Games:
Age of Empires
- Platform: IBM PC Compatible
- Release Date: September 30, 1997
- Similar Games: Command & Conquer (Macintosh), Command & Conquer (Sega Saturn), Command & Conquer (PlayStation), Red Alert (Commodore 64/128), Command & Conquer (IBM PC Compatible), Red Alert (Arcade), Seven Kingdoms (IBM PC Compatible), Command & Conquer (Nintendo 64), Civilization II: Test of Time (IBM PC Compatible), Red Alert (Atari ST), Civilization Series (), Command & Conquer Series ()
Game Description
The scope of Microsoft's Age of Empires runs the gamut from meager tribes to control of vast empires by beginning in the Stone Age, when mankind takes its first steps toward becoming the dominant species on the face of the Earth, until global warming ends the Ice Age, and hunters and gatherers slowly give way to the beginnings of the great civilizations.There are four major ways to achieve victory in the random map or deathmatch modes of Age of Empires, and all are contingent on being the first player in the game to reach specific milestones. Control of all artifacts or ruins for 2,000 years earns victory, as does building the first Wonder of the World to stand for 2,000 years. Another means to victory lies in conquest of the other players -- total destruction of enemy villagers, military units, war ships, and buildings. A final option allows for setting a time limit, with the team or player with the highest score at game's end declared the winner.
In single-player action, campaigns made up of linked scenarios allow you to select one of 12 civilizations to lead to glory by outscoring all other civilizations (players) in the game. For single and multiplayer participants, more than 40 preset stand-alone scenarios are available, as well as the option to generate random scenarios. Up to eight players can go head-to-head or join cooperative matches via a LAN or the Internet.
This turn-based strategy game, Age of Empires, lets you build your civilization and mold it as you see fit through the use of military might, expansion, diplomacy, economic dominance or technological advance. Civilizations include Assyrian, Babylonian, Ancient Choson, Egyptian, Greek, Hittite, Minoan, Persian, Phoenician, Shang, Sumerian and Yamato, each with unique qualities, attributes, weaponry, and special characteristics.
Age of Empires employs a large variety of game customization options including map size and type, victory conditions, starting age (Stone, Tool, Bronze or Iron), difficulty level, quantity of resources (wood, food, stone, gold), whether to enable cheating or not, fixed starting positions, and terrain visibility. The game supports a point-and-click interface with hotkey commands available in most situations.
Gameplay features empire building from the ground up: gathering resources, creating villagers, military units and boats, constructing buildings and repair facilities, trading, researching technology, advancing through the four specific ages and upgrading units and structures. The mastery of combat and diplomacy, healing, and conversion of enemy units plays a part in the success or failure of your fledgling civilization.
A scenario builder is included in the game to allow for customization of maps, terrain, players, units, diplomacy, global and individual victory conditions, options, messages, and cinematics. The game's manual provides historical perspectives on each of the 12 civilizations and covers information such as location, capital, rise to power, economy, religion, culture, government, architecture, military, decline and fall, and legacy. A glossy foldout contains quick reference to the tech tree, hotkeys, unit and civilization attributes, and the scoring system. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide
Roots & Influences
Empire building games have been popular since the advent of the computer gaming industry. With the release of Sid Meier's Civilization for the PC in 1991, the benchmark for the strategy empire building genre was established. Age of Empires has many similarities to Meier's game as well as the myriad of follow on titles that have dotted the landscape in the last decade. ~ Jim Muntone, All Game GuideReview: Enjoyment
Although the building at the beginning of a mission is slightly repetitive at times, the game is still extremely enjoyable. ~ Chris Couper, All Game GuideProduction Credits
ENSEMBLE STUDIOSDesign: Rick Goodman (lead), Bruce Shelley, Brian Sullivan
Programming: Angelo Laudon (lead), Tim Deen, Mark Terrano, Dave Pottinger, Matt Pritchard, David Lewis, Mickey Kawick, Bill Schofield
Art: Brad Crow (lead), Scott Winsett, Thonny Namuonglo, Sean Wolff, Duncan McKissick, Don Gagen, Herb Ellwood, Duane Santos, David Deen
Music: David Rippy, Stephan Rippy
Sound: Chris Rippy
Scenarios & QA: Ian Fischer, John Evanson, Sandy Petersen
Administration: Nellie Sherman
PR: Jackie Chapman
Production: Tony Goodman
MICROSOFT
Program Manager: Tim Znamenacek
Product Planner: Edward Ventura
Product Manager: Chris Di Cesare
Technical Support Lead: Steve Kastner
Test Lead: Chris Haddan
Testers: James Evans, Scott Gerlach, Mark Thomas, Christopher Liu, Sean Kellog, Shelina Gowani
Hardware Configuration Testers: Harold Ryan, Paul Gradwohl
Beta Coordinator: Andy Wood
User Education Writer: Kelly Bell
Historical Text Writer: Bruce Shelley
Editor: Amy Robison
Print Designer: JoAnne Williams
Digital Artist: Connie Braat
Content Coordinator: Kathleen Billington
Help Developer: Tom Simmons
User Education Art Director: Jennifer Epps
User Education Manager: Jo Tyo
Localization Managers: Laurence K. Smith, Peter Connelly, Paul Delany
Japanese Functionality Tester: Chris Ganje
Setup Developer: Rich Eizenhoefer
Setup Art Director: Douglas Herring
Setup Design and Art: Leigh Kellogg
Product Unit Manager: Stuart Moulder
Test Manager: Brian Bennink
Development Manager: Craig Henry ~ Keith Adams, All Game Guide
Review: Overall
Age of Empires combines great graphics, real-time strategy and an intriguing plot (our own history!) to raise a phoenix from the ashes of wayside, ordinary strategy games. Some of the more memorable features that make this game truly enjoyable include hunting and foraging for food, building and upgrading armies, establishing and strengthening a society and, ultimately, fighting war.Food gathering is one part of Age of Empires that is truly impressive. Instead of mining gold to support your society (although you DO have to mine gold), food is a separate issue unto itself. You can build farms, fish, forage for berries or--my favorite--gather a hunting party and seek out prey. Beware, however, that if you choose to take on an elephant, you better have a bunch of hunters or the irate elephant may decide to trample you instead.
One thing that is annoying is the maximum limit on men. When a larger army is needed but your population is maxed you will have to send out workers to be slaughtered in order to make room for more military units. This seems slightly unrealistic when you have city is large enough to accommodate many more people.
The complex features of Age of Empires are engrossing. In addition to having the above choices of gathering food for my people, players also had to chop wood and mine both gold and stone for their needs. As your society progresses through the ages, so does its need for different minerals (e.g., gold and stone). As the ages pass, you'll find the new technology (as it becomes available) allows you to create bigger and better armies.
Going head-to-head with famous war strategists is also interesting. Although it is doubtful a player's soldiers would stand up to the likes of any of history's finest warlords, it is still neat to see names recognizable from history as well as the armies they lead. All things considered, Age of Empires is an enjoyable gaming experience which is enough to quell even the hungriest real-time war strategists among us. ~ Chris Couper, All Game Guide
