Conan and Age of Conan Blog and Fan Site http://kingconan.org Conan and Age of Conan Blog and Fan Site Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:10:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 kingconanhttp://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with Pageflakes The demise of Ensemble Studios http://kingconan.org/2009/02/the-demise-of-ensemble-studios/ http://kingconan.org/2009/02/the-demise-of-ensemble-studios/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:59:00 +0000 hexsane http://kingconan.org/?p=189
Age of Empires signed by the entire Development Team.

Age of Empires signed by the entire Development Team.

I’ve been under a rock. Until recently I had no idea good old Microsoft was closing them down (although I recall mentioning to Matthew Pritchard something about sleeping with the devil before they signed with Microsoft, but I digress). Matt had joined Ensemble in its infancy and was one of the key developers in Age of Empires. Having this friend within the walls of Ensemble allowed me to obtain a great prize - a copy of Age of Empires autographed by the entire development team. I had originally asked for a copy with his autograph and was quite surprised when I received it. The funny part of all of this - I’ve never actually played the game. Its still new and untouched inside the box.




]]> http://kingconan.org/2009/02/the-demise-of-ensemble-studios/feed/ CPSIA - How to fail to make a good law. http://kingconan.org/2009/02/cpsia-how-to-fail-to-make-a-good-law/ http://kingconan.org/2009/02/cpsia-how-to-fail-to-make-a-good-law/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:16:01 +0000 hexsane http://kingconan.org/?p=186
A thrift store in Omaha, NE cleared its shelves out of fear of CPSIA

A thrift store in Omaha, NE cleared its shelves out of fear of CPSIA

I buy, sell and collect some toys and toy related memorabilia. This thrift store in Omaha, NE is one of those places I visit almost on a daily basis. Out of fear of CPSIA this store has emptied its shelves of the toys and children’s books. I didn’t look if they had removed all of the children’s clothing but I am quite sure they did that also. I know what you’re thinking: This law doesn’t target them. It was designed to stop big manufacturers from importing lead loaded toys from China. Well, you would be wrong. This non-profit organization will have a drop in sales because they are afraid of getting a $5000 fine for selling a toy or piece of children’s clothing that was manufactured using the poor safety standards in China. I know Goodwill in Omaha is also ending its sales of toys (and probably children’s clothes). Other thrift stores and consignment shops are probably following suit. Thousands of dollars in sales that once HELPED EMPLOY PEOPLE, HELPED FIGHT CANCER AND HELPED PEOPLE IN NEED are now going into the trash bin instead. Excellent job law makers. I think its time to try again. Fix this law - you screwed it up. Swallow your damn pride and repeal it. Write it so it makes sense and stops taking money from non-profit organizations. Thinking about it now though, maybe something good will come from this stupid law - there will be a spike in the value of collectible toys.

]]> http://kingconan.org/2009/02/cpsia-how-to-fail-to-make-a-good-law/feed/ GameRigs Age of Conan Sweepstakes http://kingconan.org/2009/02/gamerigs-age-of-conan-sweepstakes/ http://kingconan.org/2009/02/gamerigs-age-of-conan-sweepstakes/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:05:36 +0000 hexsane http://kingconan.org/?p=183
GameRigs AoC Sweepstakes

GameRigs AoC Sweepstakes

Enter GameRigs AoC Sweepstakes for a chance to win:

1st Prize
Custom Gaming Desktop PC System from GameRigs, including:
GameRigs Aluminum ATX Case with custom artwork
Intel Core 2 Quad processor
Crucial Ballistix DDR2 memory
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+ video card
NEC Accusync 24″ LCD Display
SteelSeries Zboard Gaming Keyboard
SteelSeries AoC Keyset for Zboard
SteelSeries Gaming Mouse
SteelSeries Gaming Headset
All Age of Conan preorder items
1-year pre-paid subscription to Age of Conan
1-Year Subscription to Beckett’s Massive Online Gamer magazine
BradyGames Official Strategy Guide

2nd Prize
SteelSeries Zboard Gaming Keyboard
SteelSeries Age of Conan Keyset for Zboard
SteelSeries Gaming Mouse
All Age of Conan preorder items
90-day pre-paid subscription to Age of Conan

3rd Prize
SteelSeries Zboard Gaming Keyboard
SteelSeries Age of Conan Keyset for Zboard
60-day pre-paid subscription to Age of Conan

Bonus Prizes 10 lucky winners will receive a 60-day pre-paid subscription to Age of Conan.

Its free to enter and looks like some great stuff.

]]> http://kingconan.org/2009/02/gamerigs-age-of-conan-sweepstakes/feed/ Age of Conan - Kill a Goat - Win a Prize Pack. http://kingconan.org/2008/12/age-of-conan-kill-a-goat-win-a-prize-pack/ http://kingconan.org/2008/12/age-of-conan-kill-a-goat-win-a-prize-pack/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:13:15 +0000 hexsane http://kingconan.org/?p=180
The Hunted

The Hunted

AoC Community has an interesting contest going on and you can win a nice prize package if win the hunt. Hunt is only to be held on certain dates though:

Keep an eye out on the Season Event entries on the portal at 23rd, 24th, 29th, 30th and 31st of December. These will be the dates the competition will be held.

Have fun!

]]> http://kingconan.org/2008/12/age-of-conan-kill-a-goat-win-a-prize-pack/feed/ AoC Holiday Season Give Away! http://kingconan.org/2008/12/aoc-holiday-season-give-away/ http://kingconan.org/2008/12/aoc-holiday-season-give-away/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:59:02 +0000 hexsane http://kingconan.org/?p=177
AoC Snow Mammoth Mount

AoC Snow Mammoth Mount

Age of Conan Community has announced they are giving away special items for this holiday season! Fire up those email programs and enter for a chance to win!

