Age of Empires 3 to Ship This Year

Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios have issued a joint press release for the ages: Age of Empires 3 is scheduled to ship some time in the second half of 2005.

Age of Empire 3 is the third installation of a popular real-time strategy (RTS) game series that takes place in the ancient world. This time around, the time tables have advanced to when European powers duked it out to conquer the "New World" and impose colonialism - all in the name of exploration.

Microsoft promises that gamers will be dazzled by "stunning scenes" from the period like "towering European cathedrals" and "courageous Native Americans". In the quest to make the game more realistic, developers worked in advanced battlefield physics and industrial age weaponry. Earlier editions of Age of Empires sampled the technical marvels of the times like trebuchets; Age of Empires 3 is brimming with cannonry.

Other game play elements that will be introduced are the concept of "home cities," more civilizations, battle units, technologies and single-player campaigns that span generations.

Details on pricing for Age of Empire 3 have yet to be announced.