Introduction

•  What is Empire Earth ?
•  How is Empire Earth® II bigger than the original?
•  Who is developing Empire Earth II ?
•  Who is the lead designer/creative director?
•  When is Empire Earth II coming out?

Basic Game Concepts

•  What are "epochs"?
•  What are "Crowns"?
•  What role does diplomacy play in the game?
•  Describe the role of Territories in the game.

Game Content

•  How many unique units are included in Empire Earth II ?
•  How many structures will there be?
•  What civilizations can I play?
•  How are civilizations organized in the world?
•  Are the map sizes larger than the original game?

Command and Control

•  How is the Empire Earth II interface different from other games?
•  How does the Picture-in-Picture feature work?
•  What is the Citizen Manager?
•  What is the War Planner?

Game Engine & Technology

•  What engine does Empire Earth II use?
•  How does weather work in the game?
•  How do I plan for weather?
•  Does weather affect the entire area of the map?

Single Player Campaign

•  What are campaigns are included in the single player game?
•  What can we look forward to in the way of cinematics?
•  Are there any scenarios in the game?
•  Just how good is the Artificial Intelligence in Empire Earth?

Revolutionary Multiplayer

•  How many simultaneous players does an Empire Earth II multiplayer game support?
•  Are there new multiplayer modes in Empire Earth II ?
•  Is there an option to quickly begin a multiplayer game?
•  Have there been any changes to the pacing of the game?
•  Who will host the multiplayer lobby?

General Questions

•  What are the system requirements?
•  Will there be a random map generator?
•  Will there be a map/scenario editor?
•  Does Empire Earth II have prophets or priest units?
•  What will be the purpose of Temples and Universities be now that the supernatural elements of the game have been removed?
•  Will there be times of day?
•  When will the beta test program for Empire Earth II begin?
•  Did I see roads in the game? How do they work?
•  Are there walls?
•  Can you build bridges in the game?
•  Will forts have a more defensive purpose in comparison to Empire Earth II?
•  How does the spy unit work?
•  How is trade handled?
•  Are there tool tips or beginner helpers? Can they be turned off/on?
•  The original Empire Earth included calamities. Will they return in Empire Earth II ?
•  Will Empire Earth II be available in Linux or Macintosh versions?
•  Has Empire Earth II been tested on a SLI system?

Q: How is Empire Earth® II bigger than the original?
A: Empire Earth II is most definitely the next step in the evolution of the franchise – and the RTS genre. Empire Earth was a great game, no doubt about it, so we wanted to keep the core RTS gameplay and epic scope that made it a great game, but at the same time move the franchise (and the RTS genre) forward.

The original Empire Earth had a greater reach than any other realtime strategy game, spanning thousands of years of history and capturing the imagination of fans worldwide. Empire Earth II boasts 15 epochs, spanning 10,000 BC – 2230 AD (approximating the same time span as Empire Earth ), 14 different civilizations, and a greater number and variety of buildings and units than any other game on the market. There are over 40 separate unit types (land, sea, air) in the game, which, given the number of civilizations, translates to over 350 different units alone! It delivers an even more epic experience that brings the full reach of human history to life. Empire Earth II pushes the boundaries of the RTS genre through advanced artificial intelligence, unique command and control, and other innovative features never before seen in a strategy game. No other RTS game offeres this breadth and depth of gameplay!

Q: Who is developing Empire Earth II ?
A: Mad Doc® Software, LLC ( www.maddocsoftware.com ). Mad Doc consists of game industry veterans with experience in every aspect of game development and an unmatched expertise in Artificial Intelligence. Collectively, Mad Doc team members are responsible for over eight million units in the game market worldwide, earning the acclaim of players, critics, and publishers alike.

Q: Who is the lead designer/creative director?
A: Dr. Ian Davis. Dr. Ian Lane Davis , CEO and Founder of Mad Doc® Software, Creative Director on Empire Earth II and former Technical Director at Activision, is widely acknowledged as one of the top Artificial Intelligence experts in the gaming industry. Currently co-authoring the definitive AI and games textbook for academic and industry training, Dr. Davis is a trusted advisor to key industry publishers, serves as a Peer Panel Leader for the AIAS Peer Panel for Gameplay Engineering, and is a Journal of Game Development Editorial Board member. A highly sought speaker who presents in academic and game-focused venues, Davis earned his doctorate in AI and Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University .

Q: When is Empire Earth II coming out?
A: Empire Earth II will be available in late April 2005. Actual release dates will vary slightly by country. In the United States and Canada the game will ship April 26, 2004 . Contact your local software retailer for exact availability in your area.

Get 10% off when you buy Empire Earth® II from the VU Games Store . Use coupon code EE2TEN.

Q: What are "epochs"?
A: The dictionary definition of epoch (pronounced " epic ") is: "a particular period of history, especially one considered remarkable or noteworthy."

As time passes, civilizations become more advanced. Epochs represent the changes in civilization over time. As you advance through the epochs, new and improved buildings and units become available to you.

To advance to a new epoch, you must first research technologies in the Tech Tree. When you have researched 6 technologies and have the necessary technology points, you can advance to the next epoch by clicking the Epoch button.

You can choose, however, to remain in your current epoch to continue researching technologies. The more you research a certain technology area, the more advanced your units and buildings will become in the area.

These special skills could come in handy down the road. In fact, one of your most important strategic decisions will be when to advance epochs. Later epochs by definition grant you better units and buildings, but remaining in an earlier epoch longer to research additional technologies may ultimately give you an advantage over your enemies.

There are 15 epochs in Empire Earth II .

Q: What are "Crowns"?
A: Crowns measure your skills as a ruler.

The new Crown System grants strategic bonuses to players who are first to master an epoch's Military, Economic, or Imperial paths. This grants bonuses to people who prefer a certain way of playing the game. But beware; attempting to capture a crown is usually done at the cost of not being able to afford to advance to the next epoch.

What do I earn when I win a Crown?
A: Earning a crown allows the player to build a unique leader unit with special active and passive powers.

Winning a crown also allows the player to choose a special benefit for a specific period of time.

For example, players who win the Military Crown in a later epoch may choose "Strategic Bombing Doctrine" as their crown benefit, which bestows bonuses to bomber aircraft for a certain amount of time.

Q: What role does diplomacy play in the game?
A: One of the best parts of classic board games is the unique alliances that players create with others around the table.

The enhanced, expanded, and easy-to-use Diplomacy Manager offers the possibility of deeper, more strategic games, gives you more tactical options, and allows you to establish different relationships with different players (both human and AI) in the game.

Q: Describe the role of Territories in the game.
A: Conquest and expansion are core concepts of real warfare and empire building. Empire Earth II 's Territory System models that concept, and in doing so adds a huge strategic element to the game, actually giving the player an incentive to go out and take more land.

Q: How many unique units are included in Empire Earth II ?
A: We've increased the number of units by more than 33% (over the original Empire Earth ) for a total of more than 350 units. We've also added unique units for each civilization such as the German Teutonic Knight, Egyptian Royal Elephant, and Chinese Dragon Archer.

Q: How many structures will there be?
A: There are over 275 building models in the game (80% more than the original) including unique building styles for Mesoamerican, Western, Middle Eastern and Eastern civilizations.

Players can choose unique wonders such as the Brandenburg Gate to bestow unique bonuses.

Q: What civilizations can I play?
A: In their quest towards world domination, players can choose to lead one of 15 different civilizations: German, British, Roman, American, Greek, Egyptian, Turkish, Babylonian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Incan, Aztec, or Mayan.

Q: How are civilizations organized in the world?
A: The regions refer to the cultural grouping of our civilizations. We have 15 civilizations grouped into 4 distinct regions. Each region shares architectural similarities with its civilizations, as well as regional powers. For instance, the Chinese, Japanese and Korean civs are all part of the Far Eastern Region and so all have similar looking buildings and units as well as sharing regional characteristics and abilities. However, they all look and play very differently from civs that belong to the Western, Middle Eastern or Mesoamerican regions.

Q: Are the map sizes larger than the original game?
A: The map size has been increased to enhance the game's epic feel and create better historical realism. Empire Earth II features map sizes up to 300x300 tiles (the tile size is much larger than in the original game).

