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NOSTALGIA AAR
(15 July 2008, 19:51 | RoN) As part of a running series of republished old After Action Reports (AARs) from Computer Gaming World by gaming journalists Tom Chick and Bruce Geryk, gaming site 1UP has posted an AAR of Rise of Nations: Throne & Patriots that was originally published in the August 2004 issue of CGW. In the article Tom and Bruce have a tongue-in-cheek back-and-forth about the course of the game they`re playing, in which Tom tries out the then-brand-new Iroquois while Bruce choses the Americans. A snippet of dialogue:
Tom 8:58 I`ve built Seneca at the end of a valley formed by Big Mountain in the Middle and Smaller Mountain Off to One Side of It. This valley will make a perfect killing zone, so I call it the Valley Where Lots of Bruce`s Troops Will Die.
Bruce 10:10 I`m building my third city -- Jefferson City -- right across a narrow mountain pass from one of Tom`s cities. One thing I`ve learned is that it really pisses Tom off when you build close to him and then start throwing soldiers at him. Until he wins, of course. But pissing him off is just about all I have to look forward to in this game.
If you want to read the rest of the entertaining 3-page AAR and find out if Tom did indeed win, head on over to 1UP. - Locutus
THE STATUS OF `AGE OF NATIONS`
(18 May 2008, 15:06 | RoN | 0 comments) A status update on Age of Nations, Apolyton Civilization Site`s (ACS) machinima-driven set in the Rise of Nations universe, has been posted. It was nine months ago that the series` production was permanently halted due to changes in content usage rules by RoN publisher Microsoft Game Studios. - DanQ
RISE OF NATIONS SCENARIO IN THE WORKS!
(2 February 2008, 05:08 | RoN | 25 comments) Our very own Alinestra Covelia has been working on a special project for Rise of Nations:Thrones & Patriots. This is called Red Star Over China, and she has an early news release I`ve got a lot of free time over this summer and I want to do something with RONTAP. I`m hoping to work on a series of little scenarios linked together to detail the rise of the Chinese Communist Party in China during the 1920s through to 1940s. I have a fairly good understanding of the time period, based not least in part on Edgar Snow`s classic journalistic reports "Red Star Over China".
The main problem for me is that I am not familiar with the scripting language at all. I understand a very very small amount of C++, so the layout of the functions is not alien to me. However, I`m going to end up with lots of questions. I hope I can ask them here.
Currently, the first scenario I`m thinking of doing is this. If any of you have ideas as to how to implement this in code, or design ideas as to what would be more fun to play, I`m happy to hear them!
Part One: The Shanghai Massacre:
Background:
In the late 1920s, the Chinese Communist Party had grown into a large political entity that was still largely civilian in nature. The Nationalist government ordered a large scale sweep of their main base, Shanghai, to eradicate the Communists. This action destroyed the Communists` urban support networks, forcing them into their communes in rural China. However, key personnel, including a rising leader Mao Zedong, managed to escape.
Gameplay:
This scenario would consist of a small map, filled almost entirely with buildings and cities representing Shanghai`s many different suburbs. The gameplay consists of the human player controlling various non-combat units, including Scholars, Civilians, and maybe even a Spy or two, and trying to move them all to the western side of the city, where a friendly Fort awaits them.
This would simulate the evacuation from the city of key Communist personnel. The personnel would "pop up" at points in the city every so often (perhaps appearing garrisoned in buildings, if that`s even possible) and the player has to get them safely across the enemy city and over to the Fort.
In opposition, the Nationalist forces will have foot soldiers performing sweeps of the neighborhoods looking for Communist leaders, and they will shoot on sight. The human player has a few Spies that cannot bribe, but which can plant informers in buildings. The Spies can plant informers at key locations around the city and suburbs, giving the player visibility of where the enemy`s patrols are currently.
A canny player can figure out when the coast is clear to send the Communist personnel across.
The human player will also have some ability to "bribe" certain houses in the city, which will allow him to garrison units inside. This could be useful in areas of high patrol frequency, where a Communist personnel could benefit from hiding out.
As long as one Communist personnel member makes it to the fort, the human player can continue the campaign, but there will be benefits to be had if others survive with him.
Alinestra Covelia states she needs some assistance and after the awesome job the Apolyton Community did with the source code for CTP2, what we need here is another group of skilled,dedicated and eager participants to jump in and help bring this project online! - Grandpa Troll
THE ABRUPT END OF `AGE OF NATIONS`
(23 August 2007, 10:02 | RoN | 19 comments) An external force has forced immediate production haltage on Age of Nations, Apolyton Civilization Site`s (ACS) machinima-driven set in the Rise of Nations universe. Earlier this month RoN`s publisher parent Microsoft Corporation (MS) released usage rules on Game Content published by them and/or to which they own the intellectual property to. RoN and its Thrones & Patriots expansion pack were published by Microsoft Game Studios and is specifically mentioned -- all versions -- in this Game Content Usage Rules document.
For AoN specifically, it boils down to the following:
Commentaries for Episodes 113, 114 and the first featurette will proceed and be released.
The second and third AoN featurettes will not be produced but will be released in another medium.
With the second point, what is meant is that the script for the second is nearly completely and that for the third is well underway. So as to conclude the series` saga one way or another the scripts will be released publicly. For more general details on this development and how it applies to Age of Nations specifically, visit the official forum discussion thread here on ACS. - DanQ
AON FEATURETTE 1: `FORKS IN THE ROAD`
(22 July 2007, 21:22 | RoN | 2 comments) 
The first of three Age of Nations (AoN) featurettes has arrived. Following-up on the events of the season finale "Loyalties Tested" released in March [see story], "Forks in the Road" condenses what was originally intended to be explored in a would-be sophomore season.
Three generals with three different means to the same end. A Councilman is dealt a political equivalent, but it may not be as devastating as those who delivered it believe.
Destiny is on the mind of two foreigners in a strange land, while their former allies experience a power shift whose repercussions are poised to impact both themselves and those around them.
AoN is the first Real-Time Strategy (RTS) machinima series, and the first Rise of Nations machinima endeavour that also blends some `live-action` footage for good measure. AoN is produced and published by Apolyton Civilization Site, one of the oldest and premiere online computer strategy gaming fansites on the Internet.
Running for 23m35s, it is available in DivX, Windows Media and Flash formats. - DanQ
`AON` FEATURETTE 1: `FORKS IN THE ROAD` PROMO 2
(15 July 2007, 22:41 | RoN | 0 comments) 
The second of three Age of Nations (AoN) featurettes now has a specific release date this month: the 22nd. Entitled "Forks in the Road" ("FitR"), its second promo has been released. Running 01m00s in length, it sets itself apart from the first by featuring visuals from this production along with accompanying dialogue. Storywise, "FitR" condenses what was originally planned for a full second season order.
AoN is the first Real-Time Strategy (RTS) machinima series, and the first Rise of Nations machinima endeavour that also blends some `live-action` footage for good measure. AoN is produced and published by Apolyton Civilization Site, one of the oldest and premiere online computer strategy gaming fansites on the Internet.
The promo is available in both DivX and Windows Media formats. - DanQ
