REDMOND, Wash., March 11, 2003 — The gods are smiling upon
“Age of Mythology(TM).”
Solidifying its position as one of the top PC games, with its tale of might and magic involving legendary Greek, Egyptian and Norse gods,
“Age of Mythology”
has reached a milestone by selling more than 1 million games worldwide since its release.* The title, developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios, continues to garner critical acclaim and was nominated for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences’ (AIAS) Interactive Achievement Awards as PC Game of the Year and PC Strategy Game of the Year.
“Age of Mythology”
is the latest extension of the blockbuster
“Age of Empires® ”
series, which has sold more than 11 million units worldwide and won a myriad of industry awards. Interest in the entire collection remains strong, as evidenced by the inclusion of
“Age of Empires II: Age of Kings (TM)”
on The NPD Group’s list of the top 20 best-selling PC games for January 2003, several years after the title’s launch.
“‘Age of Mythology’ has joined the ‘Age of Empires’ sales legacy: All three games in the series have exceeded 1 million units in sales within months of their initial releases,”
said Stuart Moulder, general manager for PC Games at Microsoft Game Studios.
“The worldwide popularity of the entire franchise continues to grow, while the fans’ excitement inspires the development team at Ensemble Studios to create more innovative games each year.”
About
“
Age of Mythology
”
“Age of Mythology”
envelops players in a world where heroes battle mythological creatures and gods meddle in the lives of mortal men. Survival is ensured by harnessing the powers of Greek, Norse and Egyptian gods and more than 40 mythological creatures such as Cyclopes and Minotaurs.
“Age of Mythology”
players will embark on an epic journey of heroism, action and excitement through lush cinematic scenes as they delve into an immense 3-D world that features realistic sunlight shimmering across beautiful oceans and verdant forests. Varied game modes and settings suit fans of all ages and experience levels.
Availability
“Age of Mythology”
is available for an estimated retail price of $54.95 (U.S.)** and is rated
“Teen.”
About Ensemble Studios
Ensemble Studios ( http://www.ensemblestudios.com/ ) is one of the world’s premier entertainment software developers. Ensemble Studios is best known for its blockbuster
“Age of Empires”
game series, which has sold more than 11 million licensed copies worldwide. The
“Age of Empires”
franchise has received worldwide recognition for excellence, including multiple Game of the Year awards. Ensemble’s titles are distinguished by the highest-quality art and gameplay dynamics applied in familiar historical settings, and appeal to hard-core gamers and mass audiences. Ensemble Studios is based in Dallas, Texas.
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the PC, Xbox (TM) video game system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse game portfolios for the PC ( http://www.microsoft.com/games/ ), including such franchises as
“Age of Empires,” “Flight Simulator”
and
“Zoo Tycoon (TM)”
; Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com/ ), including such franchises as
“Halo (TM) ,” “Project Gotham Racing (TM)”
and
“NFL Fever”
; and Zone.com ( http://www.zone.com/ ), the official games channel for the MSN®
network and home to such hits as
“Bejeweled”
and
“OutSmart (TM) .”
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
* Microsoft, four-month period from Nov. 1, 2002, to March. 1, 2003. Based on total worldwide retail sales.
** Actual retail prices may vary.
Microsoft, Age of Mythology, Age of Empires, Age of Kings, Xbox, Zoo Tycoon, Halo, Project Gotham Racing, MSN and OutSmart are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft®
Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .
