Age of Empires Online

[LeeNetworX]

I've been part of the closed Alpha and Beta testing; they are now accepting applications for closed Beta testing.

http://www.ageofempiresonline.com/

Pretty fun game if you liked the original AoE style of gameplay.

[KSGregman]

The original Age of Empires was my first foray into RTS games....I tried Stronghold: Crusader too....but just couldn't get into the RTS genre.

I wicked like strategy games but much prefer turn based games like the Civ franchise (Can't wait for Civ 5 in September), and Galactic Civilizations. It seems that most RTS games end in an all out zerg fest and that play style just got boring.

[Apoc]

Originally Posted by KSGregman

The original Age of Empires was my first foray into RTS games....I tried Stronghold: Crusader too....but just couldn't get into the RTS genre.

I wicked like strategy games but much prefer turn based games like the Civ franchise (Can't wait for Civ 5 in September), and Galactic Civilizations. It seems that most RTS games end in an all out zerg fest and that play style just got boring.

Try Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 2. Its really good, and a really fresh take on the genre.

[KSGregman]

Originally Posted by Apoc

Try Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 2. Its really good, and a really fresh take on the genre.

I'm on the official web page right now.....no demo, though? That sucks. :/

Late edit: Nevermind...I found a single player demo....I'll download it from home after work tonight.

[Porkchop]

Originally Posted by KSGregman

The original Age of Empires was my first foray into RTS games....I tried Stronghold: Crusader too....but just couldn't get into the RTS genre.

I wicked like strategy games but much prefer turn based games like the Civ franchise (Can't wait for Civ 5 in September), and Galactic Civilizations. It seems that most RTS games end in an all out zerg fest and that play style just got boring.

I always liked Rome:Total War.

[KSGregman]

Originally Posted by Porkchop

I always liked Rome:Total War.

I enjoyed it alot too...but...it got to be repetitive. Particularly once you figured out that cash wins. Control the sea trade routes...win the game.

[Apoc]

Originally Posted by KSGregman

I'm on the official web page right now.....no demo, though? That sucks. :/

Late edit: Nevermind...I found a single player demo....I'll download it from home after work tonight.

Ya, im pretty sure theres a demo on Steam too.

[tallywacker]

I love AoE, back in the day all I had was the free demo, but was really the full game without the maps. All you had to do was download everything missing off the net to have the full game.

[Apoc]

One question I have for the developers is why the hell did they go with the cartoony style and look this time around. Seriously, AoE always looked realistic, im not sure I like the new graphical style.

Of course if it plays well, I could care less. Though I doubt i'd stop playing Starcraft II and Dawn of War 2 for it anyway. I see myself playing SCII for the next half decade, at least.

[LeeNetworX]

Originally Posted by Apoc

One question I have for the developers is why the hell did they go with the cartoony style and look this time around. Seriously, AoE always looked realistic, im not sure I like the new graphical style.

Of course if it plays well, I could care less. Though I doubt i'd stop playing Starcraft II and Dawn of War 2 for it anyway. I see myself playing SCII for the next half decade, at least.

I felt the same when I first started playing it. But the animation is smooth and the stylized look actually grows on you. Gives it a fresh look/feel that is another way of distinguishing itself from it's predecessors, along with other new featues which I can't discuss due to NDA. What I can say is that it's much more in-depth and involved, especially in terms of how you develop your empire and what kind of direction you want to take it in.