Age of Empires (video game)

Age of Empires
Windows cover art
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Bruce Shelley[3]
Designer(s)
Programmer(s)
  • Angelo Laudon
  • Matt Pritchard
Artist(s)Brad Crow
Composer(s)
SeriesAge of Empires
EngineGenie
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Windows Mobile, Macintosh
Release
Genre(s)Real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Age of Empires (AoE) is a real-time strategy video game based on history, developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft, and the first game in the Age of Empires series. The game uses the Genie Engine, a 2D sprite-based game engine. The game allows the user to act as the leader of an ancient civilization by advancing it through four ages (the Stone, Tool, Bronze, and Iron Ages), gaining access to new and improved units with each advance.

Originally touted as Civilization meets Warcraft, some reviewers felt that the game failed to live up to these expectations when it was released.[citation needed] Despite this, it received generally good reviews, and an expansion pack, titled The Rise of Rome, was released in 1998. The game is now generally regarded as one of the best video games ever made. Both the original Age of Empires and the expansion pack were later released as "The Gold Edition". The first sequel, Age of Empires II, was released in 1999. Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, a remastered version of the game, was released on February 20, 2018.

  1. ^ "Step into an ancient civilisation". Western Daily Press. October 10, 1997. p. 7. Retrieved December 11, 2023. Game of the Week//Age of Empires (Microsoft)//For PC CD-ROM//Price: £39.99//Release date: October 23
  2. ^ "Now Shipping". PC Gamer. October 10, 1997. Archived from the original on February 18, 1998.
  3. ^ "57. Bruce Shelley". ign.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  4. ^ "Age of Empires - Tech Info". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2009.