Microsoft announces Age of Empires Online - Age of Kings Heaven Forums

Topic Subject: Microsoft announces Age of Empires Online

Lord Basse
MI6 Scenario-Making Machine

posted 08-17-10 06:20 AM CT (US)

Yesterday evening at gamescom 2010, Microsoft announced the latest addition to the Age of Empires franchise: Age of Empires Online, a game developed by several former Ensemble Studios employees at Robot Entertainment. This is the game which earlier went under the name "Spartan/Project S". Now when there has been an official launch, the game has an official website, and you can begin signing up for beta testing! As long as you're 18 years or older and live in North America or Europe.

So, what exactly is Age of Empires Online? Well, let's ask the FAQ!

What is Age of Empires Online?
Age of Empires Online is the next evolution in the best-selling real-time strategy (RTS) franchise Age of Empires. Developed by Robot Entertainment and Microsoft Game Studios for the Games for Windows � LIVE platform, Age of Empires Online invites players to create a living, growing online world, shared with friends and friendly rivals around the world. Marrying fresh features with classic RTS gameplay, Age of Empires Online pays tribute to the original game while incorporating a new look, feel, and approach that appeals to long-time fans, newcomers, and everyone in between.

As reported for the news about "Spartan", Age of Empires Online will keep the core gameplay of the previous Age of Empires games while still changing a lot, for the better if you ask Robot/Microsoft. The most notable thing visually is of course the graphics, which become more cartoony although they still have a distinct AoE feel to them. And the biggest thing is that it's an online game, a MMO, that relies heavily on multiplayer, "social" gaming and co-operation.

You start out as a small village in Greece, which was chosen as a start for the game since the Greek history of hundreds of city states waging war against one another seemed fitting for thousands of players warring across the internet. As your village grows into a city it becomes your capital city, and you move on to conquer the Mediterranean, go out on quests and much more.

The game is to be released sometime next year, and there is still very little information about the game. Most of it can be found at the official website, and we will try to give you all the information that comes out!

Watch the teaser video, showing in game shots;

Thanks to SkullAndCrossbow for the heads-up!

[This message has been edited by Lord Basse (edited 08-17-2010 @ 03:54 PM).]

Author

Replies:

Basse
Squire

posted 08-17-10 06:39 AM CT (US) 1 / 38

Looks like wc3 in anient time

Jatayu
Squire
(id: Sword_of_STORM)

posted 08-17-10 10:02 AM CT (US) 2 / 38

so, it's like an MMORPG?

,
Jatayu O===|~~��~~�� / জটাযূ
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StormWind Studios

RON PAUL 2016
Squire
(id: Turty)

posted 08-17-10 10:10 AM CT (US) 3 / 38

It sounds more like an MMORTS (a bit like DoF).

An interesting turn in the series. I would have preferred more realistic graphics myself, but it looks fine.

Gojoseon
Squire

posted 08-17-10 10:39 AM CT (US) 4 / 38

It seems...limited. I have to confess I'm a bit disappointed. There has to be a reason for people to keep playing other than just because there are other people--the problem with MMORPGs at the moment is that the game itself is often less of a reason to play than the people (for example, most Bioware single player RPGs are more fun than MMORPGs--or would be, if there were no people on MMORPGs). Age III had a levelling capital city which you could use in matches, but it also had interesting AI opponents with voices, ranked gameplay, and more than one civ...

The cartoony graphics would be fine if they had more shading in it...at the moment it looks like a casual game one would not sell, but distribute for free on Facebook. I'm just not convinced this is of the same caliber as Age I, II, III or AoM--which all had realistic graphics (or at least a convincing attempt at realistic graphics).

I don't know. Part of me is glad Robot is on board at least, the other part is wondering if things just go downhill from here.

"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." -Carl Sagan

[This message has been edited by Gojoseon (edited 08-17-2010 @ 10:41 AM).]

Basse
Squire

posted 08-17-10 11:12 AM CT (US) 5 / 38

Nononono, it's not MMORPG, it is MMO RTS , Massive-multiplayer online Real-time strategy game.'

