Jump to content

Age of Empires

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 83.99.184.75 (talk) at 20:50, 19 January 2008 (→‎Age of Empires III, The War Chiefs and The Asian Dynasties). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For other uses, see Age of Empires (disambiguation).
File:Agefranchise Logo.JPG
The Age of Emipres series logo

Age of Empires is a series of video games developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft Games. Seven games have been released from the series, as well as three spin-offs.

The majority of games in the series focus on historical events. Age of Empires and The Rise of Rome, the first two games, focused on Europe and Asia Minor, with the expansion following the formation and glory of the Roman empire. The Age of Kings and The Conquerers centered around Europe in the Middle Ages, and the discoveries of South America and the New World. Age of Empires III and its first expansion, The WarChiefs, discussed the European colonization of the Americas, while the second expansion, The Asian Dynasties, also developed by Big Huge Games followed the rise of Asia.

In 2004, prior to the release of Age of Empires III, it was announced that the Age of Empires franchise had sold in excess of 15 million copies.[1]

Games

Original Series

Age of Empires and Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome

Main articles: Age of Empires (video game) and Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome

Age of Empires, released 26 October 1997, was one of the first history based real-time strategy video games to be created. The game utilized the Genie game engine, and was touted as a mixture of Civilization and Warcraft.[2] The game allows a player to develop a tribe of one of 12 civilizations, advancing from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. Age of Empires was Ensemble Studio's first major release, and the first version was highly buggy, however many of these issues were solved by subsequent patches.[3] Despite some highly negative reviews, the game was recieved well overall, with a Game Rankings score of 87%,[4] and a Metacritic score of 83%.[5] The game also sold well, with over 3 million units sold, and spending years high on sales charts.[6] Age of Empires won the Gamecenter "Game of the Year" award in 1997,[7] and the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences 1998 "Computer Strategy Game of the Year".[8]

The Rise of Rome, the expansion for Age of Empires, was released a year later on 31 October 1998. The game introduced several new features, and several new civilizations, including the Romans, upon whom the game was based. Despite the year spent developing the game, there were still numerous bugs in the game, which were again resolved through patching.[9] The Rise of Rome was not as popular as its predecessor, but nonetheless earned an 80% score on Game Rankings.[10] The game sold over 1 million units, not as high as its predecessor, but high for an expansion pack.[6]

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings and The Conquerors

Main articles: Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings and Age of Empires II: The Conquerors

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, released on September 30 1999, was similar to Age of Empires in its historical based gameplay, and use of the Genie game engine.[11] The game is set in the middle ages, from the Dark Ages to the Imperial Age. The game includes 13 civilizations, from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.[12] The Age of Kings was more successful than its predecessors, with a Game Rankings score of 92% and a Metacritic score of 91%.[13][14] Over 2 million copies were sold.[15]

The expansion to The Age of Kings, The Conquerers, hit shelves on August 24 2000, introducing five new civilizations, including expansion into Mesoamerica.[16] The game also introduced several new units, and the concept of "unique technologies". Again positively received, the game earned Game Rankings and Metacritic scores of 88%.[17][18]

The Age of Kings and The Conquerers won Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awards of "Computer Strategy Game of the Year" in consecutive years.[19][20]

Age of Empires III, The War Chiefs and The Asian Dynasties

Main articles: Age of Empires III, Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs, and Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties

Released October 18 2005, Age of Empires III, used the Havok game engine, rather than Genie.[21] The game followed the European colonization of the Americas, between AD 1421 and 1850. Only eight civilizations were included, however this was compromised by the introduction of a large number of features, including home cities.[22] Like its predecessors, Age of Empires III was received well, with a Game Rankings score of 82% and a Metacritic score of 81%.[23][24] Age of Empires III sold in excess of two million copies.[25] Age of Empires III won the Gamespy "real-time strategy game of the year" award.[26]

The first expansion to Age of Empires III, The WarChiefs, hit shelves on October 17 2006. The game presented mostly minor alterations to the original game, as well as three new civilzations. Most notable was the introduction of the WarChief unit.[27] The WarChiefs failed to equal the success of its predecessor, with lower scores on Game Rankings on Metacritic.[28][29] The game sold less than one million copies.

A second expansion, The Asian Dynasties, was released on October 23 2007. The game was developed by Ensemble Studios in conjunction with Big Huge Games, with Brian Reynolds joining Bruce Shelley as lead designer.[30] The game expanded the Age of Empires III universe into Asia, introducing three new civilizations.[31] The game was slightly less well reviewed than The WarChiefs, with Game Rankings and Metacritic scores of 80%.[32][33]

File:Aoe4and5.jpg
The image in the artbook, presented alongside some Collector's Editions of Age of Empires III.

