Age of Empires 2 HD

[Onkel Neal]

As many know, I still play AOE and AOE2 (or also known as Age of Kings (AOK). Two of the best games I ever played, I have more hours with these than any other game (yes, including AOD and SH3). They even still look pretty good, the little sprite figures are sharp and fun to watch. I always dreamed of an updated version that would be compatible with new OS and take adnvantage of better graphics (without changing the graphics approach and game mechanincs the way AOE3 did--really didn't care for it all that much).

Well, apparently someone took this ball and ran with it (http://store.steampowered.com/sub/26117/).

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/240/b/e/age_of_empires_town_center_by_jonasjensenart-d483l81.jpg

Also, I found this: (http://aok.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/aokcgi/display.cgi?action=st&fn=3&tn=40110&st=594#post595) a post from one of the original developers who had the idea 2 years ago, and could not get anyone at Microsoft Games to hold still long enough to get this greenlit. Of course, he had to pitch the idea as freeware, and fun and cool as that sounds, it won't pay the bills. He should have suggested this as some decently priced DLC or something.

I had a good idea why AoK is remembered so fondly. Ensemble made a number of good, and very good games. You could do much worse than having Ensemble's quality bar. But as a former co-worker once said "AoE is a good game. AoK is a *GREAT* game". Harter R, who now heads up Robot had once said "We caught Lightning in a Bottle with Age 2". And he was right. Of all the games we did at Ensemble, AoK was something extra special and it showed. Lifetime retail sales are near or around 10 Million. None of our other games did half that. It was indeed 'Lightning in a bottle'. It was just the right amount, with extra broad appeal, at the right time.

And what probably drove it home best was seeing that Age of Kings was still being sold on store shelves at Retail - and I'm not talking about the Discount bin Jewel case releases. Microsoft was, until earlier this year, selling the Age of Kings gold edition, full box, at full price - US $20, and I could find it online at Amazon and on store shelves like Fry's Electronics. …….. AND IT STILL SOLD COPIES…. After 12 years. Amazing.

Well, yeah, it is remembered fondly because it is a classic, it still is great fun to play and looks good. I would be so happy to have the same game but more options and environment elements, such as swamps, more farming choices, and stuff like that. Once in a while a computer game is so good, it falls into the category with Risk, Chess, and Monopoly--it's timeless.

Another thing about the developer's post... how weird that a game company like MS cannot manage it's catalog any better than this, or manage queries to re-market it. Really makes a strong case for the abandonware concept. Oh, don't jump up and say MS is stoopid, if they are like most everyone else, they probably have a full plate managing their current titles. But still...seems odd that the original developer could not get a solid contact with MS.

[Lionclaw]

I preordered this as soon as I saw it on Steam, played it a lot in my teenage years. :rock: :yeah:

[Miggy4000]

I wonder if it might make an appearance on GOG? :hmmm:

Oh and Neil? I know I am slightly late but congratulations on passing the 13k mark on your posts.:yeah:It might be "some time" before I have that many! :oops:

[Cybermat47]

I played AOE and AOE2. Both good fun games. It's a shame that Ensemble is gone. But their last game was epic:
http://imageshack.us/a/img6/8712/photomar12073827.jpg

They actually made a console RTS that works.

[Takeda Shingen]

Cybermat, do you like Halo? Do you?

[Cybermat47]

Cybermat, do you like Halo? Do you?

No. I absolutely hate it. The very sight of it makes me sick.

[Takeda Shingen]

No. I absolutely hate it. The very sight of it makes me sick.

That's hard to believe given that you talk about it all the freaking time.

Anyway, AoE II......

[Cybermat47]

That's hard to believe given that you talk about it all the freaking time.

LOL.

Anyway, AoE II......

...is an amazing game. :woot:

[Philipp_Thomsen]

What's so bad about AOE3, Neal?

[CaptainHaplo]

Phillipp,

Allow me to answer that. AOE3 dumbed down the gameplay tremendously. While AOE2 was a truly balanced game that gave a player various ways to win, the ONLY way to win in AOE3 was to build an army bigger than your opponent and go kill him.

Map size limitations, horrible AI, and the lack of a reason for doing anything but fighting made AOE3 a really horrible game, even after it got its expansions.

In AOE2, turtling was a reasonable tactic, for example. Do that in AOE3, and your just waiting to die.

Now if only EE2 would get a much needed graphix update! EE3 went south even worse that AOE3 did!

[Red October1984]

Cybermat, do you like Halo? Do you?

I think he does....just a little bit....

But most 13 year old kids do. It's kind of expected. He'll grow out of it like I did.

:D

[Cybermat47]

He'll grow out of it like I did.



Umm... :shifty:

[Onkel Neal]

LOL.


AOEII...
...is an amazing game. :woot:


Like Halo? :D

What's so bad about AOE3, Neal?

For me, the feel of the game changed too much. Both AOE 1 and 2 feel very similar. The size of the maps, the size, movement, and graphic quality of the villagers and armies. AOE3 wasn't a bad game, it just didn't feel much like the original. Honestly, I will be playing AOE and AOE2 for another 20 years, there's not much about the games that I see need improving. I support the new edition this thread is about for several reasons, among which is I like to reward ingenuity and allegiance to great work, and seeing these guys put some time into upgrading a classic is A+ in my book. How I wish Sonalysts would do this for Fleet Command, and there was an upgraded version of Fast Attack, how cool would that be? :yeah:

[Cybermat47]

Like Halo? :D

Maybe even better. :hmm2:

[Cybermat47]

Look what I found! :rock:
http://imageshack.us/a/img213/4919/photomar12144944.jpg

They'd better be compatible with Vista :stare:

[Philipp_Thomsen]

Nothing is compatible with Vista, get 7.
Stay away from 8.

[Cybermat47]

Nothing is compatible with Vista, get 7.

Are you stalking me? Because just yesterday I came to the conclusion that my Vista laptop was all but dead, so know I'm going to try and get my parents to buy a new one!

[Penguin]

Nice! :up: A re-issue of a classic without dumbing it down or fascist DRM? I never thought I'd live to see that day! *suppresses a tear*

One of my first realtime-multiplayer experiences. During the nights, we played the crap out of it on a company's network where a buddy of mine worked - at a time when we still had our slow modems with astronomic costs per hour.

[Stealhead]

Vista works you just have to place you programs somewhere other than "program files".I just create a folder in one of my drives with the name of he game I am installing and target that folder.Win 7 has the same silly overly protective deal that Vista does when it comes to anything installed under "program files".

[ReallyDedPoet]

Loved this game. Will definitely be getting this : )

[HunterICX]

Vista works you just have to place you programs somewhere other than "program files".I just create a folder in one of my drives with the name of he game I am installing and target that folder.Win 7 has the same silly overly protective deal that Vista does when it comes to anything installed under "program files".

Never had any issues with it really, most of my games are to be found in Program files and work without problems. Ofcourse I'm the one that first disables the UAC when I have a fresh installation of Windows, hate how windows treats you like a child.

HunterICX

[Onkel Neal]

Well, that excitement was short lived. Downloaded it and cannot play:
Failed to start the game (unknown error).

Man, this is like the bad ol' days of computer games, you could never be sure they would work on your computer. So, what's the process of getting a refund with Steam?

[HunterICX]

Sit tight Neal, seems to be the issue for all Windows XP users and they're working on it:
https://twitter.com/AgeOfEmpires/status/320289605159096321

HunterICX

[Onkel Neal]

Ok, thanks.

[Skybird]

Still WinXP? Get Win7. Avoid Win8.

W7 is some damn fine piece of OS, I give Microsoft that. Best OS version they have ever done.

XP has become extremely vulnerable and insecure these days. ;) The risk is not just yours. Its the risk of others as well when your compromised platform infects them, too. Compares to having a bad flu and high temperature, and coughing others in their face.

[eddie]

From what I understand, Microsoft will stop supporting XP at the end of 2014. So moving to Win7 is a good idea, and I enjoy it! No problems here.

[Mork_417]

I know it's a different platform, but I have played AOE2 "Kings" on my DS for countless hours. Mostly at work, during our slow months. Never seem to get tired of it. I also have AOE:Mythologies, but don't play it. Never could get into it.

I have never played the PC version. :hmmm:

[Onkel Neal]

Yay! Game patched, and working. Not that much of a change, graphically, but lovely to see a publisher reissue a classic.

Now, if they would do this for Aces of the Deep.... :arrgh!:

[Mork_417]

Now, if they would do this for Aces of the Deep.... :arrgh!:

Yes, this ^^^^^, please!!!! :yep:

[HunterICX]

Good to hear they've sorted it :up:

Hehe still remember my matches with the non-HD version of AOE II against Neal fondly...well kinda fondly till he pillaged my base :haha: :dead:

HunterICX

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice, can I download this and burn to a disc and play on another computer? Last time I got something from Steam was Rome Total War and did that :yep:

[HunterICX]

Yep, as long you log into the other computer with Steam you can play all the games you bought on it there as well.

HunterICX

[ReallyDedPoet]

Great, thanks Hunter : )

[Onkel Neal]

AOEII HD is going strong!

http://www.ageofempires.com/blog/?p=1942

....it’s been an incredible journey to see what Age of Empires II: HD Edition has become. I think the future looks brighter still, for the sun never truly sets on a classic.

I really like that this awesome game keeps getting better.

[Betonov]

I really like that this awesome game keeps getting better.

Make it mod friendly. That will ensure it will still be played 10 years from now.

[Onkel Neal]

Announced: expansion civs :o
Age of Empires II HD – Dev Blog #1 – New Civilizations
(http://www.forgottenempires.net/age-of-empires-ii-hd-dev-blog-1-new-civilizations)

The Berbers (~700 AD) are the first African civilization to be seen in the new expansion pack. We caught a glimpse of them in the original El Cid campaigns in “The Conquerors”, where they are portrayed in a more generic term as Saracens. Berbers, however, are more than worthy of becoming an Age of Empires civilization. With dynasties across Northern Africa, the ancient Berbers will primarily be a Cavalry & Naval civilization. They’ll have 2 unique units and will also feature a unique technology that affects the entire team.

http://www.forgottenempires.net/wp-content/uploads/AOE2_CamelArcher_WIP-1024x787.png

[Onkel Neal]

Age of Empires 2 is quietly having an incredible year (https://www.pcgamer.com/age-of-empires-2-is-quietly-having-an-incredible-year/)

Both versions of Age of Empires 2 sit in the top 100 games on Steam, with the Definitive Edition sitting at #25. Combined, however, the Age of Empires community on average pushes up to the #15 spot—or higher, on peak player count days.

[John Zelada]

It is a classic along with AoM, it also played Empire earth that is very good with its ages, these three games allow to develop strategies in which the player's tactics and expertise allow him to beat the opponent even if he has more troops, that was lost in later versions we were a lucky generation : Kaleun_Salute:

[Aktungbby]

John Zelada!:Kaleun_Salute:

[Platapus]

Many good hours playing the Age of Empires series. :up: