Anarchy Online (AO) may have been released back in 2001, but it's still going strong, gathering a new batch of faithfuls with the upcoming release of the latest expansion Lost Eden.

AO's success (and longevity) may be attributed to its unique take on a genre dominated by the more common fantasy setting. Let's forget about the "Snafus" that nearly ruined the game upon launch. Funcom's damage control certainly saved the game from bowing out of the MMO arena.

The science fiction MMO's story revolves around two factions (Omni-Tek and the Clans) who are fighting for control of planet Rubi-Ka. In Lost Eden, the game's third expansion pack, focus will be on PvP elements. We should also be expecting new features including player-controlled mecha and orbiting space stations. But we're really excited about the giant organic alien motherships that Funcom promised to deliver.

While we wait for the release of the expansion, let's feast our eyes on these new screenshots to get a glimpse of what Lost Eden has to offer.

More screens await after the jump.

What's worse than coming face to face with the ultimate mechanized death-dealing machines thrice your height? Umm. Ok. We don't know if there's anything worse than that. However, we know something that's definitely better! And that's getting to control them!

Funcom's giving all you Anarchy Online fans the chance to wreak some PvP havoc and have fun on the Rubi-Ka battlefields with devastating powers. All you've got to do is pre-order the Lost Eden expansion pack and off you go to smash everyone's faces in with wild abandon. Also, if you've been missing out on the previous expansions, Shadowlands and Alien Invasion, as well as the booster pack Notum Wars, are all going to be included in Lost Eden.

As what Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas says:

Just like fine wine, some games mature, grow and improve through the years, and Anarchy Online has proven itself to be exactly like that. It is now one of the deepest and most engaging MMOs available, and with Lost Eden we're expanding the experience for veteran players at the same time as we’re including all the previous expansions in the offer for new players. We're confident Anarchy Online will continue to excite people.

Hmmm. Bang for your buck? Yeah, we think so. Especially since you get to bang the buckteeth out of your opponents.

What's better than "free?" Well, if you're a beta tester, you get "free + !" If you've ever wanted to into the MMORPG scene without having to pay for the game, then Anarchy Online may just be the ticket you're looking for. If you're looking for an MMO that gives you the opportunity to play for free till 2008 and get a shot at trying out new content in advance, then Anarchy Online REALLY will be your cup of tea.

It's simple, really. Funcom is looking for 150 beta testers to try out their game, but they aren't looking for just any sort of powergaming beta testers. They're looking for some souls "who have never played Anarchy Online or who have not played since the game first launched to test new player features and provide feedback." All you have to do is send an application form with your full name, country of residence, and any MMO or beta testing experience you've had to marketing@ark.anarchy-online.com and hope you get picked to be one of the fabled 150.

Now for the fun stuff. What does a beta tester get that the regular players don't? You get, and I quote, "a full upgrade from the free AO basic account to one that includes Shadowlands, Alien Invasion and the Alien Invasion preorder bonus (Pet leets) along with 90 days of free game time at no cost." In other words, your beta account acts like a paid account for 90 days, and you get to see content that those who play for free don't usually get to see. Sounds like a good deal, so you may want to start typing that application form now. Enjoy!

This October, a number of good things have been reported for Anarchy Online: the Halloween treat, bigger player participation in Test Live and the opening of customer service support. As far as we are concerned, it is still very much October and so there is no reason why good things for this MMO won't continue.

Today, Funcom announced that there would be an extension of the completely free and play-all-you-want offer until January 2008.  Not only that, the offer now includes the award-winning expansion, Notum Wars. This in turn would give free players to take part in a PvP combat. "The free offer has been an amazing success and a chance to show massive amounts of players how good this game actually is," declares Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas.

Anarchy Online was named "Best MMO of the Year" by PC Gamer US despite players being exposed to in-game advertising. While the company thinks that this type of promotional campaign is revolutionary, free subscribers are hoping they don't over do as it potentially distracts (or destructs?) the game.

As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to take responsibility for all operating aspects prior to launching Age of Conan and future MMOs, Funcom has announced that starting November 1, they will be handling customer service for the German-speaking Anarchy Online game servers internally. Funcom will also be taking over the business of handling community relations matters in the German-speaking territories.

Since the German-speaking Anarchy Online server was launched, both customer service and community interaction were handled by leading German online service provider Gamigo. Funcom's decision to handle community relations and customer service internally doesn't mean they're cutting ties with Gamigo though. The company aims to continue doing business with Gamigo, but with a focus on marketing and external community aspects.

The customer service and community aspects for Anarchy Online, and eventually Age of Conan, will be handled through Funcom offices in USA, Switzerland, and Norway. With full control of all customer service aspects for Funcom's MMOs now in the company's hands, players can look forward to a better and worry-free gaming experience.

Good news Anarchy Online users! The game's dev team has just announced that you can now copy your character to Test Live to help the team test new content and updates. Now, you can really say that you had a hand in making changes into this futuristic RPG; think of yourself as a quasi-dev team member, how 'bout that?

Why settle with just playing the game when you can put in your own inputs for the updates to come right? But, and this is a big BUT, you should know that you're eventually gonna have to pay for character copying, and as mentioned, the main reason why the Anarchy Online team is doing this is to test that service so make sure you grab this rare opportunity while it's still free.

