Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings2.

0a Readme File
August 2000 Microsoft Corporation 2000
Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings 2.0a is an upgrade of Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings 2.0 that includes several enhancements and bug fixes.

Contents
A. !ersion Compati"ilit# $. $alance Changes C. Enhancements %. $ug Fi&es E. 'ninstalling Age of Kings 2.0a

A. !ersion Compati"ilit#
If ou are pla ing a multipla er game! all pla ers must be using the same version of Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. "or example! ou cannot pla a multipla er game bet#een Age of Kings 2.0 and Age of Kings 2.0a. $ecorded games can onl be pla ed using the same (ersion of Age of Kings that #as used to record the game. "or example! ou cannot pla an Age of Kings 2.0 recorded game using Age of Kings 2.0a. To pla an Age of Kings 2.0 recorded game after installing the Age of Kings 2.0a update! ou must temporaril revert to Age of Kings 2.0. To pla# an Age of Kings 2.0 recorded game: %. In the )rogram Files*Microsoft +ames*Age of Empires II folder &or #herever ou installed the game'! create an Age2 folder. 2. (op the follo#ing files from our Age of Kings 2.0 disc to the ne# Age2 folder: * 00000)0*.0%+ * 00000)0*.2,+ * (-(.%+..-* (-(./2..-* (-0K12-.E3E * .2-A4E$3..-* .$5M6T..-* EM2I$E12.E3E &from the +ame folder on the disc' * EM2I$E12.I(. &from the +ame folder on the disc' /. (reate a shortcut to )rogram Files*Microsoft +ames*Age of Empires II*Age2*Empires2.E,E ! #ith the -tart In folder set to )rogram Files*Microsoft +ames*Age of Empires II. ). 1tart Age of Kings 2.0 using the ne# shortcut! then pla the Age of Kings 2.0 recorded game.

$. $alance Changes
To.n Center Changes 7 The follo#ing changes have been made to the To#n (enter: * The resource cost to build a To#n (enter has been increased b %00 stone. * The time to build a To#n (enter has been increased. * Missile technologies available at the 8lac9smith &"letching! 8od9in Arro#! and 8racer' no longer increase the range of the To#n (enter. * "or the Teutons! the To#n (enter no longer has increased range. * "or the 8ritons! the ,0: decrease in the cost to build a To#n (enter no# applies onl to #ood! and this reduction in #ood cost is not available until (astle Age.

C. Enhancements
* * *
-ingle/)la#er )erformance Impro(ements 7 The performance of single7pla er campaign games has been improved! especiall on lo#er7end computers. 0imited )auses 7 The total number of pauses available to each pla er in a multipla er game is no# limited. The total number of pauses remaining is displa ed each time the game is paused. %ispla# 1ame of 2ut of -#nc )la#er 7 In a multipla er game #ith three or more pla ers! if a pla er goes out of s nc! that pla er;s name is displa ed in the out of s nc message on all computers.

%. $ug Fi&es
* * * * * * *
-ta"ilit# Impro(ements 7 A number of crashes and multipla er out of s nc bugs have been fixed! resulting in improved game stabilit . Computer )la#er Resigning $ug 7 The computer pla er #ill no longer resign after a fe# minutes of pla . &2reviousl available in the AI <pdate.' Fish Trap $ug 7 4ou can no longer build a "ish Trap on top of an existing fish resource. Fishing -hip $ug 7 4ou can no longer use a "ishing 1hip to construct buildings other than a "ish Trap. Flare and 3a#point $ug 7 The game no longer crashes #hen ou set a flare or #a point location at the ver 1outhern7most point on the map. Cooperati(e Farming $ug 7 =hen ou ta9e over a "arm foundation built b an all ! ou can no longer extract more than the standard amount of food from that "arm. Farming on Forest $ug 7 4ou can no longer build a "arm or =all on top of a partiall cut section of forest.

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'nit Ignoring 2rders $ug 7 <nits no longer ignore orders under some circumstances. Multipla#er Restore From 4one $ug 7 The abilit to save and restore a disconnected or out of s nc multipla er game on the >one has been improved. Foundation 2utline $ug 7 8uilding foundations no# have outlines! so ou can no# clic9 on them #hen the are behind trees or other ob?ects. Tre"uchet Firing $ug 7 Trebuchets no longer miss targets that are on a different elevation. -ingle/)la#er Campaign After Regicide $ug 7 A single7pla er game #ill no longer automaticall end immediatel after a multipla er game of $egicide #as pla ed. Computer )la#er $ugs 7 The behavior of the computer pla er in multipla er games has been improved. -cenario Editor $ugs 7 A number of 1cenario Editor bugs have been fixed.

E. 'ninstalling Age of Kings 2.0a

To uninstall Age of Kings 2.0a and re(ert to Age of Kings 2.0: %. "rom the -tart menu! choose )rograms 7@ Microsoft +ames 7@ Age of Empires II 7@ 'ninstall Age of Empires II. =hen 1etup as9s if ou #ant to delete all user7created files! it is recommended that ou choose 1o. 2. Install version 2.0 from the Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings 2.0 disc.