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    HeavenGames
    News Archive 2007

    Heaven’s Community Pages

    Heaven’s Community Pages

    Sunday, December 30, 2007

    …and a Happy New Year!
    Posted by Dr Lorenzo

    As the end of the year approaches we’d like to wish everyone the best for 2008! Its been a turbulent year for AoEH but there’s plenty on the boil for the next one. Have a great time tomorrow night and see you all on the other side (of the night)!

    Monday, December 24, 2007

    Merry Christmas Everyone
    Posted by The Dark Archer

    Well it is Christmas Eve here in Kiwi land so I thought I better wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. This year has had its ups and downs with but AoEH has proven it stands the test of time with us celebrating our 10th birthday. I’ve certainly had a lot of fun joining staff and being able to keep AoEH being the great heaven it is. So make sure you pop into the forums and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and I look forward to the new year with more campaigns, more news and whatever exciting developments well develop.

    Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone here at AoEH

    Sunday, December 23, 2007

    Campaigns of the Months
    Posted by The Dark Archer

    Finally I’ve got some time to write up the Campaigns of the Months for October and November. October was a low scoring month with few reviews being done but To Tame A Land by Bambi Slaughter/ RA_Brave managed to just sneak in with 3.5 while during November forum regular Andrea Rosa released his latest masterpiece Little Big Nordic Adventure which soon scored a 5.0.

    Little Big Nordic Adventure
    by Andrea Rosa

    Veteran reviewer IICDO gave this latest masterpiece by Andrea Rosa another fantastic rating of 5.0. Andrea has again amazed the Age of Empires Heaven community with his scenario design which can only be described as breathtaking.

    In this campaign you play as Norwegian Vikings raiding English cities. Scoring top marks in every section Andrea shows why he has gained such a following in the Age of Empires community. Marking his 6th campaign this continues to show how Andrea can choose the hardest civilizations to use and still somehow manage to make them work. His ability in the map design is matched by few if any leaving me wanting to move on just to discover more of the landscape even if I have to fight for it. Evident in this campaign is the use of the new enhanced editor which has allowed Andrea to overlay buildings on certain objects. This created great joy in the first scenario when I realized how Andrea had done it to keep the game fresh and exciting. Something else I had great joy in was watching my red ally drop boat loads of troops on my English enemies taking out there soldiers while I just provided them resources. I am one fan of Andrea’s that thinks after a well deserved beer Andrea definitely needs to start thinking about a new masterpiece to make. Make sure you download and play this campaign now.

    Reviewer: IICDO
    Score: 5.0
    Source: The Granary – Little Big Nordic Adventure

    To Tame A Land
    by Bambi Slaughter/ RA_Brave

    Regular reviewer Don Jorge de Leon AKA GeorgeROR gave this nice campaign by RA_Brave a 3.5 which enabled it just to sneak in. Although this campaign had nice map design advanced for its time and great balance the score was dragged down by its lack of playability.

    There were times of fun in the campaign but some of the scenarios the bugs it had just where too much to overcome the playability. Mix this with the average story that had no bitmaps and some strange hints at times and above average creativity which didn’t really take anything to the new level but did better then a random map and you get a picture of a above average campaign overall. However this campaign did have some bright spots in the form of its nice map design which showcased some nice placement which would has stood the test of time and still looks good today even though it was made in 1999. The other bright area was the balance which scored the highest with 4.5 which from my experience with the first scenario I know is well deserved. As the orange stubbornly keeps control of the sea you must somehow neutralized them. In total an above average campaign just scraps in this month but the design is good along with the balance and it is definitely worth checking out.

    Reviewer: Don Jorge de Leon AKA GeorgeROR
    Score: 3.5
    Source: The Granary – To Tame a Land

    Well that is it for the extremely late Campaigns of the Months. Expect from now on more regular write ups from now on.

    Source: Age of Empires Heaven Players and Reviewers Board

    Saturday, December 1, 2007

    Age Auction for Charity
    Posted by Dr Lorenzo

    Our friend and man in blue Thunder has stopped in to tell us all about a big auction of “Age” goodies in order to help charity. A great package, full of Age of Empires, Kings, III packs and more – and, of course, all for a great cause.

    See here for details.

    Tuesday, November 13, 2007

    AOE 10th Anniversary Image Contest!
    Posted by Dr Lorenzo

    Thunder dropped around recently and has told us all that Ensemble Studios are celebrating 10 years of our favourite game with an image contest! There’s some great prizes up for grabs so dust off your favourite images you’ve accumulated, take some new ones and get your entries in by the end of the month!

    Check it out here!

