Last year, Age of Empires separated itself from a large real-time strategy pack due in part to Bruce Shelley's association with the game. Age of Empires II is now in the works at Ensemble Studios, and Shelley is busily helping to integrate his new ideas and improve upon the original. Shelley took some time away from his busy schedule to talk with Computer Gaming World's Ken Brown about what he has planned for AOE2 and about his thoughts on computer gaming in general.

CGW: What were your goals for AOE2?

Shelley: We believe that 12 to 18 months after the release of AOE1 people are going to want more of that experience. By then a significant number of people will have explored most of what the first game has to offer. We believe that a similar game - but in a new time period with new artwork, buildings, units, technologies, and civilizations - will be a good thing for our customers, Microsoft, and Ensemble Studios. We will take the opportunity to learn from the first game and add some new features that improve the gameplay. We want to build on the success of the first game with more of the same, but better. We want to build a franchise of "Age of" games that people will look forward to and that give them a very satisfying entertainment experience for their money. We want to be in business for years to come, and AOE2 is the next step.

CGW: What sort of design challenges emerged as a result of progressing to the Middle Ages era?

Shelley: Concepts that we hope offer more of an opportunity than a problem include charging knights, immobile siege artillery (trebuchets and others), longbow archery barrages, the beginnings of gunpowder, a generally new paradigm for naval combat, Greek fire, the importance of castles, and barbarian raiders like the Vikings and Mongols. Since much of Europe reverted to a very basic tribal culture following the fall of Rome, starting with very little and building up continues to work.

Next: Bruce's role in AOE2