The Secret World

The Secret World

Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PC & Xbox360
Publisher: Funcom
Developer: Funcom
Gamesite: Click here
Genres: Role-Playing
ESRB: RP

"In a world within ours, magic exists, monsters roam and ancient forces are fighting for the dominance of earth. In The Secret World video game, players can take part in the greatest conspiracies of our age."

After announcing the development of The Secret World, Funcom project director Jorgen Tharaldsen informed the press that the game uses the same engine as Age of Conan.[1] According to Funcom, the game will blend elements of MMO gameplay with alternate reality gaming and social networking.[7]

At GDC 2009, Tørnquist gave an interview to GameSpot regarding TSW, revealing more about its gameplay.[2] There will be neither levels, nor classes in the game; instead, the character building will be skill-based. This way, the developers plan to avoid level grinding, allowing new players to join the game more easily. The player characters will be customizable to a large degree, particularly in their choice of clothing, weapons (which range from shotguns to swords and can be customized and upgraded), and the supernatural powers they acquire. Combat against computer-controlled monsters will be one of the game's central points and will require more of player's attention than contemporary MMORPGs. The players will be able to form teams to fight together but in an earlier blog posting, Tørnquist assured that the game can also be played in single-player mode, should a player be uncomfortable or unable to play with a group.[8] According to him, the game is story-driven and there will be an overarching linear plot, as well as numerous side-quests, ranging from investigation to sabotage and hunting, since diversity of the gameplay will be another central point.


The game will feature an original setting created by Funcom, with contemporary elements as well as "magic, myths, conspiracies and dark horrors".[10] Contrary to rumors, spawned by this game's second working title, it has neither anything to do with, nor is inspired by the .hack franchise and its setting.[11] Tørnquist debunked several rumors surrounding The Secret World, stating that "there are no aliens or sci-fi elements" in it.[9] He also denied any connection of TSW to The Longest Journey.[9]

At GDC 2009, Tørnquist revealed more about the setting and the story.[2] He stressed that the game is set in the "modern day real world" but also incorporates pieces of ancient mythologies, real and false history, urban legends, and pop culture, and ties them into an original back-story. The latter is said to go back in time for 100 million years and encompass long extinct ancient civilizations. The players will assume the roles of supernatural heroes who participate in a "future war between good and evil", fighting dark monsters that threaten the modern world. Tørnquist identified the genre of the story as dark fantasy, mentioning vampires, demons, and zombies. The players will be free to travel across different locations of the world (e.g. London and New York) and even in time, to pursue the overall plot and investigate new mysteries in connection to the dark invasion. The overall plot will have a conclusion but the designers also leave room for future expansions.

The first promotional material appeared on May 8, 2007, when a picture was "leaked" into the internet, containing a poem, a Knights Templar seal, and several sentences in Spanish, Norwegian, French, German and Hebrew.[14] When solved, the poem led to a series of internet pages, one of them with a riddle, and, eventually, to the newly created official forum.[6]

The websites lead to a Flash page with a countdown timer that uses symbols instead of numbers. The timer will presumably reach zero on 12:00 AM on December 21, 2012, adjusted for the location of Funcom headquarters.[15] According to New Age interpretation of Maya mythology, this date will see the end of the Mayan calendar cycle.

The first promotional material appeared on May 8, 2007, when a picture was "leaked" into the internet, containing a poem, a Knights Templar seal, and several sentences in Spanish, Norwegian, French, German and Hebrew.[14] When solved, the poem led to a series of internet pages, one of them with a riddle, and, eventually, to the newly created official forum.[6]

The websites lead to a Flash page with a countdown timer that uses symbols instead of numbers. The timer will presumably reach zero on 12:00 AM on December 21, 2012, adjusted for the location of Funcom headquarters.[15] According to New Age interpretation of Maya mythology, this date will see the end of the Mayan calendar cycle.