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Difference between revisions of "Empire of the Ants"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(→‎Availability: added OS details)
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−
{{stub}}
+
{{disambig|the original 2000 game|the upcoming reboot|[[Empire of the Ants (2024)]]}}
 
{{Infobox game
 
{{Infobox game
 
|cover        = Empire of the Ants Cover.jpg
 
|cover        = Empire of the Ants Cover.jpg
 
|developers  =  
 
|developers  =  
 
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Microïds}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Microïds}}
 +
|publishers  =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Microïds|Retail (France), digital}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Strategy First|Retail (USA)}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Sierra|Retail (Germany)}}
 +
|engines      =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/engine|X3D}}
 
|release dates=  
 
|release dates=  
−
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|2000}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|April 20, 2000}}
 +
|reception    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|empire-of-the-ants|59}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|OpenCritic||}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB||}}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer, Multiplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Real-time }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | Bird's-eye view }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Multiple select, Point and select }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | Strategy }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | Empire of the Ants }}
 
|steam appid  =  
 
|steam appid  =  
−
|gogcom page  =  
+
|steam appid side =
 +
|gogcom id    = 1463618755
 +
|gogcom id side =
 +
|official site= https://web.archive.org/web/20120513142443/http://www.microids.com/en/catalogue/30/the-empire-of-ants.html
 +
|hltb        = 20160
 +
|igdb        = empire-of-the-ants
 +
|mobygames    = 2784
 +
|strategywiki =  
 
|wikipedia    = Empire of the Ants (video game)
 
|wikipedia    = Empire of the Ants (video game)
 +
|winehq      =
 +
|license      = commercial
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
{{Introduction
 +
|introduction      =
 +
 +
|release history  = The game received '''''The Western Front''''' expansion a few months after release. The base game and expansion would remain separate products only in French- and German-speaking markets, as the English release would debut as a combined release of the two in September 2000. All digital releases are based on this version.
 +
 +
|current state    =
 +
}}
 +
 +
'''General information'''
 +
{{GOG.com links|1463618755|empire_of_the_ants}}
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability|
−
{{Availability/row| Retail | | Unknown | | | Windows }}
+
{{Availability/row| Retail | | Disc | {{DRM|SafeDisc}} | | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| GOG.com | empire_of_the_ants_2000 | DRM-free | Includes The Western Frontier. Pre-packaged with GOG.com's custom DirectX wrapper and IPXConfig. | | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| ZOOM | empire-of-the-ants | DRM-free | Includes The Western Frontier. Updated for compatibility with modern systems. | | Windows }}
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
===Version differences===
 +
{{ii}} The '''Gold Edition''' includes the base game and the expansion pack. It is sold under that title only in French and German, while the English version debuted with this build.
 +
 +
==Monetization==
 +
{{DLC|
 +
{{DLC/row | The Western Frontier | Available as a separate product in the French and German versions only. | Windows }}
 +
}}
 +
 +
==Essential improvements==
 +
===Patches===
 +
{{ii}} The latest official patches can be found [https://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/1451/7/ here for the regular releases] and [https://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/1452/7/ here for the French Gold Edition]. Digital releases are already updated to the latest build.
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
−
{{Game data/row|Windows|}}
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|game}}\ini\}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===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\}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
 +
{{Save game cloud syncing
 +
|discord                  =
 +
|discord notes            =
 +
|epic games launcher      =
 +
|epic games launcher notes =
 +
|gog galaxy                = true
 +
|gog galaxy notes          =
 +
|origin                    =
 +
|origin notes              =
 +
|steam cloud              =
 +
|steam cloud notes        =
 +
|ubisoft connect          =
 +
|ubisoft connect notes    =
 +
|xbox cloud                =
 +
|xbox cloud notes          =
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Video settings==
+
==Video==
−
{{Video settings
+
{{Image|Empire of the Ants External Graphics Settings.png|External graphics settings}}
 +
{{Image|Empire of the Ants Internal Graphics Settings.png|In-game graphics settings}}
 +
{{Video
 
|wsgf link                  =  
 
|wsgf link                  =  
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
Line 42: Line 119:
 
|4k ultra hd                = false
 
|4k ultra hd                = false
 
|4k ultra hd notes          =  
 
|4k ultra hd notes          =  
−
|fov                        = n/a
+
|fov                        = false
 
