Computer And Video Games have a two-part interview with Greg Street, the lead designer on Age of Empires III.
He answers questions about graphical effects like realistic lighting, the progression from previous "Age" games and the new features:
Our "killer feature" for this game is the Home City. It works like a persistent tech tree - an upgrade you choose in the Home City sticks with your civilization for many games (we also have a more traditional tech tree in the New World that you re-research every game). At low levels, a civilization has fewer buildings and units than an Age of Kings civilization has.
As you play, say every few games or so, you earn enough experience points to get a new level for your Home City. Every level gets you a new upgrade. Upgrades run the gamut from adding more hit points to your Musketeers, to allowing you to build a new type of warship, to improving your mining rates, to making your Explorer unit better. Some upgrades are prerequisites to other upgrades, and there is a lot of differences between say the Dutch and British Home City tech trees.
Games have tried the "build your own civilization" feature before. That's not really what the Home City is about. It's more like a MMO character where you start simple and weaker and over time become more powerful with lots of options. Unlike an MMO, skill still plays a critical role. I can beat a player who is maybe 10+ levels above me if I use the right units and attack at the right time.
AGE OF EMPIRES III EXPLORED, PART ONE, PART TWO
Related:
Official Age of Empires III website
Age of Empires III rewriting history - No, no, WRONG
GamePro Get First Look at Age of Empires III (4 April)
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