Age of Empires

Age of Empires is the original RTS game produced by Microsoft and first released 26th October 1997 (US) It was later expanded with the Rise of Rome expansion pack which added several new units, civilizations, and features.

Game
The game begins in the earliest of human history, the Stone Age, through the Tool Age, to ancient times: the Bronze Age and finishing in the Iron Age. It includes tribes and civilizations from across the world, including the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Babylonians, and the Yamato tribe of ancient Japan. Each tribe has its own units, buildings,and technologies, as well as certain advantages. This can be disabled with the "All technologies" option in the Random map, and Deathmatch screens, along with many other options, such as the "The Reveal map" option.

Gameplay
Players start of with a few villagers and a town center in a predetermined age (just a villagers in Nomad mode). Structures may be available depending on the scenario. The villagers collect resources from deposits and animals (Food). They use the stockpile to research technologies and to build units and buildings, which improve the economy. Food (and gold for ancient history) is also used to advance to the next age, along with any 2 buildings from the current age.