The game will be brought to smartphones and tablets in a release that will occur this summer.
Nearly a year after Microsoft confirmed that Age of Empires would be coming to the mobile gaming world, the company has finally announced that this previously PC- and console-only experience will be headed to Windows Phone, iOS, and Android app stores as of this summer.
Microsoft has now opened up a pre-registration that grants access to exclusive updates about the apps.
Players are able to pre-register so that they can learn more about the Age of Empires: World Domination mobile gaming app, as soon as news becomes available, as well as gaining access to recent news about the series as a whole. Last June, Redmond announced that its game would be coming to smartphones when it entered into a licensing agreement with KLab Inc. so that the title could be further developed. Equally, though, the company downplayed rumors that have been circulating that would suggest that other Microsoft game favorites would also be adapted for the smaller screen.
This mobile gaming news appears to be an event unto itself at the moment, not to be followed by other titles.
According to Larry Hyrb, the Xbox Live Network director of programming, “There are no further announcements beyond Age of Empires at this time.”
At the same time, the promise made by the release of Age of Empires: World Domination is that the powers of the world will be placed “within your grasp” through the deployment of various forms of complex battle tactics through the use of “simple and intuitive touch gestures.”
The story of the gaming app works over a hundred legendary heroes from history into its web, with characters such as Joan of Arc and the Franks, Cnut the Great and the Vikings, King Arthur and the Celts, and even Atilla the Hun. As of this summer, gamers will no longer be limited to their PCs and consoles. Through their smartphones, they will be able to play in teams with their friends or to challenge other players in order to be able to conquer the world.
A sneak peak of this app was made along with the mobile gaming announcement at the PAX East gaming conference where the Age of Empires and Microsoft team were present.
Companies will need to prepare themselves for these devices just as they did for smartphones.
Bring your own device (BYOD) programs in companies of all sizes have become very commonplace and now the introduction of wearable technology could be changing the nature of those strategies.
Although some forms, such as smartwatches, may not change too much, others could require altogether different rules.
The first step that companies will need to take when they are looking into allowing workers to use wearable technology on the job is mobile security. This comes both in the form of adequate protection against malware, viruses, and cyber attacks, as well as in the form of privacy of the company’s information. Smartwatches likely won’t offer too much problem in that second category, but augmented reality glasses such as Google Glass or Smart Specs, for example, could allow video recording and picture taking to occur while being completely undetectable to those around the wearer.
This means that companies will need to seriously consider privacy when allowing wearable technology.
At the same time, there are some wearables that could be seen as beneficial to a workplace environment. For example, the number of fitness and activity trackers that are currently available could help to encourage employees to live healthier lifestyles and to try to come closer to achieving their 10,000 steps every day.
Healthier workers mean that there will be fewer sick days required and health insurance claims won’t need to be made as frequently. This also helps people to remain more energized and enthusiastic about their work, creating a much more positive and enjoyable atmosphere overall.
Equally, there is the struggle that could come with actually providing workers with wearables in order to try to enhance productivity. Although it may seem like a good idea to spread these gadgets throughout the workplace, keep in mind that this will add one more thing to the requirements for IT departments that are likely very inexperienced with this tech, considering how new it is to the marketplace.
Companies will need to carefully think through their strategies when it comes to allowing wearable technology to be used by their workers.