Means you build your empire online and everthing happens live.

Lord Basse
MI6 Scenario-Making Machine

posted 08-17-10 11:12 AM CT (US) 6 / 38

I'm not too optimistic about it. I think it'll be interesting to play as an MMORTS, but if those features come at the expense of what made Age of Empires as good as it is - good campaigns, scenario editor etc - I don't think it's worth it. As for the graphics... they aren't bad in and of themselves, but they sure don't fit in an AoE game.

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Mithril Knight
Squire

posted 08-17-10 11:49 AM CT (US) 7 / 38

Gojoseon, you are thinking a way bad this game.

In first place it's a MMORTS, in those games there's no concept of civilization, you customize it the way you want it to be, you make a powerful infantry, or cavalry, or you are very productive on resources. All MMORTS have this caracteristics, you can look for example at Imperia Online or Evony.

Second, is comprehensive they made cartoony graphics, because more realistic graphic carry on for more powerful computers, and being an online game it would be a problem in some situations, cartoon graphics are not realistic but more economic.

Basse, I am sure it won't have all the stuff that makes interesting the PC game, but still, we must give it a chance, see how it acts the reaction of the public and well test it a bit to know if it's worth or not.

►►►►Mithril Knight◄◄◄◄
My Works
�Viva M�xico!
My Coat of Arms

Basse
Squire

posted 08-17-10 12:14 PM CT (US) 8 / 38

Hmm, this is weird

Developed by Robot Entertainment, which is comprised of former Age of Empires developers, it's a free-to-play online game that runs through Games for Windows Live

Then we have this:

How much will it cost?
Stay tuned for more details.

Doesn't look like Aoe though

[This message has been edited by Basse (edited 08-17-2010 @ 12:16 PM).]

Alex
(VIP) Reverie World Studios
(id: pEpsIdUDe_123)

posted 08-17-10 12:24 PM CT (US) 9 / 38

Free-to-Play Online simply means no monthly fee. Dawn of Fantasy is "F2P" as well, but there's still a retail cost.

I think it looks pretty good. I'm not crazy about the number of recent games that have taken a step back in time with cartoonish graphics. Gameplay looks fun, but one civ? It looks like a very simplified Age game (they only have one fighter unit listed =/), but I like all the RPG elements.

[This message has been edited by Alex (edited 08-17-2010 @ 12:27 PM).]

Basse
Squire

posted 08-17-10 12:34 PM CT (US) 10 / 38

Yeah, I also noticed only greeks are available. It's a shame it won't be any offline mode or editor

Mithril Knight
Squire

posted 08-17-10 01:54 PM CT (US) 11 / 38

The point of only one civ on all MMORTS is that you customize it, with techs and your perosnal touch of military and economic tactics. For example, you can make trechnologies about improving your infantry so you have a very powerful one, or upgrade your light cavalry and archer cavalry to be a hit & run tactic especialist. This offer a more flexible game, and gives the player the opportunity to shape his side the way he wants. This can be seen on the capital city.

And they said there would be more civilizations by the time of launch and the post-launch.

►►►►Mithril Knight◄◄◄◄
My Works
�Viva M�xico!
My Coat of Arms

RON PAUL 2016
Squire
(id: Turty)

posted 08-17-10 02:30 PM CT (US) 12 / 38

A post at Robot Entertainment's forums written by an HGer with experience with the game. Hopefully, it should clear any sort of misconceptions about the game.

TL;DR:

To sum it up: the core gameplay is the same; it is Age, it is mission-based, and it is great fun. Nothing was removed, but some persistence added AROUND (NOT IN PLACE) of the core gameplay

Gojoseon
Squire

posted 08-17-10 04:09 PM CT (US) 13 / 38

But that's another problem really isn't it--this Age doesn't necessarily look all that innovative compared to say, when Age II first came out--sure, there's "quests" but in the teaser they just look like regular MMORPG assignments in format and structure--no real pizazz upon finishing one (which Starcraft II kind of provides with its achievements for example). If you can unlock "Home City" stuff like in Age III that's all well and good, but if the core gameplay is "just" the same old Age with little new....it may not be worth it, I feel. I was kind of hoping they'd make AOM 2 or a remake of the old Age I with some new innovations--but...eh.

