Age of Empires: A Series of Real-time Strategy Computer Games

Age of Empires is the name of a series of video games that were initially developed by Ensemble Studios and then published by Xbox Game Studios. These games are historical real-time strategy titles. The original game, Age of Empires, was released all the way back in 1997. As of the 28th of October in 2021, there have been a total of nine games released in the series as a whole.

Age of Empires focused on historical events that took place in Europe, Africa, and Asia from the Stone Age all the way up until the Iron Age. The expansion game investigated the establishment and extension of the Roman Empire. Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, the sequel to Age of Empires, was place throughout the Middle Ages; nevertheless, a portion of its expansion was dedicated to the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.

The three sequels to Age of Empires III all take place during the early modern era, which is characterized by the colonization of the Americas by European nations and the decline of several Asian nations. Age of Empires Online, a separate version that utilizes Games for Windows Live, using a different tactic than the original game.

Age of Mythology was a spin-off game that was based on the same time period as the original Age of Empires game but focused on the mythological aspects of ancient cultures such as Greek, Egyptian, and Norse. The launch of Age of Empires IV, the fourth major installment in the series, took place on October 28, 2021.

The Age of Empires series has been a commercial success, as evidenced by the fact that more than 25 million copies have been sold. Critics have noted that the historical concept and fair play in the series, in which artificial intelligence (AI) players have fewer advantages than in many of its competitors, are contributing causes to its appeal.

The Age of Empires series is about to make the transition to consoles

As we become older, the era of playing games on consoles will arrive. Age of Empires is scheduled to be released for Xbox game devices in 2023. These well-liked real-time strategy games are going to be available for Xbox in the following year as a result of our team listening to your demands and taking them into consideration.

It is time to make these games accessible not only to long-time Xbox players but also to people who are just getting started with the console. In the year 2023, there will be two new console releases to look forward to: Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition will be available for purchase on Xbox on January 31, 2023, and Age of Empires IV will be released later that same year.

Age of Empires has been around for more than 25 years and has grown and thrived because to the contributions of players from all around the world who have been victorious in single-player campaigns, excelled in skirmishes, and mastered multiplayer.

What our players have to say is really important to us, since they are the focus of everything that we do, and we pay close attention to what they have to say. We listened to your requests, and after careful consideration, we decided to bring Age of Empires to the Xbox platform.

The year 2022 has been a tremendous one for Age of Empires, as seen by the fact that the game has received over 25 game upgrades, over 15 in-game events (with amazing rewards), and over 14,000 mods that have been produced and distributed. The Age of Empires community is continuing to flourish and grow at a rapid rate.

We were conscious that adapting the complexity of real-time strategy games (RTS) for use on Xbox platforms would be a substantial project that called for careful attention. The team has been devoting a significant amount of time and energy to the development of an experience that not only demonstrates to players how to use an Xbox console but also provides a fantastic sensation when playing with a gamepad.

Players will have an easier time getting started thanks to a new tutorial that was developed specifically for controller input and a redesigned user interface for the console. In addition, we have built a new artificial intelligence for the game that enables the management of resources in strategic games both effective and straightforward.

On Xbox, we will soon be able to play one of the very best and most revered real-time strategy games ever created. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has seen a rise in popularity ever since it was first released in 2019. The game has received approximately 40 updates, three DLC packs that contained additional civilizations and campaigns, and a never-ending stream of upgrades, all of which have contributed to the game being at its absolute best.

Players have access to 83 different maps, 42 different multiplayer civilizations, 34 different single-player campaigns, 10 different multiplayer modes, and 7 different co-op missions. And now, those who own an Xbox may experience everything that this amazing game has to offer in its entirety.

For players that are committed to using the keyboard and mouse as their primary input device, we made certain that support was included in the console version of the game. We also took into consideration the features that Xbox gamers have grown to expect from their games, and as a result, the game will have an optional cross-platform feature that will allow you to play with friends on both the Xbox and the PC. This feature will be available as a free download.

In addition, we are bringing the game to Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), which will allow players to continue building their empires even when they are not signed in to their console or computer. This feature will be available to players starting today.

Age of Empires IV will also be released on consoles later in the year, so 2023 is going to be an incredible year for those of you who have been requesting an Xbox version of the Age of Empires series! Xbox users will have access to the newest addition to the Age of Empires series thanks to the intense collaboration that has taken place between the teams working on the various consoles to produce a complementary experience.

Next our official accounts on social media will ensure that you are always up to date with all that is happening, as we will have more information to share in the following year.

Both the Xbox One and Xbox 360 versions of the games will be made available through the Microsoft Store, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This will allow players from all over the world to enjoy the trebuchet-launching, castle-destroying, and empire-building action on the gaming platforms of their choosing.

Gameplay

The objective of the game Age of Empires is for the player to guide a civilization through its development from a small band of hunter-gatherers to a huge Iron Age empire. In order for the player to emerge victorious, they will need to save up enough money to buy extra troops, buildings, and cutting-edge technology. Because there are no new resources that become available as the game progresses, the resources already in play need to be guarded from loss.

When a tree is felled, it does not sprout new branches or leaves. You can pick from one of twelve unique civilizations, each of which has its own unique set of traits as well as a diverse arsenal of military forces and technological advancements at its disposal. Because every civilization in the game has its own unique set of technologies, none of them have access to all of the game's technical potential.

A significant part of the gameplay consists of moving through each of the game's four ages. In chronological order, these are the Stone Age (Mesolithic and Paleolithic), the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Tool Ages. The player is able to investigate new technologies, weaponry, and units at the Town Center as they become available with the passage of each era.

Age of Empires' multiplayer mode supported up to eight players simultaneously competing online or over a local area network. The Microsoft Gaming Zone supported multiplayer gaming until June 19, 2006, however it has since been discontinued. At that time, The Zone decided to stop providing maintenance for the vast majority of CD-ROM games, among which were Age of Empires and Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings.

Custom

With the help of the Scenario Builder, players were able to design their own own campaigns, which were essentially collections of different situations. This editor is less feature-rich than similar editors seen in more current games, but it is less complicated and easier to learn how to use than those editors. Ensemble Studios used the Scenario Builder to construct the single-player campaigns that were included with the retail version of the game. These campaigns can only be played by one player at a time.

There are several unofficial websites out there where people may go to upload and download their own one-of-a-kind scenarios. At the tail end of 2005, it was discovered that it was feasible to make units from beta versions of the game available in the editor by modifying specific data files. This was accomplished by importing the unit into the game.

Both a spaceship and a hero whose ownership shifts depending on whatever units are closest to it are examples of rare units. Editing the data can also result in changes to the placement rules for the units. The fact that it may be mounted not only on any surface but also on top of other units makes for additional potential in terms of design. Other interesting discoveries include new terrain templates, a mode that triples each unit's hit points, and a tool that allows players to change the scale of their maps.