GS: Could you explain how the single-player portion of the game will work? This part of the game sounds like much more than a tutorial level or two. How in-depth will the introductory single-player game for Age of Conan be? Is the idea to offer a full-fledged single-player game for those who may not want to go online?

GG: First of all, you will need to be online at all times, as we want you to log on to our servers to avoid exploits and cheats. So even though you are alone, you are still online.

I would like to point out that this is far from a simple tutorial. In fact, learning the ropes of the game is only a minor part of what you do in this period. I do not know with 100 percent certainty the amount of time that you will spend solving the challenges set before you in the single-player part of the game, but our goal is clear: We want to create a full-fledged stand-alone game that gives you a story-driven role-playing experience where the focus is on you, your character, and your journey.



The game features a real-time combat system, letting you control your character's sword directly.

You start out your life as a slave. Your character is picked among the many rowing slaves on a ship. You suffer from a lack of recollection and there is a mysterious tattoo branded on your chest. During a massive storm, your chains burst free due to a pursuing galley that rams through the side of your ship. After fighting your way free and crushing the fat, bloated slaver, you dive into the sea, finally ending up on a beach in front of a lush, dark jungle with a seething volcano in the distance. The goal of regaining your memory becomes your immediate concern.