Age of Conan dethrones GTA IV in Europe
by Griffin McElroy 
{ May 31st 2008 at 7:00PM }
Yes, Funcom's decapitation-rich MMORPG Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures recently outsold GTA IV in a number of European locations, including Germany and Sweden. Since Rockstar's latest opus is still selling like freshly baked hotcakes in North America, we can't help but wonder if GTA's themes of living the American dream and hooker brutalization got lost in translation as the title crossed the Atlantic -- or whether Age of Conan's musclebound mascot reminds German gamers of a certain pop culture icon who is quite revered in their country.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Slayer @ May 31st 2008 7:14PM
Wow...that was fast. Now I'm more interested in Age of Conan.
GenBanks @ May 31st 2008 8:12PM
Definitely check it out :)
Ghen @ May 31st 2008 8:58PM
Well, AoC is a good game sure... But Sweden is home to the pirate bay ;)
Lorben @ May 31st 2008 7:17PM
I'm just surprised that a PC game managed to overtake this year's the best selling console.
Lorben @ May 31st 2008 7:18PM
Err...console game that is.
tmacairjordan87 @ May 31st 2008 7:18PM
It's because the biggest sales it's going to get has already happened. Now it's just going to start selling consistently, but not as high each month.
GenBanks @ May 31st 2008 8:08PM
It's surprising, but also really good news. Age of Conan is an outstanding MMO so far (my character is level 30).
First of all, it's absolutely gorgeous. The sense of scale is breathtaking. I'm a Cimmerian, which means I'm from the northern part of Hyboria. Lots of pine trees, valleys and snow-caped mountains. The designers did a really good job of making stuff that is far away LOOK far away... If you're somewhere high up, you can look out over a valley and really say to yourself 'I can explore all over this place'. I played WoW but I still think the sense of scale and 'epic-ness' is better in Conan.
The other thing is that the feeling of context is great. I have absolutely no background knowledge of the Conan lore. Haven't read any books, watched any movies/tv episodes, comics, or even know anyone that knows about Conan lore. Yet I have still been totally sucked in and now feel tempted to check out the original books.
I'm in a guild, and everyone's excited about the city building and siege stuff, too. There are also lots of updates to look forward to, like a bounty system and prison sentences for PvP servers (like mine).
I've never maxed out a character in an MMO before, but I think AoC will be the first game in which I do so :)
Final note... if you have a high spec PC, you're missing out by not seeing this game with all the settings maxed out.
Harmatia @ May 31st 2008 7:18PM
No, GTA4 just turned out to be as overrated and hyped as Halo 3. It is not deserving of the scores so many sites attached to it, period.
Slayer @ May 31st 2008 7:29PM
I pretty much agree with you on this one. Don't get me wrong, GTA4 is a good game but certainly doesn't live up to the hype. There are plenty of other games I thought were better.
Harmatia @ May 31st 2008 7:44PM
Oh GTA4 is a splendid game, but it's wrought with flaws from bugs to design to graphics that either largely seem to go unnoticed by "professional" reviewers or simply aren't large enough issues to downgrade opinion and/or rating. Yahtzee said it best.
It's a good thing my local EB Games is offering $40 trade-in, which ironically I used towards Age of Conan.
Mr.ESC @ May 31st 2008 7:53PM
To be honest remarking this is my personal opinion I think it deserved those scores or at least I did until I played online.
GTA IV suffers from what I call the Gears of War Syndrome. Epic Single player disappointing online gameplay .I think there is something with a game where the only the only strategy is weapon whoring.
For example I started to play GTA online yesterday and everyone and everything killed me (Which was really annoying because I had to walk like 5 to 6 blocks just to get killed)I was wondering if I needed more experience or if there was some especial tactic I didn’t know until I re-spawned near a RPG, after that I started pwning.
The only matches I like is when both teams have the same weapons then is about skill which is means nothing since the only strategy is just shoot to the head.
Chase @ May 31st 2008 8:16PM
Yeah, I agree, Harmatia. I'm also selling my copy at CheapAssGamer, by the by.
Anticrawl @ May 31st 2008 8:59PM
The biggest problem with GTA IV is the same that plagues all sandbox games. They get dull fast and there isn't a whole lot that pushes you through the main story arc with all the lame ass side missions. I started out loving it after staying away from all things sandbox since GTA III but of course the initial splendor wears off and you see the game for what it is, a repetitive mindless sandbox game. And don't get me started with specific issues like money having no value. I guess GTA was a great game for people who get a jolly from sandbox games but after a week or two it didn’t do anything for me.
Been aching to get seriously into AoC and I typically hate MMORPG’s, even though I enjoy the idea of them. From what little of the pre-launch gaming I did at a buddy’s house it seems like a great game.
mundox @ May 31st 2008 10:09PM
IMHO GTAIV is overhyped. I played it, and well it was just another GTA game. Not that there's anything wrong with that but I don't see anything revolutionary about it.
