Empires: Dawn of the Modern World Introduction:

Empires: Dawn of the Modern World, released in 2003, is a real-time strategy video game developed by Stainless Steel Studios and published by Activision. It immerses players in a historical journey spanning from the Middle Ages to World War II, challenging them to lead one of nine distinct civilizations to victory. The game's development was influenced by customer feedback from Stainless Steel's prior title, Empire Earth, which inspired the team to adopt a more streamlined design approach and incorporate civilizations with unique playstyles.


Critics generally praised Empires, particularly its engaging multiplayer component. However, opinions diverged regarding its single-player mode, and some questioned its level of distinctiveness compared to rival games like Rise of Nations. By 2004, the combined sales of Empires and Empire Earth had reached 2.5 million units.

Gameplay:


Empires: Dawn of the Modern World is a real-time strategy (RTS) game that unfolds across five historical epochs, encompassing the Middle Ages to World War II. In typical RTS fashion, players gather resources, construct buildings, and manage a military force, all facilitated through a cursor interface or hotkeys. The game offers a versatile three-dimensional (3D) camera system, enabling players to view the action from various angles, including isometric and first-person perspectives. A mini-map is also provided.

Each of the nine civilizations boasts a unique playstyle; for instance, the French and English excel in defense, while Chinese structures are mobile. Progressing through historical eras unlocks advanced technologies and unit types, spanning land, sea, and air forces. Players transition from four civilizations in the medieval to imperial age and then select one of the remaining five during World War I. For instance, a player starting as the premodern Franks can evolve into modern Germany or France. Victory is achieved by either eliminating opponents' means of production or constructing and successfully defending a "Wonder," such as the Notre Dame de Paris or Brandenburg Gate.

Empires supports up to eight players, including AI opponents, in two modes: the shorter, battle-focused Action mode and the longer, defense-centric Empire Builder mode. Additionally, the game features three single-player storylines known as "campaigns," each narrating significant events in a civilization's history. These include Richard the Lionheart's medieval campaigns in France, Admiral Yi Sun-Sin's defense of Korea against Japanese invasion in the early modern era, and General George S. Patton's exploits during World War II. Empires also includes a level and campaign scenario editor for players to create their custom content.

The development of Empires began in 2002 under the leadership of Rick Goodman, the head of Stainless Steel Studios and a designer known for his work on Ensemble Studios' Age of Empires and Stainless Steel's earlier title, Empire Earth. The development team drew inspiration from Empire Earth, exploring features that could be refined and reused. Extensive research into historical elements, including events, battle tactics, weapons, technologies, and economic factors, contributed to the game's foundation. While historical accuracy was a priority, the team emphasized the importance of ensuring the game remained enjoyable.

Final Words:


The team also conducted surveys of Empire Earth players in 2002, discovering that the medieval and World War II periods were the most popular, while the futuristic and prehistoric eras were less favored. In response, Empires narrowed its historical scope to 1,000 years, covering the Middle Ages to World War II, with the goal of providing deeper gameplay. Moreover, players expressed a desire for entirely unique civilizations, each with distinct units and playstyles, a feature claimed to be groundbreaking for history-based RTS games. To cater to different player preferences, the game introduced both Empire Builder and Action modes, offering fast-paced combat for hardcore gamers and more management-focused gameplay for casual gamers.