And Mithril Knight seems to have a grudge against people who don't feel optimistic about this game. Of course it's still too early to really judge the game, but I was merely voicing an opinion. O_o

And the graphics....frankly there are many older games that have better stylized graphics. I could easily cite Zeus: Master of Olympus and Pharaoh as good examples of stylized but great looking graphics. This version really just has Facebook game-graphics. Not entirely horrible, it is *charming*--just not *grand* as Age of Empires should be.

"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." -Carl Sagan

[This message has been edited by Gojoseon (edited 08-17-2010 @ 04:15 PM).]

ColdCanuck
Squire
(id: Coldviper)

posted 08-17-10 04:27 PM CT (US) 14 / 38

Lol I reported this to Slyguy

. Wrong guy...

TOAO_DaVe
Squire
(id: Tonto_DaVe)

posted 08-17-10 08:26 PM CT (US) 15 / 38

and you can begin signing up for beta testing! As long as you're 18 years or older and live in North America or Europe.

NO. god damn it.

i was an alpha tester for AoM, but I can't test for AoEO.

and I don't know enough about the game to make a proper comment on it, but I disagree with whoever said cartoony graphics are a step back. Team Fortress 2's cartoon graphics style is part of what makes it work so well.

And actually, when I think about it, making 'age of empires' an MMO makes a lot of sense, that sort of is how the world really works.

Edit:

I'm not too optimistic about it. I think it'll be interesting to play as an MMORTS, but if those features come at the expense of what made Age of Empires as good as it is - good campaigns, scenario editor etc - I don't think it's worth it.

I respect your opinion, but those two features you mentioned are not reasons a well-known (arguably pro?) gamer named daut (as well as thousands of others) thinks AoC is the greatest RTS of all time.

Signed,
DaVe.

[This message has been edited by TOAO_DaVe (edited 08-17-2010 @ 08:31 PM).]

TheLaughingMule
Lady Mule

posted 08-18-10 00:41 AM CT (US) 16 / 38

This sounds like its going to be what we wished Tribal Wars had been like. However, that game sucked up over a year of our lives, and I swore I would never get us involved in an MMO again! (Setting alarms to get up in the middle of the night to send attacks or defend - ack!)

What I hope this will do is introduce new people to the AoE series and revive interest in the RTS games.

Olaf the Tardy ~ ~ ~ ~ T he Laughing Mule
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whatever wingwun wants
Squire
(id: Pears)

posted 08-18-10 06:02 AM CT (US) 17 / 38

OMFG NERDGASM!!!!!!!!!!!

I am buying this game the minute it comes out

So, again Devestator shut the f*ck up, for your own good, and for mine aswell. If you think im a noob, continue with that, but do not tell that noobstuff to the others, because there's people who do not give a flying f*ck about you, komprenas? SHUT THE F*CK UP, AND REMAIN SILENT stupid pervert. - NertyOX

MawBTS
I ONCE PUT AN ENTIRE ORANGE INTO MY MOUTH
(id: Bart Pimpson)

posted 08-18-10 06:17 AM CT (US) 18 / 38

OMFG NERDGASM!!!!!!!!!!!

I will beat you to within an inch of your life.

EMPTY WORLD - INTENSE TRANSMISSIONS FROM HELL

Jutas
Squire

posted 08-18-10 06:43 AM CT (US) 19 / 38

Reminds me of Ikariam.

[This message has been edited by Jutas (edited 08-18-2010 @ 06:45 AM).]

TOAO_Imperial_5
Squire
(id: DDRMAX2)

posted 08-22-10 05:18 PM CT (US) 20 / 38

everything you do in the game will help to improve your Capital, by earning you XP to level up - cue obvious comparison to AoE 3 and the aforementioned shooters. Your capital is also where you can craft stuff, and this is where the game is 24/7- like a browsergame, some buildings will produce crafting ressources for you 24/7, while you play, eat or sleep.

