Playing Age of Empires 2 on a Windows PC in the 1990s instilled my lifelong love of real-time strategy games

As Microsoft celebrates its 50th birthday, I can’t help but reminisce about my earliest experiences with video games, which included the groundbreaking title Age of Empires 2 from Ensemble Studios.

Growing up, I had a variety of educational computer games like JumpStart Kindergarten and Treasure Mountain at my disposal from an early age. However, it wasn’t until I was old enough to understand them that I was introduced to the captivating tales of historical figures such as William Wallace, Joan of Arc, Genghis Khan, and Saladin. These stories served as the foundation for my very first real game.

I can’t forget the time my mom bought Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings from Walmart’s game aisle when I was just five years old. She explained her choice by saying it was historically themed, so it might be enjoyable and educational for me at the same time.

It’s not surprising that she seemed less excited when I suggested looking at the Diablo box. (Well, maybe in about ten years or so, mom.)

Since the instant it completed installation on our home’s Windows 98 desktop and I began navigating a scout, I was captivated. At that point, I wasn’t familiar with many concepts, but one term I quickly comprehended was “strategy.” Soon after came the realization of “real-time strategy,” or RTS.

Initially, I found myself utterly captivated, investing countless hours in finishing the campaigns and crafting personalized scenarios using the editing tool. Upon receiving The Conqueror’s Expansion as a birthday gift a year later, my previous time investment multiplied significantly, reaching thousands of hours.

It’s worth mentioning that my mother’s expectation didn’t come true, but my fascination with history began at a young age as I wanted to learn more about the historical characters depicted in the game’s storylines.

Engaging with Age of Empires 2 significantly influenced my gaming preferences too, since it led me to predominantly appreciate computer-based games for quite some time after that.

At a friend’s place, I got the occasional chance to play games, but it took several years before my siblings and I owned our very first Xbox, the original one.

For my upcoming gaming adventures after Age of Empires, I found myself restricted to playing strategy games (RTS) that were compatible with older computers that didn’t receive many updates, thereby ensuring an extended period of enjoyment in the realm of these types of games.

During that period, my fascination with strategies and tactics grew stronger. However, the technological limitations at hand prompted me to explore other strategy games from the late 90s and early 2000s such as Civilization 2, Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood, and Star Wars: Force Commander.

Once I successfully constructed my personal gaming PC, I promptly dived headfirst into exploring additional games from that genre, such as StarCraft 2, which is developed by Blizzard Entertainment.

My childhood, spent primarily immersed in computer-based strategy games, significantly influenced my preferences, an appreciation that has deepened over the years as time progressed.

As soon as I got an Xbox and began delving into console-based gaming, my preferences in various game categories expanded organically, yet the initial affection I had for strategy games never waned. In fact, I continued seeking out real-time strategy (RTS) titles on consoles, a pursuit that remains disappointingly scarce to this day.

There were some enjoyable surprises too, like the robust adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth 2 on Xbox 360, not to mention Ensemble Studios’ final project, the initial release of Halo Wars.

Some unexpected delights also emerged, such as the strong Xbox 360 version of The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth 2 and Ensemble Studios’ final work, the original Halo Wars.

To this day, real-time strategy (RTS) games continue to provide a distinctly familiar and enjoyable experience for me. It’s effortless for me to immerse myself for countless hours in a fresh grand campaign, even if I’ve been playing the game for many years.

Currently, the primary issue I’m facing is striking a balance between indulging in various pastimes – such as engaging with games during leisure hours – and the observation that a significant number of major game developers appear to be less invested in Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game development nowadays.

As a analyst, I must acknowledge that there are indeed notable exceptions to the norm, and one such exception is the Creative Assembly team, owned by Sega, whose commitment to titles like Total War: Warhammer continues to impress me even three years after its release. Their ongoing support deserves recognition.

As a bystander, I’ve noticed that Microsoft is still nurturing a collection of strategy games under the World’s Edge label, the group that manages both Age of Empires and Age of Mythology. Not long ago, I had the chance to evaluate the initial expansion for Age of Mythology: Retold, and I’m eagerly anticipating additional DLC for Age of Empires 2 towards the end of this year.

Now that Microsoft has taken over Activision Blizzard and its extensive library of games, I can only cross my fingers that perhaps we might witness the return of StarCraft and Warcraft as strategy games in the future. However, I shall stay patient and observe what the coming years may hold.

In the end, it’s pleasant to look back and realize where my journey in gaming originated. From the start, it was the strategic aspect that captured my heart, and this passion has been a constant thread, leading me to where I am today in my professional life.

Indeed, I appreciate all you’ve given, Age of Empires 2, and your courage, Mom. Your actions will always be etched in my memory.

2025-03-31 14:39

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