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Difference between revisions of "Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings"

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(→‎Availability: Added in OS details.)
 
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{{disambig|the original game|the 2013 HD Edition|[[Age of Empires II: HD Edition]]|the 2019 Definitive Edition|[[Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition]]}}
 
{{Infobox game
 
{{Infobox game
 
|cover        = Age of Empires II Gold Cover.png
 
|cover        = Age of Empires II Gold Cover.png
 
|developers  =  
 
|developers  =  
 
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Ensemble Studios}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Ensemble Studios}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/porter|Westlake Interactive|Mac OS}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/porter|Westlake Interactive|OS X}}
 
|publishers  =  
 
|publishers  =  
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Microsoft Studios}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Microsoft}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Ubisoft|Re-releases}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|MacSoft|Mac OS, OS X}}
 
|engines      =  
 
|engines      =  
 
{{Infobox game/row/engine|Genie}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/engine|Genie}}
 
|release dates=  
 
|release dates=  
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|September 30, 1999}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|October 10, 1999}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|Mac OS|October 2001}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|Mac OS|October 2001}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/date|OS X|October 2001}}
 +
|reception    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|age-of-empires-ii-the-age-of-kings|92}}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase, Expansion pack }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | None }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer, Multiplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Real-time }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | Bird's-eye view, Isometric }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Multiple select, Point and select }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | RTS }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | Asia, Europe, Middle East, Pre-Columbian Americas, Medieval }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | Age of Empires }}
 
|steam appid  =  
 
|steam appid  =  
|gogcom page  =  
+
|gogcom id    =  
 +
|official site= https://web.archive.org/web/20011110043103/http://www.microsoft.com/games/age/
 +
|hltb        = 268
 +
|lutris      = age-of-empires-ii-the-age-of-kings
 +
|strategywiki = Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
 +
|mobygames    = 368
 
|wikipedia    = Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
 
|wikipedia    = Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
 
|winehq      = 99
 
|winehq      = 99
 +
|license      = commercial
 
}}
 
}}
{{Series|Age of Empires}}
 
{{disambig|the original game|the re-release|[[Age of Empires II HD]]}}
 
  
'''Key points'''
+
{{Introduction
{{--}} Base game does not work on Windows 10 due to SafeDisc support being discontinued ([[#UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update|UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update]] fixes this issue for The Conquerors).
+
|introduction      =
{{++}} [[#UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update|UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update]] adds support for widescreen/multi-monitor resolutions.
+
 
 +
|release history  = After its release, the game received '''''The Conquerors''''' expansion in August 2000, with new civilizations, campaigns and quality-of-life improvements like improved villager AI and farm reseed queuing in mills. After release, the game received a sizable community and a modding scene.
 +
 
 +
|current state    = [[#Unofficial patches (The Conquerors)|Unofficial patches]] (for both [[#Color issues|compatibility]] and bug fixes) and the [http://www.voobly.com/ Voobly] community multiplayer service were instrumental in keeping the interest in the game alive, including after the ''[[Age of Empires II: HD Edition|HD Edition]]'' of the game which did not have as responsive a netcode as the original. Despite the release of the 2019 ''[[Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition|Definitive Edition]]'', these modified versions of ''The Conquerors'', including those with back-ported ''HD'' and ''Definitive Edition'' expansion content, remain relatively popular, mostly among players with lower-spec computers.
 +
}}
  
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
 +
{{mm}} [https://discordapp.com/invite/ageofempires Official Discord server] for the series
 
{{mm}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20131015072052/http://www.microsoft.com/games/age2/default.htm Age of Empires II Official Microsoft Site (archived)]
 
{{mm}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20131015072052/http://www.microsoft.com/games/age2/default.htm Age of Empires II Official Microsoft Site (archived)]
{{mm}} [http://ageofempires.wikia.com/wiki/Age_of_Empires_Series_Wiki Age of Empires Wiki] Wikia for the entire series
+
{{mm}} [https://aok.heavengames.com Age of Kings Heaven] Community Site and Map Archive
{{mm}} [http://aok.heavengames.com Age of Kings Heaven] Community Site and Map Archive
+
{{mm}} [https://aoezone.net AoEZone] Community site for competitive gaming
{{mm}} [http://aoczone.net AoCZone] Community Site for competitive gaming
 
 
{{mm}} [https://www.reddit.com/r/aoe2/ /r/aoe2] Age of Empires 2 Subreddit
 
{{mm}} [https://www.reddit.com/r/aoe2/ /r/aoe2] Age of Empires 2 Subreddit
 +
{{mm}} [https://ageofnotes.com/ Age of Notes] Age of Empires 2 Guides
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability|
{{Availability/row| Retail | | disc | [[DRM]]: SafeDisc disc check. |  | Windows, Mac OS }}
+
{{Availability/row| Retail | | disc | {{DRM|SafeDisc}}. |  | Windows, Mac OS, OS X }}
{{Availability/row| Amazon | B0049WF6FY | disc | {{store link|Amazon|B000J18SR2|Collector's Edition}} also available. |  | Windows, Mac OS }}
+
{{Availability/row| Retail | | DRM-free | Collector's Edition re-releases. |  | Windows }}
 
}}
 
}}
 +
{{ii}} Free demos are available for [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/117-age-of-empires-ii-the-age-of-kings-demo/ The Age of Kings] and [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/118-age-of-empires-ii-the-conquerors-expansion-demo/ The Conquerors Expansion].
  
{{ii}} The "Age of Empires Collector's Editon" can often be found on store shelves. It is the most cost effective way of acquiring the game, as it contains the following games on a single DVD-ROM:
+
===Version differences===
:*[[Age of Empires]]
+
{{ii}} '''Age of Empires II: Gold Edition''' contains the base game and The Conquerors expansion, first released in 2001.
:*[[Age of Empires|Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome]]
+
{{ii}} '''Age of Empires: Collector's Edition''' contains [[Age of Empires]] and Age of Empires II with their respective expansion packs. The later DVD-ROM releases include the latest patches and are DRM-free, but are missing Red Book CD audio.
:* Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
 
:* Age of Empires II: The Conquerors
 
:
 
:{{++}} NoCD version; DVD only necessary for installation. 
 
:{{++}} All games are already fully patched.
 
:{{--}} However, it should be noted that the DVD re-release of these games does not feature the Red Book audio stored as separate audio tracks on the original games' discs. As such, the game music will not be played while the DVD is in the drive.
 
  
===Demos===
+
==Monetization==
* [http://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/117-age-of-empires-ii-the-age-of-kings-demo/ Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings]
+
{{Monetization
* [http://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/118-age-of-empires-ii-the-conquerors-expansion-demo/ Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion]
+
|ad-supported          =  
 +
|dlc                    =  
 +
|expansion pack        = The expansion pack includes new civilizations, units, technologies (some civilization-unique) and campaigns.
 +
|freeware              =
 +
|free-to-play          =
 +
|one-time game purchase = The game requires an upfront purchase to access.
 +
|sponsored              =
 +
|subscription          =
 +
}}
  
 
{{DLC|
 
{{DLC|
{{DLC/row| Age of Empires II: The Conquerors | Windows version is sold separately, Mac OS version only in Gold Edition. | Windows, Mac OS}}
+
{{DLC/row| The Conquerors | Windows version is sold separately, Mac OS version only in Gold Edition. | Windows, Mac OS}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
==Essential improvements==
 
==Essential improvements==
 
===Skip intro videos===
 
===Skip intro videos===
{{Fixbox|1=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Start game with -nostartup [[Glossary:Command line arguments|parameter]]|ref=<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://support.microsoft.com/kb/830651|title=Known video issues in Age of Empires II|date=May 2023}}</ref>}}
{{Fixbox/fix|Start game with -nostartup [[Glossary:Command line arguments|parameter]]|ref=<ref>[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/830651 Known video issues in Age of Empires II]</ref>}}
 
}}
 
  
 
===Patches===
 
===Patches===
{{ii}} The latest patch for the base game is [http://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/67-age-of-empires-ii-the-age-of-kings-patch/ Version 2.0a].
+
{{ii}} The latest patch for the base game is [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/67-age-of-empires-ii-the-age-of-kings-patch/ Version 2.0a].
{{ii}} The latest patch for The Conquerors is [http://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/119-age-of-empires-ii-the-conquerors-expansion-patch/ Version 1.0c].
+
{{ii}} The latest patch for The Conquerors is [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/119-age-of-empires-ii-the-conquerors-expansion-patch/ Version 1.0c].
 +
{{ii}} Alternately, the latest official patches are available at [https://soggi.org/misc/game-patches.htm soggi.org].
  
===Unofficial Patch 1.0e (The Conquerors)===
+
===Unofficial patches (The Conquerors)===
The unofficial patch for Conquerors, which includes NoCD is [http://host-a.net/u/arthurk/FINAL-aoc-1.0e-Patch.zip/ Version 1.0e].
+
{{ii}} [https://gamebanana.com/mods/37904 1.0e] includes exploit fixes, a fix for a rare issue with missing permissions when overwriting files, a no-CD patch and a version switcher. The uninstaller cleanly reverts to the official 1.0c version.
 +
{{ii}} [http://userpatch.aiscripters.net UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update] adds many fixes including widescreen support, UPnP port forwarding, and various optional tweaks. If it is installed on top of v1.0e, no CD is required.
  
===UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update===
+
===Forgotten Empires===
The unofficial [http://userpatch.aiscripters.net UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update] patch for The Conquerors adds many fixes including widescreen support, UPnP port forwarding, and various optional tweaks. Although it doesn't include a NoCD, it will not remove a valid NoCD. If it is installed on top of [http://host-a.net/u/arthurk/FINAL-aoc-1.0e-Patch.zip/ Version 1.0e], no CD is required.
+
{{ii}} [https://www.forgottenempires.net/install Forgotten Empires] is a mod which adds new civilizations, campaigns, maps and other fixes.  
 
+
{{++}} It was later made available as official DLC for the [[Age of Empires II (2013)|HD Edition]] and is included by default with the [[Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition|Definitive Edition]] - as a result, the mod version is no longer supported.
===Age of Empires II: Forgotten Empires===
 
[http://www.forgottenempires.net Age of Empires II: Forgotten Empires] is an unofficial expansion which adds new civilizations, maps and other fixes.
 
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
{{Game data/row|Windows|{{p|game}}\config.xml}}
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|game}}\config.xml}}
{{Game data/row|Mac OS|}}
+
{{Game data/config|Mac OS|}}
 +
{{Game data/config|OS X|}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===Save game data location===
 
===Save game data location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
{{Game data/row|Windows|{{p|game}}\SaveGame\}}
+
{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|game}}\SaveGame\}}
{{Game data/row|Mac OS|}}
+
{{Game data/saves|Mac OS|}}
 +
{{Game data/saves|OS X|}}
 
}}
 
}}
{{ii}} Player settings are saved in <code>{{p|game}}\Player.nfp</code> (determines unlocked scenarios etc.)
+
{{ii}} Player settings are saved in {{file|{{p|game}}\Player.nfp}} (determines unlocked scenarios etc.)
{{ii}} Custom campaigns are saved in <code>{{p|game}}\Campaign\</code>
+
{{ii}} Custom campaigns are saved in {{file|{{p|game}}\Campaign\|folder}}
{{ii}} Custom scenarios are saved in <code>{{p|game}}\Scenario\</code>
+
{{ii}} Custom scenarios are saved in {{file|{{p|game}}\Scenario\|folder}}
  
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
+
==Video==
{{Save game cloud syncing
 
|origin                =
 
|origin notes          =
 
|steam cloud          =
 
|steam cloud notes    =
 
|uplay                =
 
|uplay notes          =
 
}}
 
 
 
==Video settings==
 
 
{{Image|Age of Empires II The Age of Kings Options.png|In-game options menu.}}
 
{{Image|Age of Empires II The Age of Kings Options.png|In-game options menu.}}
{{Video settings
+
{{Video
|wsgf link                  = http://www.wsgf.org/dr/age-empires-ii-conquerors-expansion/en
+
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/age-empires-ii-conquerors-expansion/en
 
|widescreen wsgf award      = limited
 
|widescreen wsgf award      = limited
 
|multimonitor wsgf award    = limited
 
|multimonitor wsgf award    = limited
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award = incomplete
+
|ultrawidescreen wsgf award = limited
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
 
|widescreen resolution      = hackable
 
|widescreen resolution      = hackable
|widescreen resolution notes= See [[#Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]].
+
|widescreen resolution notes= Install [[#Unofficial patches (The Conquerors)|UserPatch]].
 
|multimonitor              = hackable
 
|multimonitor              = hackable
|multimonitor notes        = See [[#Multi-monitor|Multi-monitor]].
+
|multimonitor notes        = Install [[#Unofficial patches (The Conquerors)|UserPatch]]. Uncheck "widescreen interface style" to centre minimap and unit controls.
|ultrawidescreen            = unknown
+
|ultrawidescreen            = hackable
|ultrawidescreen notes      =  
+
|ultrawidescreen notes      = Install [[#Unofficial patches (The Conquerors)|UserPatch]].
 
|4k ultra hd                = unknown
 
|4k ultra hd                = unknown
 
|4k ultra hd notes          =  
 
|4k ultra hd notes          =  
Line 117: Line 140:
 
|fov notes                  =  
 
|fov notes                  =  
 
|windowed                  = hackable
 
|windowed                  = hackable
|windowed notes            = See [[#Windowed|Windowed]].
+
|windowed notes            = Install [[#Unofficial patches (The Conquerors)|UserPatch]]. Select Windowed mode support, then select a resolution lower than the desktop resolution. Menus will be windowed 4:3.
 
|borderless windowed        = hackable
 
|borderless windowed        = hackable
|borderless windowed notes  = See [[#Borderless fullscreen windowed|Borderless fullscreen windowed]].
+
|borderless windowed notes  = Install [[#Unofficial patches (The Conquerors)|UserPatch]]. Select Windowed mode support, then set the in-game resolution to the desktop resolution.
 
|anisotropic                = n/a
 
|anisotropic                = n/a
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|antialiasing              = n/a
 
|antialiasing              = n/a
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
|vsync                      = hackable
+
|upscaling                  = unknown
|vsync notes                = See [[#Borderless fullscreen windowed|Borderless fullscreen windowed]].
+
|upscaling tech            =
|60 fps                    = true
+
|upscaling notes            =
|60 fps notes              =  
+
|vsync                      = false
|120 fps                    = unknown
+
|vsync notes                =  
 +
|60 fps                    = limited
 +
|60 fps notes              = Animations play at 20 FPS
 +
|120 fps                    = limited
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 +
|hdr                        = unknown
 +
|hdr notes                  =
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
===[[Glossary:Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]]===
+
==Input==
Install [[#UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update|UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update]] then set your resolution in-game. Your chosen resolution is used during gameplay; menus are letterboxed 4:3.
 
 
 
===[[Glossary:Multi-monitor|Multi-monitor]]===
 
Install [[#UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update|UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update]] then set your resolution in-game. Your chosen resolution is used during gameplay; menus are letterboxed 4:3. The main game interface is shown on the far left.
 
 
 
===[[Glossary:Windowed|Windowed]]===
 
Install [[#UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update|UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update]] and select Windowed mode support, then set your resolution in-game. Your chosen resolution is used during gameplay; menus are windowed 4:3.
 
 
 
===[[Glossary:Borderless fullscreen windowed|Borderless fullscreen windowed]]===
 
Install [[#UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update|UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update]] and select Windowed mode support, then set the in-game resolution to the same as your desktop resolution. Your chosen resolution is used during gameplay; menus are windowed 4:3.
 
 
 
==Input settings==
 
 
{{Image|Age of Empires II The Age of Kings Remapping.png|In-game key map settings.}}
 
{{Image|Age of Empires II The Age of Kings Remapping.png|In-game key map settings.}}
{{Input settings
+
{{Input
 
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|acceleration option      = false
 
|acceleration option      = false
 
|acceleration option notes =  
 
|acceleration option notes =  
|mouse sensitivity        = unknown
+
|mouse sensitivity        = true
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
+
|mouse sensitivity notes  = For scroll speed.
 
|mouse menu                = true
 
|mouse menu                = true
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
 
|invert mouse y-axis      = n/a
 
|invert mouse y-axis      = n/a
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 +
|touchscreen              = unknown
 +
|touchscreen notes        =
 
|controller support        = false
 
|controller support        = false
 
|controller support notes  =  
 
|controller support notes  =  
Line 169: Line 187:
 
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 
|invert controller y-axis notes=  
 
|invert controller y-axis notes=  
|touchscreen               = unknown
+
|xinput controllers        = unknown
|touchscreen notes        =  
+
|xinput controllers notes  =
|button prompts           = unknown
+
|xbox prompts              = unknown
|button prompts notes     =  
+
|xbox prompts notes        =
 +
|impulse triggers          = unknown
 +
|impulse triggers notes    =
 +
|dualshock 4               = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 notes        =
 +
|dualshock prompts        = unknown
 +
|dualshock prompts notes  =
 +
|light bar support        = unknown
 +
|light bar support notes  =
 +
|dualshock 4 modes        = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 modes notes  =
 +
|tracked motion controllers= unknown
 +
|tracked motion controllers notes =
 +
|tracked motion prompts    = unknown
 +
|tracked motion prompts notes =
 +
|other controllers         = unknown
 +
|other controllers notes  =  
 +
|other button prompts     = unknown
 +
|other button prompts notes=  
 
|controller hotplug        = unknown
 
|controller hotplug        = unknown
 
|controller hotplug notes  =  
 
|controller hotplug notes  =  
 
|haptic feedback          = unknown
 
|haptic feedback          = unknown
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
|light bar support        = unknown
+
|simultaneous input        = unknown
|light bar support notes   =  
+
|simultaneous input notes  =
 +
|steam input api          = unknown
 +
|steam input api notes    =
 +
|steam hook input          = unknown
 +
|steam hook input notes    =
 +
|steam input presets      = unknown
 +
|steam input presets notes =
 +
|steam controller prompts  = unknown
 +
|steam controller prompts notes =
 +
|steam cursor detection    = unknown
 +
|steam cursor detection notes =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Audio settings==
+
==Audio==
{{Audio settings
+
{{Audio
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume notes    =  
 
|separate volume notes    =  
Line 191: Line 237:
 
|closed captions          = false
 
|closed captions          = false
 
|closed captions notes    =  
 
|closed captions notes    =  
|mute on focus lost      = true
+
|mute on focus lost      = always on
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support notes        =  
 
|eax support notes        =  
 +
|red book cd audio        = true
 +
|red book cd audio notes  =
 +
|royalty free audio      = always on
 +
|royalty free audio notes =
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 200: Line 250:
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
 
  |language  = English
 
  |language  = English
  |interface = yes
+
  |interface = true
  |audio    = yes
+
  |audio    = true
  |subtitles = yes
+
  |subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
|fan      =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Traditional Chinese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = unknown
 +
|subtitles = true
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
|fan notes =
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
 
  |language  = French
 
  |language  = French
  |interface = yes
+
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
  |subtitles = yes
+
  |subtitles = true
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
|fan notes =
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
 
  |language  = German
 
  |language  = German
  |interface = yes
+
  |interface = true
  |audio    = yes
+
  |audio    = true
  |subtitles = yes
+
  |subtitles = true
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
  |fan notes =  
+
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Hungarian
 +
|interface = hackable
 +
|audio    = false
 +
|subtitles = hackable
 +
|notes    = Fan translation by .:i2k:. and kds [https://magyaritasok.hu/magyaritasok/age-of-empires-2/54 link #1], [http://users.atw.hu/jatekhonositas/hun_aoe2.html link #2]
 +
  |fan       = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
 
  |language  = Italian
 
  |language  = Italian
  |interface = yes
+
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
  |subtitles = yes
+
  |subtitles = true
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
|fan notes =
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
 
  |language  = Japanese
 
  |language  = Japanese
  |interface = yes
+
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
  |subtitles = yes
+
  |subtitles = true
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
|fan notes =
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
 
  |language  = Korean
 
  |language  = Korean
  |interface = yes
+
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
  |subtitles = yes
+
  |subtitles = true
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
|fan notes =
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
 
  |language  = Spanish
 
  |language  = Spanish
  |interface = yes
+
  |interface = true
  |audio    = yes
+
  |audio    = true
  |subtitles = yes
+
  |subtitles = true
|notes    =
 
|fan      =
 
|fan notes =
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
|language  = Traditional Chinese
 
|interface = yes
 
|audio    = unknown
 
|subtitles = yes
 
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
|fan notes =
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
Line 282: Line 332:
 
|lan play modes      =  
 
|lan play modes      =  
 
|lan play notes      =  
 
|lan play notes      =  
|online play          = true
+
|online play          = hackable
 
|online play players  = 8
 
|online play players  = 8
 
|online play modes    =  
 
|online play modes    =  
|online play notes    =  
+
|online play notes    = The official MSN Gaming Zone service has been shut down; use [https://www.voobly.com Voobly].
 
|asynchronous        =  
 
|asynchronous        =  
 
|asynchronous notes  =  
 
|asynchronous notes  =  
Line 291: Line 341:
  
