The breadth and depth of Age of Empires provides ample opportunity for a different game each time.

Achieve victory in multiple ways. In contrast with the linear gameplay found in other real-time games, Age of Empires lets gamers choose one of several ways to achieve world domination and ultimate victory:

• Domination of enemy civilizations
• Exploration and discovery of the known world
• Economic victory through the accumulation of wealth

Control destiny. Command one of twelve mighty civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Assyrians and Babylonians. Each civilization has unique attributes based on their historical counterparts.

Choose a technology path. Age of Empires lets gamers choose from numerous technological paths to help lead their civilization to greatness. From an economic path of farming and craftsmanship to a military route of archery and naval warfare, the game comes complete with over a 100-node technology tree (351 kb) that is larger than one player could possibly complete in just one game.

Play in real time. Players get to see the real-time results of their game play decisions, assigning tribe members to hunt, explore, conquer or build.

Challenge others. Players can conquer or cooperate with existing tribes in a multiplayer environment via the Internet (through the Internet Gaming Zone), over a LAN or modem-to-modem.

Command troops. Gamers can build powerful armies from dozens of military units including infantry, warships, chariots, war elephants and archers.

Plan for the future. Players have over 10,000 years of real-time evolution to build their tribe into a powerful flourishing empire. Buildings and units upgrade and improve quickly as players pass from the Stone Age to the Tool Age, the Bronze Age and finally the Iron Age.

Create customized worlds. A fully integrated
scenario editor lets the player create his/her own scenarios and campaigns.

Get into the game. The highly detailed graphics and CD-quality sounds of Age of Empires adds to the epic flavor and enriches the gaming experience.

Only strong personalities can endure history, the weak ones are extinguished by it.
-- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), German philosopher. Thoughts out of Season (1874). From The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations: Copyright (c) 1993, 1995 by Columbia University Press.