Funcom has re-launched their re-evaluation campaign for Age of Conan, this time offering players new incentives to return and subscribe to Age of Conan for extended periods.

As part of the re-evaluation campaign players who have inactive subscriptions are invited back to play Age of Conan free for two weeks, and will receive a double XP boost during their free period.

Players who decide to return and subscribe following their free period will receive an additional week of Conan free of charge. But what is the probably the most enticing aspect of this new offer is for those who return and re-subscribe for multi-month packages.

Players who subscribe for three months at a time (or more) will be guaranteed access to the beta test for Funcom's next MMORPG, The Secret World. Finally, those who subscribe for six months at a time will receive a level 40 helmet with a +10% XP modifier, and those who subscribe for a full year will receive Age of Conan's upcoming "Rise of the Godslayer" expansion free of charge.

For more details on the new re-evaluation campaign offers read the full announcement here.

Nice.

This deal seems to have a few similarities to Jon Wood's complaints in www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm/loadFeature/3723/Sellin-Betas-and-Pimpin-Box-Sales.html

That would be OPEN beta access. Sure, it may be a nice perk, I'm even considering it, but I haven't forgotten Funcom's last open beta with its many many limitations.

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Originally posted by Jadar

That would be OPEN beta access. Sure, it may be a nice perk, I'm even considering it, but I haven't forgotten Funcom's last open beta with its many many limitations.

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 Awesome and current subscribers get...? To read about it on the forums? Veteran points? Do tell.

Originally posted by mklinic

This deal seems to have a few similarities to Jon Wood's complaints in www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm/loadFeature/3723/Sellin-Betas-and-Pimpin-Box-Sales.html

Exactly.

MMORPG.com should not suport this.

No matter how you look at it - it doesn't look good.
Are they;
1/ Using hype of a new (as yet unreleased) game to prop up an old game?
Or
2/ Using incentives from an old game to encourage the community there to build hype on a new (as yet unproven) game?

This may seem like a 'deal' until people remember exactly why they stopped doing business with Funcom last time.  People left AoC for a reason.  Many may not remember those reasons (people seem to have short memories these days) but clearly many people felt the same.

Buyer Beware.

We report the news. Whether any of us personally support this practice isn't really relevant, as it's still news.

so how do you get the free 2 weeks?  I'd like to check it out for myself to see if there are any changes in gameplay and overall goodness of the game since I last played August 08. 

edit; never mind, as soon as I logged onto my frozen account, they sent me an email

Originally posted by MikeB

We report the news. Whether any of us personally support this practice isn't really relevant, as it's still news.

But you are not reporting 'news' you are reporting a promotional offer.

Your link leads me here http://community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&template=content&func_id=3043&table=CONTENT

A Funcom page with an "Order Now" link at the top.

Sorry, but this really blurs the line between news and unpaid advert.

Edit: Might I suggest that if you included you personal views on the offer and made it more of a column or editorial type piece it would read less like an advert?

I have actually been waiting for Funcom to do something like this since they royally messed the launch up.  I told myself I am not going to replay this game ever until they fix their crap and offer free play time because for the money i had already spent on it, i felt they owe it to me and countless others to honestly fix it and tuck their tail between their legs and give some free playtime to prove to us they have indeed fixed it. 

It just surprises me that they took this long in doing so...  When they mucked up Anarchy Online, they were really quick to give players free time for their mess up, but the AoC mess up was really bad... but i'm willing to reload this game on my computer and check it out to see the changes for myself.

Originally posted by Gyrus

Originally posted by MikeB

We report the news. Whether any of us personally support this practice isn't really relevant, as it's still news.

But you are not reporting 'news' you are reporting a promotional offer.

Your link leads me here http://community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&template=content&func_id=3043&table=CONTENT

A Funcom page with an "Order Now" link at the top.

 

Sorry, but this really blurs the line between news and unpaid advert.

Edit: Might I suggest that if you included you personal views on the offer and made it more of a column or editorial type piece it would read less like an advert?

 

 

Oh my god, all they are doing is talking about a promotion an MMO is running. They do it for all games so players like ourselves can decide whether we want to take advantage or not.

Going by what you say any article or preview about a game is unpaid advert. If that were the case then most news sites would be pretty empty.

Oh and all the link does is link you to the article on their site. What would you rather them not put a link so people have to go look for themselves.

Oh please, just about every MMO to release recently has had a paid beta, except Aion. Go complain about STO or MO.

Originally posted by pb1285n

Oh my god, all they are doing is talking about a promotion an MMO is running. They do it for all games so players like ourselves can decide whether we want to take advantage or not.

Going by what you say any article or preview about a game is unpaid advert. If that were the case then most news sites would be pretty empty.