Q: How is the Empire Earth II interface different from other games?
A: While popular interface conventions remain from the original Empire Earth , several unique elements have been developed to create an unprecedented level of player control beyond the current crowd of RTS titles.

The most notable introductions are the Picture-in-Picture , Citizen Manager , and the War Planner .

Q: How does the Picture-in-Picture feature work?
A: The Picture-in-Picture (PIP) is a unique feature that allows you to maintain distinct control over various regions of your empire in real-time.

The PIP, anchored at the bottom of the dashboard interface opposite the Mini-Map, adds another fully functional window into the game. Players can attach a virtual "camera" to a unit or fixed location and then monitor that unit within the PIP, even if the Main View is focused somewhere else on the map. Unit commands can be issued conventionally or directly through the Picture-in-Picture.

For instance, the PIP can be used to monitor a farm of Nuclear Silos while the player's Main View is filled with a battle on a distant front. When a nuclear missile is ready, it may be selected within the PIP and assigned to targets in the Main View.

The PIP is ideal to monitor "hot spots" on the map such as territory borders, bridges, resource locations, or enemy outposts.

Q: What is the Citizen Manager?
A: As in all RTS games, worker units can be assigned to resources conventionally by selecting them and moving them towards a specific resource. In Empire Earth II we've taken it one step further with the introduction of the Citizen Manager. With the Citizen Manager a player can increase or decrease the number of worker units collecting a particular resource directly through the dashboard.

Focus can be quickly moved from one resource to another, alleviating the need to micro-manage your civilization during the heat of battle.

Q: What is the War Planner?
A: The War Planner is another "why didn't someone think of this before?" innovation that makes communicating with your allies quick and easy.

Gone are the days when allies would have to rely on a small text chat window to coordinate plans. Now, with the War Planner, allies can use tools similar to a paint program to tell each other where to move, attack, or defend.

The War Planner resembles an overview of the map representing the Territories with colored boundaries. You can draw arrows across the map in different colors (the colors correspond to different teammates), draw "Xs where they should attack, select regions where they should protect, and send the War Plan over. The War Planner can also be shown in the mini-map so you can see the plan during the heat of battle.

This saves a tremendous amount of time, and more clearly communicates your strategy amongst your allies.

Q: What engine does Empire Earth II use?
A: Empire Earth II 's game engine was built from scratch to include all the latest DirectX9 features. In fact, every part of the game is brand new, every single line of code. Gamebryo serves as the basis for the low-level graphic engine. We then built a brand new Mad Doc® proprietary RTS engine on top of it. Gamebryo's graphics base layer can be easily ported, and making a brand new RTS engine using our years of strategy game experience let us make the absolute best RTS experience possible.

The game boasts many special effects. Objects reflect in the water, sandstorms blow, blizzards howl, tanks leave tracks, soldiers leave footprints.

Q: How does weather work in the game?
A: Not only do the new weather effects increase the sense of a living and breathing game world, they actually affect gameplay. In sandstorms your line of sight is reduced. In tropical rainstorms aircraft may be grounded. In blizzards your units move slower.

Players will have to adapt to ever-changing weather conditions and constantly revolving seasons that will impact their civilization's growth and necessitate new tactical initiatives.

Q: How do I plan for weather?
A: Certain climates are more likely to experience certain types of weather, such as hurricanes in tropical areas.

Outposts will predict upcoming weather with 100% accuracy. This will help you make better strategic decisions like avoiding the construction or launch of fixed-wing aircraft before a tropical hurricane is to hit.

Weather may also be turned off.

Q: Does weather affect the entire area of the map?
A: Yes. Weather events affect all areas of the map equally so as to not put any one player at a disadvantage .

Q: What campaigns are included in the single player game?
A: The single player campaign is divided into three campaigns, Korean, German and American. The Korean Campaign spans the early epochs, the German spans the middle epochs, and the American Campaign covers the 20 th century to the near future. Along the way, you'll relive great battles against rival civilizations.

Q: What can we look forward to in the way of cinematics?:
A: A new style of cinematic represents the flavor of each culture; Korean – handwriting, German – 19 th century books, and American – black & white photography.

Q: Are there any scenarios in the game?
A: There are two large scale scenarios in the game. These are called Turing Point Missions. The Battle of Normandy from World War 2 and The Dynasty Clashes of Ancient China are the two Turning Point Missions .

