Matt Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Big news for RTS fans: January 4, 2005 Dawn of a New Age: Age of Empires III Announced for 2005 Release Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios are proud to announce the return of the king of real-time strategy games: Age of Empires III is scheduled to ship in the second half of 2005. This will be the latest landmark release in the award-winning franchise that has sold a staggering 16 million units worldwide. Age of Empires III will offer gamers the next level of realism, with advanced battle physics and unparalleled visual detail. The new game picks up where Age of Empires II: Age of Kings left off, placing gamers in the position of a European power determined to explore, colonize and conquer the New World. This time period features stunning scenes, from towering European cathedrals to courageous tribes of Native Americans, and spectacular combat with Industrial Age units like rifled infantry, cavalry and tall ships bristling with cannons. Age of Empires III will once again demonstrate Ensemble Studios' reputation for excellence and innovation in the real-time strategy (RTS) genre. The game will set a new standard for visual quality and amaze players with detail never before seen in an RTS. Age of Empires III will excite strategy gamers with new game-play elements, including the concept of a “Home City,“ new civilizations, units, technologies and an immersive new single-player campaign that will span three generations. Ensemble Studios is one of the world's premier entertainment software developers. Ensemble Studios is best known for its blockbuster Age of Empires game series. Ensemble's titles are distinguished by the highest-quality art and gameplay dynamics applied in familiar historical settings, and appeal to hard-core gamers and mass audiences. Ensemble Studios is based in Dallas, Texas. Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox ® video game system, the Windows ® operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as Age of Empires ® , Flight Simulator and Zoo Tycoon ® ; Xbox (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as Fable ® and franchises as Halo ® , Project Gotham Racing ® and MechAssault ® ; and MSN ® Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as “Bejeweled” and “Hexic™.” http://ensemblestudios.com/age3images/Age3Screenshot0-700.jpg Official site: http://ensemblestudios.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaiv Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 It looks great, but by placing it in said time period, I feel that they're removing some of the essence that made Age of Empires I and II so great - the fact that there were no riflemen, cannons, etc... I don't know why, but the fact that there likely won't be melee units kind of dispels my interest... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 6, 2005 Author Share Posted January 6, 2005 Age of Empires I and II so great - the fact that there were no riflemen, cannons, etc... I don't know why, but the fact that there likely won't be melee units kind of dispels my interest...Age of Kings had cannoneers, bombard cannons, bombard towers, and even cannon galleons. In fact, Imperial Age Turks rely almost entirely on gunpowder units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pack Rat Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 I think that picture you posted is rather worthless cause it's definitly not a screenshot but a photoshop based image so I dont think you should rely too much on that. Hasnt it been a few months since AoE 3 has been announced? I knew it already several months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 6, 2005 Author Share Posted January 6, 2005 I think that picture you posted is rather worthless cause it's definitly not a screenshot but a photoshop based image so I dont think you should rely too much on that. Hasnt it been a few months since AoE 3 has been announced? I knew it already several months.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>It's an actual screenshot. Had you bothered to visit the official site, linked above, you would have noticed that there is more than one. Here, I'll make it really easy for you: http://aom.heavengames.com/gallery/aoe3-earlyshots?page=1http://ensemblestudios.com As for the announcement, AoE III was officially revealed two days ago (take a look at the date on the press release). Prior to that there were only rumors and speculation based on teaser images posted on the official website, and a few bits of info leaked by one of the beta testers. There was no official confirmation until the 4th of this month. The first screenshots of the game were also released on the 4th. Try to be less cynical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abramul Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 It does indeed say "Actual in-game screenshot" under the pics.I like that they keep the music yet make it better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark0ne Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Looks nice, except a little too zoomed in for my liking. I thought C&C: Generals was too close, but that takes the micky! I like to be able to see all my units on screen most of the time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abramul Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 All the modern RTS games seem to have zoom and rotate features, likely a part of whatever engine they use. I would be greatly surprised if AoE3 doesn't. Bearing in mind that it's more impressive to show of the level of detail, though, they SHOULD have a screenie that shows how MUCH you can see at once. But, as we know, "Wait and see". P.S. Is micky a type of cake? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark0ne Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 P.S. Is micky a type of cake? Yes, has big circular black ears and likes fondling children for pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted January 6, 2005 Author Share Posted January 6, 2005 Looks nice, except a little too zoomed in for my liking. I thought C&C: Generals was too close, but that takes the micky! I like to be able to see all my units on screen most of the time!All the modern RTS games seem to have zoom and rotate features, likely a part of whatever engine they use.Age of Empires III uses the Bang! engine, the same engine which is used in Age of Mythology. It does have zoom and view rotation options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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