|fov notes                  =  
 
|fov notes                  =  
−
|windowed                  = hackable
+
|windowed                  = false
−
|windowed notes            = Use [[Glossary:Windowed#D3DWindower|D3DWindower]].
+
|windowed notes            =  
−
|borderless windowed        = hackable
+
|borderless windowed        = false
−
|borderless windowed notes  = See [[Glossary:Borderless fullscreen windowed|Borderless fullscreen windowed]].
+
|borderless windowed notes  =  
 
|anisotropic                = false
 
|anisotropic                = false
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|antialiasing              = false
 
|antialiasing              = false
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
 +
|upscaling                  = unknown
 +
|upscaling tech            =
 +
|upscaling notes            =
 
|vsync                      = false
 
|vsync                      = false
 
|vsync notes                =  
 
|vsync notes                =  
−
|60 fps                    = unknown
+
|60 fps                    = true
 
|60 fps notes              =  
 
|60 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps                    = unknown
 
|120 fps                    = unknown
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 +
|hdr                        = unknown
 +
|hdr notes                  =
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Input settings==
+
==Input==
−
{{Input settings
+
{{Input
 
|key remap                = false
 
|key remap                = false
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|acceleration option      = false
 
|acceleration option      = false
 
|acceleration option notes =  
 
|acceleration option notes =  
−
|mouse sensitivity        = unknown
+
|mouse sensitivity        = false
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
 
|mouse sensitivity notes  =  
 
|mouse menu                = true
 
|mouse menu                = true
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|invert mouse y-axis      = false
 
|invert mouse y-axis      = false
 
|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  =  
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|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
+
{{Image|Empire of the Ants Internal Audio Settings.png|In-game audio settings}}
 +
{{Audio
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume          = true
−
|separate volume notes    =  
+
|separate volume notes    = Music, Sound effects
 
|surround sound          = unknown
 
|surround sound          = unknown
 
|surround sound notes    =  
 
|surround sound notes    =  
−
|subtitles                = true
+
|subtitles                = always on
 
|subtitles notes          =  
 
|subtitles notes          =  
 
|closed captions          = false
 
|closed captions          = false
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|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support              =  
−
|eax support notes        =  
+
|eax support notes         =
 +
|royalty free audio       = unknown
 +
|royalty free audio notes  =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
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{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
 
  |language  = English
 
  |language  = English
−
  |interface = yes
+
  |interface = true
−
  |audio    =  
+
  |audio    = true
−
  |subtitles = yes
+
  |subtitles = true
 +
|notes    =
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = French
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = true
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Retail and Zoom Platform only.
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = German
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = unknown
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Retail only; [https://www.compiware-forum.de/downloads/file/994-imperium-der-ameisen-german-patch/ download for digital releases].
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Italian
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = unknown
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Retail only.
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Portuguese
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = unknown
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Retail only.
 +
}}
 +
{{L10n/switch
 +
|language  = Spanish
 +
|interface = true
 +
|audio    = unknown
 +
|subtitles = true
 +
|notes    = Retail only.
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Network==
 +
{{Image|Empire of the Ants External Modem Settings.png|External modem settings.}}
 +
{{Network/Multiplayer
 +
|local play          = false
 +
|local play players  =
 +
|local play modes    =
 +
|local play notes    =
 +
|lan play            = true
 +
|lan play players    = 8
 +
|lan play modes      = Versus
 +
|lan play notes      = GOG.com version comes bundled with [https://www.solemnwarning.net/ipxwrapper/ IPXWrapper].
 +
|online play          = false
 +
|online play players  =
 +
|online play modes    =
 +
|online play notes    =
 +
|asynchronous        = false
 +
|asynchronous notes  =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{Network/Connections
 +
|matchmaking        = false
 +
|matchmaking notes  =
 +
|p2p                = true
 +
|p2p notes          =
 +
|dedicated          = false
 +
|dedicated notes    =
 +
|self-hosting      = false
 +
|self-hosting notes =
 +
|direct ip          = true
 +
|direct ip notes    =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{Network/Ports
 +
|tcp  =
 +
|udp  =
 +
|upnp =
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
==Other information==
 +
===API===
 +
{{API
 +
|direct3d versions      = 7
 +
|direct3d notes        =
 +
|directdraw versions    =
 +
|directdraw notes      =
 +
|opengl versions        =
 +
|opengl notes          =
 +
|glide versions        =
 +
|glide notes            =
 +
|software mode          =
 +
|software mode notes    =
 +
|mantle support        =
 +
|mantle support notes  =
 +
|metal support          =
 +
|metal support notes    =
 +
|vulkan versions        =
 +
|vulkan notes          =
 +
|dos modes              =
 +
|dos modes notes        =
 +
|shader model versions  =
 +
|shader model notes    =
 +
|windows 32-bit exe    = true
 +
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 +
|windows arm app        = false
 +
|windows exe notes      =
 +
|macos intel 32-bit app =
 +
|macos intel 64-bit app =
 +
|macos arm app          = unknown
 +
|macos app notes        =
 +
|linux 32-bit executable=
 +
|linux 64-bit executable=
 +
|linux arm app          = unknown
 +
|linux executable notes =
 +
}}
 +
 +
===Middleware===
 +
{{Middleware
 +
|physics          =
 +
|physics notes    =
 +
|audio            =
 +
|audio notes      =
 +
|interface        =
 +
|interface notes  =
 +
|input            =
 +
|input notes      =
 +
|cutscenes        = Bink Video
 +
|cutscenes notes  =
 +
|multiplayer      =
 +
|multiplayer notes=
 +
|anticheat        =
 +
|anticheat notes  =
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 125: Line 369:
 