Q: Just how good is the Artificial Intelligence in Empire Earth II ?:
A: Designed to be the pinnacle of AI in games, the computer AI in Empire Earth II is perhaps the most advanced opponent in any RTS game. You will face an all-new reactive and dynamic AI system that will challenge the limits of your strategic knowledge. The AI can also be customized to fit any skill level. Designed from the ground up by Dr. Ian Davis (his doctorate is in artificial intelligence and he's a respected authority within the field of game design), the AI engine offers a totally new level of sophistication.

Q: How many simultaneous players does an Empire Earth II multiplayer game support?:
A: Up to 10 players can slug it out in a multiplayer match.

Q: Are there new multiplayer modes in Empire Earth II ?
A: The new "Soul Survivor" mode has quickly become the favorite RTS multiplayer mode of just about everyone on the development team. When we're playing a conquest style game, and we clear everyone else off the map, we have 15 seconds until we become enemies. All the alliances are busted! Sole Survivor is exactly what it says; only one player can win the game. This captures the feel of those old board games like Risk ( where you know that only one player can win) so you have to find a way to ally with players at some points then backstab them.

Q: Is there an option to quickly begin a multiplayer game?
A: Empire Earth II features a "Quickstart" option, which will make the multiplayer experience easier to get into by eliminating the first 10-15 minutes. You begin the game with a base and units. You choose what the disposition of the units will be; military, economic, or imperial.

Q: Have there been any changes to the pacing of the game:?
A: In Empire Earth II we decided to allow players to setup their own "house rules" if they want. In the basic mode, you can select FAST, MEDIUM, or SLOW. This doesn't affect the speed of the simulation, but the actual underlying game mechanics. For example, if you choose a slow based game, resources are gathered more slowly, it takes longer to build units, less damage is dealt in combat, and units move slower across the battlefield. The opposite is true in fast paced games. We also give a custom option that gives 16 different parameters that can effect the pacing of the game.

Q: Who will host the multiplayer lobby?:
A: The multiplayer in Empire Earth II is powered by GameSpy.

Q: What are the system requirements?
A: The minimum and recommended system requirements are listed below. To automatically compare your current system against Empire Earth II's requirements visit the Windows Game Advisor.

Minimum Specification
Microsoft® Windows® 98/Me/2000/XP operating system
NVIDIA® GeForce™ 3 or equivalent DirectX® 9.0c-compliant 64 MB 3D video card with hardware T&L and pixel shader support
1.5 GHz Intel® Pentium® 4 processor or equivalent
256 MB RAM
1.5 GB of uncompressed hard disk space for game files
DirectX® 9.0c (included)
DirectX®-compatible sound card and speakers or headphones
4X CD-ROM drive
Microsoft® compatible mouse and keyboard
Minimum 56K dial-up modem for online play

Recommended Specification
Microsoft® Windows® XP
NVIDIA® GeForce™ 4 or DirectX® 9.0c-compliant 128 MB 3D video card with hardware T&L and pixel shader support
2.2 GHz Intel® Pentium® 4 or faster processor
512 MB RAM or more
1.5 GB of uncompressed hard disk space for game files
DirectX® 9.0c (included)
DirectX®-compatible sound card and speakers or headphones
24X or faster CD-ROM drive
Microsoft® compatible mouse and keyboard
Broadband/LAN, DSL or faster Internet connection for online play

Q: Will there be a random map generator?
A: Yes. Players may choose to compete on the standard maps included in the game or random maps you generate based on custom criteria such as geography, resources, size, climate, seasons, and so forth.

Q: Will there be a map/scenario editor?
A: Many of the tools the developers used to create the game will be available to players to create custom maps and scenarios. This includes all the unit files, which will allow players to create custom units or change the traits of current ones.

Q: Does Empire Earth II have prophets or priest units?
A: Yes. Priest units can be created in all epochs. These special units have the capability of "converting" units of another player to their side. The "supernatural" powers that this kind of unit had in the original Empire Earth has been scaled down in favor of overall game balance.

