Funcom is known mostly for its first MMO game, "Anarchy Online," and the acclaimed adventure game "The Longest Journey." "Anarchy Online" will continue to be supported, according to Aas, but with "Age of Conan" Funcom hopes to further tap into the growth in the MMO market, mostly caused by Blizzard Entertainment's successful "World of Warcraft."

"World of Warcraft" has about 4 million users worldwide, paying in excess of US$10 a month to fight and frolic in the virtual world of Norrath.

On Wednesday a few journalists were given a glimpse of Funcom's next big thing, "The World Online." They were shown a concept video, although Funcom declined to add further comments.

"The World Online" has an ambitious working title and the video included blurbs such as 'The Quest for the grail continues' and 'Aliens have landed on our planet.' Bits and pieces were revealed of a game set in modern times, or perhaps in the near future. Laden with conspiracy theories and secrets, it gave an initial impression of something akin to the author Dan Brown's mind on speed.