Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (PC, X360) won't be shipping in March as previously announced, as Funcom has given the development team another eight weeks to get the game ready for launch. The new release date is May 20. According to Funcom, the extra two months allow for additional polish and more stress testing of game systems.

"The companies standing apart in the gaming market today are those with a relentless drive to achieve quality. Even though we regret delaying the launch, I am certain we made the right choice. I hope that our followers and fans will support our decision, and respect our commitment to quality," said game director Gaute Godager.

For recent impressions of the game, check out Nick Breckon's new preview.

There are Age of Conan impressions on MMORPG.com, where they had the opportunity to see the game in action at CES.

PC Zone has an Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures preview posted, offering impressions of the game after seeing it in action at the Funcom offices.

With so many fantasy MMOs on the market and in development, games within that segment that stand out are highly prized by the dedicated gamer set. Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, from Anarchy Online developer Funcom, has long been awaited as one such game, with its dark, adult-oriented world based on that of Robert E. Howard's famous barbarian and its goal of achieving more active gameplay than most of its genre-mates. I recently spent several hours at North American co-publisher Eidos to get some hands-on time with Age of Conan.

Age of Conan uses an unusual melee combat system. Drawing from more conventional action games, it features three directional attacks, executed with the 1-3 number keys. Icons superimposed above enemies indicate from what angles they are most vulnerable or best protected. As you level up, you gain access to actual melee combos, more powerful sequences of directional attacks. This combat system does succeed in adding a more active element. ...Age of Conan's approach deserves special credit for being a distinguishing factor right from the start.
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WarCry has been updated with an article format Age of Conan Q&A, chatting with Funcom's Jorgen Tharaldsen about the game.

I recently had the chance to check out Funcom's upcoming action MMORPG Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. Due out on PC in March 2008 and Xbox 360 a bit after that, the game impressed me its the game's distinctive combat.

Afterwards, I spoke with content designer Jason Stone on a number of topics, including Funcom's approach to the traditional MMO grind, how the game distinguishes itself from World of Warcraft, and, of course, nudity.

Jason Stone: From the very beginning, we decided an M rating would be what the game would end up [with]. We have not shied from that, we fully expect to get an M rating. We try not to make sure we don't put anything in the game that would give us an AO, but we want to do Howard's world justice. That means blood, that means sex, that means some nudity.
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