Q: What will the purpose of Temples and Universities be now that the supernatural elements of the game have been removed?
A: Universities and Temples help generate Tech Points, the resource that allows the player to compete for crowns and advance through the epochs. Temples also allow the recruitment of priests while universities allow the player to create spies. Spies have many interesting abilities in EE2, including being able to sabotage other players' buildings regardless of their current diplomatic state.

Q: Will there be times of day?
A: Yes. The engine renders four times of day; Dawn, Afternoon, Dusk, and Night.

Q: When will the beta test program for Empire Earth II begin?
A: Mad Doc Software has decades of combined experience designing real-time strategy games. In that time we've developed a number of technology-related tools that have been enhanced even further to help balance Empire Earth II. Our tools are extremely complex, but in a nutshell they are designed to compare every unit in the game against every other unit in the game with regards to cost effectiveness. We run this program at night given a certain set of variables and in the morning we come in to a report that shows just what units (including groups of units) are overpowered and by how much and over what timeframe. We then spend the day tweaking variables, talking about the results and try again.

In addition, the game has been playtested for nearly two years, first by professional game designers at both Mad Doc and VU Games, and then by small numbers of outside gamers brought in specifically to beta test the EEII.

Do we think Empire Earth II will ship perfectly balanced? Of course not. But we looked at the schedule and the launch process of other RTS games and realized that no RTS, no matter how extensively beta tested, has ever shipped perfectly balanced. The reality is that we are committed to supporting Empire Earth II post-launch and will address issues that come up as quickly as we possibly can.

In the mean time, we'll be releasing a single-player demo for the game online in early March. You'll also be able to get the demo at many gaming retail stores by pre-ordering the game and it'll also be available on the CD-ROMs of several PC gaming publications in their April issues. The single-player demo will offer significant replayability due to Empire Earth II's awesome skirmish mode.

A multi-player demo will follow shortly there-after, probably in early April, and it will offer unlimited online play with select civilizations and in select ages.

Q: Did I see roads in the game? How do they work?
A: Players may build roads anywhere on the map. Roads increase the speed of any unit, friend or foe. Roads improve your overall Imperial score and allow trade units to move more quickly.

Q: Are there walls?
A: Yes. Players may build several different kinds of barriers including palisades and walls. Walls may be fortified with towers.

Q: Can you build bridges in the game?:
A: Yes, you can build bridges over rivers and other shallow bodies of water, adding yet another exciting strategic element to the game.

Q: Will forts have a more defensive purpose in comparison to Empire Earth II ?
A: Yes. The fortresses in Empire Earth II serve a strong defensive purpose. They generate ranged attacks, can be used to garrison units, and are necessary to build when claiming a territory that is not adjacent to a territory already occupied by the player.

Q: How does the spy unit work?
A: Spies are versatile units created at universities that can provide you with a number of services. They are invisible to your enemies and can only be seen by other spies and outposts. You can, of course, see your own spies. Some of the tasks a spy can perform are; sabotage: shutting down enemy buildings, toxic contamination: poisoning an enemy's food supply, and gathering intelligence: exploring other bases. Spies must be at 100 % power to conduct any of these actions. The ability to utilize some of these services must be researched in the TechTree.

Q: How is trade handled?
A : If a player builds a market, he may sell his excess resources there and buy resources he needs. Markets can also produce a Trade Cart. The Trade Cart unit can travel to other markets, yours or your allies, and generate income simply by completing the trip. The longer the journey, the more income is earned.

Q: Are there tool tips or beginner helpers? Can they be turned off/on?
A: Yes

Q: The original Empire Earth included calamities. Will they return in Empire Earth II ?
A: No. Calamities had the tendency to unbalance multiplayer games, as one player was often affected disproportionately. Adding global calamities (such as earthquakes) was not a solution, as they would only become a source of frustration - as they'd push back the natural progress and flow of the game.

Q: Will Empire Earth II be available in Linux or Macintosh versions?
A: Empire Earth II was designed for Windows® 98/Me/2000/XP operating system. Other versions are not currently planned.

Q: Has Empire Earth II been tested on a SLI system?
A: NVIDIA's SLI technology combines two GeForce 6 Series GPUs in the same system to achieve greater performance than what's possible with single GPU PCs. The best overall Empire Earth II performance we've seen has been on our on Alienware test system with NVIDIA SLI Technology.