Strategy Informer had the chance to ask Jørgen Tharaldsen, Product Director for Funcom, a few questions relating to the recently released MMO Age of Conan, which has been released on the PC, but is also expected for the Xbox 360.
We wanted to know how Funcom felt about the release of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, as its been hailed as the fastest-selling new MMO of all time. Jørgen Tharaldsen told us that he’s happy for EA as the MMO genre needs success stories besides WoW.
“Yeah, just like we were they too are storming out the gates in an insane tempo, and indeed they shipped an amazing amount of copies! I am happy for them, the MMO genre needs success stories besides WoW, and I think the two of us are the first MMOs after WoW to really do tremendously well in retail. Now that we are both live it will be interesting to see how it all pans out, and with Lich King coming soon, LOTRO expansion and many other additions to the genre there isn’t anything wrong with the amount of competition. Like it should be!”
You can see our question, and Jørgen’s full answer for that question below.
Strategy Informer: Warhammer Online recently launched, and has become the fastest-selling new MMO of all time, do you think this has effected the success of Age of Conan? Has the team been keeping a close eye on developments from Warhammer Online and other upcoming MMORPG?
Jørgen Tharaldsen: Yeah, just like we were they too are storming out the gates in an insane tempo, and indeed they shipped an amazing amount of copies! I am happy for them, the MMO genre needs success stories besides WoW, and I think the two of us are the first MMOs after WoW to really do tremendously well in retail. Now that we are both live it will be interesting to see how it all pans out, and with Lich King coming soon, LOTRO expansion and many other additions to the genre there isn’t anything wrong with the amount of competition. Like it should be!
While we of course are playing WAR, like the other MMO games, they serve more as an inspiration than something to outright copy. On some things they have some nifty ideas, while on others they did not hit as well I think, just like with most games We have some definitive strengths in Funcom, and with Age of Conan, so the way for us forward is not to copy or clone, but to build on our strengths, and improve weaker points, and then use other games as inspiration. I am certain Age of Conan will be a quality contender in the fantasy space for many more years to come, but how well it eventually goes remains to be seen. I have high hopes!
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