If you do decide to copy your character to test live, here are some of the restrictions that Morrison posted up:

- your items will NOT be copied along with your character. If you want any items, you have to move them before you copy.
- You must be logged out on both the dimension you are copying from, and Test Live in order for the copy to occur.
- copies may take up to 24 hours (but usually it is much less)
- all accounts are limited to only 2 character copies, the team can delete all transferred characters at any time which will allow you to copy another 2 characters.
- Rules regarding harassment and disruption on Test Live are the same as live. Violate them and your character will be removed and your copying privileges revoked.

If you encounter problems during copying, or your copy does not happen, check the game's homepage and view the feedback information, you should find notifications there for any problems encountered and how to fix them.

Inhabitants of Rubi-ka, rejoice! We are pleased to inform you that days before Halloween, Craig 'Silirrion' Morrison together with the whole Anarchy Online team updates the client to version 16.3.3 and reports on the progress of 16.4. All of these is on top of this year's early appearance of Uncle Pumpkinhead.

Community Manager Morrison is very happy to say that just a few issues remain with the new update and 16.4 is being ready for launch at the end of this month. Furthermore, Morrison reports that they have began testing on the character transfer tool. As of now, a number of communities are helping out and the tool will be opened for public testing next week.

Regarding the update on Anarchy Online client, players are no longer required to be on the team that kills Libra in the new inferno quests to complete that mission. However, an item from his remains should be brought back. also, the Berserker Rage implants and spirits no longer cause damage. Other updates include:

• You can now get the mission to go into the dungeon to find the Recovery Unit for Ergo over again should you fail to complete it somehow.
• Increased spawn rate on Ember Chimera.
• Stephen Richards will pay the correct amount of credits for the Smokey Salamander skin and the Coal Lizard skin.
• Modfied cash and exp rewards on many of the older quests to ensure the rewards given are appropriate to the level and / or difficulty of the quest
• Reduced the instances where you can fail to playshift into missions
• Resolved some memory leaks that appeared in 16.3

Anarchy Online took time out to answer your queries on its expansion features, particularly the Battlestation in Lost Eden, and with screenshots to boot!

Composed of a central hub area with three wings leading off from that central area, the battlestations allow players to fight for control over them in battles until one side meets the victory conditions. A control point can be found in each of the wings and the hub, which then adds a number of victory points to your sides total until a pre-defined victory total is achieved when held down.

The battlestation is one gigantic playground, hence, teleport points are incorporated to make navigation a whole lot easier. As to the question of whether or not you can respawn on the battlestations, the answer is yes. Upon entering, your save point will be temporarily set to respawn you on the battlestation. You can stay aboard until the current battle you are taking part in is over.

As to the new mechs, there's no need to worry cause you'll also be able to summon a mech if needed through the vehicle hangar type area. And of course, you don't just go on a battle and not have a reward! For winning the battlestation encounters, you will receive special battle points that can be used to buy new armor and weapons from special vendors.

Well, those definitely sound like fun! Anyway, here are the screenshots of the mothership to give you an idea of how it looks like.

  

 

This week, Funcom, the developers for Age of Conan and Anarchy Online will be at the Dragon Convention at Atlanta. Several events are planned including panels on both games. There will also be a Funcom Fan gathering, and a special panel about getting a job in the game industry. Aspiring game developer? Game Designer hopeful? This could be your chance right here.

ARK, the GridStream Production Crew, Gms and Devs from Funcom will be there to welcome you at the booth 211. Scott Allie, the editor of the Conan Dark Horse Comics will also be there. He'll do signings at September 3rd from 3-4 pm. You can bring your camera and get photo ops with Conan's throne.

See the Dragoncon Schedule for times and locations. Stop by their booth for info on a special Saturday night gathering. The press release mentioned something about cosplay during those times, just in case you're curious.

It started with shop signs, hung out by tradesmen in ancient times. From there, it went to print ads, then billboards that multiplied like locusts, blighting the land. From there, it went to radio, aircraft, TV,  blimps, movie theatres, the Web...is there no escaping the relentless, unending hucksterism?

Toyota has become the first company to utilize interactive ads in an MMORPG with its interactive "dynamic billboard advertisement" in Anarchy Online. New technology allows players to interact with these "dynamic billboards" in the game, which proponents claim makes for a "more memorable and interactive advertisement experience."  Toyota's campaign allows players of the free version to walk up to in-game billboards and interact with them to unveil the product. AO publisher Funcom expects this will pave the way for more of the same.

Mitch Davis of Massive, Inc. is delighted, calling it  "a tremendous step forward in terms of giving advertisers what they want- the ability to target the elusive male 18-34 range and allowing them to interact with the products for a more memorable experience.” He goes on to say  “This is just the beginning of interactive ads in games, and we are very pleased to unveil this new technology together with Funcom and Toyota."  Davis was quick to mention that  "...we are not adding this to distract from the game experience itself. Our company always has the best interest of the gamers and the game experience in mind."

Massive Inc., which was recently acquired by Microsoft,  is a pioneer when it comes to in-game ad technology, and is currently advertising network in the gaming industry.

"In Funcom we are always trying to push the envelope in innovation and technology, and this recent move with Funcom, Massive and Toyota is a perfect example,” says Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom. “Our primary goal is always to deliver the best possible entertainment, but to offset the high development costs in today’s gaming landscape we need to look at additional forms of income. What Massive is offering us is exactly that, and we are therefore very pleased to continue working with them to introduce new technologies that give us a competitive edge."