Age of Empire Online Launching Today

[tydas]

I know this is officialy launching today, anyone play in beta and have feedback?

Anyone planning to play?

 

[lord_emperor]

I will give it a try.

 

[Red Storm]

It's similar to traditional Age of Empires in a general game play sense, but they greatly expanded the "RPG" aspect and made it the core part of the game. Your "home city" has a level that can be increased with XP (gained from doing missions and PVP I believe). Increased level gives you access to better units and equipment.

But, this is a free to play game, so you have to have a pay-to-win aspect. People who pay money get access to new (currently unreleased) civilizations, as well as booster packs (extra missions that grant new gear/equipment/bonuses).

As someone who didn't level up high enough to get my hands on expensive equipment for my troops, I am at a major disadvantage against someone who does have these bonuses (they aren't insignificant either, I saw +$40 damage for all infantry type bonuses and whatnot). Also if you want to just play typical AOE where you can set the game conditions and stuff, you have to buy that privilege from them.

The cartoony graphics work okay in games like Starcraft II because there aren't all that many actual human units on the map, most everything is a machine or alien. In AOE:Online the higher end units are physically much bigger than the standard units, so it looks kinda weird.

That's what I remember from the beta anyhow. It is a free game though, so everyone can see for themselves whether or not they will enjoy it.

Edit: I see several day 1 DLC addons, including "premium" packs for the existing Greek civ, which basically adds better gear/stats to your units. How on earth pay-to-win is supposed to work in a (supposedly) competitive RTS, I have no clue.

 

[techie81]

Downloading it now. I wish it was purely on-line but you have to download the client.

 

[tydas]

OK, I thoght they were going to do more of a persistent world with aoe tied in somehow

 

[Firsttime]

Gross. I hate the RPG elements that make their way into RTS games ala WC3. I spent thousands of hours playing AoE and AoEII, could never really get into 3 though. I was kinda hoping this would be more like II, guess not. If it gets really good reviews who knows, but the hypes been pretty limited.

Also never been a fan of the pay for power F2P scheme.

 

[evident]

this game looks like a total bastardization of the original AOE that i love and spent countless hours of my middle school life getting into the top 100 rankings in msn gaming zone

 

[Snock514]

Givin' it a shot!

 

[xXFaNtAsMaXx]

Gross. I hate the RPG elements that make their way into RTS games ala WC3. I spent thousands of hours playing AoE and AoEII, could never really get into 3 though. I was kinda hoping this would be more like II, guess not. If it gets really good reviews who knows, but the hypes been pretty limited.

Also never been a fan of the pay for power F2P scheme.

You're pretty much alone in hating Warcraft 3; that game was great, and it's use of heroes was awesome. There were no other RPG elements besides the heroes, so they really didn't get in the way at all.


On topic, I think it's stupid that you have to buy the right to play typical AOE.

 

[CU]

You're pretty much alone in hating Warcraft 3; that game was great, and it's use of heroes was awesome. There were no other RPG elements besides the heroes, so they really didn't get in the way at all.

I am another one that didn't like the hero/RPG aspect of Warcraft 3. I also didn't like the small army sizes.

As for AOE online, I need to take a look at it since it is free to play.

 

[Arsinek]

Is this game going to have heros?

 

[Firsttime]

You're pretty much alone in hating Warcraft 3; that game was great, and it's use of heroes was awesome. There were no other RPG elements besides the heroes, so they really didn't get in the way at all.


On topic, I think it's stupid that you have to buy the right to play typical AOE.

I can see why people like it, I enjoyed it to a degree. It just never gripped me the way AoEII did. I'm a big fan of the RTS counter triangle footman->horsemen->archers->footmen and games that follow that kind of guide. The heroes just took away from it for me.

 

[M0RPH]

Downloading it now. I wish it was purely on-line but you have to download the client.

What's the size of the download?

 

[zinfamous]

You're pretty much alone in hating Warcraft 3; that game was great, and it's use of heroes was awesome. There were no other RPG elements besides the heroes, so they really didn't get in the way at all.

No, he's not alone. I much preferred the earlier Warcrafts to Warcraft 3.

I liked the hero thing, and the light RPG elements, but Warcraft 1 and 2 were much better RTS games.

If you could take the elves with their moving base mechanics and toss it into Warcraft 2, that would have been excellent.

 

[ViviTheMage]

What's the size of the download?

I am more then half way and it's pushing 1.8gb

 

[techie81]

Yeah, it took me a while to download the whole thing. As far as the game play, it seems ok. Some of the quests get you comfortable with the UI and controls. I think there is potential for it to be fun. Still going to give it a another try when I get home from work.

 

[RandomSanity]

You're pretty much alone in hating Warcraft 3; that game was great, and it's use of heroes was awesome. There were no other RPG elements besides the heroes, so they really didn't get in the way at all.


On topic, I think it's stupid that you have to buy the right to play typical AOE.

Not true at all, Warcraft 3 was, in my opinion, terrible in comparison to earlier version of Warcraft.

I'm going to give this game a try this weekend, it looks ridiculous to be honest but I've always liked the AOE games.

 

[Craig234]

Any AT server?

 

[blackened23]

Not true at all, Warcraft 3 was, in my opinion, terrible in comparison to earlier version of Warcraft.

I'm going to give this game a try this weekend, it looks ridiculous to be honest but I've always liked the AOE games.

Your opinion would be in the minority then. WC3 was an incredible game , IMO, and the hero classes added another layer of strategy to the game.

 

[Red Storm]

I personally think all the Warcraft games suck, but what more do you expect from a Starcraft fanboy?

Back on topic, I remember back when AOE:O was announced they said it would be available for Windows and Mac, but now after releasing the game they say exclusively for "Windows and Games For Windows Live". Having to install and use that turd of an app is what kept me from buying Age of Empires III during that 10 cent sale.

 

[Craig234]

After just an hour or two of solo questing, it's seeming 'ok', the pricing seems high encouraging keeping it as a free casual game, if playing it at all.

They're already giving a quest reward which is usable 'only by premium civilizations', seeming to push pretty hard to buy.

 

[JTsyo]

F2P has two things the developers want. First is people that will pay them, the second is people for the ones paying to beat up on so that it's worthwhile for them to keep paying.

Can you have your own server with custom rules?

 

[Red Storm]

Can you have your own server with custom rules?

Yep... but you have to buy it. :thumbsdown:

 

[evident]

Your opinion would be in the minority then. WC3 was an incredible game , IMO, and the hero classes added another layer of strategy to the game.

agree. i find warcraft 3 far more enjoyable than starcraft 2. but sc2 is pretty fun too. i think it's personal preference more than anything.

 

[Robert Munch]

Game asks for a product key?