|OSfamily = Windows
 
|OSfamily = Windows
  
−
|minOS    =  
+
|minOS    = 95, 98
−
|minCPU  =  
+
|minCPU  = Intel Pentium 233 MHz
−
|minRAM  =  
+
|minRAM  = 32 MB
−
|minHD    =  
+
|minHD    = 200 MB
−
|minGPU  =
+
|minGPU  =  
−
|minVRAM  =  
+
|minDX    = 7
  
 
|recOS    =  
 
|recOS    =  
Line 137: Line 381:
 
|recHD    =  
 
|recHD    =  
 
|recGPU  =  
 
|recGPU  =  
−
|recVRAM  =  
+
|recDX    =  
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 
{{References}}
 
{{References}}

Latest revision as of 14:53, 28 July 2023

This page is for the original 2000 game. For the upcoming reboot, see Empire of the Ants (2024).

Empire of the Ants
Empire of the Ants cover
Developers
Microïds
Publishers
Retail (France), digital Microïds
Retail (USA) Strategy First
Retail (Germany) Sierra
Engines
X3D
Release dates
Windows April 20, 2000
Reception
Metacritic 59
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Bird's-eye view
Controls Multiple select, Point and select
Genres Strategy
Series Empire of the Ants
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Empire of the Ants on HowLongToBeat
Empire of the Ants on IGDB
Empire of the Ants on MobyGames
Empire of the Ants on Wikipedia
Empire of the Ants
Empire of the Ants 2000
Empire of the Ants (2024) 2024

Empire of the Ants is a singleplayer and multiplayer bird's-eye view strategy game in the Empire of the Ants series.

The game received The Western Front expansion a few months after release. The base game and expansion would remain separate products only in French- and German-speaking markets, as the English release would debut as a combined release of the two in September 2000. All digital releases are based on this version.

General information

GOG.com Community Discussions
GOG.com Support Page

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
 SafeDisc DRM[Note 1]
Windows
GOG.com
DRM-free
 Includes The Western Frontier. Pre-packaged with GOG.com's custom DirectX wrapper and IPXConfig.
Windows
ZOOM Platform
DRM-free
 Includes The Western Frontier. Updated for compatibility with modern systems.
Windows
SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).

Version differences

The Gold Edition includes the base game and the expansion pack. It is sold under that title only in French and German, while the English version debuted with this build.

Monetization

DLC and expansion packs

Name Notes
The Western Frontier Available as a separate product in the French and German versions only.
Windows

Essential improvements

Patches

The latest official patches can be found here for the regular releases and here for the French Gold Edition. Digital releases are already updated to the latest build.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\ini\[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\Savegame\[Note 2]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy

Video

External graphics settings
External graphics settings
In-game graphics settings
In-game graphics settings

Graphics feature State Notes
Widescreen resolution
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
60 FPS
120+ FPS

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Controller types

Audio

In-game audio settings
In-game audio settings

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Music, Sound effects
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
Retail and Zoom Platform only.
German
Retail only; download for digital releases.
Italian
Retail only.
Portuguese
Retail only.
Spanish
Retail only.

Network

External modem settings.
External modem settings.

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
LAN play
8 Versus
GOG.com version comes bundled with IPXWrapper.
Online play
Asynchronous multiplayer

Connection types

Type Native Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP


Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 7
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Cutscenes Bink Video

System requirements

Windows
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 95, 98
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium 233 MHz
System memory (RAM) 32 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 200 MB
Video card (GPU) DirectX 7 compatible


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