Not often you get a newspost the following day on AoEH, the last time this happened was during the height of AoEH. A previously unknown beta version of Age of Empires has been uncovered, and it's pretty nice! I was hoping to collect a little more info and record more differences before posting this, I have only been able to play this build for a day or two. Since Nocomonda couldn't wait with posting the announcement, here you go. It is very close to completion but still has quite a number of differences.
The cd-rom and case which includes this late beta.
This is most likely theclosed beta test version that was send out to the public. How do I come to this conclusion? It is known that official external beta testing started very late during development as stated on Telcontar's old website. This build seems to resemble that since it is only 6 weeks away from completion (final release build is dated 25th of September 1997). I am almost certain that this is where we got the Nuke Trooper and Gaia Horse templates from back in the early days of designing. Designers back then were eager for more of these secret hidden units, because they were special (still are, in a way!). Nowadays, you have access to all possible hidden units through the Composite Editor.
Hero 8 to 12 are available in this beta version.
For more screenshots,view this part of the Gallery!
Build number: 0.8.33.814
Build creation date: 14th of August 1997
Notable differences from the final release build include:
In-game:
- Intro video has some different music mid-way.
- Additional catapult sound is heard in the intro music.
- Player colors are different on the achievements screen.
- Button colors are different or may change during play.
- All Trees have 10 HP. Forests use older tree models.
- Gold mines contain 300 gold instead of 400.
- Tribute system does not require a Market.
- Diplomacy and Menu buttons are still offset by a slight margin.
- Selection buttons have a round graphic instead of the x or v.
- Old cheat codes are still used.
- When a Priest has successfully converted, an additional Wololo sound is played.
- Yamato campaign is unfinished, and also missing the instruction bitmap on Mountain Temple scenario.
- Several spelling errors.
- Alt-tabbing out usually results in a crash or freeze.
Deathmatch:
- Player starts with higher resources, notably gold and stone.
Multiplayer
- Several unfinished Multiplayer maps.
Editor:
- The editor background often obscures the map when selecting something from drop-down menu (e.g. Victory conditions).
- Civilization drop-down menu in the Player section is in a different position.
- Blank instruction bitmap resembles the Mediterranean, specifically Greece and Turkey. Does not come with the game.
- Several beta units available from the Unit section: Horse, Nuke Troopers, Catapult Missile, Hero 8 - 12.
- Invisible Demon is called Demon.
- Several unfinished or unused .PER and .AI files.
There are probably quite a few more changes but these are the ones that are most apparent.
You can download the closed betacampaigns and the (multiplayer) scenarios from the Granary.
It is quite amazing that this even surfaced after so many years!
This is most likely the
For more screenshots,
Build creation date: 14th of August 1997
- Intro video has some different music mid-way.
- Additional catapult sound is heard in the intro music.
- Player colors are different on the achievements screen.
- Button colors are different or may change during play.
- All Trees have 10 HP. Forests use older tree models.
- Gold mines contain 300 gold instead of 400.
- Tribute system does not require a Market.
- Diplomacy and Menu buttons are still offset by a slight margin.
- Selection buttons have a round graphic instead of the x or v.
- Old cheat codes are still used.
- When a Priest has successfully converted, an additional Wololo sound is played.
- Yamato campaign is unfinished, and also missing the instruction bitmap on Mountain Temple scenario.
- Several spelling errors.
- Alt-tabbing out usually results in a crash or freeze.
- Player starts with higher resources, notably gold and stone.
- Several unfinished Multiplayer maps.
- The editor background often obscures the map when selecting something from drop-down menu (e.g. Victory conditions).
- Civilization drop-down menu in the Player section is in a different position.
- Blank instruction bitmap resembles the Mediterranean, specifically Greece and Turkey. Does not come with the game.
- Several beta units available from the Unit section: Horse, Nuke Troopers, Catapult Missile, Hero 8 - 12.
- Invisible Demon is called Demon.
- Several unfinished or unused .PER and .AI files.
There are probably quite a few more changes but these are the ones that are most apparent.
You can download the closed beta
It is quite amazing that this even surfaced after so many years!