(Durham, N.C.) Funcom is proud to accept the award for ‘Most Improved Game of 2009’ from world-leading MMO website MMORPG.com for the work done to expand and enhance its massively multiplayer online game ‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures’ since launch. The website chose ‘Age of Conan’ over titles such as ‘World of Warcraft’ and ‘Lord of the Rings Online,’ pointing to the additions of brand new content and features as reasons why the game received the prestigious award.

“’Age of Conan,’ and the work that the team at Funcom has put in on improving the game since launch, are a testament to the constantly evolving nature of MMOs,” says MMORPG.com Editor Jon Wood. “There is no doubt in my mind that `Age of Conan’ deserves to be the Most Improved Game of 2009.”

Funcom has launched over five massive free updates to ‘Age of Conan’ since launch in 2008. These updates have added entire new world regions, dungeons, features and technology enhancements. Through the free updates players have been able to explore legendary locations such as Ymir’s Pass and Tarantia Commons, not to mention dungeons such as Xibaluku, The Amphitheatre and The Iron Tower. Funcom have also introduced a new item and RPG system, new PvP features and much, much more.

For a full overview of additions and enhancements, please visit the ‘Age of Conan’ updates website.

“Everyone on the team is very proud of how ‘Age of Conan’ has grown and matured since launch,” says Game Director and Executive Producer Craig Morrison. “One of the great joys of working on a massively multiplayer online game is being able to add new content and new features even after launch, and by working closely with our community of players we have been able to do exactly that.”

Launching in May last year ‘Age of Conan’ quickly became a smash hit in retail, shipping over 1.2 million copies around the world. In North America, the most prominent online gaming market in the west, ‘Age of Conan’ became the third best-selling PC title of the year in 2008. In the weeks after launch ‘Age of Conan’ simultaneously topped the charts in 17 countries, and the game received critical acclaim from gaming press across the globe. ‘Age of Conan’ is now available in English, French, German, Spanish, Russian and Polish localized versions, and is being prepared for launch in Korea as well.

For more information and how to purchase ‘Age of Conan’ please visit www.ageofconan.com. ‘Age of Conan’ is also available as a free trial for players wanting to try their luck in Hyboria.

Funcom is an independent developer and publisher of online games for PC and consoles. Funcom has provided outstanding entertainment since 1993 and continues to expand its track-record of more than twenty released games. Recent titles include ‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures,’ ‘The Longest Journey,’ ‘Anarchy Online’ and ‘Dreamfall: The Longest Journey.’ For corporate information please visit. For information about Funcom games visit www.anarchy-online.com, www.dreamfall.com, www.darkdaysarecoming.com or www.ageofconan.com. Funcom is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker FUNCOM.

Conan Properties International LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Paradox Entertainment Inc., controls rights to Conan, many associated characters and the Hyborian world, as created by Robert E. Howard and various rights expanded upon by many acclaimed authors and artists. Many consider Conan the world’s best-known fantasy character. For more information about Conan Properties International LLC, visit www.conan.com. For information about Paradox Entertainment Inc., visit www.paradox-entertainment.com.