Oh and all the link does is link you to the article on their site. What would you rather them not put a link so people have to go look for themselves.

Yeah, fair point (you really didn't need to invoke your God to make it though - did you?).

It's a pretty difficult thing to judge I guess - but I was thinking something along these lines:
If my local Pizza Palor burned down I would expect to see it reported in the paper with details - that's news.
If they placed flyers offering "2 for 1" deals under windscreen wipers I would not expect to see that (along with the fact that any order over $20 gets a free garlic bread) reported in the paper?

Now, MMORPG.com reports on events within the MMORPG.com world - and to some degree any promotion is 'news'?

So, here's the issue.  Is MMORPG.com being used?

Should MMORPG.com simply reprint any promotional offer that any MMO company makes?  Particularly since the marketing practices in this industry seem to be heading toward all new lows?
As I suggested - maybe MMORPG.com should 'report' these offers but give an 'opinion' on them?
 

This is a good deal, but I am currently satisfied with champions online right now. However I am wonder, will those who use pre-gametime cards also get the same benefits as subscribing? if not, this will cause people to get a little aggravaited for not getting the same benefits.

Despite that it's a good deal and how I am satisfied with Champions Online, i hope there are other ways to where I could be able to get access to the beta test of the new mmorpg in a different way. I've already did the application test and waiting for a notification that I've been invited to beta test the game.

Originally posted by darkedone02

This is a good deal, but I am currently satisfied with champions online right now. However I am wonder, will those who use pre-gametime cards also get the same benefits as subscribing? if not, this will cause people to get a little aggravaited for not getting the same benefits.

...

There you go (wrong thread and game... but right idea).
How about reporting the offer (as was done) but commenting on where this leaves current long term subscribers?

I mean, if I was a long time AoC player and I just purchased 12 months subscription last week... where does that leave me?

Originally posted by Gyrus

Originally posted by pb1285n

Oh my god, all they are doing is talking about a promotion an MMO is running. They do it for all games so players like ourselves can decide whether we want to take advantage or not.

Going by what you say any article or preview about a game is unpaid advert. If that were the case then most news sites would be pretty empty.

Oh and all the link does is link you to the article on their site. What would you rather them not put a link so people have to go look for themselves.

Yeah, fair point (you really didn't need to invoke your God to make it though - did you?).

It's a pretty difficult thing to judge I guess - but I was thinking something along these lines:
If my local Pizza Palor burned down I would expect to see it reported in the paper with details - that's news.
If they placed flyers offering "2 for 1" deals under windscreen wipers I would not expect to see that (along with the fact that any order over $20 gets a free garlic bread) reported in the paper?

Now, MMORPG.com reports on events within the MMORPG.com world - and to some degree any promotion is 'news'?

So, here's the issue.  Is MMORPG.com being used?

Should MMORPG.com simply reprint any promotional offer that any MMO company makes?  Particularly since the marketing practices in this industry seem to be heading toward all new lows?
As I suggested - maybe MMORPG.com should 'report' these offers but give an 'opinion' on them?
 

 

 

I disagree, I see this more along the lines of a Pizza place giving away a free slice of pizza to all their customers on a certain day. It won't make the front page but it will show up in the news.

People like free stuff and they like to know when and where they can get free stuff.

Plus the Secret World is a highly anticipated game, so it's newsworthy.

Originally posted by Gyrus

Originally posted by darkedone02

This is a good deal, but I am currently satisfied with champions online right now. However I am wonder, will those who use pre-gametime cards also get the same benefits as subscribing? if not, this will cause people to get a little aggravaited for not getting the same benefits.

...

 

There you go (wrong thread and game... but right idea).
How about reporting the offer (as was done) but commenting on where this leaves current long term subscribers?

I mean, if I was a long time AoC player and I just purchased 12 months subscription last week... where does that leave me?

12 months in a crappy game.

Originally posted by pb1285

Plus the Secret World is a highly anticipated game, so it's newsworthy.

Yea Im just dying to get in another one of failcom's failed beta's and horrific launches. Hell, I wonder what false stuff they are going to put on the box this time.

Originally posted by Gyrus

Originally posted by darkedone02

This is a good deal, but I am currently satisfied with champions online right now. However I am wonder, will those who use pre-gametime cards also get the same benefits as subscribing? if not, this will cause people to get a little aggravaited for not getting the same benefits.

...

 

There you go (wrong thread and game... but right idea).
How about reporting the offer (as was done) but commenting on where this leaves current long term subscribers?

I mean, if I was a long time AoC player and I just purchased 12 months subscription last week... where does that leave me?

When I said I am satified with Champions Online, I ment I found a game for me that is best for me though... this is the right thread and I'm talking about to those who have pre-gametime cards for Age of Conan players be able to get the same benefits as those who subscribed?