 |
|
| ActiveWin: Interviews | Active Network | Editorials | Reviews | FAQ | Mailing List | Forums |
|
|
|
|
|
DirectX |
|
ActiveMac |
|
Downloads |
|
Forums |
|
Interviews |
|
News |
|
MS Games & Hardware |
|
Reviews |
|
Support Center |
|
Windows 2000 |
|
Windows Me |
|
Windows Server 2003 |
|
Windows Vista |
|
Windows XP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
News Centers |
|
Windows/Microsoft |
|
DVD |
|
Apple/Mac |
|
Xbox |
|
News Search |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ActiveXBox |
|
Xbox News |
|
Box Shots |
|
Inside The Xbox |
|
Released Titles |
|
Announced Titles |
|
Screenshots/Videos |
|
History Of The Xbox |
|
Links |
|
Forum |
|
FAQ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Windows XP |
|
Introduction |
|
System Requirements |
|
Home Features |
|
Pro Features |
|
Upgrade Checklists |
|
History |
|
FAQ |
|
Links |
|
TopTechTips |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ's |
|
Windows Vista |
|
Windows 98/98 SE |
|
Windows 2000 |
|
Windows Me |
|
Windows Server 2002 |
|
Windows "Whistler" XP |
|
Windows CE |
|
Internet Explorer 6 |
|
Internet Explorer 5 |
|
Xbox |
|
Xbox 360 |
|
DirectX |
|
DVD's |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TopTechTips |
|
Registry Tips |
|
Windows 95/98 |
|
Windows 2000 |
|
Internet Explorer 5 |
|
Program Tips |
|
Easter Eggs |
|
Hardware |
|
DVD |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ActiveDVD |
|
DVD News |
|
DVD Forum |
|
Glossary |
|
Tips |
|
Articles |
|
Reviews |
|
News Archive |
|
Links |
|
Drivers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latest Reviews |
|
Xbox/Games |
|
Fallout 3 |
|
|
|
Applications |
|
Windows Server 2008 R2 |
|
Windows 7 |
|
|
|
Hardware |
|
iPod Touch 32GB |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latest Interviews |
|
Steve Ballmer |
|
Jim Allchin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site News/Info |
|
About This Site |
|
Affiliates |
|
Contact Us |
|
Default Home Page |
|
Link To Us |
|
Links |
|
News Archive |
|
Site Search |
|
Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Credits |
Interview with Greg T. Street, Lead Designer: Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion
ActiveWin:What are some of the features that Microsoft Age of Empires II: TheConquerors Expansion Pack improves over the original version? How do youthink this will add to the overall experience of playing AOE II?
Greg T. Street: We have three categories of new features: those that reducemicromanagement (such as the smart villagers), those that address playbalance (such as improved siege weapons), and those that bring somethingentirely new to the game (such as the new civilizations and campaigns). Idon't think it is an understatement to say that the Age of Kings expansionprobably has double the content of the Rise of Rome expansion. It is almostimpossible to play a game of the Conquerors and not notice something thatwasn't present in Age of Kings, whether it is the new terrain, new icons onthe user interface, or the updated graphics on the in-game tech tree.
ActiveWin:What are some of the more interesting technologies that have been added?Are they available to everyone or are they unique to a civilization?
Greg T. Street: Caravan is an upgrade that increases the production of gold by alltrade units. Because strong trade routes can really make the difference inlarger games, we gave this technology to all 18 civilizations. Heresy isdesigned to help players survive huge Monk attacks--it makes your units dierather than be converted. You still lose the unit, but at least your enemydoesn't get it from you. In addition, each civilization has a UniqueTechnology that only their civilization can research. For example, PersianMahouts make their War Elephants move faster. Japanese Kataparuto makestheir Trebuchets pack, unpack and fire faster.
ActiveWin:How long was the Expansion pack in development? Did you overcome atsetbacks or set any milestones?
Greg T. Street: We started the Conquerors Expansion as soon as Age of Kings wasreleased to market, so it took us about 8 months to complete. The projectwent very smoothly, though we did need to redo the palette in order to haveenough white colors available for the snow terrains.
ActiveWin:Age of Empires II is currently one of the best selling games on themarket, do you think the expansion pack will add to that success?
Greg T. Street: Absolutely. As with any Real Time Strategy game, there were some unitand civilization balance issues that developed after months of online play.An expansion gave us a great time to address some of the issues by addingnew units and technologies, rather than just overhaul the system. Forexample, Cavalry Archers turned out to be a little weak in AOK. In theexpansion, we added three new technologies, Bloodlines, Thumb Ring andParthian Shot, that benefit Cav Archers. We believe that any fan of Age ofKings won't feel at peace until they have updated their game with theenhancements that the Conquerors Expansion brings.
ActiveWin: How do the villagers work smarter?
Greg T. Street: If you instruct the villagers to build a gathering site, like a MiningCamp, they will then start working at the appropriate resource without yourhaving to go back to the completed site and re-task them. Villagersassigned to the same farm will spread out and work on any available farm.Villagers instructed to build a wall will move to opposite ends of the walland work their way towards the middle.
ActiveWin:Have any cheats been changed, removed or added to the Expansion Pack? Ifso, can you give us some details?
Greg T. Street: We added a few new cheats based on the families of the ES staff. Furious the Monkey Boy is lead artist Duncan McKissick's son. Stormy the Wonder Dog is programmer Matt Prichard's pooch. All of the original AOK cheats are still available.
ActiveWin:How do the units garrison into the different war Rams? What are the limits as to what the different rams can store?
Greg T. Street: Archers and infantry can garrison in rams similar to the way they load Transport Ships. Only infantry affect the ram's combat ability, by making the ram move faster and do more damage. Battering and Capped Rams can hold 4 units. Siege Rams can hold 6. The type of infantry does not matter--you can get the same effect by loading Spearmen or Teutonic Knights in a ram. Because some infantry move slowly, rams also act as armored personnel carriers, getting your soldiers into battle. They can hop out to defend rams as well.
ActiveWin: Do you have anything to add?
Greg T. Street: There are so many features in the Conquerors Expansion that it has been difficult to discuss them all. For example, there is now an ability to produce screenshots of the entire map and the ability to set chapters in recorded games. Obviously, these two features work great together. We also added some minor tweaks to the interface that are so addictive that it is hard to go back to AOK without them. These include chats displayed in the color of the player who sent them, and a progress bar to tell you when you are advancing to a new age. I think the proof that the game just works is the fact that even after play testing Age of Kings and the Conquerors expansion for well over a year, we have no trouble getting volunteers for pick-up games around the office!
Links
- Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion Review
- Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings Review
