Show off your Photoshop skills in this new edition of the Age of Empires monthly contest, Wololo Wednesday!

Full details at http://aka.ms/aoewololowednesday

Show off your Photoshop skills in this new edition of the Age of Empires monthly contest, Wololo Wednesday!

Full details at http://aka.ms/aoewololowednesday

Through extensive user research with specialized focus groups, it was determined a fundamental feature required reinstatement within the series. Today we are pleased to announce Age of Empires II: Low Definition Edition.




Designed with your CRT monitors in mind, AOE II: LD is available for all AOE II HD owners for a limited time. Re-live the experience the way it was designed, with an internal render resolution of 800x600 glorious pixels. Squint to make out letters and words like you did while playing during computer class instead of finishing homework. Or in the evenings to ‘study’ for that history exam. Or at a friend’s house until you got kicked out to go play outside because it was sunny and their parents needed to use the internet for something before they ran out of the 10 hours of internet time that came on the AOL CD….


That's an eagle scout there...we think...maybe?

Moving on! So how do you get this modern marvel? Just right click on your game in the steam library, go to “properties”, and the “betas” tab. Select aoeii:LD from the drop down menu and you’re off to the races! Just don’t forget to feed your Tamagotchi before sitting down for an evening of classic history. 56K modem sound effects not included.


We’ll probably get lots of letters asking why make this change now? Why delight players so, over a decade and a half after the game came out? It’s best to let the research report from our Fecundity User Department speak for itself, an excerpt is as follows:

Satisfaction surveys and usability histograms discovered historic authenticity and nostalgic reverence were fundamental decision drivers for large portions of highly desirable target markets with excellent retention and low variability amongst titles. Additionally, developing organic buzz had greater segment reach when unique experiences synergized with perceived accuracy to expected impressions and desirability within the audience. Recommended is strategizing perfunctory development on revolutionary immersive experiences tailored to revitalizing and energizing the classic customer base while increasing engagement of existing users.

We don’t really have any idea what that means aside from going for the highest buzzword per sentence ratio possible, but happy April 1st anyway!




Note: AOEII:LD represents game changes that should remain functional in online experiences...if for whatever reason you want to play multiplayer like that.

Stay tuned next week for our next real AOE patch - with more on the way through the year.

Through extensive user research with specialized focus groups, it was determined a fundamental feature required reinstatement within the series. Today we are pleased to announce Age of Empires II: Low Definition Edition.




Designed with your CRT monitors in mind, AOE II: LD is available for all AOE II HD owners for a limited time. Re-live the experience the way it was designed, with an internal render resolution of 800x600 glorious pixels. Squint to make out letters and words like you did while playing during computer class instead of finishing homework. Or in the evenings to ‘study’ for that history exam. Or at a friend’s house until you got kicked out to go play outside because it was sunny and their parents needed to use the internet for something before they ran out of the 10 hours of internet time that came on the AOL CD….


That's an eagle scout there...we think...maybe?

Moving on! So how do you get this modern marvel? Just right click on your game in the steam library, go to “properties”, and the “betas” tab. Select aoeii:LD from the drop down menu and you’re off to the races! Just don’t forget to feed your Tamagotchi before sitting down for an evening of classic history. 56K modem sound effects not included.


We’ll probably get lots of letters asking why make this change now? Why delight players so, over a decade and a half after the game came out? It’s best to let the research report from our Fecundity User Department speak for itself, an excerpt is as follows:

Satisfaction surveys and usability histograms discovered historic authenticity and nostalgic reverence were fundamental decision drivers for large portions of highly desirable target markets with excellent retention and low variability amongst titles. Additionally, developing organic buzz had greater segment reach when unique experiences synergized with perceived accuracy to expected impressions and desirability within the audience. Recommended is strategizing perfunctory development on revolutionary immersive experiences tailored to revitalizing and energizing the classic customer base while increasing engagement of existing users.

We don’t really have any idea what that means aside from going for the highest buzzword per sentence ratio possible, but happy April 1st anyway!




Note: AOEII:LD represents game changes that should remain functional in online experiences...if for whatever reason you want to play multiplayer like that.

Stay tuned next week for our next real AOE patch - with more on the way through the year.

We're streaming community-made maps from the AoE II: HD Steam Workshop live now until 3 PM PST!

Tune in at twitch.tv/ageofempires or hitbox.tv/ageofempires.

We're streaming community-made maps from the AoE II: HD Steam Workshop live now until 3 PM PST!

Tune in at twitch.tv/ageofempires or hitbox.tv/ageofempires.

Age of Empires III fans, we're live with The Asian Dynasties multiplayer! Come watch and chat with us at twitch.tv/ageofempires or hitbox.tv/ageofempires.

Age of Empires III fans, we're live with The Asian Dynasties multiplayer! Come watch and chat with us at twitch.tv/ageofempires or hitbox.tv/ageofempires.

Featured Age of Empires II: HD streamer Milmano is live now on our Twitch channel! Tune in at twitch.tv/ageofempires.

Featured Age of Empires II: HD streamer Milmano is live now on our Twitch channel! Tune in at twitch.tv/ageofempires.