<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
(	O
)	O
is	O
a	O
city-building	B-Application
game	I-Application
with	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
elements	O
,	O
developed	O
by	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Ubisoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
in	O
September	O
2007	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
the	O
sixth	O
game	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2008	O
,	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
released	O
an	O
expansion	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
-	O
The	O
Eastern	O
Realm	O
(	O
)	O
,	O
featuring	O
new	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
missions	O
,	O
new	O
maps	O
for	O
both	O
single-player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
modes	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
enhanced	O
map	O
editor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
,	O
they	O
released	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
-	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
,	O
containing	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
plus	O
the	O
Eastern	O
Realm	O
expansion	O
,	O
and	O
additional	O
single	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
maps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
and	O
Uplay	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2015	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
GOG.com,	O
and	O
in	O
2018	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
re-released	O
as	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
-	O
History	O
Edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
fictional	O
universe	O
as	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Heritage	I-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
albeit	O
many	O
centuries	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
that	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
in	O
development	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
designers	O
set	O
out	O
to	O
identify	O
the	O
"	O
Settler	O
gene	O
"	O
;	O
that	O
quintessential	O
component	O
or	O
components	O
which	O
make	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	B-Application
unique	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Having	O
done	O
so	O
,	O
they	O
elected	O
to	O
combine	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
more	O
popular	O
game	O
mechanics	O
from	O
previous	O
titles	O
in	O
the	O
series	B-Application
;	O
the	O
road	O
network	O
from	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
and	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
;	O
expansion	O
by	O
means	O
of	O
military	O
outposts	O
from	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
and	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
IV	I-Application
;	O
a	O
correlation	O
between	O
military	O
strength	O
and	O
the	O
prosperity	O
of	O
one	O
's	O
city	O
from	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
IV	I-Application
;	O
and	O
heroes	O
,	O
taxation	O
,	O
and	O
soldier	O
's	O
salary	O
from	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Feeling	O
that	O
Heritage	O
took	O
the	O
series	B-Application
too	O
far	O
from	O
its	O
city-building	B-Application
origins	O
and	O
more	O
in	O
the	O
direction	O
of	O
a	O
traditional	O
combat-based	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
,	O
the	O
designers	O
scaled	O
back	O
the	O
importance	O
,	O
frequency	O
,	O
and	O
difficulty	O
of	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
graphics	O
were	O
generally	O
praised	O
,	O
the	O
mission	O
design	O
,	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
and	O
single-player	O
storyline	O
were	O
criticised	O
,	O
with	O
reviewers	O
comparing	O
the	O
game	O
unfavourably	O
to	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
,	O
and	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Anno	B-Application
1701	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
2007	O
Deutscher	O
Entwicklerpreis	O
,	O
it	O
won	O
six	O
awards	O
,	O
including	O
"	O
Best	O
German	O
Game	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	B-Application
to	O
do	O
so	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
is	O
a	O
city-building	B-Application
game	I-Application
with	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
elements	O
,	O
controlled	O
via	O
a	O
point	O
and	O
click	O
interface	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
loosely	O
built	O
around	O
the	O
same	O
supply	O
and	O
demand-based	O
gameplay	O
as	O
seen	O
in	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
mechanics	O
are	O
substantially	O
different	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Featuring	O
a	O
significantly	O
simpler	O
economic	O
model	O
than	O
any	O
previous	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	B-Application
,	O
there	O
