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Age of Empires II (2013) News

Scientists use Age of Empires 2 to investigate how ants wage war


We often hear that videogames can have a positive impact upon the world, but this is the first time I've seen somebody use one - an antique strategy sim, no less - to advocate for appropriately balancing the level design of your front lawn so as to stop indigenous insects being overrun by smaller invading species. The scientific research paper in question - uploaded in August this year, and brought to my attention by RPS contributor and apparent ant enthusiast Matt Cox - sees researchers Samuel J. Lymbery, Bruce L. Webber and Raphael K. Didham use Age of Empires 2 to study how human shaping of the environment affects the balance of power between the indigenous Australian "meat ant", or Iridomyrmex purpureus, and the Argentine ant, or Linepithema humile, who are one of the world's more invasive ant species.


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Regarding the Lunar New Year Sale Discount



Greetings, Age fans! Some eagle-eyed users noticed that Age of Empires II: HD Edition was discounted during the ongoing Lunar New Year sale for 75% off.

Age of Empires II: HD Edition was mistakenly discounted while Age of Empires: Definitive Edition was missing its discount entirely. Over the weekend, this discount was removed, and the same discount was applied to Age of Empires: Definitive Edition.

If you're looking for the latest entry in the Age of Empires II library, check out Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/813780/Age_of_Empires_II_Definitive_Edition/

Thank you for your patience, and apologies for the miscommunication!

This mod adds a Doom campaign to Age of Empires 2

Everyone likes Age of Empires 2. Everyone likes the original Doom. So why not package these two wonderful old games together into one clicky, sticky experience? That's at least the reasoning behind Age of Doom, an Age of Empires 2 mod that pulls in artwork, sounds, and more from the Doom series to create an all new Doom-flavoured campaign for Age of Empires 2.


Age of Doom is basically a Diablo-style isometric shooter. The sound effects and sprites are all drawn from the original Doom games, but there are sound clips included in the campaign from later in the series. The campaign includes four episodes, plus a tutorial mission. Modder Hellknight61 says a final episode, called 'Hellhole Teleportation Portal Gate' is still in the works. You can swap weapons and shift tactics using Age of Empires II's chat panel - it's kind of genius.


You'll start out in the ruins of an ancient human civilisation discovered on Mars, eventually making your way to a UAC corporation base that's been invaded, as they inevitably all are, by a horde of demons. After that, you'll have to travel to the moons of Phobos and Deimos to shut down the hell portals there.


Read the rest of the story...


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Age of Empires IV Launch Trailer – Watch Now!



Get ready! Only three days remain before the launch of Age of Empires IV– the long-awaited return of one of PC gaming’s most iconic strategy franchises.

We also have some exciting announcements for you today:

First, the official launch trailer for Age of Empires IV is available to watch now!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Secondly, as of today, selected press and content creators will start publishing their thoughts on this long-awaited title. Now is a great time to check out some of the content from some of our favorite creators!

Check It Out

Join us October 28 and jump into the fray! Available on Xbox Game Pass for PC, Steam, and Windows.



[h3]Haven’t Pre-Ordered yet?[/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466860/Age_of_Empires_IV/

Lords of the West—the first expansion for Age II: DE—is now available!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

AVAILABLE NOW!
[hr]
[/hr]For those who've made the leap to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, the first official expansion, Lords of the West, is now available! Pick up your copy today and expand your gameplay:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1389240/

FEATURES
[hr]
[/hr]Included in the Lords of the West expansion:

[h3]New Civ! The Burgundians[/h3][expand]


Rise from a mere duchy to the marvel of Western Europe through economic might, cultural achievement, and the use of advanced military technology and tactics.

The dukes of Burgundy played a vital role in the politics of medieval Western Europe. They led the transformation from the medieval to the early modern world and ushered in a golden age for the region called the Northern Renaissance. At their height, these “Grand Dukes of the West” controlled large parts of modern-day France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg.  Carving a new polity out of French, English, and Holy Roman domains was a daunting task that came with a high price: decades of war and bloodshed.

However, the Burgundians knew to use more than just warfare to get what they wanted. Their diplomatic and marriage policies proved to be even stronger than their swords.

▶︎ CIVILIZATION BONUSES
  • Economic upgrades are available one Age earlier than other civs
  • Stable technologies are 50% cheaper
  • Gunpowder units gain a +25% bonus to their attack
  • Cavalier upgrade is available in the Castle Age
▶︎ TEAM BONUS
  • Relics generate both Gold and Food
▶︎ UNIQUE UNITS
  • Coustillier: Burgundian cavalry unit that utilizes a powerful shock attack when charging into battle. Strong vs. infantry and archers. Weak vs. Camel Riders and Monks.
  • Flemish Militia: Burgundian unique infantry unit. Strong vs. cavalry. Weak vs. archers.
▶︎ UNIQUE TECHNOLOGIES
  • Burgundian Vineyards: Convert all food into gold at a 2:1 ratio; Farmers slowly generate gold in addition to food.
  • Flemish Revolution: Upgrades all existing Villagers into Flemish Militia, and allows the training of Flemish Militia at Town Centers.
▶︎ FULL TECHNOLOGY TREE


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[h3]New Civ! The Sicilians[/h3][expand]


Experience the diverse cultures and martial spirit of the Mediterranean’s crossroads as you build one of the most coveted kingdoms of medieval Europe.

