News

Age of Empires Online goes truly free-to-play
Posted: 27.06.2012 15:54 by JonahFalcon Comments: 10
Gas Powered Games has announced that their free-to-play Age of Empires Online will be transitioning to true free-to-play; that is, all content, premium and otherwise, will be free. Players will still be able to purchase premium content, but as a shortcut, rather than as a requirement.

After the most current update, the game's currency, Empire Points, can now be earned through conventional gameplay, as well as purchased via Steam or Games for Windows Live. The update also includes some new content including Alliance Wars. That gameplay mode is team-based competition for players level 40 and up. Also included are new vanity items and consumables.

According to CEO Chris Taylor, "With Empire Points and this true free-to-play business model, we are giving players what they have repeatedly asked for... fewer pay walls and more ways for players to experience this legendary franchise."

All current players will be getting a 500 Empire Points gift, while new accounts will get 100 Empire Points. Players who currently own Empire Points will have them converted to in-game coin.

Age of Empires Online was launched on the 16th August 2011, and earned an 8.0/10 score in Strategy Informer's review.
Source: Joystiq

Comments

By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Jun 27, 2012
herodotus
I gave it a go, but the cartoon graphics and basically duplicate civilisations put me right off. Might be worth another look to see if things have progressed and/or been enhanced by making more content available for free.
By danfreeman (SI Core) on Jun 27, 2012
danfreeman
Well this will make me go back for sure,i left when i first saw that it was not skill that mattered but how good your equipment was.It really does justice to AoE2 hero,if you played that it`s basicaly the same with new artstyle and graphics,still hope they did improve things since last i checked it.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Jun 27, 2012
herodotus
Played "AoE 2" to death, and still have the t-shirt (bit worn, but a good undershirt). I really don't like the art style, though I know it's a matter of taste.
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Jun 27, 2012
nocutius
I don't like the art either but the thing that made me ignore this game was the fact that it was too expensive for a game that was supposed to be mostly free.
By danfreeman (SI Core) on Jun 27, 2012
danfreeman
I`m not much of a fan for the art style either but i try to bear with it.Tell me about it nocutius,i mean 20$ for a single civilization,no thank you,but my biggest problem was that i just got to a point where no matter how i played i couldn`t win because my opponent`s troops were just so much more powerful then mine and since i didn`t buy a civ i couldn`t use the best items,only the crappy ones and that made me leave despite the fact that i did enjoy it.This had better be fixed now or i`m never bothering with this again.
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Jun 27, 2012
nocutius
I was a bit worried that something similar would happen with those extra civs when I heard how much they cost.

P2W games are terrible, I'm surprised that people still play them. I don't mind convenience or vanity items but in-game advantages are a guarantee that the game is gonna fail and so it makes even less sense to invest anything into them.
By SiyaenSokol (SI Elite) on Jun 28, 2012
SiyaenSokol
I love Age of Empires... but I haven't gotten myself to play this game yet... though I am not even sure if I would want to. Time will tell.
By lichlord (SI Core) on Jun 30, 2012
lichlord
Its the cartoon graphics that ruined it unfortunatly when i played it it made me feel like i was 8 years old playing some child game(even then tho i played games like diablo 2) i can't take it looking like that
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Jun 30, 2012
herodotus
I still remember the day I bought the first "AoE", agog at the screenshots on the back of the box. Couldn't believe the pictures I was looking at, which were at the time almost photorealistic. For me, that's how the game should look (obviously upgraded since then). "Red Alert 3" barely escapes with it's look, but ultimately cartoon graphics in a RTS just don't work for me.
By lichlord (SI Core) on Jun 30, 2012
lichlord
yeah lol still play it somethimes aoe 1 is fun :)