 
{{Network/Connections
 
{{Network/Connections
|matchmaking        = false
+
|matchmaking        = true
|matchmaking notes  = MSN Gaming Zone support has been discontinued.<ref>[http://zone.msn.com/en/general/article/aoferetiring Age of Empires matchmaking has been retired from MSN Games - MSN Games - Free Online Games]</ref>
+
|matchmaking notes  = MSN Gaming Zone support has been discontinued.<ref>{{Refurl|url=http://zone.msn.com/en/general/article/aoferetiring|title=Age of Empires matchmaking has been retired from MSN Games - MSN Games - Free Online Games|date=May 2023}}</ref>
 
|p2p                = true
 
|p2p                = true
 
|p2p notes          =  
 
|p2p notes          =  
Line 306: Line 356:
 
|tcp  = 2300-2400, 47624
 
|tcp  = 2300-2400, 47624
 
|udp  = 2300-2400
 
|udp  = 2300-2400
|upnp =  
+
|upnp = unknown
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
==Issues unresolved==
 
==Issues unresolved==
 
===Dell laptop compatibility issues===
 
===Dell laptop compatibility issues===
On some older Dell laptop models (e.g. the M1530) an issue occurs where the OS crashes and a blue-screen of death is displayed. This issue occurs after a seemingly random amount of gameplay time (from <30 seconds to 10 or 20 minutes). Many things have been tried to fix the issue including changing graphics card drivers, limiting the frame rate to mitigate overheating and running on virtual machines of different OSs (e.g. windows 98). As far as can be seen, this issue has never been resolved nor will it be, rendering AoE2 unplayable on the affected models of laptop. This issue can be mitigated by playing through Voobly.com game client and selecting 32-bit DirectX mode in the lobby options. It is actually caused by an unterminated loop in the graphic card driver. However, Age of Empires II HD (the re-mastered version of the game released in 2013) is unaffected by this problem.
+
On some older Dell laptop models (e.g. the M1530) an issue occurs where the OS crashes and a blue-screen of death is displayed. This issue occurs after a seemingly random amount of gameplay time (from <30 seconds to 10 or 20 minutes). Many things have been tried to fix the issue including changing graphics card drivers, limiting the frame rate to mitigate overheating and running on virtual machines of different operating systems (e.g. Windows 98). As far as can be seen, this issue has never been resolved nor will it be, rendering AoE2 unplayable on the affected models of laptop. This issue can be mitigated by playing through Voobly.com game client and selecting 32-bit DirectX mode in the lobby options. It is actually caused by an unterminated loop in the graphics card driver. However, Age of Empires II HD (the re-mastered version of the game released in 2013) is unaffected by this problem.{{cn|date=September 2021}}
 
 
==="Access Denied - Please login with administrator privileges and try again" error on launch (Windows 10)===
 
{{ii}} Install [[#UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update|UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update]] to fix this for The Conquerors (this does not fix the issue for the base game).
 
  
 
==Issues fixed==
 
==Issues fixed==
===Windows Vista and 7 colours===
+
===Color issues===
 
{{ii}} Windows Vista and 7 can have issues with displaying true colours in Age of Empires II correctly.
 
{{ii}} Windows Vista and 7 can have issues with displaying true colours in Age of Empires II correctly.
 
{{ii}} This issue does not occur on Windows 8 and later.
 
{{ii}} This issue does not occur on Windows 8 and later.
{{ii}} See [[rainbow color problems in older games]] for further details.
+
{{ii}} See [[Glossary:DirectX/DirectDraw troubleshooting|DirectDraw troubleshooting]] for further details.
  
{{Fixbox|1=
+
{{Fixbox|description=UserPatch|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
{{Fixbox/fix|UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update}}
+
Install [[#Unofficial patches (The Conquerors)|UserPatch]]. This includes a color fix for Vista and 7, and will also set a registry flag, allowing modern Windows systems and newer to emulate the 256-colour mode. It will also optionally provide support for loading the windowed mode plugin, which, apart from its direct purpose, also performs software palette conversion to 32-bit, resolving said issues.
Install [[#UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update|UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update]]. This includes a color fix for Vista and 7, and will also set a registry flag, allowing Windows 8+ to emulate the 256-colour modes, required by the game. It will also optionally provide support for loading the windowed mode plugin, which, apart from its direct purpose, also performs software palette conversion to 32-bit, resolving said issues.
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
{{Fixbox|1=
+
{{Fixbox|description=DirectDrawFix|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
{{Fixbox/fix|DirectDrawFix}}
+
Use [https://aok.heavengames.com/blacksmith/showfile.php?fileid=11108# DirectDrawFix] to apply the required compatibility fixes to the registry.
Use [http://www.xomicron.com/software/directdrawfix/ DirectDrawFix] to apply the required compatibility fixes to the registry.
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
===LAN connectivity with Windows Vista/7/8===
+
===LAN connectivity===
{{Fixbox|1=
+
{{ii}} This method allows gaming over LAN on modern versions of Windows.
{{Fixbox/fix|Setting the IP address to Static and the Default Gateway to nothing}}
+
 
{{ii}} This method allows gaming over LAN between Windows Vista/7/8 64-bit systems.
+
{{Fixbox|description=Setting the IP address to Static and the Default Gateway to nothing|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
  
#Navigate to the Network and Sharing Center.
+
#Go to the Network and Sharing Center.
 
#Right-click on the LAN adapter and open "Properties".
 
#Right-click on the LAN adapter and open "Properties".
 
#Highlight "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click on "Properties".
 
#Highlight "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click on "Properties".
#Check "Use the following IP address:" and enter an address which is not currently being used on your network (such as 192.168.1.[1-253] e.g. 192.168.1.11 ). Also change the Subnet mask to 255.255.255.0 and leave the default gateway blank.
+
#Check "Use the following IP address:" and enter an address which is not currently being used by the network (such as 192.168.1.[1-253] e.g. 192.168.1.11 ). Also change the Subnet mask to 255.255.255.0 and leave the default gateway blank.
  
