Aoe Iii!

[screwtype]

I just spent like four hours trying to get the AOE III trial version to install and after playing it for 30 to 60 minutes I uninstalled it. I was incredibly dissapointed with it. It sure is pretty, but it is still an AOE game. I bought and played all the AOE games up to Age of mythology (though I didn't get its addon) before I tried STW. It can't hold a candle up to a TW game in enjoyability.

AOE is just a click fest.

I was asking myself whether my next game was going to be Civ IV or AoE III. The only AoE title I've played is the first one, I didn't like it a whole lot but there have been heaps of other titles in the series since.

So I just installed the demo and played for a couple of hours tonight and I have to agree. It's a total clickfest. Even on the "Easy" setting it's really hard, the AI just seems to send endless numbers of troops your way, there's no way to really organize your troops, they don't seem able to even use walls you build, but the thing I hate most about it is the speed, you have to stay busy busy busy or you get trounced by the AI, and there doesn't seem to be a way to slow the pace of the game down either.

Not only that, but it's amazing how little the game has moved on in concept since the original. In fact, I have to say I enjoyed the original better! It's a bit more controllable than this mess.

[screwtype]

After a few more hours playing the demo I've changed my mind to a degree. There *is* a bit of depth to the game - I think.

It would partly depend on what keyboard commands are available to control your different military units. If there are keys to select the different types of military units, it would be an improvement.

But there are still some astonishing omissions in the game. I can't *believe* that the only way of selecting multiple units with the mouse is to pull a rectangle around them - it hasn't changed from the original game! It's an incredibly clumsy method, making it virtually impossible to select just the units you want without including some unwanted units.

I mean, at least they could give you a rotational rectangle. Or better still, why can't you just hold down the mouse button and draw around the units you want? Or select a number of points around which your selection shape will be completed? Would that really make it too complicated?

A pause button, where you can set commands for your units with the game frozen, as in RTW, would be a great feature too, for those of us who like to plan a bit. IMO that is a very serious omission in a game of this type, especially after so many instalments.

On the plus side, there's an option to slow the pace of the game in "skirmish" mode. But they really need one in the campaign too, and there isn't one in the demo. I wouldn't much fancy playing through an entire campaign at the hectic pace of the default setting.

I also couldn't understand the military unit stats, it would be nice if they'd included a bit more info.

Anyhow, there are lots of different military units, and you can sorta organize them with some frantic clicking. But with just a couple of the most basic improvements, this game could be so much more fun. Why haven't they made them after all this time?

[NodachiSam]

Well, they actually have had groups that you can create and select using control and the number keys since possibly the earliest game. I think you can also press shift or something to add selections to what you've already selected. Also, if you double click on a unit all units of that type on screen are selected so it isn't so bad.

I don't think that is enough to save my own interest in the title though. I think they really are scarred to take any risks with the basics of the game because they have been so successful with it. Maybe they could make some sort of offshoot of the game that sort of experiments with the nature of the game. They could leave the click fest rushed feeling to something more strategic and focussing on things other than war so that you can sort of pretend you are building a society. AOE is all about resource managment really.

[screwtype]

Well, they actually have had groups that you can create and select using control and the number keys since possibly the earliest game. I think you can also press shift or something to add selections to what you've already selected. Also, if you double click on a unit all units of that type on screen are selected so it isn't so bad.

Yeah, I've since discovered that. There was nothing about it included with the demo though, which is kind of silly. They seem to assume that everyone who looks at the demo has already played one of the previous titles.

I don't think that is enough to save my own interest in the title though. I think they really are scarred to take any risks with the basics of the game because they have been so successful with it. Maybe they could make some sort of offshoot of the game that sort of experiments with the nature of the game. They could leave the click fest rushed feeling to something more strategic and focussing on things other than war so that you can sort of pretend you are building a society. AOE is all about resource managment really.

After a foray on one of the AoE boards, I get the strong impression that AoE these days is mostly aimed at multiplayer. Most of the posters appear to be MP gamers, and they seem to like the game the way it is, so perhaps the developers know their market.

[hellenes]

After a foray on one of the AoE boards, I get the strong impression that AoE these days is mostly aimed at multiplayer. Most of the posters appear to be MP gamers, and they seem to like the game the way it is, so perhaps the developers know their market.

Repeating myself:
"Its just imo whole DOGMA of a huge part of gamers that are trapped in their dreamworld thinking that they build an empire (yep with building same size as people and couple of town centers...) whilst they play the pinnacle of dumped down warfare..."

Hellenes

[Seleukos]

In fact the only games in pc i have played till now (series) were AoE and TW.(but played really really much)
I used to be a great fun of AoE (I,II,Conquerers)....
but one day came and i saw her...
and the time stopped...
and the sky was filled with brightness and colours...
her smile.. ups ! no!
but it,was TW series ,first Medieval and then Rome and BI.And i forgot all about AoE.
AoE? whats this ?

[scooter_the_shooter]

I am a heretic........I like aom and the new aoe better then tw *gasp* I got sick of rtw. I want to play for fun and I just find the multi player on the aoe games the best. Especially the sims scenarios on aom!(I love to be the mayor and favor a few people and make the game hell for the rest, great fun )

The only thing I get mad about in aoe is when some little 12 year old comes on and it goes something like this

kid "giv m sum gol)"

Me "no I need it"

Kid "fag"

kid " u r fag"

KId "nerd"




Then he proceeds to wall you in even though he is your ally and he gets killed and you can't help because he won't let you out