Stepping onto the burning sands of Tortage Island, one might think you’ve ended up in a tropical paradise. But the island hides great secrets. This is where you make your very first steps in Age of Conan, before launching into the massive gameworld. (read more...)

Off the coast of Hyboria, on one of the largest of the volcanic Baracha Isles in the Western Sea, lies a haven of smugglers, thieves, and pirates called Tortage. Carved out of the black and rocky cliffs of the island of the same name, the city of Tortage is the single most infamous port off the mainland of Hyboria. Although founded originally by Argossean sailors, its constant flow of miscreants, slaves and vagabonds has seen it teeming with all cultures for generations. Kushites, Aquilonians and even Cimmerians live side by side with Zingarans, Shemites and even Stygians on its dark and sinister streets—even a number of wayward Picts have rowed south to call Tortage home. (read more...)

Terrifying in size, strength and stature, the Hyborian great ape comes in many colors and from many different territories across the world. They have very little to fear from most of their natural neighbors. These savage beasts are always willing to rend an armored man limb from limb if it means protecting their home or getting a quick meal. They are fast and powerful, able to split forged metal with their bare fists like shale. It is no surprise that these aggressive animals are hunted not for flesh or fur, but to keep their numbers down and protect nearby settlements.

(read more about the Great Ape and Sabertooth)

Funcom is proud to present the Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures comic magazine! Created by the talented people over at Dark Horse Comics, it tells a story that ties into the game perfectly. The magazine has been produced in several hundred thousands copies, mostly bundled with various gaming magazines, and we will now start putting them onto our website. Starting with the first two pages this month, we will gradually pour the entire comic magazine onto our website in the coming months. Check out the first two pages!

Every month we will interview one of the many talented people that works on Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures here at Funcom. We will try to give you an insight into them as a person and the work they do here, by trying to ask the questions we think you the players would most like answers to. If there is someone in particular you would like us to interview, or any specific questions you would like answered, please do not hesitate to send us an email explaining your ideas or your demands.

This month we feature Lead Designer on Age of Conan, Ole Herbjørnsen. Website MMORPG.com sat down with him to pick his brain about his life and his career. Read the entire profile!

Every month we try to bring you some selected press coverage from Age of Conan. If you find something you would like to tell us about, please drop us an email. This is some of the most prominent coverage over the last couple of weeks:

29.09.06 — X06 new gameplay videos on Jeuxvideo (French)
28.09.06 — X06 Preview on GameSpot (English)
28.09.06 — X06 Microsoft press release (English)
25.09.06 — Interview with Game Director Gaute Godager on CVG (Eng.)
24.09.06 — Interview with Split Infinity Radio (English)
12.09.06 — Interview with Onlinewelten.de (German)

More news on the Community Site!

Every week we try to give you some sort of update on Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures by posting our special Friday Features on the community web site. Here are some of the Friday updates we’ve published recently:

06.10.06 — Behind the Scenes #3 - Beta progress
29.09.06 — New Concept Art (four more pieces of art)
22.09.06 — Gameplay preview #11 (crafting in the game)
15.09.06 — New lore entries (new stuff about the Gods!)
08.09.06 — Interview with Roy Thomas (renowned Conan writer)
25.08.06 — Behind the scenes #2 (with designer Ole Herbjørnsen)
18.08.06 — Gameplay preview #10 (PVP and Blood Money)
04.08.06 — Behind the scenes #1 (what is a game designer?)

More news on the Community Site!

Take a look at this month’s exclusive screenshots! These nine exclusive screens will take you into the heart of Tortage island, where you can experience the thick jungle, the ancient statues, the savage picts, the ruthless slavers and some sort of spectral creature that is shrouded in mystery. (check out the new screens)

This month we bring you an exclusive wallpaper themed according to this newsletters’ primary focus: Tortage island. The wallpaper comes in four different sizes. (check out the new wallpaper)

Just because we are such incredibly kind people here at Funcom, we have decided to give away free loot every month. All you need to do is send us an e-mail and hope for the best. Every month we pick out three people who will be sent a bunch of exclusive loot such as inflatable Conan swords, the Age of Conan comic, games and even hardware.

These three people will also receive a guaranteed place in the Age of Conan beta test!

If you want to be one of the lucky three who gets Funcom loot delivered in the mail, you will need to send us an email and include your full name, your home address, and your telephone number in order to be eligible. You must also keep the subject of the email “Age of Conan October Newsletter Sweepstakes”. Those who enter and get picked out will have the opportunity to receive one or more exclusive prizes such as:

1st Prize: A Logitech G15 gaming keyboard
2nd Prize: Dreamfall: The Longest Journey PC game
3rd Prize: Full-colored Age of Conan comic book
4th Prize: Inflatable Age of Conan toy swords

Send us an e-mail by November 10th and you might get lucky!

No purchase necessary. Prizes are three (3) inflatable swords, three (3) comic books, three (3) copies of the Dreamfall PC game and one (1) Logitech G15 gaming keyboard. Odds of winning dependant on number of entries. Competition open to residents of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S. (except Rhode Island and Puerto Rico). Drawing will be made by manner of random draw in Oslo Norway on the 10h of November 2006. Any applicable taxes or customs fees are responsibility of winner. Entry to this competition is void where prohibited by local laws.

This month's community site is By Mitra! - a fantastic web site that aims to collect any and all information about Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. It contains valuables such as a complete gallery with all screenshots and videos, but it's greatest asset is probably the devtracker which let you track the developer's postings on our forum.

Visit By Mitra!

Have a suggestion for Community site of the Month? email us now!