I'll hit the slopes after I hit this Conan baddie.

I know Funcom is not the most popular MMORPG developer hereabouts, but despite local feeling, somebody out there obviously thinks they're pretty great. The Norwegian company best known for Age of Conan and the upcoming The Secret World have just received a handsome cash hand-out to develop a new MMO based on... extreme sports?!

This odd little beastie will rejoice in the the name of Board with the World, and I don't know whether if it is more hilarious that they might be unaware of the pun thus created, or that they think it is a clever marketing ploy.

The game will begin by focusing on snowboarding, and possibly expand to include other sports in the future, but will also feature social content and media, such as music, video and fashion. Presumably this content will be the equivalent of advertising, and will pay for the free-to-play title, which goes into development early next year.

The funding runs to one and a half million Norwegian Kroner, which is about $290,000 in money with kangaroos on. With all that spare cash lying abround, maybe Funcom will see fit to rehire its recently sacked The Secret World staff?