Age of Empires III golden

Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the PC game Age of Empires III has gone gold and will ship to stores October 18, one week earlier than expected. The game was developed by real-time strategy specialist Ensemble Studios.

In the game, would-be colonizers jockey for turf in The New World of North and South America between 1500 and 1850. Playing as one of several European powers, gamers will set up trade, build settlements, and battle rival countries as they plant their flags in the bosom of the Americas.

Ensemble released a demo for the game earlier this month, which can be downloaded from GameSpot DLX.

Age of Empires III is rated T for Teen and has a price point of $49.99. For more information on the game, check out GameSpot's hands-on with the game.