Yesterday, Funcom sent out
a back-patting notice that they currently have over 700,000
Age of Conan subscribers online -- although it was
only one month ago that they'd reported 1 million in sales (so about 25% - 30% of the population has already dropped off after the initial free month. Impressive numbers, either way). Today, however, Funcom wants to remind everyone of the company's roots in
Anarchy Online. Numbers talk, so Funcom's throwing out numbers like "2 million" explorers that have set foot on the planet Rubi-Ka over the past seven years; "200 million" hours of entertainment is another number they roll out. And to celebrate its longevity, former players should be checking their email accounts for come-back-to-us offers.
Funcom celebrates 7 years of Anarchy Online
- More than 200 million hours of entertainment delivered to date - Massive new celebration video now available -
Durham, USA – July 1, 2008 – Funcom is proud to announce that Anarchy Online celebrates seven years in operation. The original sci-fi MMO has been a groundbreaking game ever since it launched, and it still stand as a massive pillar of the MMO genre. As the game moves into its eight year it shows no signs of slowing down, with development continuing at full pace with an ever evolving virtual world.
The history of Anarchy Online is one of hope and innovation, and development started as early as 1995. The internet was reserved for a small population of “elite” users back then, and early design documents were even questioning whether the internet had a future. At first Anarchy Online was therefore a small research project, but as history shows it soon turned into a massive and extremely ambitious MMO.
Through the years Anarchy Online has proven its immense durability, and this unique labor of love has delivered an amazing amount of entertainment. Soon 2 million explorers will have set foot on Rubi-Ka, and more join every year. In total the players have created some six million citizens. This is far more than the total population size of Norway, where Anarchy Online is developed. As a result more than 200 million hours of entertainment has been served, or more than 8 million days of playtime! These massive numbers shows how a quality MMO can deliver lasting experiences, making a virtual world stay relevant many years after release.
“When we first set out to create Anarchy Online we had no true references, nothing to learn from, and this pioneer feeling is something we embraced and cherished,” said Gaute Godager, the original Game Director on Anarchy Online and now Game Director on Age of Conan. “That Anarchy Online has lived for seven years is an astounding accomplishment, but it also proves that quality persists if it is nurtured and cared for in the right way.”
“The community and development team has almost formed a very symbiotic relationship through the years, and being a part of this positive and constructive unity is something which I am incredibly proud of,” said Craig Morrison, Game Director on Anarchy Online. “I hope the development of Anarchy Online will continue to grow! Our goal now is to keep on evolving Anarchy Online for seven more years, at least, and I hope all of our players will join us for the ride.”
The seven year anniversary naturally bring along great offers for both new, former and existing players. People who have previously played Anarchy Online should check their mail-box for special offers, while all free players can upgrade to the full game experience for only $7/€. Active Anarchy Online players will receive seven special guest passes, as well as 700 paid points for free. These can be used on whatever in-game items they want, ranging from jet bikes and hover boards to luxury apartments, pets and social clothes. All the special offers are only available until July 7th, so be sure not to miss out and join us in celebrating the wonderful history of Anarchy Online! For more information on the offers, or to try the free version of AO, please visit
www.anarchy-online.com
As a part of the celebration Funcom has put together a video where former luminaries like Gaute Godager, Ragnar Tørnquist and Morten Byom speak about their time with Anarchy Online, while current Lead Designer Colin Cragg and Game Director Craig Morrison join in to speak about the current state of the game. It’s a great trip down memory lane for everyone who has enjoyed Anarchy Online, while showing some of the tremendous evolutions the game has gone through since its inception. You can find the video at
www.anarchy-online.com
