|
Page 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
 |
|
By Brad Cook Come back in time with us, to an era when the modern world was going through its birth pangs. To a time when empires rose and fell, great leaders led armies into massive history-changing battles, and science and technology evolved at an ever-faster pace. |
This is the realm of the real-time strategy game Age of Empires II: Gold
Edition, available from game publisher MacSoft. Built to run on both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X, this award-winning game takes full advantage
of Apple’s next-generation operating system’s improved features and enhanced
performance.
It’s time to get started making history as you lead your nascent empire from humble beginnings to major world power.
How to Conquer the World in 1,000 Years or Less
The sequel to the best-selling Age of Empires, AOE II: Gold is a game that had to “walk the narrow line between updating the original but not straying too far from what people know and love,” according to designer Greg Street, of developer Ensemble Studios. “I think we nailed it pretty close.”
The game spans a thousand-year period from the fall of Rome through the Middle Ages. You choose one of 18 civilizations (see the guide to civilizations and campaigns for more details) and build it into a mighty, continent-spanning empire. Whether you play against your friends or against the computer’s
diabolical artificial intelligence (AI), your goal is to conquer the world
by whatever means necessary.
One if by land, two if by sea…
Each civilization is based on historical reality, so it has the unique strengths and weaknesses-buildings, armies and technology for example-that it had in the past. For example, the Vikings are remarkable craftsmen, sailors, explorers, and traders. In the game, they excel on maps with plenty of water, but they fare worse on land.
The Basic Facts
“There’s a ton of new stuff,” Destineer president Peter Tamte says of the sequel, which he says was the company’s first release because “it represents a perfect blend of interesting subject matter and really fun gameplay.”
 |
 Available for online ordering 24 hours a day, every day. |
View QuickTime Trailer
Welcome to the Castle Age.
|
Mac OS X Multiplayer Patch This patch fixes Age of Empires II: Gold Mac OS X multiplayer issues. |
 The Macintosh version of AOE II: Gold includes not only the four campaigns included with the original game but also four new campaigns from the expansion pak Age of Empires II: The Conquerors (see the guide to civilizations and campaigns for more details).
|
Age of Empires II: Gold improves on the original in several ways, including greater ease of use. Tamte adds, “It is easier for people to get into the game quickly.” Alternatives to combat allow players the option of winning the game through trade and diplomacy rather than war. A market-based economic system also offers new options to buy, sell, and speculate on resources.
If you’re a newcomer to Age of Empires, you’ll probably want to start with the single-player William Wallace campaign, in which you command a group of Scottish highlanders and attempt to defeat the better-equipped British army. (If you’ve seen the movie Braveheart, then you know the William Wallace story.) It’s a great way “to learn the tactics you can use to be successful throughout the game,” according to Tamte.
Building a Better Empire
The game begins in the Dark Ages, during the fifth century AD, after the Roman Empire has fallen and much of Europe is plagued with lawlessness. Your fledgling empire consists of a town center, some villagers, and a Scout Cavalry unit. The rest of the world map is black, so the first thing you need to do is explore and see what else is out there, including the other players’ civilizations.
So how do you win? Find out on page two. 
|