Civilization vs. Age of Empires

[rubecube]

Looking into getting some PC games and wondering what people's opinions are on these. They both seem very similar. What are the differences and which one do most agree is better?

[HotHotHeat]

What number of AOE are they up to now?

[CubicleGeek]

Civ franchise is turn based and you progress from the beginning of humanity until the end the space race.

AoE is real-time and you progress through a smaller time frame in history.

The game play mechanics are completely different. Civ plays like a board game, whereas AoE plays like starcraft, warcraft, or other equivalent RTS. It's pretty hard to compare given that they play so differently.

[photon]

Both are excellent and both will eat your free time like a black hole eats, well time and everything else.

The primary difference is Age of Empires is a RTS, real time strategy. That means everything happens in real time, how quickly you expand, where your units move, etc all depend on how fast you can click and move your mouse. Against the computer for Age of Empires not a big deal, but with harder versions of that kind of game it can be an issue (at least it is for me, I'm no mouse slouch but I just don't like the hyperactivity required).

Civilization is a turn based strategy, so everything is based on turns, units have movement points and can only move so far per turn, etc etc.

I prefer this because you can take your time to plan a strategy if you want.

I highly enjoyed both of them, you can't go wrong with either one.

[Cliche]

Age of Empires is a limited units real time strategy game vs Civilizations "It's midnight already and I 'll just go through one more turn" type of classic strategy game.

Both have their positive points, and negatives. If you want a serious time-sink, go with Civ.

[PsYcNeT]

Civ = <3

Make sure you get it with all the expansions though, the replayability is unreal.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Civ = <3

Make sure you get it with all the expansions though, the replayability is unreal.

I've played all the way since the original. IMO the best game franchise out there, #2 was probably my favourite. hundreds upon hundreds of hours coming up with then trying to be almost impossible scenarios.

Online play is suprisingly awesome as well in the more recent civs.

[CaptainCrunch]

One thing I love about age of civiliations, there's always one civ that moves forward slowly, and there's no greater pleasure then sending an army of tanks and modern infantry against an army of horsemen and dudes carrying clubs.

[3 Justin 3]

I have never played Civilization but Age of Empires 3 is awesome fun. When ever I am feeling bored just play a quick skirmish and am no longer bored.

[dobbles]

i will also say that civ has evolved over the years. i have been playing civ since the first one came out on super nintendo almost 15 years ago. personally, i still play civ3 even though it came out in 2001. i never got into civ4. i have never played aoe on a regular basis so no idea how stuff changes, but with civ you may have a different experience based on what you play.

[llama64]

Age of Empire is good. Rise of Nations is better.

Civilization 4 is awesome.

Can't go wrong with any of these three games though.

[photon]

Oh yeah, Rise of Nations was awesome.

[Dirty Mr. Clean]

Rise of Nations is my fav RTS.

[Cain]

Alpha Centauri instead of Civ! Really underrated game.

Though I would enjoy civ over age of empires....completely different game types though (at least last time I checked).

[cyclone3483]

I'm a Civ fan. If I wasn't wasting so much time playing Runescape (Hi, my name is Cyclone, and I'm addicted to Runescape), then I'd be busy wasting my time on Civ.

Every game is different because there are so many variables. And I am big in strategy games rather than action games (even been known to play Baseball Mogul...sadly).

If you want strategy, then Civ. If you want action...then not Civ.

[Old Yeller]

Just...one... more.... turn.

*2 hours later*

Just...one... more.... turn.

*4 hours later*

Hmm... should I even bother going to bed?

Civ is the equivalent of cocaine in computer game form.

[CubicleGeek]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

Just...one... more.... turn.

*2 hours later*

Just...one... more.... turn.

*4 hours later*

Hmm... should I even bother going to bed?

Civ is the equivalent of cocaine in computer game form.

Ha! and the farther you progress the longer the turns get. Yup fond memories of wasted sleep trying to conquer the world.

[automaton 3]

Rise of Nations is incredibly good.

Company of Heros is a similar genre and also quite fun

[QuadCityImages]

Company of Heroes is the best RTS to come out in the last 2 or 3 years I think.

Civ though, especially Civ2, is the best game of any sort to come out, ever.

Civ4 is pretty great too though. I love the culture/religions angle, and actually having to control various resources.

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by dobbles

i will also say that civ has evolved over the years. i have been playing civ since the first one came out on super nintendo almost 15 years ago. personally, i still play civ3 even though it came out in 2001. i never got into civ4. i have never played aoe on a regular basis so no idea how stuff changes, but with civ you may have a different experience based on what you play.

hahaha

Do you really think the first version of civ came out on Super Nintendo?? SUPER NINTENDO!? lol


I remember trying to get it loaded through the DOS screen on my Windows 3.1 or whatever it was called.... That and Master of Orion and the original SimCity. Must have been 1991 or so? Got onto those games after many hours wasted playing Seven Cities of Gold!!

Man, I think I am getting old!




Claeren.