Some Collector's Editions of Age of Empires III included a hardcover artbook. The last page of the artbook included an image containing the roman numerals "IV" and "V", representing an Age of Empires IV and Age of Empires V. Ensemble Studios employee Sandy commented on the image, stating "it was total speculation on our part."[34]

Spin-Off Games

Age of Mythology and The Titans

Main articles: Age of Mythology and Age of Mythology: The Titans

Released on 30 October 2002,[35] Age of Mythology was the first game in the series not to focus on history, instead focusing on the mythology of the Greek, Egyptian, and Norse peoples.[36] Age of Mythology's campaign tells the story of Arkantos, an Atlantean who goes on a quest to find why the gods, especially Poseidon, are disfavoring his people.[37] Age of Mythology went platinum, and sold over 1 million units within four months.[38] It recieved an 89% ranking on both Game Rankings and Metacritic.[39][40]

The Titans, an expansion to Age of Mythology, was released on 21 October 2003.[41] The expansion featured a new civilization, the Atlanteans.[42] The campaign in The Titans is a shorter one in which Kastor, son of Arkantos, is tricked into unleashing several titans from Erebus.[43] The Titans failed to equal Age of Mythology's sales success, although it was rated highly by critics, with a Game Rankings and Metacritic score of 84%.[44][45]

Age of Empires: The Age of Kings

Main article: Age of Empires: The Age of Kings

Age of Empires: The Age of Kings is a turn-based game for the Nintendo DS. It was developed by Backbone Entertainment, published by Majesco, and released on February 14 2006. The game is similar to other turn based games, such as Advance Wars, but with gameplay based on its PC counterpart.[46] The game supported mutiplayer via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Age of Empires: The Age of Kings earned an 80% score on Game Rankings and Metacritic.[47][48]

Notes

  1. ^ "Best-Selling Age Franchise Tops 15 Million Mark". Games for Windows. Microsoft. 2004-05-07. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ T. Liam McDonald (1997-10-27). "Age of Empires Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ James Holland. "Age of Empires". PC Gameworld. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  4. ^ "Age of Empires". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  5. ^ "Age of Empires (pc: 1997)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  6. ^ a b Matt Pritchard (2000-03-07). "Postmortem: Ensemble Studios' Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2008-01-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Age of Empires Receives Worldwide Praise". Artho.com. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  8. ^ "Computer Strategy Game of the Year". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  9. ^ Phill Phree (2004-12-24). "Patch 1.0c". Age of Empires Heaven. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  11. ^ "Interview: Mark Terrano - Lead Designer". Age of Kings Heaven. HeavenGames. 1998-03-25. Retrieved 2008-01-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Civilizations". Microsoft. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  13. ^ "Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  14. ^ "Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (pc: 1999)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  15. ^ ""Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings" Crowned No. 1 On Holiday Sales Charts Around the World". Microsoft. 2000-01-27. Retrieved 2008-01-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Elliott Chin (2000-06-14). "Age II: The Conquerors - The Mayans Showcase". Gamespot. Retrieved 2008-01-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Age of Empires II: The Conquerors". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  18. ^ "Age of Empires II: The Conquerors (pc: 2000)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  19. ^ "Computer Strategy Game of the Year". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  20. ^ "PC Strategy". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  21. ^ "Age of Empires III". Havok. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  22. ^ "Home City". Ensemble Studios. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  23. ^ "Age of Empires III". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  24. ^ "Age of Empires III (pc: 2005)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  25. ^ ""Age of Empires III" Expands Into the Eastern World This Fall". Ensemble Studios. Age Community. 2007-05-18. Retrieved 2008-01-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ "PC Real-Time Strategy Game of the Year". Gamespy. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  27. ^ Allen 'Delsyn' Rausch (2006-08-08). "Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs (PC) Preview". Gamespy. Retrieved 2008-01-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  29. ^ "Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs (pc: 2006)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  30. ^ ""Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties" Gets Ready to Expand Into the Eastern World, Goes Gold". Ensemble Studios. Age Community. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  31. ^ Allen 'Delsyn' Rausch (2007-05-23). "Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties (PC) interview". Gamespy. Retrieved 2008-01-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ "Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties - PC". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  33. ^ "Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties (pc: 2007)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  34. ^ Botolf (2006-05-03). "Age 4 and 5?!?". Age of Empires III Heaven. HeavenGames. Retrieved 2008-01-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Age of Mythology Info". MobyGames. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  36. ^ "Age of Mythology civilizations on MacGamer.net". MacGamer.net. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  37. ^ Fahey, Rob (2002-12-10). "Age of Mythology review". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ ""Age of Mythology" Goes Platinum With More Than 1 Million Units Sold". PressPass. Microsoft. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  39. ^ "Age of Mythology Reviews". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  40. ^ "Age of Mythology (pc: 2002): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  41. ^ "Age of Mythology: The Titans Info". MobyGames. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  42. ^ "Age of Mythology:The Titans". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  43. ^ Bramwell, Tom (2003-10-21). "Age of Mythology: The Titans review". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2008-01-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ "Age of Mythology: The Titans - PC". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  45. ^ "Age of Mythology: The Titans (pc: 2003): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  46. ^ Edwin Kee (February 2007). "Age of Empires: Age of Kings". Mobile Tech Review. Retrieved 2008-01-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  47. ^ "Age of Empires: The Age of Kings - DS". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  48. ^ "Age of Empires: The Age of Kings (ds: 2006)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-01-18.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Age_of_Empires&oldid=185495520"