Age of Empires – MMO Fallout

Age of Empires Online Isn't Shutting Down, Content Development Ceases

You like Age of Empires Online just the way it is, right? Hopefully you do, because Gas Powered Games has announced that future content development has ceased. A small amount of content will be released in the coming weeks, but after that Age of Empires Online will only see a few small changes to fix bugs as they crop up, as well as maintenance to keep the game running. Following this little bit of content, the game will be set as it is forever. Granted, this doesn’t mean that Age of Empires Online is close to shutting down.

Far from it in fact, rather Microsoft Studios notes in the announcement that nothing will change for current gamers:

However, nothing else changes for players, nothing that currently exists will be removed. You can still play everything you own, earn EP, and purchase any content you do not currently own. We will still fully maintain and support the game and its players; no one is losing anything that you have earned or bought. Our Community team will continue to support the game by way of Community Challenges, streams, contests, PvP tournaments and more.

The cause for the sudden cancellation is due to a reported high cost of developing content for the MMO.

(Age of Empires Blog)

Age of Empires Online Isn’t Shutting Down, Content Development Ceases

Far from it in fact, rather Microsoft Studios notes in the announcement that nothing will change for current gamers:

However, nothing else changes for players, nothing that currently exists will be removed. You can still play everything you own, earn EP, and purchase any content you do not currently own. We will still fully maintain and support the game and its players; no one is losing anything that you have earned or bought. Our Community team will continue to support the game by way of Community Challenges, streams, contests, PvP tournaments and more.

The cause for the sudden cancellation is due to a reported high cost of developing content for the MMO.

(Age of Empires Blog)

Age of Empires Online Will Be Free To Play, Not Free To Try

Age of Empires Online has had something of an identity crisis. Although enjoyed by plenty of players, the team at Gas Powered Games has been on the receiving end of some harsh criticism that the game isn’t so much “free to play” as it is “free to try.” Premium civilizations aren’t so much an optional add-on as they are a necessity to compete, adding a considerable road block at $10 a piece (they used to be $20).

Starting this summer, players will be able to obtain Empire Points either through buying them or by playing the game. Premium civilizations aren’t going anywhere, but by playing Age of Empires Online a player could accrue sufficient Empire Points to purchase the premium packs without paying a dime. According to GPG developers, a regular player might take two to three weeks of playing daily to obtain a premium civilization.

Age of Empires Online becomes more free to play this summer.

(Source: PC Gamer)

Get Age of Empires Online: Skirmish Mode While It Is Free

Age of Empires Online has always had one major downside: You had to do some major grinding in order to unlock all of the units in the game’s standard leveling mode. What ever happened to a fun skirmish in Age of Empires with everything available? Well the team over at Gas Powered Games has heard your pleas, and has introduced the Skirmish booster pack, allowing for just what the doctor ordered: Massive battles without the need to grind out your units.

The pack is free, but only for a limited time. You’ll still need to go through the process of buying it from Games for Windows marketplace, however.

Age of Empires Online: Your Mom’s Video Blog

Ya ever had a corn sandwich? The wounds from Ensemble Studios’ closure may still be fresh, but the guys over at Gas Powered Games want you to know that they are putting their full attention into Age of Empires Online. Hopefully this studio, known for their Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander games, will be able to make the transition to MMORTS.

Age of Empires Online is currently in beta.