Age of Empires

Age of Empires (AoE) is a real-time strategy (RTS) computer game released in 1997, developed by Ensemble Studios[?] and published by Microsoft. The game allowed the user to play as the "spirit guide" of a historical tribe or civilisation.

It is then followed by its expansion pack Age of Empires Expansion: The Rise of Rome (RoR)(1997), its sequel Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (AoK)(1999) and AoK's expansion pack Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion (AoC)(2000).

While a "single player mode" is available, the AoE series features online play in groups up to 8 players simultaneously. The most common problem, however, is encountering lag and internet disconnections[?]. World tournaments are played regularly to establish which are the best players.

In AoE, twelve civilizations (often referred to as "civs") were available:

• Ancient Egyptians
• Assyrians
• Ancient Greeks
• Babylonians
• Choson (Koreans)
• Hittites
• Persians
• Phoenicians
• Minoans
• Shang (Chinese)
• Sumerians
• Yamato (Japanese)

Four more civilizations were added in RoR:

• Romans
• Carthaginians
• Palmyrans
• Macedonians

In AoK, 13 civilizations were available:

• Britons
• Byzantines
• Celts
• Chinese
• Franks
• Goths
• Japanese
• Mongols
• Saracens
• Persians
• Teutons
• Turks
• Vikings

Five more civilizations were added in AoC:

• Aztecs
• Huns
• Mayans
• Koreans
• Spanish