Best of E3 2006 Awards

Best Massively Multiplayer Game

Compete with tens of thousands in persistent, virtual game worlds.

• Best Shooter
• Best Role-Playing Game
• Best Online Multiplayer Game
• Best Racing Game
• Best Massively Multiplayer Game
• Best Strategy Game
• Best Action/Adventure Game
• Best Original Game
• Special Mentions

Winner: Age of Conan

Best Massively Multiplayer Game: Age of Conan (Funcom)

Coming from the company behind Anarchy Online, we've always had high hopes for Age of Conan, and this year's E3 demonstrated they're not misplaced. Based on the 1982 cult fantasy movie Conan the Barbarian, it's in with a great shot at breaking the MMORPG world's disappointing run of movie-licensed games.

Unique for an MMORPG, Age of Conan starts with a lengthy single-player section. Your first new character lives his first 20 levels offline before venturing into the game's massively multiplayer realm (and yes, you can skip this with subsequent characters).

But what stood out most from Funcom's demo was the game's combat system. Most MMORPGs shy away from real fighting, making do with a staid, pseudo-turn-based system that neither challenges your reflexes nor arouses your excitement. Conan uses a six-directional system that gives you real control over your sword, however, and the team has made much of the Conan movie's fast-paced and balletic combat. >>>More info

Runner-ups

Huxley: Part MMO, part FPS, Huxley's fast, attractive action could well make it the successor to Planetside's legacy. >>>More info

Burning Crusade: New race looking good? Check. Flying mounts? Check. Great big new continent? Check. A solid showing from Blizzard this year. >>>More info

Gods and Heroes: Ancient Rome is an inspired setting for an MMO, and Gods and Heroes great animation system and AI squad combat is going to make the most of it. >>>More info