oh, and the PVP update's out. Sort of.

Following last week's surprise departure of Age of Conan's game director, Gaute Godager, a Funcom spokesman has reassured gamers the MMO will be more "player-centric" in future.

"I think that the fact that Gaute leaves means that we get a direction which is more player-centric," said product manager Jorgen Tharaldsen, "since [new game director Craig Morrison] is so good at being hands-on with the communities at all times."

He also paid tribute to Funcom founder Godager's experience and influence. "Gaute was one of the founders of Funcom and has been one of the luminaries of the MMO world," Tharaldsen said.

"The MMO genre would not have been the same without him - this was the man which got instancing into MMO games for the first time, or the action combat system in Conan."

Godager cited dissatisfaction with Age of Conan as his reason for leaving Funcom. The game has come under fire for being unfinished, and lacking in updates since launch.

In fact, the first major content update for Age of Conan launched simultaneously with Godager's departure on Wednesday last week, introducing the new player-versus-player system to the game.

The anticipated and much-delayed update introduced a PVP levelling system and new armour sets and rewards for PVP play to the game. However, another important part of the overhaul - the "Notoriety" system which will bring consequences to your PVP behaviour - was not included.

"We had hoped to include both at the same time, however the consequence system needed some extra work to be fully realized," said a post on the game's website.

"Since we took the decision to support the idea of players being 'notorious' in PVP and including consequences for their actions we felt it was important to ensure we did it properly."

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (13) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Darkjinxter #1 3 years ago

    Good luck to them.

  • Eraysor #2 3 years ago

    Everyone should go play WAR, it's awesome.

  • iokthemonkey #3 3 years ago

    Everyone should go play WAR, it's awesome.

    ----

    Compared to AoC, bashing your testicles with a toffee hammer is awesome.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #4 3 years ago

    It's too late now to expect a mass exidus back to AoC: Funcom billed it to be a PVP based game with bar fights, seiging and a open world pvp system and they've only just got around to starting to do this the week during WAR's release several months after release... Very bad form to continue billing the game as such when the content to back the core game up and the main reason to play just isn't there..

    As said WAR has the said content AoC should have and I supect many are and will continue playing that instead

  • InfiniteFury #5 3 years ago

    Yep, you rarely if ever get a second chance at a first impression with these games.

    If you're going after an existing genre player base you have to both tempt and deliver, we are a fickle bunch who don't like change so if you give us change it better be seriously good and it better be working.

    Any MMO developer under pressure to release early for the big bucks would do well to present a brief history of Conan through their press releases, hype, reviews and online opinions to the Board.

    Edit - Oh, and "Everyone should go play WAR, it's awesome."
    Edited by 1 at 22/09/08 @ 10:35

  • Pirotic #6 3 years ago

    too little, too late.

    The thousands who canceled the subscription within the first month in disgust at the unfinished state of the game are never coming back. You failed.

  • Furfoot #7 3 years ago

    War actually delivered on its PVP/RVR promises!

  • hiddenranbir #8 3 years ago

    So basically, Godager bottled it.

  • warlockuk #9 3 years ago

    So all these months after launch they promise to make the game more player-centric. Or "playable and fun". Too late.

    Is WAR awesome? I might go play that.

  • anomagnus #10 3 years ago

    veryone should go play WAR, it's awesome.

    ----

    Compared to AoC, bashing your testicles with a toffee hammer is awesome.

    yes, but WAR really is awesome

    Paretnered up with some friends last night to takcle a public quest, which spawned a greater Daemon of Choas, this thing was HUGE!

    I've had more fun in this game than any MMO to date

  • gmmonkey #11 3 years ago

    I agree also, war is awesome. The pvp is amazing in war. AoC is a big pile of shit. I hope it dies.

  • davisorle #12 3 years ago

    War aint awesome. Its a wow feeling piece of shit. I rather keep playing WoW than leave AoC for War. If you want proper PvP go back to WoW u fucking nubs. Or stfu keep playing AoC till you learn how to and its done being patched.

  • iokthemonkey #13 3 years ago

    If you want proper PvP go back to WoW u fucking nubs. Or stfu keep playing AoC till you learn how to and its done being patched.

    ==============

    OMGTEHLOLZ BARANS CHAT 4TW!!!!!!!1111111