 
While in use, internet connection will be lost until the settings are switched back to "Obtain an IP address automatically", but LAN will function in-game.
 
While in use, internet connection will be lost until the settings are switched back to "Obtain an IP address automatically", but LAN will function in-game.
Line 346: Line 391:
  
 
===MIDI music===
 
===MIDI music===
{{Fixbox|1=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Copy files from demo version|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
{{Fixbox/fix|Copy files from demo version}}
+
# Download the [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/117-age-of-empires-ii-the-age-of-kings-demo/ demo version of Age of Empires II].
# Download the [http://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/117-age-of-empires-ii-the-age-of-kings-demo/ demo version of Age of Empires II]
+
# Copy the {{file|midi|folder}} folder from the {{file|sound|folder}} folder of the demo version.
# Copy the <code>midi</code> folder from the <code>sound</code> folder of the demo of AOEII
+
# Paste the folder in the {{file|sound|folder}} folder of the full version.
# Paste the folder in the <code>sound</code> folder of the full game.
+
# Run the game with the <code>-midimusic</code> [[Glossary:Command line arguments|command line argument]].
# Go to the properties for the game shortcut.
 
# Add <code>-midimusic</code> to the end of the Target.
 
  
 
'''Notes'''
 
'''Notes'''
 
{{ii}} Music from the Conquerors expansion demo can also be used; rename the Conquerors MIDI files from music 1-8 to 9-16 to prevent replacement of existing files.
 
{{ii}} Music from the Conquerors expansion demo can also be used; rename the Conquerors MIDI files from music 1-8 to 9-16 to prevent replacement of existing files.
 +
{{ii}} The <code>-midimusic</code> parameter is no longer supported in UserPatch, however its .m3u playlist system allows any audio format to be used for in-game music, including WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, and FLAC, as long as the required DirectShow codecs are installed.
 
}}
 
}}
{{ii}} The <code>-midimusic</code> parameter is no longer supported in UserPatch, however its m3u playlist system allows any audio format to be used for in-game music, including WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, and FLAC, as long as the required DirectShow codecs are installed.
 
 
==="Access Denied - Please login with administrator privileges and try again" error on launch (Windows 10)===
 
{{ii}} Install [[#UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update|UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update]] to fix this for The Conquerors (this does not fix the issue for the base game).
 
  
 
==Other information==
 
==Other information==
Line 369: Line 409:
 
|directdraw versions    = 6.1
 
|directdraw versions    = 6.1
 
|directdraw notes      =  
 
|directdraw notes      =  
|opengl versions        = Unknown
+
|opengl versions        = 1.2
 
|opengl notes          = Mac OS only.
 
|opengl notes          = Mac OS only.
 
|glide versions        =  
 
|glide versions        =  
Line 377: Line 417:
 
|mantle support        =  
 
|mantle support        =  
 
|mantle support notes  =  
 
|mantle support notes  =  
 +
|vulkan versions        =
 +
|vulkan notes          =
 
|dos modes              =  
 
|dos modes              =  
 
|dos modes notes        =  
 
|dos modes notes        =  
 
|shader model versions  =  
 
|shader model versions  =  
 
|shader model notes    =  
 
|shader model notes    =  
|64-bit executable     = false
+
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
|64-bit executable notes=  
+
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 +
|windows arm app        = unknown
 +
|windows exe notes     =
 +
|mac os x powerpc app  = true
 +
|macos intel 32-bit app = true
 +
|macos intel 64-bit app = false
 +
|macos arm app          = unknown
 +
|macos app notes        = Intel support was added with the 1.0.6 patch, which converts the game to a universal binary.<br>Still 32-bit only.
 +
|linux 32-bit executable=
 +
|linux 64-bit executable=
 +
|linux arm app          = unknown
 +
|linux executable notes =
 +
|mac os powerpc app    = true
 +
|mac os 68k app        = unknown
 +
|mac os executable notes=  
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 400: Line 456:
 
|multiplayer notes=  
 
|multiplayer notes=  
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
===[[Glossary:Command line arguments|Command line arguments]]===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Command<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.voobly.com/pages/view/59/AoE2-Command-Line-Parameters-|title=AoE2: Command Line Parameters - Voobly|date=May 2023}}</ref> !! Description
 +
|-
 +
| NoStartup || Skips the intro
 +
|-
 +
| 800 || Forces the 800x600 resolution
 +
|-
 +
| 1024 || Forces the 1024x768 resolution
 +
|-
 +
| 1280 || Forces the 1280x1024 resolution
 +
|-
 +
| Mfill || Fixes horizontal line issue related to contemporary Matrox video adapters
 +
|-
 +
| NormalMouse || Replaces the ingame cursor with the standard Windows one
 +
|-
 +
| NoSound || Disables game audio with the exception of cinematics
 +
|-
 +
| NoTerrainSound || Disables ambient audio
 +
|-
 +
| NoMusic || Disables music
 +
|-
 +
| Msync || Fixes lockups related to contemporary SoundBlaster AWE configurations
 +
|}
  