This paragraph is my main concern with the game. Does this mean that players who have more games under their belt will inherently have an advantage versus newer players? this was the case in AoE3, where people with higher leveled home cities had a slight advantage in the shipments they could send, luckily the leveling system there wasn't very tough so leveling up was easy (not to mention the several patches that made it easier), but it is still something that I'm concerned about. I don't like the idea that the games I play with people to level up will end up affecting future games by giving my "home city" advantages such as greater amount of resources at the beginning.

then again, AoE3 is still a great game despite these features, and I have hopes that RE will pull off a higher rate of success with AoEO.

I'm also absolutely in love with the graphics...but I also love TF2 for its graphics :P so that may be a factor.

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TOAO_DaVe
Squire
(id: Tonto_DaVe)

posted 08-23-10 02:18 AM CT (US) 21 / 38

get back to CEVO tf2 you punk

Signed,
DaVe.

[This message has been edited by TOAO_DaVe (edited 08-23-2010 @ 02:19 AM).]

TOAO_Imperial_5
Squire
(id: DDRMAX2)

posted 08-23-10 08:34 PM CT (US) 22 / 38

get back to CEVO tf2 you punk

hey slut I'm trying to make a serious post here

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mariomaner
Squire

posted 08-27-10 10:27 AM CT (US) 23 / 38

just by looking at it I can tell it's going to be bad.

Mr Wednesday
Cavalier
(id: matty12345)

posted 08-27-10 05:54 PM CT (US) 24 / 38

The problem is this is a heavily SP community. So, it's not terribly suprising to see a game with the word online in the title getting negative feedback here. Call of Duty threads in TC get more replies on the campaign than the MP. The scenario design forum is a bigger thing than GS&D. Just the demographic this site attracts.

The only issue for me is, is it fun? I don't know how anyone can say either way definitively from that video. To me, it has potential at least.

"And Matt is a prolific lurker, watching over the forum from afar in silence, like Batman. He's the president TC needs, and possibly also the one it deserves." - trebuchet king

Joshua4missions
Knight

posted 08-28-10 08:05 AM CT (US) 25 / 38

To clear any confusion, the game IS free to download, and Free to play. However there is a Premium version that you have to pay to get access to.

Does this mean that players who have more games under their belt will inherently have an advantage versus newer players?

Never mind.

The only issue for me is, is it fun?

I'd say it looks quite fun, the animations ingame look neat as they bang on there shield, look like they taunt etc... Fighting is pretty neat, Infantry animations are good and it has good music ingame. It may look like AoE 3 at first glance, but it is different in many ways. The ability to be able to visit other players city and search their city and even buy things from them that you can't get yourself is another neat feature.

just by looking at it I can tell it's going to be bad.

Don't judge a book by it's cover, it really is a neat game. Great graphics are not what make a great game, it's what's in the game and the gameplay.

joshua4missions

--~Cherub at Age of Empires Online Heaven~--.
Proud member of Stormwind Studios since 2010!

[This message has been edited by joshua4missions (edited 01-15-2011 @ 02:23 PM).]

Mithril Knight
Squire

posted 08-28-10 11:10 AM CT (US) 26 / 38

So you already play the beta...

Are this things you say allowed to you to mention?

►►►►Mithril Knight◄◄◄◄
My Works
�Viva M�xico!
My Coat of Arms

WizardBoy
Squire

posted 08-28-10 03:31 PM CT (US) 27 / 38

I am buying this game the minute it comes out

The moment you try to buy it you will notice that you have no wallet to buy it. Then you go on the internet and look at the official website and notice the great news. It is all free of charge. Now you go and look for the wallet again and you see it was just near the pc. Anyhow, its free and not possible to purchase, it doesnt come in store at all. Only downloadable

That wallet thing is to have fun with the situation.

Joshua4missions
Knight

posted 08-28-10 06:21 PM CT (US) 28 / 38

It is all free of charge.