is	O
less	O
focus	O
on	O
micromanagement	O
and	O
daisy-chain	O
economic	O
processes	O
,	O
and	O
more	O
on	O
upgrading	O
buildings	O
,	O
evolving	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
settlement	O
,	O
and	O
maintaining	O
a	O
high	O
standard	O
of	O
living	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
campaign	O
mode	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
complete	O
a	O
series	B-Application
of	O
missions	O
,	O
each	O
featuring	O
multiple	O
objectives	O
,	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
which	O
are	O
based	O
around	O
achieving	O
specific	O
economic	O
targets	O
,	O
reaching	O
a	O
certain	O
level	O
of	O
promotion	O
,	O
or	O
fulfilling	O
trade	O
requests	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
all	O
maps	O
feature	O
at	O
least	O
one	O
computer	B-Application
controlled	I-Application
opponent	O
,	O
objectives	O
based	O
around	O
combat	O
are	O
less	O
common	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
non-campaign	O
single-player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
modes	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
played	O
via	O
a	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
or	O
online	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
picks	O
a	O
map	O
on	O
which	O
to	O
play	O
,	O
with	O
each	O
map	O
featuring	O
different	O
climatic	O
conditions	O
,	O
geographical	O
features	O
,	O
resource	O
distribution	O
,	O
and	O
mission	O
objectives	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Cathedral	O
determines	O
the	O
upper	O
limit	O
of	O
settlers	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
the	O
player	O
calls	O
for	O
a	O
festival	O
,	O
a	O
certain	O
number	O
of	O
male	O
settlers	B-Application
will	O
attend	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
basic	O
gameplay	O
revolves	O
around	O
serfs	O
(	O
the	O
titular	O
"	O
settlers	B-Application
"	O
)	O
,	O
who	O
populate	O
and	O
perform	O
the	O
requisite	O
task	O
of	O
each	O
building	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
in	O
all	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
except	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
unable	O
to	O
directly	O
control	O
any	O
individual	O
settler	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
all	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
,	O
in	O
Rise	O
of	O
an	O
Empire	O
,	O
buildings	O
are	O
constructed	O
and	O
upgraded	O
by	O
the	B-Application
settlers	I-Application
who	O
work	O
within	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
upgrade	O
also	O
improves	O
the	O
mode	O
of	O
transport	O
;	O
at	O
level	O
one	O
,	O
settlers	B-Application
carry	O
resources	O
on	O
their	O
back	O
;	O
at	O
level	O
two	O
,	O
they	O
transport	O
resources	O
via	O
a	O
hand-drawn	O
cart	O
,	O
and	O
at	O
level	O
three	O
,	O
they	O
do	O
so	O
via	O
a	O
donkey	O
and	O
cart	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
only	O
build	O
trails	O
,	O
on	O
which	O
settlers	B-Application
move	O
a	O
little	O
faster	O
than	O
on	O
rough	O
ground	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
knight	O
reaches	O
a	O
certain	O
level	O
of	O
promotion	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
build	O
roads	O
,	O
on	O
which	O
settlers	B-Application
move	O
much	O
faster	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
economic	O
model	O
is	O
considerably	O
streamlined	O
when	O
compared	O
to	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
the	O
building	O
is	O
full	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	B-Application
settlers	I-Application
living	O
there	O
will	O
take	O
the	O
resources	O
to	O
the	O
Storehouse	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
resources	O
except	O
water	O
are	O
gathered	O
by	O
resource	O
buildings	O
;	O
water	O
is	O
gathered	O
as	O
needed	O
from	O
the	O
well	O
in	O
the	O
Marketplace	O
by	O
the	B-Application
settlers	I-Application
in	O
the	O
produce	O
buildings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Settlers	B-Application
in	O
resource	O
buildings	O
have	O
only	O
one	O
need	O
(	O
food	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
no	O
wants	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Settlers	B-Application
in	O
produce	O
buildings	O
have	O
wants	O
under	O
two	O
headings	O
(	O
prosperity	O
and	O
decoration	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
as	O
the	O
city	O
grows	O
,	O
they	O
acquire	O
increasingly	O
diversified	O
needs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Secondary	O
sources	O
of	O
gold	O
include	O
collections	O
at	O
sermons	O
,	O
selling	O
surplus	O
goods	O
to	O
another	O
settlement	O
,	O
stealing	O
from	O
other	O
settlements	O
 '	O
Castles	O
,	O
and	O
stealing	O
other	O
settlers	B-Application
 '	O
trade	O
carts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
to	O
Settlers	B-Application
IV	I-Application
,	O
