Upon hearing the news of a brand new Age of Empires game, the reaction of most people would surely be joy. The beloved RTS series has captivated millions over the years. Age of Empires II is universally considered to a classic RTS title and is undoubtedly still played today. In fact, the HD re-release of the game garnered huge success. The new installment of the series is going to be Age of Empires: Castle Siege.
Unfortunately, Age of Empires is set to be the next beloved series to fall victim to the vices of the modern games industry. As can be seen here, whilst the game is set for release on Windows 8 PC it is very clear that the game is primarily designed to be used with a touch screen i.e. it is intended for tablets and mobiles. At least the game will support cross platform play, which is a nice touch. Reportedly players will be able to initially choose from six ‘Medieval Era’ Empires with their own unique units. Presumably more will be available, either through unlocking them or for a small fee. The presence of real historical scenarios and people is also advertised. Age of Empires advertises players being able to recreate famous historic sieges and call famous historical figures to aim them in times of trouble.
Information not available on the PlayXBLA site, is the presence of microtransactions. Scrolling to the bottom of this page will reveal the uncomfortable truth behind Age of Empires: Castle Siege. “In-game purchases available to accelerate gameplay.” This is exactly the kind of model that got EA in trouble with the UK Advertising Standards Authority over Dungeon Keeper. In that instance players were forced to choose making in-game purchases or waiting an inordinately long period of time in order to progress further in the game. This is a trap that Age of Empires: Castle Siege threatens to fall into. Hopefully Microsoft will learn from EA and not repeat the same mistakes. Age of Empires: Castle Siege is set for release in September.
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