With a bit of luck you might win a whole set of in-game items for your Age of Conan account. Each set contains:

* The brand new Snow Mammoth
* The War Mammoth
* The Killer Rhino
* Ring of Acheron
* Drinking Cape
* Bag of Holding
* Amazon Bow
* Totem of Origins

This is some good stuff. If you’re one of the lucky ones you will definitely be the envy of others.

Good luck!

]]> http://kingconan.org/2008/12/aoc-holiday-season-give-away/feed/ I miss my Dad, Sigh. http://kingconan.org/2008/11/i-miss-my-dad-sigh/ http://kingconan.org/2008/11/i-miss-my-dad-sigh/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:27:04 +0000 hexsane http://kingconan.org/?p=175 Sadly my Dad passed away on November 3rd. I haven’t had much time to do anything but work as the expense of the trip from Omaha, NE to Tazewell, VA has tapped into my reserves. I hope to post something new and less depressing in the next few weeks. Sorry for the downer. :’-(

]]> http://kingconan.org/2008/11/i-miss-my-dad-sigh/feed/ Groo: That Other Barbarian http://kingconan.org/2008/10/groo-that-other-barbarian/ http://kingconan.org/2008/10/groo-that-other-barbarian/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:37:23 +0000 hexsane http://kingconan.org/?p=173

While digging through my older comics I came across Sergio Aragone’s Groo The Wanderer #1. Not having read it in many years I decided to add it to my reading list. Still hilarious and highly recommended for a good laugh, however, not easy to find. Luckily Dark Horse Comics released “Groo: Hell On Earth” last month with 112 pages of Groo idiocy and many of the older Marvel issues have been bound together in collections that can be found on Amazon and eBay. If you prefer the original issues and can’t find them on eBay go to your local comic shop you might get lucky and find a few issues.

]]> http://kingconan.org/2008/10/groo-that-other-barbarian/feed/ The Age of Conan First… That wasn’t. http://kingconan.org/2008/10/the-age-of-conan-first-that-wasnt/ http://kingconan.org/2008/10/the-age-of-conan-first-that-wasnt/#comments Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:33:00 +0000 hexsane http://kingconan.org/?p=170 Today’s announcement of the first tier 3 city missed the mark by nearly a month. In reality Lords of the Dead completed their tier 3 in early September on the DeathWhisper server. Oops… Congrats to both guilds as it is an achievement. I guess someone fell asleep at AoC central and missed the Lords of the Dead achievement.

]]> http://kingconan.org/2008/10/the-age-of-conan-first-that-wasnt/feed/ Age of Conan Lore (or lack thereof) http://kingconan.org/2008/09/age-of-conan-lore-or-lack-thereof/ http://kingconan.org/2008/09/age-of-conan-lore-or-lack-thereof/#comments Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:06:37 +0000 hexsane http://kingconan.org/?p=167
Age of Conan Lore Sidebar Menu

Age of Conan Lore Sidebar Menu

There have not been any Age of Conan Community Lore Library updates since May. In the ever growing world of AoC and the rich pool of resources available in the world of Conan fiction is there nothing more to be added to the lore of the realms? Although the frequency of updates to this library was slow at best and came mostly in spurts it is a great resource for new players interested in the history of AoC up to this point (or at least up to the 9th of May). If you read through it you might even learn something you didn’t already know about the places and people of the Hyborian Age.

Will the Age of Conan game content actually become a part of the Conan lore? There are already short fiction stories being written about adventures in the game. Will Conan, Inc allow it? Letting the people who enjoy the creation of Robert E. Howard control the path of the Hyborian Age might inject more interest in Conan and fresh talent should always be welcome. It remains to be seen if everything will need the stamp of approval from Conan, Inc. Time will tell.

]]> http://kingconan.org/2008/09/age-of-conan-lore-or-lack-thereof/feed/ Conan the Cimmerian #1 & #2 http://kingconan.org/2008/09/conan-the-cimmerian-1-2/ http://kingconan.org/2008/09/conan-the-cimmerian-1-2/#comments Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:28:44 +0000 hexsane http://kingconan.org/?p=162 \"Hunter\'s Moon\" Conan the Cimmerian #1 Cover
\"Mark of the Wolf\" Conan the Cimmerian #2 Cover

I decided to hold off on discussing the first official issue of Conan the Cimmerian until I had more of a story to work with. In these 2 issues the reader is introduced to Connacht, Conan’s grandfather, through the mysterious hermit. The hermit assists Conan by frightening away some Vanaheim raiders seeking revenge for the carnage Conan delivered to their kin in Conan the Cimmerian #0.

In Issue #1 (”Hunter’s Moon”) the hermit begins the tale of how Connacht saved 2 children from a gruesome death at the hands of the marsh folk by being bound and tossed into the depths of the marshes.

In Issue #2 (”Mark of the Wolf”) the hermit continues the story of Connacht with the discovery of the grizzly remains of Connacht’s horse. Forced to travel by foot the trio come upon a farm and Connacht attempts to make the children look hard working and useful in hopes the farmer will take them in. When night comes the farmer’s daughter and one of the children go missing…

The story so far is good. I’m not thrilled about the art used in the tale about Connacht. I’m wondering if it was intentionally drawn this way. Many of the characters seem to be distorted or caricatures and the creatures are, in a word, terrible. I’ll admit to not being an art critique but I would like to hear from someone else. Is it just me or is that art really just that bad?

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