Funcom announces a "return to Hyboria" program to celebrate the first anniversary of Age of Conan, their MMORPG that launched in May of last year. They have launched a new section of the AoC website to outline what's changed and improved since the game, and are offering free access to check out the game in its current form for the next two weeks to anyone with a closed account in good standing, and word is: "There are no costs associated with this offer or any subscription obligations. It is also important to note that the free trial campaign will temporarily be closed to ensure the best play environment for all returning players." They also announce giveaways of free copies of the game at Eurogamer and MMORPG.com, and here's the outline of how the game has evolved since launch:

Since launching last year ‘Age of Conan’ has been lovingly improved by a dedicated development team who has launched several major updates to the game. These updates have all added a wealth of new content such as the massive outdoor area of the giants known as Ymir’s Pass, the huge dungeon Xibaluku, and the vast new cityscape of Tarantia Commons among others. All of these areas have added countless hours of adventure through new quests, enemies, and rewards. New features have also been implemented such as an extensive player vs. player notoriety system that allows players to become murderers and hunt each other down for exclusive rewards, improved DirectX 10 graphics technology that allows for some spectacular visuals, and a massive revitalization of the core role-playing system.

“It has been quite a journey for the entire team getting to where we are today,” says Game Director on ‘Age of Conan’ Craig Morrison. “I think that players have always seen the great potential in ‘Age of Conan’ and we have put a lot of effort into realizing that potential. The game has improved tremendously since launch and we look forward to having players come back and seeing the changes for themselves!”