AOE 2 ONLINE PATCH
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That stretch of dominance included the first three Hidden Cups, but while Viper is the winningest player in AoE2 history, he isnвЂ™t invincible. Hera was swept in the best-of-seven finals by Гrjan вЂњTheViperвЂќ Larsen, who won 11 of 13 major tournaments between 20. Known for his fast, aggressive play, in 2020 he was the runner-up in three вЂњS-tierвЂќ tournaments, including Hidden Cup 3. The Canadian was introduced to the game by his brothers, found the popular YouTuber ZeroEmpires when searching for tips on the single player campaigns, and then got into multiplayer, where heвЂ™s earned about $48,000 in winnings since his first tournament in 2015. But ranked multiplayer is AoE2вЂ™s lifeblood, and Hera is one of several players to make a living from his Twitch, YouTube, and tournament winnings, which would have been impossible just a few years ago.ДЄt 21, Hera is one of several pros younger than AoE2 itself. But one thing about AoE2 is that the game is fun at level.вЂќ Its medieval setting helps not only is it an intriguing time period (the game inspired Hera to take history classes in university), but while it may not be obvious what counters the mythical units of a fantasy RTS, even a neophyte can deduce that they shouldnвЂ™t send their knights into a bristling wall of pikemen, or attempt to chase down cavalry archers with plodding infantry.ДЄ new player can therefore find immediate success in the gameвЂ™s robust solo offerings. Hera noted that вЂњRTS is a hard genre to get into, because of how many things there are to learn and consider. A few standard openings lead to a sprawling midgame of punch and counterpunch where players have plenty of options, but also plenty of demands on their attention. The build and destroy basics of AoE2 are typical for the genre, but its intricate web of units and civilisations with subtle strengths and weaknesses has created lasting appeal. Every game is different, and itвЂ™s just so much fun.вЂќ вЂњThereвЂ™s so many different civilisations, maps, playstyles, and players to play against.

AOE 2 ONLINE PRO

вЂњIвЂ™ve played a fair amount of games, the one thing about AoE2 is that the replay value is almost infinite,вЂќ pro player Hamzah вЂњHeraвЂќ El-Baher tells me. ThatвЂ™s the short version of a long story, but the point is that people have always been happy to play AoE2 as long as itвЂ™s accessible. AoE2:DE included a graphical overhaul, new tutorials to ease players into 20 years of strategic subtleties, and quality of life improvements, and today AoE2 hovers around #35 on the list of SteamвЂ™s most played games. Still, there was demand for a 2019 Definitive Edition and another expansion in 2021. The accessibility of Steam attracted enough new and returning players to justify several more expansions, although the game remained obscure enough that 2018вЂ™s first Hidden Cup attracted only 6,000 viewers and a $1,443 pot. A team of modders eventually created a fan expansion, and their work became official when Microsoft recruited them to work on a 2013 HD re-release.

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There was no particular reason to suspect that AoE2вЂ™s competitive scene would survive the ravages of time any better than its contemporaries, like the multiple Command & Conquer games that enjoyed similar critical and commercial success.Д«ut after official servers went down, a fan named scripter16 created a patch that added new features to the game and squashed lingering bugs, and a small community used a platform called Voobly for multiplayer. How is it that a game from 1999 has enjoyed such a resurgence? Saved by the FansДЄoE2 released to strong sales and reviews but, after a 2002 mythological spinoff and a divisive third installment in 2005, developer Ensemble Studios moved on to Halo Wars before folding. ItвЂ™s the largest AoE2 tournament since last yearвЂ™s Hidden Cup 3, which peaked at 57,922 viewers, but the biggest prize pool before that dates back to 2002. From March 18 th to 21 st, 16 Age of Empires 2 players will compete for Hidden Cup 4вЂ™s nearly $68,000 prize pool.

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