Age of Empires (video game)
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.
| Age of Empires | |
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Windows cover art | |
| Developer(s) |
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| Publisher(s) |
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| Director(s) | Bruce Shelley |
| Designer(s) |
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| Programmer(s) | Angelo Laudon, Matt Pritchard |
| Artist(s) | Brad Crow |
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| Series | Age of Empires |
| Engine | Genie |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, Windows Mobile, Macintosh |
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| Genre(s) | Real-time strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Originally touted as Civilization meets Warcraft, some reviewers felt that the game failed to live up to these expectations when it was released. 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.