Robert Guiscard arrived in Italy in 1047 CE with a robber-band of 35 men. Within a century, his Hauteville family included dukes in Italy, princes in the Middle East, and even the King of Sicily. Join this intrepid family of Norman adventurers and complete their unlikely and compelling story, starting with Robert Guiscard’s arrival in Italy to his nephew Roger II’s consolidation of the Hauteville lands into the Kingdom of Sicily.

The Italo-Normans, as the conquerors and rulers in Norman Italy and Sicily are now known, were successful on the battlefield because of their fierce disposition, vigorous military tradition, keen affinity for tactics and the use of cunning, and sheer torrid speed. In these, they most closely resembled their Viking and Frankish forebears, but as they settled in Italy and Sicily they embraced local cultural customs and norms of governance.

▶︎ CIVILIZATION BONUSES
  • Castles and Town Centers are constructed 100% faster
  • Land military units absorb 50% of all incoming bonus damage
  • Farm upgrades provide +100% additional food to Farms before they need to be reseeded
▶︎ TEAM BONUS
  • Transport ships +5 carry capacity and +10 armor versus anti-ship bonus damage
▶︎ UNIQUE UNIT
  • Serjeant: A hardy infantry unit which can also construct Donjons.
▶︎ UNIQUE BUILDING
  • Donjon: Unique fortification used to train Serjeants. Units can garrison in the building for protection; Archers and Villagers shoot additional projectiles when garrisoned.
▶︎ UNIQUE TECHNOLOGIES
  • First Crusade: Upon researching, each Town Center (up to 5) spawns a one-time group of 10 Serjeants.
  • Scutage: Upon researching, each team member receives a one-time payment of 15 gold for each military unit that they own.
▶︎ FULL TECHNOLOGY TREE


[/expand]
[h3]New Campaigns[/h3][expand]

▶︎ EDWARD LONGSHANKS
Edward I is widely considered as one of England’s greatest rulers, mentioned in the same breath as Alfred the Great and Elizabeth I. Known as “Longshanks” for his height and intimidating stature, he was a man that commanded respect as he transformed England from a tattered state into a prominent European power.

▶︎ THE GRAND DUKES OF THE WEST
he Burgundian dukes are driven by ambition and greed. They lead an extremely luxurious life and need to constantly expand their domains in order to pay for it. Image and publicity mean everything to them. Philip the Bold earned his nickname after the defeat at Poitiers and John the Fearless earned his after a defeat in the Crusades, so these dukes know the importance of propaganda.

▶︎ THE HAUTEVILLES
Robert Guiscard arrived in Italy in 1047 CE with a robber-band of 35 men. Within a century, his Hauteville family included dukes in Italy, princes in the Middle East, and even the King of Sicily. Join this intrepid family of Norman adventurers and complete their unlikely and compelling story.

[/expand]
[h3]New Achievements[/h3][expand]

Unlock and earn brand-new achievements on Steam and the Microsoft Store!


ACHIEVEMENT NAME

ACHIEVEMENT DESCRIPTION
The English Justinian
Complete the Edward Longshanks campaign.
The Good, the Bold, and the Fearless
Complete the Grand Dukes of the West campaign.
Haute Culture
Complete the Hautevilles campaign.
Unchivalrous Pragmatist
Defeat Simon the Younger's army before the baronial forces attack in the first Edward Longshanks mission "Vain Ambition".
Throne Thief
Steal the Stone of Scone in the fourth Edward Longshanks mission "Toom Tabard".
Malleus Scotorum
Kill William Wallace before Robert the Bruce betrays you in the fifth Edward Longshanks mission "Hammer of the Scots".
No Wheels
Do not construct a single siege weapon in the first Grand Dukes of the West mission "A Kingdom Divided".
A Second Hastings
Ignore the armistice offered by the British and invade England by wiping out Humphrey's base in the fifth Grand Dukes of the West mission "The Hook and Cod Wars".
Shut Up La Hire!
Defeat the French army before capturing Joan of Arc in the sixth Grand Dukes of the West mission "The Maid Falls".
Self-Made Man
Win without allying with either Argyrus or Guaimar in the first Hautevilles mission "Guiscard Arrives".
Haute, Haute, brief candle!
Inspire a rebellion in the second Hautevilles mission "Roger in Sicily".
Italy Jones and the First Crusade
Do not lose a hero in the fourth Hautevilles mission "Bohemond in the East".
Burgundian Victory
Win a game playing as the Burgundians.
Sicilian Victory
Win a game playing as the Sicilians.
Golden Spurs
Transform at least 50 Villagers into Flemish Militia by researching Flemish Revolution.
Tour d'Italie
Construct a Donjon and use it to train a Serjeant.

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PICK UP LORDS OF THE WEST TODAY
[hr]
[/hr]There’s no better time to expand your Age of Empires II experience! With free updates every month, new features and content, exclusive game modes and challenges, amazing community tournaments, and other surprises coming to the strategy classic, there’s always something to look forward to as you play and master all it has to offer!

Pick up your copy of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edtion and Lords of the West today, and then come join the discussion on our official social channels:


NEED HELP?
[hr]
[/hr]Visit our support page for some of the most common issues and troubleshooting tips to help you get started in the game:

We'll see you on the battlefield! ⚔