AoE1 to AoE2 to AoE3 is the canary in the coal mine for sequels originally being adding new features and options as they now have more time, money, technology and a system to build off of and refine rather than starting from scratch. To becoming completely overhauls with increased spectacle but FEWER features.
Aoe1: 12 Factions
Aoe2: released with 13, had 18 with the expandion, now has 45 with the additional modern ones.
Aoe3: released with 8, 14 with both expansions, has 22 with all the modern ones.
Aoe1: 50 max population, building houses and town centers to reach it.
Aoe2: 200 max population, build houses town centers and castles
Aoe3: Less than 200, 200 is listed as the cap but lots of units count as more than 1. Additionally, Naval units have individual caps on each type.
As another example, prior to 3 you had to train villagers and then set up a gather point for them to deposit resources, mining camps, lumber camps, or mills, this requires you to contiuely construct economkc buildings and protect them as you exaust the ones close to spawn. In 3 your villagers magically teleport resources directly to your base.
I enjoy III. But it's the first example I remember as a kid playing and thinking "this... isn't actually better" when getting a much awaited sequel.
On top of the gameplay reasons the other guy said, AoE2 was one of those games that just became massively popular in places like Russia and they played it religiously. Kind of like certain Might and Magic games, which followed a lot of the same trajectories. Once that has happened to your series, you'll never get them to stop playing their one hyper specific game for 20 years in a row.
AoE2 just was a game that felt like it "peaked" for the series and nothing that came after really felt like an actual upgrade over it, instead more of a funny side game.
The only notable exception is Age of Mythology, but that's because it took the framework and then did something entirely unique with it.
(This topic is a repost to correct my previous one that had incorrect info stating that the game would be delisted on Oct. 30, rather than already having happened. The comment below was directed to those who might have been interested in buying the 2007 version before it was delisted.)
I thought I'd also add that, while the 2007 version is a bit graphically outdated, the recently published "Enhanced Legacy Edition" mod from ModDB improves a lot of the graphics, adds some much needed QoL, nice new features, and 2 new well-made civs (Americans and Maltese) which otherwise cost $6 in the DEI version.
They really aren't helping the problem of "nobody plays any other game in the series but AoE2."
Nonsense! I still play AoE1 sometimes.
I've only ever played the first one and only single player. I remember trying an online match once and instantly getting my ass handed to me lol.
Can you explain why? I was too young to be any good at the game when I played but the history of video games is always interesting to me.
AoE1 to AoE2 to AoE3 is the canary in the coal mine for sequels originally being adding new features and options as they now have more time, money, technology and a system to build off of and refine rather than starting from scratch. To becoming completely overhauls with increased spectacle but FEWER features.
Aoe1: 12 Factions
Aoe2: released with 13, had 18 with the expandion, now has 45 with the additional modern ones.
Aoe3: released with 8, 14 with both expansions, has 22 with all the modern ones.
Aoe1: 50 max population, building houses and town centers to reach it.
Aoe2: 200 max population, build houses town centers and castles
Aoe3: Less than 200, 200 is listed as the cap but lots of units count as more than 1. Additionally, Naval units have individual caps on each type.
As another example, prior to 3 you had to train villagers and then set up a gather point for them to deposit resources, mining camps, lumber camps, or mills, this requires you to contiuely construct economkc buildings and protect them as you exaust the ones close to spawn. In 3 your villagers magically teleport resources directly to your base.
I enjoy III. But it's the first example I remember as a kid playing and thinking "this... isn't actually better" when getting a much awaited sequel.
On top of the gameplay reasons the other guy said, AoE2 was one of those games that just became massively popular in places like Russia and they played it religiously. Kind of like certain Might and Magic games, which followed a lot of the same trajectories. Once that has happened to your series, you'll never get them to stop playing their one hyper specific game for 20 years in a row.
AoE2 just was a game that felt like it "peaked" for the series and nothing that came after really felt like an actual upgrade over it, instead more of a funny side game.
The only notable exception is Age of Mythology, but that's because it took the framework and then did something entirely unique with it.
(This topic is a repost to correct my previous one that had incorrect info stating that the game would be delisted on Oct. 30, rather than already having happened. The comment below was directed to those who might have been interested in buying the 2007 version before it was delisted.)
I thought I'd also add that, while the 2007 version is a bit graphically outdated, the recently published "Enhanced Legacy Edition" mod from ModDB improves a lot of the graphics, adds some much needed QoL, nice new features, and 2 new well-made civs (Americans and Maltese) which otherwise cost $6 in the DEI version.
AoE3 blows ass anyway