The standard version is free, the Premium version is for a cost.

joshua4missions

--~Cherub at Age of Empires Online Heaven~--.
Proud member of Stormwind Studios since 2010!

WizardBoy
Squire

posted 08-29-10 03:28 PM CT (US) 29 / 38

The standard version is free, the Premium version is for a cost.

The masses will go for the standard version, myself included. Inexperienced people like new players to the age of empires would rather try it out on a free version.
Also i have yet to see what benefit come with the premium version

Joshua4missions
Knight

posted 08-30-10 08:30 AM CT (US) 30 / 38

Probably new features like new techs, units, blueprints, buildings etc...

I look forward to it's release, I for one will get the final version even if it costs a small fee.

Taking pictures of the alpha/beta and posting them is against their terms of use. Sorry for the inconvenience. - Turtov

--~Cherub at Age of Empires Online Heaven~--.
Proud member of Stormwind Studios since 2010!

[This message has been edited by Turtov (edited 08-30-2010 @ 08:57 AM).]

RON PAUL 2016
Squire
(id: Turty)

posted 08-30-10 09:00 AM CT (US) 31 / 38

Josh: please read this before sharing any information about the AoEO beta.

Joshua4missions
Knight

posted 08-30-10 09:32 AM CT (US) 32 / 38

Sorry Turtov, I was aware of the rules. I am not a beta/alpha tester for AOEO, I merely got the info and pictures from this video which seems to be released by some of the makers of AOEO. Sorry if it seemed I was breaking any rules, I have no intention of doing so.

joshua4missions

--~Cherub at Age of Empires Online Heaven~--.
Proud member of Stormwind Studios since 2010!

[This message has been edited by joshua4missions (edited 08-30-2010 @ 09:37 AM).]

RON PAUL 2016
Squire
(id: Turty)

posted 08-30-10 10:16 AM CT (US) 33 / 38

Ah, in that case, ignore that warning. My apologies.

Joshua4missions
Knight

posted 08-30-10 11:21 AM CT (US) 34 / 38

No problem, your just doing your job.

joshua4missions

--~Cherub at Age of Empires Online Heaven~--.
Proud member of Stormwind Studios since 2010!

HerzogDePuce
Squire

posted 01-06-11 03:39 PM CT (US) 35 / 38

Hey

I'm currently writing a dissertation on "AoEO" and its possible success (or fail - just an assumption). I'd be glad if you could give me your opinion. You don't have to answer all questions and if there's something to add, then I've put a comments-box at the end.

I hope, that I'm allowed to post the link to my questionnaire here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SX8BRWP
(won't take longer than ~5 minutes)

If you like, you can give the link to friends as well, who are not registered here - I'd like to get as much opinions (especially of AoE-players) as possible. :-)

The results of this questionnaire will only be used in my dissertation and NOT published.
Thank you for your help.

[This message has been edited by HerzogDePuce (edited 01-06-2011 @ 08:01 PM).]

Sebastien
Dark Samurai

posted 01-06-11 06:48 PM CT (US) 36 / 38

Bare in mind its a beta, so I imagine the 1 civ ruling would change in the full version and at the moment is probably focusing purely on the mechanical side of the game and fixing any gameplay issues (like making sure the online aspect plays well) than other specifics or graphical elements which would be introduced into the full game.

�Sengoku Total Conversion��The Modding Guild�
�Stormwind Studios�

[This message has been edited by Tetsuo Shima (edited 01-06-2011 @ 06:49 PM).]

Joshua4missions
Knight

posted 01-15-11 02:29 PM CT (US) 37 / 38

A LOT more info is to be released soon so it should answer some questions any of you have.

Also there will be more beta waves in the near futute. Stay up to date here on when to expect the next wave(s).

joshua4missions

--~Cherub at Age of Empires Online Heaven~--.
Proud member of Stormwind Studios since 2010!

anter175
Squire

posted 01-15-11 04:04 PM CT (US) 38 / 38

i will NEVER read all coments again it toke me like 40minm or more(or less)

"In war,You win or lose, live or die - and the difference is just an eyelash."
-General Douglas MacArthur

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