in	O
Rise	O
of	O
an	O
Empire	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
military	O
strength	O
is	O
tied	O
to	O
the	O
reputation	O
of	O
their	O
settlement	O
;	O
the	O
higher	O
the	O
reputation	O
,	O
the	O
higher	O
the	O
combat	O
strength	O
of	O
the	O
army	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reputation	O
will	O
fall	O
if	O
enemies	O
invade	O
,	O
taxes	O
are	O
set	O
too	O
high	O
,	O
soldiers	O
cannot	O
be	O
paid	O
,	O
or	O
settlers	B-Application
are	O
striking	O
because	O
of	O
unfulfilled	O
needs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
Rise	O
of	O
an	O
Empire	O
features	O
hero	O
units	O
,	O
but	O
unlike	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
only	O
one	O
knight	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
per	O
map	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
player	O
free	O
to	O
choose	O
which	O
one	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
fictional	O
universe	O
as	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
where	O
many	O
centuries	O
have	O
passed	O
since	O
Dario	O
defeated	O
Mordred	O
and	O
Kerberos	O
,	O
reuniting	O
the	O
Old	O
Empire	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
they	O
learn	O
that	O
Narlindir	O
Vikings	B-Application
have	O
been	O
assaulting	O
coastal	O
settlements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pushing	O
back	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
,	O
they	O
are	O
joined	O
by	O
the	O
merchant	O
Elias	O
,	O
and	O
next	O
head	O
to	O
Gallos	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
mercenary	O
Kestral	O
also	O
joins	O
their	O
ranks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
they	O
travel	O
to	O
the	O
continent	O
of	O
Narlind	O
,	O
Elias	O
speculates	O
that	O
someone	O
other	O
than	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
themselves	O
may	O
be	O
pulling	O
the	O
strings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Heading	O
to	O
the	O
province	O
of	O
Narfang	O
,	O
they	O
learn	O
that	O
a	O
southern	O
ambassador	O
was	O
recently	O
taken	O
prisoner	O
by	O
a	O
woman	O
named	O
Crimson	O
Sabatt	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
responsible	O
for	O
the	O
Viking	B-Application
raids	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Still	O
in	O
Narlind	O
,	O
the	O
party	O
are	O
joined	O
by	O
the	O
bard	B-Application
Thordal	O
,	O
and	O
after	O
assisting	O
local	O
villages	O
in	O
various	O
ways	O
,	O
many	O
Narlinders	O
swear	O
fealty	O
to	O
the	O
king	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
party	O
travel	O
to	O
the	O
province	O
of	O
Hendalla	O
in	O
Hidun	O
,	O
where	O
they	O
learn	O
that	O
priests	O
recently	O
told	O
the	B-Application
settlers	I-Application
Hidun	O
was	O
cursed	O
,	O
and	O
only	O
Khana	O
,	O
the	O
priests	O
 '	O
leader	O
,	O
could	O
save	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Praphat	O
leads	O
a	O
series	B-Application
of	O
raiding	O
parties	O
against	O
the	O
local	O
villages	O
,	O
the	O
party	O
capture	O
him	O
,	O
and	O
administer	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blue	O
Byte	O
began	O
development	O
of	O
Rise	O
of	O
an	O
Empire	O
in	O
2005	O
,	O
immediately	O
after	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Heritage	I-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
-	O
Legends	O
Expansion	O
Disc	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
October	O
2006	O
press	O
release	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
focus	O
of	O
the	O
sixth	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
series	B-Application
is	O
the	O
construction	O
of	O
large	O
and	O
fortified	O
cities	O
,	O
and	O
their	O
planning	O
and	O
optimisation	O
in	O
a	O
medieval	O
world	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Referring	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
graphics	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
best	O
ever	O
seen	O
in	O
a	O
strategy	B-Application
game	I-Application
"	O
,	O
they	O
explained	O
that	O
the	O
designers	O
had	O
been	O
working	O
to	O
identify	O
"	O
the	O
Settler	O
gene	O
"	O
;	O
that	O
quintessential	O
component	O
or	O
components	O
which	O
make	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	B-Application
unique	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
4players	O
several	O
weeks	O
later	O
,	O
producer	O
Benedikt	O
Grindel	O
explained	O
that	O
the	O
design	O
philosophy	O
behind	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
"	O
to	O
understand	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	B-Application
in	O
its	O
entirety	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Also	O
speaking	O
to	O
4players	O
in	O
October	O
2006	O
,	O
co-designer	O
Andreas	O
Suika	O
explained	O
"	O
we	O
're	O
taking	O
something	O
from	O
all	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
parts	O
,	O
and	O
making	O
the	O
best	O