JaKa (Because 666 gives a wrong impression!) @ Jun 1st 2008 6:56AM
@ Mr.Esc
[+1] because it's all true, but the difference is that while GoW Syndrome lay deep inside the game mechanics, GTAMP can be fixed within a couple of patches.
1.Fucking Auto-balance!People keep shuffling teams, making it a cluster-fuck.
2.Balanced,Fixed Matchmaking Gametypes.
They could do it Halo-style with Playlists & Custom Games because I'm sick and tired of people coming and leaving(ever played a non-friend/party 16 player game?) and pussies who grind XP by playing Bomb da Base on Easy.As somebody who can solo it on Hard, it's really pissing me off.
3.Multiplayer-specific Maps.
Sandbox doesn't work because you usually spend 10 minutes making your way to the "battlefield" just to be killed by some jackass in an ambulance.
Rockstar needs to release some decent maps or at least use some modded cut-outs like CoD4.
Am I the only one who thinks that the Deal Breaker Oil Rig is begging to become a map?
WRE (PSN: WorstReviewEver; Gamertag: HaloKissesBoys; Wii Friend Code: 4204-4590-6106-3583) @ Jun 1st 2008 12:04PM
Oh. How typical. Let's shit all over a really good game a month after it's been released! Sorry, but the whole "it's good, just overhyped" line smacks of elitist pretension. We've heard that same exact quartet of words applied to every big-budget release for the last 15 years. Could you get some new material? Please?
Jago @ Jun 1st 2008 12:35PM
Amen brotha.
Mr Khan @ Jun 1st 2008 1:17PM
@ WRE
I agree that it is an easy-to-track recurring phenomenon, but some games are still more overhyped than others
GTAIV falls into the some category. Mostly because the review sites were calling it the best game of all time, which led us to believe that it was flawless
It deserves praise for really bringing the sandbox genre into it's own on the HD consoles, but its by no means the best game of all time
OMGOMG @ Jun 1st 2008 2:02PM
Am I the only one was wasn't dissapointed by GTA IV? It was one of the few "Next Gen" experiences I have had outside of Bioshock and Gears of War (the opening and looking at the graphics).
Granted, I make it my duty to not look at game reviews, to not buy into the hype.
StevenRafael @ Jun 1st 2008 3:38PM
@WRE
Right, as if the people you directed that comment too are the same people who've been "shitting on a real good game a month after it's been released."
You've just made one of the stupidest, whiniest arguments I've ever come across. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and if these guys aren't satisfied with the game, what business is it of yours to attack them for it?
No need to get all offended just because some strangers don't love your favorite game as much as you do.
DrunkRaba @ Jun 1st 2008 4:22PM
After trading in my GTA4 a week after I bought it, I can see this. Conan might have lasting appeal, I didn't even care to finish the game. It was just a boring rehash of the previous games, but without even as much diversity.
WRE (PSN: WorstReviewEver; Gamertag: HaloKissesBoys; Wii Friend Code: 4204-4590-6106-3583) @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:11AM
StevenRafael,
First of all, GTA 4 is far from my favorite game and I'm not saying it should have gotten 10/10 from everybody and their mom. But saying that a game is "good but overhyped" is default elitist douchebag for "Look how cool I am! I don't like that thing as much as everyone else does!"
Film students and indie rockers have it down, gamers are just catching up. But I forgot, everyone is entitled to their opinion except me. When I voice what I consider to be an especially annoying trend my opinion is called "stupid". Great argument! Where did you learn to debate?
Oh, and next time, before you start throwing the "stupid" word around, look up the difference between "to" and "too". Trust me, you'll sound like less of an idiot.
NATO_Duke @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:13AM
I think that people did overhype GTA4 as well. The game is fun, though its got a lot of technical issues in my mind. The cover system, frustrating chases, and a gimped weapon/aim system all lead me to get annoyed real fast. Yet, the game is quality overall in my book.
As far as MP is concerned, to me its the best aspect because of the anarchy to it. Its fun to jump in a server w/out headphones on and just run around like a madman. Yeah, there is weapons whoring to it, and yeah sometimes it feels like you spawn and die w/in seconds - but overall its an entertaining MP experience. (At least it is for someone thats used to the same ol same ol FPS experience.)
Re: Conan - I am very interested in this game really want to pick it up one of these days. Sadly I don't think I have the time to play it as much as it would dictate, but it looks great and the reviews appear to be getting better and better for it.
Benny @ May 31st 2008 7:21PM
This isn't really much of a surprise. The PC is still king in Germany.
tmacairjordan87 @ May 31st 2008 7:24PM
No surprise an MMO, a genre other than sims shit, sold a lot. It's the heart of PC gaming right now.
