Age of Conan subs gets Secret World beta slot

Funcom offering access to forthcoming modern-day MMOG with three-month commitment to dark-fantasy MMOG; two-week free trial returns.

Funcom's Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures and Mythic Entertainment's Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning represented the two largest massively multiplayer online role-playing game launches last year. However, neither game managed to dent the undeniable popularity of Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft, which added on the critically acclaimed and best-selling Wrath of the Lich King expansion in 2008.

Still, Funcom and Mythic continue to quest for new subscribers. With Mythic announcing Warhammer Online's Endless Trial offer last week, Funcom today outlined its own effort to lure subscribers, one that involves free gameplay, as well as a bevy of bonuses for current and returning subscribers. Namely, gamers who at one point subscribed to Funcom's dark-fantasy MMORPG can now return to the game for two weeks free, during which they will gain a double experience bonus.

And those who subscribe for 24 months will NOT have their throats slit.

Funcom also announced a tiered incentive program for those who decide to re-up their subscriptions. Those who sign on for one month will gain seven bonus days added to their subscriptions. A three-month commitment secures a slot in the open beta test for Funcom's forthcoming MMOG, The Secret World. Six-month subscribers will additionally be awarded an in-game helmet. The 12-month option earns subscribers a free copy of AOC's as-yet-undated Rise of the Godslayer expansion.

Announced for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2007, The Secret World posits an alternate universe in which a modern-day world has been torn asunder by the reemergence of magic and other occult activity. Funcom has yet to attach a release date to the game, though the developer said in September that it would be delaying the game's launch "some months," after moving a significant portion of its workforce from its Norwegian headquarters to a new Montreal location.

10 Comments

  • sircyrus

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 8:34 pm PT

    @ starbead
    "If AoC players are playing in the Secret World beta, who will be left in AoC?"

    Who is left in AoC already?

  • x_Xarion_x

    Posted Nov 12, 2009 10:41 pm PT

    I played AoC for a while but left, I tried going back yesterday but decided the game just isn't for me.

  • Kitpaws

    Posted Nov 12, 2009 4:43 pm PT

    I really love this game, but stopped playing because I got tired of playing alone. Not saying the servers are empty, though at times it sure seems it. The game-play mechanics are wonderful and bring a whole new light to the MMO experience in my opinion though.. They have put a lot of work into the game since launch, and still have a bit to go but it's working out well. I hope to begin playing again soon, hopefully with my fiance this time.

  • starbead

    Posted Nov 12, 2009 4:24 pm PT

    If AoC players are playing in the Secret World beta, who will be left in AoC?

  • RossRichard

    Posted Nov 12, 2009 10:10 am PT

    Both games are trying hard, but too little, too late. AoC launched in an incomplete state, and Warhammer was plagued with performance issues and horribly unbalanced classes.

    When MMO makers learn that you only get one chance to make a first impression, you will see less games fail. Why do you think WoW has 11 million subs?

  • scottvollmer

    Posted Nov 12, 2009 8:56 am PT

    AoC promised alot and delivered little-- no wonder it failed. No reason to go back to a dead game now. RIP

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Nov 12, 2009 8:40 am PT

    Does anyone actually play this game?

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Nov 12, 2009 8:26 am PT

    It's nice to see them being aggressive about keeping subscribers, but it reeks of desperation. As another poster pointed out, this game would've been much better off had the developers really finished and polished the product before going live. They've been flailing since Day One because of the bad press.

  • jazilla

    Posted Nov 11, 2009 9:32 pm PT

    Both of these games would have benefited greatly from being pushed back a little. A lot of us( me included) whine about release dates getting pushed back, but I would much rather have a game that was completely done on release day( i know these games have fixed a lot since) and it really hurts games in the long run getting all of that bad press during the first few months.

  • Salacon

    Posted Nov 11, 2009 5:28 pm PT

    I really enjoy AoC. I'd consider paying for a 3-month or 6-month subscription if I had the money to. One year is a little iffy, though, since I can't say for sure what will be happening in a year.

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