QJ.NET was able to get in touch with Funcom Product Director Jorgen Tharaldsen who answered some questions about their upcoming MMORPG Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (Xbox 360, PC).

The interview contains information on the different features of the game like its combat system and player-NPC interaction. There was also mention of the game's future expansions, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures spin-offs, the Xbox 360 demo and gameplay, as well as the different artists who've influenced the visual style of the game.

A bunch of new screenshots and concept art have arrived for EverQuest II's upcoming expansion pack, Rise of Kunark. In the screenshots we are shown creatures and landscapes both friendly and aggressive, beautiful and terrible.

Some of the landscapes have a heavy influence from the cultures of Asia, while others simply show off a grand display of nature's claws. More pictures are also offered for Timorous Deep. The creature arts also show some classic creatures such as the Wyvern and the Giant Leech.

EverQuest II's expansion Rise of Kunark will be released sometime in November. Check out the full article for the rest of the screenshots.

   

 

Blizzard Entertainment's latest addition to the World of Warcraft is Wrath of the Lich King, the second official expansion to the highly regarded MMORPG. If The Burning Crusade set expansion-players against the fiery outskirts of the Outlands, this time around player's will have to don their winter gear and trek northward into the icy landscapes of Northrend. But it's not all ice and snow, as these screenshots show.

This land is not new to fans of the Warcraft franchise, for this was the same land the Human Expeditionary Fleet made landfall and discovered the cursed sword Frostmourne. 'Twas the same place where Prince Arthas met his inevitable conversion to the Scourge, and where some marooned humans still live today.

Let's revisit the northern region through the newest screenshots released, previewing what to expect when the expansion finally releases. Recognize a few locations?

Wrath of the Lich King screenshots

  

More screenshots await at the full article!

We have just heard news that Turbine has inked a deal with Kynogon to use the company's unique AI engine, Kynapse, for Lord Of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar and Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach.

For those who don't know, Kynapse is an A.I. engine offered by Kynogon which allows NPCs (or Non Player Characters) to move around in any 3D dynamic world and understand their environment in an uncannily realistic way. And with this deal with major MMORPG publisher Turbine, not only will this rake in tons of cash for Kynogon, it'll also help Turbine improve their games a lot by having an intelligent AI system.

Chris Dyl, Turbine's CTO, says:
 

Choosing Kynapse was a strategic decision for Turbine. We required an AI middleware solution that could be easily integrated into Turbine's state of the art MMO game engine. The solution needed to be flexible enough to support both the large, seamless landscapes found in The Lord of the Rings Online and the fast-paced, action-combat of Dungeons and Dragons Online.

Well there ya have it folks, so you can say goodbye to NPC AI woes with the knowledge that two of your favorite MMORPGs are in good hands with Kynapse. We will keep you posted for more LOTRO and DDO updates so stay tuned.

Great news to Everquest II fanatics, navigating through the game's landscapes has just been made easier with the Everquest II Atlas!

The Atlas is useful as a reference guide for all players, even if you're not the type who doesn't buy strategy guides, as it contains not only maps and locations to track down NPCs and Mobs, it also has all-new Lore, filling in major episodes in the history of Norrath 500 years on. The Everquest II Atlas also boasts of 100+ trivia questions to test your fan-o-meter, and also, if you want (and we know there's a teeny part of you that does), to show off to your friends your impressive knowledge on the game.

Also included in the maps are Points of Interest broken out by zone to direct you to the popular "hot spots" scattered throughout the landscape. The Everquest II Atlas is now available at the Station Store and sells for $ 20.

The Ryzom Ring guys have hit a new landmark on the 1st of September with the opening of the Ring Alpha to 589 Advanced Test Server (ATS) testers. This is the first time they've welcomed such a big group of people on the Ring Alpha.

For those who were wondering, an ATS tester is a player who applied for and got access to the Ring ATS a few months ago. If you're one of the lucky ATS testers, we envy you. For those interested in joining up, sorry but the application forms are no longer available.

Ryzom Ring is the first free expansion for The Saga of Ryzom. It provides players with the tools they need to access Ryzom's creatures, buildings, maps, and missions to create their own events and scenarios. By wandering all throughout the world of Atys, players will unlock more and more landscapes and NPCs for use in their own adventures.

Most of us here at QJ agree that ArchLord definitely puts the "massive" in "Massively Multiplayer online games". But the catch is, that could prove to be an understatement. After seeing the fly-through videos linked below, it should be "Massively Epic Multiplayer online games". Because quite frankly, seeing the layout of the land that you could lord over for a full month is definitely breathtaking! Put in the soundtrack by the the London Symphony Orchestra and you get nothing but goosebumps just watching the fly-throughs.

And just imagine these landscapes once the game goes online and is populated with life. Epic like whoa! Ruling the universe was never this lordly!

Download: [Fly-through Shinewood]
Download: [Fly-through Delfaras]
Download: [Fly-through Silancium]
Download: [Fly-through Khun]