84 replies to this topic

[Jeru]

Although we've just announced our own alpha version, these news still had to be shared: A new game in the Age of Empires series, "Age of Empires Online", has just been announced. They invite people to join their closed beta.

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. [...] There is no offline play. [...]

Q: Why the new look? What was wrong with the graphics before? It looks more “cartoony” now.
A: Age of Empires includes a refreshed art style with an unprecedented level of detail. The new design is fun and approachable, and we believe it will help invite a brand-new audience to experience this classic franchise. It will still offer gameplay depth for fans of the franchise as well.
Q: The “Age” franchise has an incredibly loyal fan base. Do you think this new iteration will alienate any of your fans?
A: Absolutely not. Age of Empires Online stays true to its roots with traditional RTS gameplay, a deep player-versus-player mode and detailed historical settings. From the creation of your capital city, to resource management and competitive matches, Age of Empires fans will feel right at home.

(Hat tip: phil44)

Edited by Jeru, 17 August 2010 - 02:08 PM.

[liamdawe]

The graphics look terrible, i'm so glad 0 A.D. is around :D

[omicron1]

Well... right now, I'm rooting for 0 AD. I can't forget the bobbing cork-boats in the trailer for AoEo... they just looked wrong. Thus, I'm not particularly a fan of the new art style.

[Mythos_Ruler]

The art style looks fine, but reminds me way too much of FLASH-style games you find on time-killer websites. it also looks way too much like Farmville and the info given on the website about the Greek faction makes me want to puke.

[Hiram]

It seems they took all the things people didn't like about the previous games and make a game with them. Too cartoony, too few units, unrealistic gameplay, and it seems to me they try to emulate the look of the civilization games. Only one good thing, persistent world, if 0AD could have that, it would be the best.

[Mythos_Ruler]

I just realized this game looks like EVONY of all things! I guess the crapitude has come full circle!

[Mythos_Ruler]

YOUTUBE link:

[MrEmjeR]

Can I say here savely that I hated that game from the moment I saw the logo?

Serously I have been crying for an hour about what they have done to our all beloved game serie.
The complete reputation of AoE f***** up with this childish BS.

well they did their best to make a new graphics engine system. sadly they did it for the wrong concept. they could have done soo much better with just simply make AoM 2 or AoE 4. They won't ever be able to compute even the littlest bit with Starcraft 2.

I think this is one worse way of promoting your future games as starting game studio.

[Brightgalrs]

The cartoony graphics I can deal with, I play games for gameplay (Dwarf Fortress, EU3, Minecraft, Age of Mythology). The real problems are: a) One civilization "at release", aka everything else will be DLC b) Balance will suck, everyone will be at different homecity levels c) They aren't even trying to base anything off of history - duelwielding hypaspists Michael pointed out

[Undo]

Horrible graphics, terrible format. The true AoE series is dead :'(

[TheEmissaryofDeath]

It is a pity that the AoE series ended up like this :(

[Shield Bearer]

I wouldn't say that so soon, its seems to me the gameplay promises a lot of new things, and despite the graphics i think from what i've heard that its gonna be a really good game.

[chaosislife]

Age 10 and up. All you really needed to know.

[Sebovzeoueb]

chaosislife, on 09 June 2011 - 08:27 PM, said:

Age 10 and up.

All the AoE games are "Teen" rated.

[chaosislife]

Sebovzeoueb, on 09 June 2011 - 08:46 PM, said:

All the AoE games are "Teen" rated.

All except this one. It's on the videos for it. Explains why it looks like it was designed by disney.

[Chakakhan]

The beta is open right now if you want to try it! It is open through Friday morning.
I've been playing the beta for the last 2 months. The game play is a lot like it was during the AoE2 era. They added some bits from AoE3 as well. I quite like it overall.

The new graphics are crisp and clear and it is quite easy to differentiate between units and even between units that are equipped differently. The dramitic "over the top" animations allowed by the more cartoonish theme make it very obvious what a unit is doing.

Every one of my buddies that I played AoE with complained about the game at first, but they have all come to really like it, even the graphics.

I'm not a fan boy, just think there might be some interesting things here that might not be obvious on the surface.

Take care all!

[privateer]

Myself? I avoid any Game that looks like I'm watching a Cartoon.

It may be the greatest Game in the World to others but to me it comes across as an insult to my senses.
That may be due to my time in service and my thought that any type War should not be protrayed as a Cartoon.
When Fred Flintstone starts hacking at people?
I am offended in a way that goes beyond words!

Cartoons should not be used to make any War seem acceptable.
Not even in a Game.
War is blood and death in a very gory and long lasting, disturbing way.
It's enuff that we have some realistic Games that desensitize kids nowdays.

Make them into a Cartoonish Game?
I have a great fear of what the outcome of that will be.

[POW_Attack]

they may want to make kids love strategy games... so that they will not vanish... it is a great problem of the gaming industry to make strategy games survive. that can't be done cause many have turned to consoles(after they got an online feature) cause they are cheap. just look the sales of call of duty on consoles and then see the number of it on computers...

[Silver]

As a beta tester for a very long time - it was disappointing to say the least. Hopefully with full release I can buy the 'booster packs' and try out the PvP and decide more from that... I really disliked the MMO aspect because it was so incredibly boring and grindy. Setting up PvP matches and Co-op in the BETA took some time to figure out and the quests were often repeatable and incredibly boring.

The farm quest in particular was annoying - I could finish the first 3-4 (I forget how many there were) but I had to do it OVER AND OVER - I couldn't cash in for the rewards of all 3-4 at the same time.

I am ranting here but I did take it up in the beta forums and soon after I pretty much stopped beta testing. It was a little too boring and I had real life stuff that became more pressing.

Edited by Silver, 10 August 2011 - 03:51 AM.

[Mythos_Ruler]

Silver, on 10 August 2011 - 03:50 AM, said:

I pretty much stopped beta testing. It was a little too boring and I had real life stuff that became more pressing.

0 A.D. became more pressing for me.