Settlers	B-Application
there	O
can	O
be.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Blue	O
Byte	O
were	O
designing	O
the	O
game	O
upon	O
the	O
cornerstones	O
of	O
city-building	B-Application
,	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
,	O
and	O
economic	B-Application
simulation	I-Application
,	O
with	O
graphics	O
based	O
around	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
the	O
caricatured	O
cartoon-like	O
design	O
of	O
the	B-Application
settlers	I-Application
from	O
the	O
first	O
four	O
titles	O
(	O
dubbed	O
"	O
Wuselfaktor	O
"	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
more	O
realistic	O
3D	O
graphics	O
from	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
best	O
facilitate	O
their	O
search	O
for	O
the	O
Settler	O
gene	O
,	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
was	O
populated	O
with	O
numerous	O
Settlers	B-Application
veterans	O
;	O
Andreas	O
Suika	O
and	O
lead	O
programmer	O
Dietmar	O
Meschede	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
IV	I-Application
and	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
;	O
map	O
designer	O
Frank	O
Hoffmeister	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
and	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
(	O
10th	O
Anniversary	O
)	O
;	O
lead	O
artist	O
Thorsten	O
Mutschall	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
IV	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
;	O
and	O
Benedikt	O
Grindel	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
June	O
2007	O
,	O
the	O
designers	O
were	O
confident	O
they	O
had	O
isolated	O
the	O
Settler	O
gene	O
,	O
revealing	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
feature	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
more	O
popular	O
game	O
mechanics	O
from	O
previous	O
titles	O
in	O
the	O
series	B-Application
;	O
the	O
road	O
network	O
from	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
and	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
(	O
10th	O
Anniversary	O
)	O
,	O
expansion	O
by	O
means	O
of	O
military	O
outposts	O
from	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
IV	I-Application
,	O
and	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
(	O
10th	O
Anniversary	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
correlation	O
between	O
military	O
strength	O
and	O
the	O
prosperity	O
of	O
one	O
's	O
city	O
from	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
IV	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
inclusion	O
of	O
heroes	O
,	O
taxation	O
,	O
and	O
soldier	O
's	O
salary	O
from	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grindel	O
stated	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
:	O
"	O
It	O
is	O
a	O
building	O
strategy	B-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
paired	O
with	O
the	O
strengths	O
of	O
its	O
immediate	O
predecessor	O
;	O
easy	O
access	O
,	O
use	O
of	O
heroic	O
knights	O
through	O
whom	O
the	O
story	O
is	O
told	O
,	O
and	O
outstanding	O
graphics	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
at	O
Ubisoft	O
's	O
Ubidays	O
event	O
in	O
July	O
,	O
Grindel	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
we	O
really	O
wanted	O
to	O
grab	O
the	O
essence	O
of	O
what	O
people	O
like	O
about	O
the	O
different	O
games	O
,	O
to	O
make	O
one	O
Settlers	B-Application
game	O
that	O
really	O
summarises	O
what	O
the	O
series	B-Application
is	O
about	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
reiterated	O
by	O
associate	O
producer	O
Dennis	O
Rohlfing	O
just	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
The	O
Eastern	O
Realm	O
expansion	O
in	O
2008	O
:	O
"	O
We	O
returned	O
to	O
the	O
roots	O
of	O
the	O
series	B-Application
,	O
but	O
also	O
included	O
the	O
many	O
strong	O
features	O
of	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
gentle	O
learning	O
curve	O
,	O
and	O
heroes	O
who	O
carry	O
the	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
his	O
October	O
2006	O
interview	O
with	O
4players	O
,	O
Andreas	O
Suika	O
addressed	O
the	O
relationship	O
between	O
Rise	O
of	O
an	O
Empire	O
and	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
,	O
specifically	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
:	O
</s>
<s>
Speaking	O
of	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
Grindel	O
opined	O
,	O
"	O
we	O
strayed	O
too	O
far	O
from	O
the	O
basic	O
concept	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
,	O
"	O
acknowledging	O
that	O
the	O
military	O
aspect	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
too	O
foregrounded	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
reiterated	O
this	O
point	O
in	O
a	O
July	O
2007	O
interview	O
with	O
IGN	O
:	O
"	O
As	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
focuses	O
on	O
construction	O
,	O
there	O
are	O
ways	O
to	O
make	O
sure	O
to	O
have	O
enough	O
time	O
to	O
prepare	O
for	O
