April
8

Durham, USA – April 7th, 2009 – Dark days are coming. The words are now everywhere. After deciding to make the development its next massively multiplayer online game a little less secret, Funcom have now released information, artworks and the first ever trailer video for ‘The Secret World’. Journalists across the world recently had the chance to sit down and talk to game director Ragnar Tørnquist about the new game and hear his vision, thus generating reports on websites everywhere such as Eurogamer, GameTrailers, and MMORPG.com.

“It is great to finally be able to talk about The Secret World, after several years in the dark,” says senior producer and director Ragnar Tørnquist. “The real world is such a rich and fascinating setting for an MMO, and we are able to draw inspiration from ancient history, stories of lost cities and forgotten civilizations, folktales, urban legends, conspiracy theories and pop culture. We are building a game that mixes modern day Earth with terrifying monsters, dark and occult magic, cool weapons and awesome powers – and it’s unlike anything you have ever seen before in an MMO.”

‘The Secret World’ takes place in our own, modern-day world. Players can explore locations such as New York, London, and Seoul, as they unravel the mysteries, legends and myths that make up our world and its history. But the real and realistic will clash with the unreal and fantastical, as the darkness of the secret world approaches. Not only will ‘The Secret World’ offer a setting never before experienced in an MMO, Funcom is also expanding on the genre standards by introducing gameplay that is not based on classes or levels. Players will have the freedom to become whatever they want to be and play however they want to play, allowing them to explore the world at will and master anything from voodoo and black magic to martial arts and modern firearms.

By following this link you can download a fact sheet, artworks, and the first ever trailer video for ‘The Secret World’. These assets are meant to capture the spirit and vision of the game and its world, giving the viewer a small, but significant glimpse into what can be expected when the game is launched. Funcom have also made updates to the official website – www.darkdaysarecoming.com – and gamers are now invited to leave their name and e-mail. In the future, exclusive information will be provided to those who choose to sign up.

November
12

Funcom’s November 12 2008, Q3 2008 report is now out (.pdf). Some interesting stuff in there, check out highlights below:

Financial

  • Increased revenues due to Age of Conan.
  • Steady revenues from Anarchy Online.
  • MMO Success Criteria and Age of Conan Status.
  • Short Term and Long Term Focus for Age of Conan.
  • Goals: More compelling RPG ruleset, more content utilizing improved ruleset.

Feature Updates

  • Q4 2008: Ymir’s Pass, DX10, 2 High Level Dungeons.
  • Q1 2009: New Item/RPG system, 1-2 new playfields, new dungeons.
  • Q2-Q3 2009: Continuous updates with high end content and systems.
  • Q4 2009: Expansion.

Sales and Marketing

  • Free trial offers (Q4 2008 – Q1 2009).
  • Polish and Russian launches.
  • Loyalty program for long-time subscribers (Q1 2009).

The Secret World – Status

  • 4 playfields close to complete.
  • 4-5 playfields in development.
  • Large asset library developed.
  • Implementing RPG and combat system.
  • 70 people working on project.
  • PR and community building commencing early 2009.

The Secret World – Backgrounds

  • Funcom created brand.
  • Explore a secret world within our world where every mystery, myth, conspiracy theory and urban legend is true.
  • MMO gaming combined with Alternate Reality Gaming and social networking.
  • Funcom’s proprietary DreamWorld tech.
  • PC and Xbox 360 platforms.