    Friday, November 2, 2007

    Happy (Belated) Birthday Age of Empires
    Posted by The Dark Archer

    For those of you not aware Age of Empires itself celebrated it’s 10 birthday from release on the 25 of October. This has been a reason to celebrate on the forums and we have had a couple of threads created to recognize this monumental occasion. And in the words of our Seraph Dr Lorenzo “Ten years old and still better than everything made since”. Now I look forward to the next ten years playing Age of Empires and helping make Age of Empires Heaven even greater then it already is.

    Source: AoE 10th Birthday Celebrations?
    Source: Happy Birthday AoE

    Friday, October 12, 2007

    HeavenGames’ Staff System: A Revamp
    Posted by The Dark Archer

    Source: The HG Blog

    So now that things have been settled with HG’s identity, it’s time to go on to the fun stuff: the staff system! Woo!

    It’s been discussed in a previous blog post that HeavenGames doesn’t operate as efficiently as it could from a staff perspective. A lot of issues have already been dealt with in the past several months, but there are two substantial problems that must be taken care of. First, there is no effective way to ensure quality and consistency of work across all of our sites. Second, we do not have dedicated jobs in a number of support capacities, including marketing, sales, and the like.

    Revamped Staff System 
    The owners have thus discussed the issue with the HeavenGames staff and have come up with the following system:

     

    As you can see, HeavenGames will still be run fundamentally the same: the Exco – chaired by the CEO – makes all of the network-wide administrative decisions and Seraphs work under the Exco as site administrators. What will be added to the system will be a Seraph Liaison and Support Departments. First, the Seraph Liaison…(Read more!)

    Friday, October 5, 2007

    Campaign of the Month
    Posted by The Dark Archer

    Finally a long time forum feature has finally become part of the news. Introducing the Campaign/Scenario of the Month which has been a part of the Players and Reviewers board in the Scenario Design Board on the forums since Richard Ames started it in the original Players and Reviewers Board. For those of you who only lurk around the site every month a newly reviewed campaign or scenario with a high score is selected to be the Campaign/Scenario of the Month. This will now become a monthly feature of the main news with a short description about the campaign/scenario and review. For more information or to discuss the scenario/scenario and see other highly rated campaigns/scenarios check out the Players and Reviewers Board on the Forums. Now on to the Campaign of the Month for September.

    The March of Alexander
    by prasanna

    c4master gave this recent campaign a 4.7 this month. Even though this is the designers first submission and the designer seems to indicate that this is still a work in progress this did not prevent a great score being given to a previously unknown designer.

    The campaign so far starts with Alexander the Great crossing the River Granikos up to Siege of Tyre and has been said to have a rich story with a great history section to back up the clear instructions and bitmaps. The creativity and playability were two more highly rated sections with c4master writing lines such as “This campaign really rocks!” for playability and “Wow!” for creativity. Balance and Map Design were both lower then the other areas scoring 4.5 and 4 but this still shows an amazing result for any designer new or old. Overall a score of 4.7 was given for the campaign which shows a great score making this campaign part of the Top Rated and now Campaign of the Month for September 2007. Congratulations prasanna.

    Reviewer: c4master
    Score: 4.7
    Source: Age of Empires Heaven Players and Reviewers Board
    Source: The Granary – The March of Alexander

    Friday, September 21, 2007

    HeavenGames: A New Identity
    Posted by The Dark Archer

    Source: The HG Blog

    After considerable deliberation, the owners have decided that one major inhibiting factor for HeavenGames� prosperity is the simple fact that it doesn�t have a clearly defined identity. It has always been a site about games, but that is far too vague for the development of any clear goals and the effective marketing of the site.

    We have thus discussed the issue with our staff and decided that we should make HeavenGames a site entirely geared towards community. At its core, HeavenGames always has been about building the best communities possible, so it only makes sense that we devote all of our resources to that service…(Read more!)

    Tuesday, September 4, 2007

    General Update
    Posted by The Dark Archer

    It’s been a while since AoEH had its own update of its going ons so I’d thought I’d make my first news post to give a general update of what is going on around AoEH and HG.

    First we have two new Heavens opened with Star Craft 2 Heaven and World in Conflict Heaven both getting their very own sites. Be sure to check both of them out.

    Also not long ago Age of Empires Heaven’s first Pretty Town Contest was started by designer and forum regular Nikokol. Hopefully his contest will turn out a lot better then my own attempt which is still in the judging process with a number of problems setting back the date for the results to be announced. Anyway be sure to check out Nikokol’s thread and possibly join the contest. It’s sure to be fun.