defence	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
terms	O
of	O
graphics	O
,	O
Rise	O
of	O
an	O
Empire	O
uses	O
the	O
same	O
engine	O
as	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
RenderWare	O
,	O
albeit	O
heavily	O
modified	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Five	O
times	O
more	O
polygons	B-General_Concept
have	O
been	O
used	O
for	O
the	O
buildings	O
,	O
and	O
three	O
times	O
more	O
for	O
the	B-Application
settlers	I-Application
and	O
soldiers	O
,	O
whilst	O
texture	O
resolution	O
has	O
quadrupled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
tandem	O
with	O
this	O
,	O
the	O
designers	O
also	O
wanted	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
living	O
world	O
that	O
responds	O
to	O
events	O
in	O
a	O
realistic	O
manner	O
;	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
settlers	B-Application
emerging	O
from	O
a	O
tavern	O
will	O
be	O
unsteady	O
on	O
their	O
feet	O
,	O
men	O
and	O
women	O
can	O
be	O
seen	O
dancing	O
together	O
at	O
festivals	O
,	O
when	O
two	O
settlers	B-Application
approach	O
one	O
another	O
on	O
the	O
road	O
one	O
will	O
move	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
way	O
of	O
the	O
other	O
,	O
animals	O
react	O
to	O
the	O
presence	O
of	O
nearby	O
settlers	B-Application
,	O
butterflies	O
land	O
on	O
flowers	O
,	O
dogs	O
urinate	O
against	O
walls	O
,	O
lights	O
in	O
windows	O
shimmer	O
in	O
different	O
patterns	O
depending	O
on	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
Games	O
Convention	O
later	O
that	O
month	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
announced	O
that	O
Ubisoft	O
would	O
be	O
releasing	O
several	O
of	O
its	O
upcoming	O
titles	O
under	O
the	O
Games	B-Application
for	I-Application
Windows	I-Application
brand	O
,	O
with	O
Rise	O
of	O
an	O
Empire	O
the	O
first	O
such	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ubisoft	O
released	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
three	O
editions	O
in	O
Germany	O
;	O
a	O
standard	O
edition	O
,	O
a	O
Limited	O
Edition	O
(	O
containing	O
a	O
DVD	O
with	O
a	O
"	O
making	O
of	O
"	O
documentary	O
,	O
an	O
art	O
book	O
,	O
a	O
soundtrack	O
CD	O
,	O
a	O
technology	O
tree	O
card	O
,	O
two	O
in-game	O
statues	O
not	O
available	O
in	O
the	O
regular	O
edition	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
demo	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
Ubisoft	O
Edition	O
(	O
only	O
available	O
from	O
Ubisoft	O
stores	O
,	O
and	O
containing	O
the	O
regular	O
edition	O
,	O
the	O
two	O
in-game	O
statues	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
Settlers-style	O
leather	O
bag	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	O
Games	O
Petra	O
Fröhlich	O
scored	O
the	O
game	O
74%	O
,	O
finding	O
it	O
inferior	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
four	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
and	O
Anno	B-Application
1701	I-Application
,	O
but	O
superior	O
to	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
was	O
critical	O
of	O
both	O
the	O
AI	B-Application
and	O
the	O
city	O
management	O
game	O
mechanic	O
,	O
arguing	O
that	O
it	O
did	O
n't	O
seem	O
to	O
matter	O
what	O
the	O
player	O
does	O
,	O
as	O
"	O
even	O
the	O
worst	O
settlement	O
somehow	O
runs	O
fine	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
she	O
praised	O
the	O
graphics	O
,	O
opining	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
best	O
looking	O
strategy	B-Application
game	I-Application
ever	O
made	O
,	O
she	O
concluded	O
that	O
"	O
all	O
the	O
raw	O
materials	O
,	O
buildings	O
,	O
upgrades	O
,	O
heroes	O
,	O
and	O
seasons	O
suggest	O
more	O
complexity	O
and	O
variety	O
than	O
the	O
game	O
actually	O
offers	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
2010	O
retrospective	O
on	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	B-Application
,	O
Thomas	O
Wilke	O
cited	O
Rise	O
of	O
an	O
Empire	O
as	O
the	O
weakest	O
Settlers	B-Application
title	O
thus	O
far	O
,	O
calling	O
the	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
"	O
boring	O
and	O
without	O
highlights	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
gameplay	O
"	O
undemanding	O
,	O
even	O
for	O
genre	O
novices	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpots	O
Brett	O
Todd	O
scored	O
it	O
7	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
finding	O
it	O
,	O
in	O
contradistinction	O
to	O
Wilke	O
,	O
"	O
the	O
most	O
fulfilling	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
this	O
,	O
he	O
criticised	O
the	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
as	O
"	O
linear	O
and	O
predictable	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
also	O
critical	O
of	O
the	O
programming	O
,	O
citing	O
frequent	O
crashes	B-General_Concept
and	O
"	O
performance	O
problems	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
he	O
concluded	O
by	O
acknowledging	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