 
==System requirements==
 
==System requirements==
Line 416: Line 498:
 
|recCPU  = 450 MHz
 
|recCPU  = 450 MHz
 
|recRAM  = 64 MB
 
|recRAM  = 64 MB
|recHD    = 300 MB
+
|recHD    =  
|recGPU  = Nvidia TNT2  
+
|recGPU  = Nvidia TNT2
 
|recGPU2  = ATI Rage 128
 
|recGPU2  = ATI Rage 128
 
|recVRAM  = 16 MB
 
|recVRAM  = 16 MB
 +
}}
 +
{{System requirements
 +
|OSfamily = Mac OS
 +
 +
|minOS    = 8.6
 +
|minCPU  = PowerPC G3 300 MHz
 +
|minRAM  = 128 MB
 +
|minHD    = 750 MB
 +
|minGPU  = ATI Rage 128
 +
|notes    = {{ii}} 500 MHz is required for online play.
 +
}}
 +
{{System requirements
 +
|OSfamily = OS X
 +
 +
|minOS    = 10.0.5
 +
|minCPU  = PowerPC G3 300 MHz
 +
|minRAM  = 128 MB
 +
|minHD    = 750 MB
 +
|minGPU  = ATI Rage 128
 +
|notes    = {{ii}} 500 MHz is required for online play.<br>{{ii}} When applying the UB patch, the minimum supported OS is 10.3.9.
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
{{References}}
 
{{References}}

Latest revision as of 13:09, 18 January 2024

This page is for the original game. For the 2013 HD Edition, see Age of Empires II: HD Edition. For the 2019 Definitive Edition, see Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings cover
Developers
Ensemble Studios
Mac OS (Classic) Westlake Interactive
macOS (OS X) Westlake Interactive
Publishers
Microsoft
Re-releases Ubisoft
Mac OS, OS X MacSoft
Engines
Genie
Release dates
Windows October 10, 1999
Mac OS (Classic) October 2001
macOS (OS X) October 2001
Reception
Metacritic 92
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase, Expansion pack
Microtransactions None
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Bird's-eye view, Isometric
Controls Multiple select, Point and select
Genres RTS
Themes Asia, Europe, Middle East, Pre-Columbian Americas, Medieval
Series Age of Empires
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings on HowLongToBeat
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings guide on StrategyWiki
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings on MobyGames
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings on Wikipedia
Age of Empires 1997
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings 1999
Age of Mythology 2002
Age of Empires III 2005
Age of Empires Online 2011
Age of Empires II: HD Edition 2013
Age of Mythology: Extended Edition 2014
Age of Empires: Castle Siege 2014
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition 2018
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition 2019
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition 2020
Age of Empires IV 2021
Age of Mythology: Retold 2024

Warnings

SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see Availability for affected versions).
The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a singleplayer and multiplayer bird's-eye view and isometric RTS game in the Age of Empires series.

After its release, the game received The Conquerors expansion in August 2000, with new civilizations, campaigns and quality-of-life improvements like improved villager AI and farm reseed queuing in mills. After release, the game received a sizable community and a modding scene.

Unofficial patches (for both compatibility and bug fixes) and the Voobly community multiplayer service were instrumental in keeping the interest in the game alive, including after the HD Edition of the game which did not have as responsive a netcode as the original. Despite the release of the 2019 Definitive Edition, these modified versions of The Conquerors, including those with back-ported HD and Definitive Edition expansion content, remain relatively popular, mostly among players with lower-spec computers.

General information

Official Discord server for the series
Age of Empires II Official Microsoft Site (archived)
Age of Kings Heaven Community Site and Map Archive
AoEZone Community site for competitive gaming
/r/aoe2 Age of Empires 2 Subreddit
Age of Notes Age of Empires 2 Guides

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
SafeDisc DRM[Note 1].
Windows
Mac OS
macOS (OS X)
Retail
DRM-free
Collector's Edition re-releases.
Windows
SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
Free demos are available for The Age of Kings and The Conquerors Expansion.

Version differences

Age of Empires II: Gold Edition contains the base game and The Conquerors expansion, first released in 2001.
Age of Empires: Collector's Edition contains Age of Empires and Age of Empires II with their respective expansion packs. The later DVD-ROM releases include the latest patches and are DRM-free, but are missing Red Book CD audio.

Monetization

Type Notes
Expansion pack The expansion pack includes new civilizations, units, technologies (some civilization-unique) and campaigns.
One-time game purchase The game requires an upfront purchase to access.

DLC and expansion packs

Name Notes
The Conquerors Windows version is sold separately, Mac OS version only in Gold Edition.
Windows
Mac OS

Essential improvements

Skip intro videos

Start game with -nostartup parameter[3]

Patches

The latest patch for the base game is Version 2.0a.
The latest patch for The Conquerors is Version 1.0c.
Alternately, the latest official patches are available at soggi.org.

Unofficial patches (The Conquerors)

1.0e includes exploit fixes, a fix for a rare issue with missing permissions when overwriting files, a no-CD patch and a version switcher. The uninstaller cleanly reverts to the official 1.0c version.
UserPatch: Conquerors Feature Update adds many fixes including widescreen support, UPnP port forwarding, and various optional tweaks. If it is installed on top of v1.0e, no CD is required.