    Last thing to leave on is the reminder that we still do have our AoEH Ladder and with the new International Gaming Zone (IGZ) up and running it’s a great time to register and start getting some challenges out. To get some challenges just swing by our Multiplayer Forum and take a look for some people willing to take you on.

    That is all for now but remember to swing by the forums if you have any problems, questions or are just wanting to meet other die hard Age of Empires fans.

    Saturday, August 18, 2007

    GenieWiki
    Posted by Dr Lorenzo

    The GenieWiki is a Wiki page devoted to Age of Empires, Age of Kings and Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (all games supported by HeavenGames). Because its a Wiki, anyone can edit it, so get over there, sign up and start sharing your expertise about those games!

    This could potentially be a fantastic tool so lets all get our backs behind this project and help out.

    Tuesday, August 14, 2007

    HeavenGames Official Blog: The First Step
    Posted by Socvazius

    Source: The HG Blog

    Hey all,

    So it’s been a little while since my last update. It’s mostly because we’re still hard at work figuring out the big picture for HeavenGames’ future; it’s a daunting job but I like what�s being hammered out. Anyway, in this article I’m going to discuss the two biggest problems that I’d like to get fixed before any grand scheming�and their solutions. Solutions are good.

    Problem 1: HeavenGames current staff system is not what HeavenGames needs
    While everyone works as hard as possible, the current staff system is simply not enough for what HeavenGames needs. Becoming staff is a big ordeal at HeavenGames, largely because of the daunting committment on both sides…

    Solution: Reorganize the staff system
    Reorganizing the staff system will help our current staff operate more efficiently. First, we will make sure that all of the owners are active at HeavenGames. Next, Seraphs will be required to heavily advertise job openings to ensure consistent service and organization across the network. Finally, we will work to make a job at HeavenGames more attractive by giving benefits such as possible college credit and aid in getting a job in the gaming industry…(Read more!)

    Thursday, August 2, 2007

    Official HeavenGames CEO Blog Opens
    Posted by Socvazius

    Source: The HG Blog

    (I’m pensive about so many things in this photo)

    Hey everyone,

    My name is Socvazius; I’m the new CEO of HG, but I’ve been around for quite a long time. I started visiting HG in late 1997 (at age 11), joined the staff in 2000 (my first article, a masterpiece by any standard), joined the executive board in 2003 (I have nothing to say here but I wanted to add a parenthesis for consistency), and became owner in 2005 (when I turned 18). Over all that time, I have been webmaster of 6 Heavens and have done about every possible job.

    Offline, I go by the name Sergio Prado and I study history at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. I am currently working in marketing at Vivendi Universal on Empire Earth III and World in Conflict. I love philosophy, history, physics and politics among other things, and to compensate for my nerdy tendencies I’ve been known to karate it up as well as do all the other things that college students do. Oh yes.

    Anyway, this is my blog! While I will surely use this blog for my own narcissistic ramblings, I intend it to be used mostly to keep everyone up to date on what’s going on in HeavenGames, especially the stuff that pertains to my job: management, PR, and all the other fun parts of a gaming website. In fact, I do have some news that you guys might be interested in. For the past couple months the owners have been discussing a major revamp of how HG operates, including its staff management and exactly what services it will provide to the community. We’re zeroing in on a finalized plan, so keep your eyes peeled for a freakin huge article that’ll be way too long to be worth reading!

    Until the next post my friends,
    Soccy

    Thursday, August 2, 2007

    HeavenGames Appoints Sergio Prado as new CEO
    Posted by Socvazius

    LOMBARD, IL – HeavenGames LLC, an internet leader in strategy fansites, today announced it has appointed Sergio “Socvazius” Prado to the position of Chief Executive Officer, effective July 28, 2007. Mr. Prado, a driven executive with considerable experience in the gaming industry, has worked at HeavenGames for 7 years in addition to Vivendi Universal’s brand marketing department. He currently is a college junior at Harvard University.

    Prior to this appointment at HeavenGames, Mr. Prado served as the company’s Chief Content Officer on the executive board, ensuring the professional quality of content present across the network. He also headed six of its sites: for Age of Empires III, Age of Mythology, Age of Kings, Age of Empires, Rome: Total War, and Cossacks. During his employ at Vivendi Universal, Mr. Prado worked to market World in Conflict and Empire Earth III, two of the biggest strategy titles of 2007.

    Tom Mescher, the exiting CEO, served as HeavenGames’ leader since its incorporation in October of 2000. He is moving on to continue his career in the IT industry.