does	O
an	O
impressive	O
job	O
of	O
moving	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	B-Application
closer	O
to	O
the	O
big	O
leagues	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
acknowledging	O
it	O
"	O
has	O
the	O
best	O
visuals	O
the	O
series	B-Application
has	O
ever	O
seen	O
"	O
,	O
he	O
was	O
critical	O
of	O
the	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
found	O
too	O
easy	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
basically	O
non-existent	O
"	O
diplomacy	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
combat	O
game	O
mechanics	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
felt	O
were	O
"	O
sad	O
by	O
strategy	O
standards	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
simple	O
to	O
the	O
extreme	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
was	O
also	O
critical	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
frequent	O
crashes	B-General_Concept
,	O
and	O
although	O
he	O
found	O
it	O
"	O
the	O
best	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	B-Application
"	O
,	O
Adams	O
also	O
felt	O
it	O
"	O
still	O
manages	O
to	O
screw	O
enough	O
things	O
up	O
to	O
be	O
aggravating	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
too	O
criticised	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
programming	O
,	O
arguing	O
that	O
"	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
seems	O
more	O
than	O
a	O
little	O
out	O
of	O
its	O
depth	O
trying	O
to	O
keep	O
its	O
flagship	O
series	B-Application
in	O
line	O
with	O
the	O
demands	O
of	O
modern	O
gaming	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
he	O
found	O
it	O
slightly	O
superior	O
to	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
he	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
there	O
's	O
no	O
getting	O
away	O
from	O
the	O
fact	O
that	O
judged	O
against	O
its	O
peers	O
,	O
or	O
even	O
its	O
own	O
ancestors	O
,	O
this	O
is	O
an	O
average	O
offering	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
2007	O
Deutscher	O
Entwicklerpreis	O
,	O
it	O
won	O
six	O
awards	O
;	O
"	O
Best	O
German	O
Game	O
"	O
(	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	B-Application
to	O
do	O
so	O
)	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Level	O
Design	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Interface	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Cutscenes	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Graphics	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Score	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
-	O
The	O
Eastern	O
Realm	O
was	O
announced	O
in	O
January	O
2008	O
,	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
,	O
featuring	O
a	O
new	O
eight-mission	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
,	O
fifteen	O
new	O
maps	O
for	O
single-player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
modes	O
,	O
an	O
enhanced	O
map	O
editor	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
knight	O
,	O
and	O
several	O
new	O
embellishments	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
settlement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
in	O
September	O
2008	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
-	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
contains	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
and	O
The	O
Eastern	O
Realm	O
expansion	O
,	O
plus	O
three	O
new	O
maps	O
for	O
single	O
player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
on	O
Uplay	B-Operating_System
and	O
Steam	B-Application
,	O
and	O
in	O
2015	O
was	O
made	O
available	O
on	O
GOG.com	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
2018	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
re-released	O
the	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
as	O
both	O
a	O
standalone	O
History	O
Edition	O
and	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	O
History	O
Collection	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Optimised	O
for	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
re-release	O
contains	O
both	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
and	O
The	O
Eastern	O
Realm	O
expansion	O
,	O
and	O
features	O
adjustable	O
resolutions	O
and	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
History	O
Edition	O
replaced	O
the	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
previously	O
available	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Available	O
only	O
on	O
Uplay	B-Operating_System
,	O
History	O
Collection	O
also	O
includes	O
re-releases	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
IV	I-Application
,	O
Heritage	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
and	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
7	I-Application
:	I-Application
Paths	I-Application
to	I-Application
a	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
.	O
</s>