Forgotten Empires

Forgotten Empires is a mod which adds new civilizations, campaigns, maps and other fixes.
It was later made available as official DLC for the HD Edition and is included by default with the Definitive Edition - as a result, the mod version is no longer supported.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\config.xml[Note 2]
Mac OS (Classic)
macOS (OS X)

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\SaveGame\[Note 2]
Mac OS (Classic)
macOS (OS X)
Player settings are saved in <path-to-game>\Player.nfp (determines unlocked scenarios etc.)
Custom campaigns are saved in <path-to-game>\Campaign\
Custom scenarios are saved in <path-to-game>\Scenario\

Video

In-game options menu.
In-game options menu.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
Install UserPatch.
Multi-monitor
Install UserPatch. Uncheck "widescreen interface style" to centre minimap and unit controls.
Ultra-widescreen
Install UserPatch.
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
Install UserPatch. Select Windowed mode support, then select a resolution lower than the desktop resolution. Menus will be windowed 4:3.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Install UserPatch. Select Windowed mode support, then set the in-game resolution to the desktop resolution.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Vertical sync (Vsync)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
Animations play at 20 FPS
High dynamic range display (HDR)
See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Input

In-game key map settings.
In-game key map settings.

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
For scroll speed.
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Controller types

Audio

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio
Red Book CD audio
On Windows, CD music might not play correctly; see the troubleshooting guide for solutions.

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Traditional Chinese
French
German
Hungarian
Fan translation by .:i2k:. and kds link #1, link #2
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Spanish

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
LAN play
8
Online play
8 The official MSN Gaming Zone service has been shut down; use Voobly.

Connection types

Type Native Notes
Matchmaking
MSN Gaming Zone support has been discontinued.[4]
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP 2300-2400, 47624
UDP 2300-2400
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

Issues unresolved

Dell laptop compatibility issues

On some older Dell laptop models (e.g. the M1530) an issue occurs where the OS crashes and a blue-screen of death is displayed. This issue occurs after a seemingly random amount of gameplay time (from <30 seconds to 10 or 20 minutes). Many things have been tried to fix the issue including changing graphics card drivers, limiting the frame rate to mitigate overheating and running on virtual machines of different operating systems (e.g. Windows 98). As far as can be seen, this issue has never been resolved nor will it be, rendering AoE2 unplayable on the affected models of laptop. This issue can be mitigated by playing through Voobly.com game client and selecting 32-bit DirectX mode in the lobby options. It is actually caused by an unterminated loop in the graphics card driver. However, Age of Empires II HD (the re-mastered version of the game released in 2013) is unaffected by this problem.[citation needed]

Issues fixed

Color issues

Windows Vista and 7 can have issues with displaying true colours in Age of Empires II correctly.
This issue does not occur on Windows 8 and later.
See DirectDraw troubleshooting for further details.
UserPatch[citation needed]

Install UserPatch. This includes a color fix for Vista and 7, and will also set a registry flag, allowing modern Windows systems and newer to emulate the 256-colour mode. It will also optionally provide support for loading the windowed mode plugin, which, apart from its direct purpose, also performs software palette conversion to 32-bit, resolving said issues.

DirectDrawFix[citation needed]

Use DirectDrawFix to apply the required compatibility fixes to the registry.

LAN connectivity

This method allows gaming over LAN on modern versions of Windows.
Setting the IP address to Static and the Default Gateway to nothing[citation needed]
  1. Go to the Network and Sharing Center.
  2. Right-click on the LAN adapter and open "Properties".
  3. Highlight "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click on "Properties".
  4. Check "Use the following IP address:" and enter an address which is not currently being used by the network (such as 192.168.1.[1-253] e.g. 192.168.1.11 ). Also change the Subnet mask to 255.255.255.0 and leave the default gateway blank.

While in use, internet connection will be lost until the settings are switched back to "Obtain an IP address automatically", but LAN will function in-game.

MIDI music

Copy files from demo version[citation needed]
  1. Download the demo version of Age of Empires II.
  2. Copy the midi folder from the sound folder of the demo version.
  3. Paste the folder in the sound folder of the full version.
  4. Run the game with the -midimusic command line argument.

Notes

Music from the Conquerors expansion demo can also be used; rename the Conquerors MIDI files from music 1-8 to 9-16 to prevent replacement of existing files.
The -midimusic parameter is no longer supported in UserPatch, however its .m3u playlist system allows any audio format to be used for in-game music, including WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, and FLAC, as long as the required DirectShow codecs are installed.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
DirectDraw 6.1
OpenGL 1.2 Mac OS only.
ExecutablePPC16-bit 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Intel support was added with the 1.0.6 patch, which converts the game to a universal binary.
Still 32-bit only.
Mac OS (Classic)

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Multiplayer MSN Gaming Zone

Command line arguments

Command[5] Description
NoStartup Skips the intro
800 Forces the 800x600 resolution
1024 Forces the 1024x768 resolution
1280 Forces the 1280x1024 resolution
Mfill Fixes horizontal line issue related to contemporary Matrox video adapters
NormalMouse Replaces the ingame cursor with the standard Windows one
NoSound Disables game audio with the exception of cinematics
NoTerrainSound Disables ambient audio
NoMusic Disables music
Msync Fixes lockups related to contemporary SoundBlaster AWE configurations

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 95
Processor (CPU) 166 MHz
System memory (RAM) 32 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 300 MB
Video card (GPU) 2 MB of VRAM
DirectX 6.1 compatible
Mac OS
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 8.6
Processor (CPU) PowerPC G3 300 MHz
System memory (RAM) 128 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 750 MB
Video card (GPU) ATI Rage 128
500 MHz is required for online play.
macOS (OS X)
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 10.0.5
Processor (CPU) PowerPC G3 300 MHz
System memory (RAM) 128 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 750 MB
Video card (GPU) ATI Rage 128
500 MHz is required for online play.
When applying the UB patch, the minimum supported OS is 10.3.9.


Notes

  1. SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[1] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[2]
  2. 2.0 2.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).

References