Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures Interview

MMOZone brings us a lengthy interview with Age of Conan’s Shannon Drake about the game’s armor dyes, factions, post-release content, and more.

MMOZone: Has the Conan franchise been a limitation on the creation of content for the game?

Pharamond: I think every developer dreams of having 70+ years of content, backstory, etc. given to them when they pick up a license. You’re being handed the keys to a world that millions of people all over the world already love. All you have to do is develop the game, so the hard work is done, right? (Sorry, I just wanted to make all our developers wince).

It’s not so much a limitation except in the obvious “No, you can’t ride on bumblebees while shooting space lasers at pirates” sense as it is a challenge. I mean, on the basic level, you have to make a game the license holder approves of so they don’t yank the license, but let’s not be crude about it. You’re trying to make a world that millions of people around the world already have in their head, one that hews to the lore while still being a game that people can play and enjoy.

Ultimately, we’re going to stick as closely to the lore as we can while still making a fun game. I think letting yourself get crucified by sticking to the original material too much is doing a disservice to it. It may just be me, heathen that I am, but I don’t think the Lord of the Rings movies lose a lot by not having 8 hours of singing and walking around between every action sequence. Not every trope is suitable for every genre, and there’s a point where a truly faithful adaptation would make for a lesser product.