Let's hope Funcom smoothes out these technical issues with downloadable updates and new servers added to handle the traffic, because those interested in an epic, open-ended online fantasy adventure will find Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures worth the price of admission.

However, as yet, I'm still dreading online play. Perhaps by level 20 I'll be sufficiently addicted to the game (and, perhaps, feel confident enough) to want to hook up with other players. If that turns out to be the case, then Funcom's sly plan to entice people like me into the world of MMORPGs might just work.

Making an online game these days is tough, as there are few interesting settings left to force into the bizarre mould that is the MMO.

New MMOs have struggled to succeed in World of Warcraft's shadow in recent years, with titles counting themselves lucky to gather a quarter of a million subscribers. Although it's not guaranteed that all current Age of Conan players will convert their 30 days' free play into a subscription, the signs are that this trend has at last been broken.

By Crom, it seems that the developers from Funcom have missed a couple of important patch changes in the July 23 patch notes!

Those of us without an Age of Conan account are left out of watching how the game progresses and builds after launch, as all MMOs do.

Age of Conan came out on PC last month, and the free trial period is almost at an end. Our full and review will appear next week, alongside an interview with Godager. Until then, head over to our initial thoughts on Age of Conan for an idea of what to expect.

Aesthetically Age of Conan is blatantly the best looking MMO currently on the market. If you've got yourself a PC capable of really ramping the options up the their loftiest you'll be in for a real visual treat with some dazzling graphics on offer.

Powerpoints: No, not the presentation software -- it'll be a new character development system released this fall. Powerpoints will grant you a variety of rewards, "ranging from exclusive Powerfeats to weapons, armor, and potions."

If you try daytime questing during your first 20 levels, you'll eventually realize that none of the early quests require grouping, either. A cloth-wearing priest can easily solo a level 20 "group" quest that is supposedly designed for multiple players.