    ABOUT HEAVENGAMES, LLC
    HeavenGames LLC (http://www.heavengames.com), based in Lombard, Illinois, is a privately owned web-content publisher geared towards the creation of special-interest sites for Real-Time Strategy and City-Builder games. Its sites, content, vast amounts of resources, as well as a dedicated staff & management team make HeavenGames’ sites recognized by developers and press alike as one of the premier destinations for gamers worldwide.

    Sunday, July 8, 2007

    Congrats to The Dark Archer!
    Posted by Dr Lorenzo

    The Dark Archer has joined the staff of AoEH, to help out with moderating, the granary, and sneaking New Zealand members into the tightly guarded AoEH fortress!

    Wish him luck here!

    Saturday, June 16, 2007

    Granary Doubles
    Posted by Dr Lorenzo

    I’m noticing a lot lately that files are being submitted multiple times to the Granary. When you’re submitting files, please remember it takes a while for them to be approved and go onto the site, so there’s no need to submit them more than once.

    Sunday, June 3, 2007

    Lorenzo Wins Florida
    Posted by Dr Lorenzo

    Right, everything is going to be pretty hectic for the next little while, so hold in there. First we’re sorting the contest, then, everything else 😉

    Don’t hesitate to mail me about anything.

    Thursday, May 31, 2007

    New Seraph in Town
    Posted by Zen

    Let’s give a warm welcome to Dr. Lorenzo, who will be serving as Age of Empires Heaven’s webmaster/Seraph effective immediately. He’s got some very big shoes to fill and also a legacy to continue, so please be kind and give him a hand when he needs some help picking up the piece.

    Thursday, May 24, 2007

    Articles and Judge’s decisions
    Posted by Phill Phree

    Would anyone who sent me their judgements for the campaign contest, or any articles for the site, please send them to me again. Sorry for the inconvenience, they didn’t survive the PC blowing up.

    Tuesday, May 15, 2007

    The Birthday Thread
    Posted by Phill Phree

    Is now over, in 12 hours we had 151 posts. Not too shabby at all. Well done everybody, thanks for all your contributions and here’s to the next 10 years.

    Monday, May 14, 2007

    And they’re off!
    Posted by Phill Phree

    Ok the thread at AoEH is open here as promised. It will be open for 24 hours exactly. Please respect the one post per person rule but remember you can add to your post at any time until the thread closes. Hope to see you there.

    Sunday, May 13, 2007

    HG’s 10th birthday
    Posted by Phill Phree

    Ten years. Hard to believe but here we are, and AoEH is happy to be a part of this excellent moment in the crew’s history.

    In honour of this I will be opening up a thread on the oldest surviving site in our VVV forum, for people to come in and give their best wishes to all the hard working guys and gals who have helped us last this long.

    The thread will be created at midnight GMT on Monday 14th and will remain open until midnight GMT Tuesday 15th. One post per person, where you can wish everyone well and maybe say a little about what HG has meant to you over the years.

    Hope to see you there. Thanks to forum regular Alakazam for the idea.

    Saturday, May 12, 2007

    Campaign Contest
    Posted by Phill Phree

    In case anyone is wondering what happened to this, I am in the process of judging the ones that the judges could not due to computer problems. It is in hand and I hope to announce the results soon.

    Tuesday, May 8, 2007

    Xfire
    Posted by Phill Phree

    StalwartUK posted about this. Xfire is a messenger that focuses on gamers. As well as the usual IM features you can talk to friends in-game when playing some games (not AoE unfortunately but we have other ways).

    You can also track your game hours (all time and in the last 7 days) and what is perhaps most important to AoE players – groups of people can meet up in game lobbies and have games with each other. If you used to play on the Zone then the interface and features will be familiar to you. Much easier than meeting on MSN and playing over IP.

    StalwartUK has also started a Guild for AoE players to join here. Once you have created an account and downloaded the client itself then you should be able to just then apply for membership at the above link.

    Well worth a look.

    Sunday, May 6, 2007

    Server Troubles
    Posted by Phill Phree

    Some of you have probably noticed our server being up and down like a yo-yo the last couple of days. Apologies for that, we’re working hard to resolve this and thank you in advance for your patience.

    Thursday, February 15, 2007

    Back Online
    Posted by Phill Phree

    Ok, I’m back online at last. New mail addy is pphree at btinternet dot com. Please update your details as appropriate. Thank you.

    Thursday, January 11, 2007

    New Year Updates
    Posted by Phill Phree

    Lennart AKA Phatfish has updated his map tricks article with a plethora of new tricks, from alternative snow to some stunning looking arches. Find it in Map Design in Siege or click here.

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