Microsoft this week have announced a new, old, game title – Age of Empires Online. The game is currently in close-beta and Microsoft have already opened up registrations to test it.

Anyone interested in the Closed Beta can apply at www.ageofempiresonline.com/beta. Microsoft will be selecting participants for the Beta over several weeks. If you applied and did not get in right away, just give it some time.

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So what’s it all about? Age of Empires Online is the next evolution in the best-selling real-time strategy (RTS) franchise Age of Empires. Developed by Robot Entertainment and Microsoft Game Studios for the Games for Windows – LIVE platform, Age of Empires Online invites players to create a living, growing online world, shared with friends and friendly rivals around the world. Marrying fresh features with classic RTS gameplay, Age of Empires Online pays tribute to the original game while incorporating a new look, feel, and approach that appeals to long-time fans, newcomers, and everyone in between.

You’re on your way to conquering the known world, yet you thirst for greater challenges. Test the civilization you’ve built and your ability to make tactical and strategic decisions. How will your civilization fare against other rising, formidable powers? Find out in the player vs. player game. You can fight against other players or your LIVE friends—the game randomly generates maps for battle. Some PvP wins get you experience points. Some give you only the satisfaction of grinding your opponents into the dust.

AOE Online brings the popular RTS series to a persistent online world. Some of the features include:

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• A persistent online capital city that lives and grows even when you’re offline
• Cooperative multiplayer quests, trading and a level-based system that lets you progress at your own pace
• Fun, approachable style and storylines
• Free-to-play experiences via Games for Windows – LIVE

The game takes place is Greece. Graphically it looks very different from the other games and has a Team Fortress 2 type of art style. We’ll have more details soon but keep your eye’s peeled for the game play trailer which is brewing in our labs right now.

Age of Empires Online will be available for download worldwide via Games for Windows – LIVE, allowing you to download and play from almost anywhere. It will also offer a deep multiplayer experience, including cooperative quests and classic competitive matches, as well as in-game chat. Like every Games for Windows – LIVE title, Age of Empires Online comes with achievements, an online profile and friends list unified with Xbox LIVE, the ability to send voice and text messages across platforms, and much more.

The official website has a game-play trailer already released.

Source: Official Website