Age of Conan is fast approaching the one year anniversary of  its heavily anticipated launch.  At this time last year, players were clamoring to get into the beta and the head start, the official forums were abuzz with activity, and pre-orders and collectors editions flew off the shelves. Developer Funcom even stated that the game had sold “the highest pre-order number for any global launch of an original PC game, ever, including the original World of Warcraft launch.” This all sounds like a build up to the next big thing in MMOs, and that’s just what AoC was supposed to be. But as soon as the game went live, it became clear that it suffered from unresolved problems: it had scores of bugs, lacked content for high level characters, and was extremely hardware intensive.

Since AoC’s launch, these deficiencies have been addressed by developers and recent patch notes chronicle the game’s growth. The performance of  the client has been improved across the board, new zones have been added to the game, and the once broken crafting system has been fixed. Many core PvP components have also been updated: PvP minigames have been added, and sieges on player-built cities are now more commonplace. Problems with itemization and character stats have also been remedied, and players can now expect the loot they earn to make a difference in their performance. Funcom’s confidence in the quality of these changes is reflected AoC’s new trial offer.

AoC’s rough start recalls the early months of another MMO developed by Funcom, the 2002 game Anarchy Online. Anarchy Online’s release was a logistical nightmare, but its fortunes turned around thanks to continued development and successful expansion packs. Though the audience for MMOs in 2009 is both savvier and more impatient than it was in the early 2000s, game director Craig Morrison is hopeful about the developments the next year in Hyboria will bring.