Poisoned Al @ May 31st 2008 7:34PM
Well I do believe that everyone that wanted GTA4, got it within a week of it coming out, so I'm not sure you can really read too much into this.
hodosko @ May 31st 2008 7:37PM
Strange. I though PC gaming was dead.
Slayer @ May 31st 2008 7:40PM
Don't buy into that crap. Thats been said for the longest time now. PC gaming isn't going anywhere.
Harmatia @ May 31st 2008 7:44PM
LOL, Jeff Green from 1up said it best. PC gaming ain't dead, too many people (speaking of Epic in this instance) became greedy. In actuality PC game sales have been increasing, but just not at the rate that console games have. That makes it dead to a lot of people chasing the greenback. It's alive and well and those doing it are having an awesomely excellent time.
Though I some how feel you already know that. :P
Sora267 @ May 31st 2008 7:45PM
The sales charts don't account for digital distribution IIRC, so they make it look as if PC gaming is dead when it isn't.
hodosko @ May 31st 2008 7:58PM
sorry, forgot my /sarcasm tag in my post :)
tmacairjordan87 @ May 31st 2008 8:37PM
The highest selling PC titles are sims games and MMOs.
This is an MMO
See the connection?
Haggard @ May 31st 2008 9:57PM
But just because MMOs and casual shovelware sells well on the PC doesn't mean that other types of game don't sell at all.
LaughingTarget @ Jun 1st 2008 8:04AM
Steam games do very well.
EMaster @ May 31st 2008 10:18PM
Maybe because EVERYONE already has GTA IV one way or another?
Cutty @ May 31st 2008 7:45PM
I would have put it down to the amount GTA IV sold in its first week. It's certainly not under-performing.
Ghostbuddy @ May 31st 2008 8:17PM
So?
Age of Conan sold more in its first week, then Grand theft Auto 4 did in its fifth week. Not really unexpected considering the hype behind Age of Conan.
For the record, I thought GTA 4 deserved its scores. Or atleast deserved a score really close to what it has on metacritic. Loved the game. Even got a lot of time out of the MP.
Can't wait to pick up the 360 version of Age of Conan when it comes out.
sp @ May 31st 2008 8:17PM
Does Age of Conan include David Hasselhoff?
LaughingTarget @ May 31st 2008 8:39PM
You can find him off the coast, bringing SpongeBob back to Bikini Bottom.
JCollum @ May 31st 2008 8:42PM
AOC is good but very buggy. It feels like its still in beta. I've been unable to connect to the game for 4 days now after a patch. I'm one of many with same issue, but we've heard next to nothing from tech support. I'd avoid until the bugs are ironed out. If you're paying by the day to play a game you can't play, well, you're wasting your money.
Anticrawl @ May 31st 2008 9:01PM
The beta was much worse than the final game from what I've played of both, they fixed a large majority of the major issues before launch. Hopefully the rest of the bugs will be ironed out within the next month or two, which is about the time I plan on joining in on the fun.
JaKa (Because 666 gives a wrong impression!) @ Jun 1st 2008 7:01AM
Well...while I absolutely don't give a shit about MMO's, this one seems to be getting WoW-levels of hype.
And comparing this to WoW's launch problems, you should be more than grateful.That's just how MMO's launch.
LaughingTarget @ Jun 1st 2008 8:02AM
The beta was a nightmare in the week prior to launch. A huge bug was going into the single player portion where the entire world would lose its physical properties and my character was permanently stuck, requiring a delete and restart.
I'm still surprised they shoved this out the door, though it is no where near as bad as Vanguard was when it launched.
TwistedBishop @ Jun 1st 2008 11:36AM
They didn't shove anything out the door. A bug was introduced to the open beta client just before it went live, and it was fixed within a few days.
The release client, and the closed beta before it, have both been very smooth experiences.
1337stra @ Jun 1st 2008 1:55PM
Not dethrones, I think its more appropriate to say "beheads"
LaughingTarget @ Jun 1st 2008 8:22PM
Full frontal nudity beheading.
Jonah Falcon @ Jun 1st 2008 4:14AM
No, you're all wrong.
The reason is quite simple: in Germany and many European countries, the PC still reigns supreme, which is why a lot of the best, most innovative FPS's are coming out of Europe (see: STALKER).
And also, Conan knows better than Niko Belic about what is good in life: to crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women!
Ghen @ Jun 1st 2008 12:35PM
STALKER was fun.. Setting up enemies the way you want to in open territory compared to the jungle of far cry.. But the MMO style quest system didn't do it for me.
chez @ Jun 1st 2008 6:18AM
And some people believe that PC gaming is dying when we get news like this and when the best multi-console game experiences are had on the PC. Such as Quake Wars, UT3 and friends.
JaKa (Because 666 gives a wrong impression!) @ Jun 1st 2008 7:47AM
PC's sappin' my multi-console experiences!
Team Fortress 4 eva n' eva n' only on PC!