One of the most anticipated MMO games to be released this fall, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, has been postponed to March of 2008 citing the “need to polish some aspects of the game even further.” Gaute Godager, Funcom founder and Producer / Director of ‘Age of Conan’ also states, “With the added development time we can now deliver something even more unique and powerful, something which is worthy of the incredible Conan legacy.”

The key reason for this announcement comes from feedback collected in the beta testing stage. One main issue is the barrier of entry to the game. The combat system is new and different to many experienced MMO players and this has caused concern. Funcom reports that while once learned players have a fantastic time with it, the curve is a little steeper than they anticipated. We can expect a system that eases this entry barrier with the official release in March.

This delay however will not affect the beta. Testing will continue in the months to come and Funcom will continue to collect data from participants. New invitations will also be sent in an effort to further integrate gamers into the development process.

If you’re interested in participating in the Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures beta, you can submit your application online via their website.