<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
(	O
)	O
is	O
a	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
video	O
game	O
with	O
city-building	B-Application
elements	O
,	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
in	O
November	O
1998	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
the	O
third	O
game	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1999	O
,	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
released	O
two	O
expansions	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
Mission	O
CD	O
and	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	O
Quest	O
of	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
(	O
)	O
,	O
in	O
April	O
and	O
October	O
respectively	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
a	O
map	O
editor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2000	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
containing	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
and	O
both	O
expansions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
the	O
Gold	O
Edition	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
III	I-Application
:	O
History	O
Edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Quest	O
of	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
tells	O
a	O
prequel	O
story	O
,	O
chronicling	O
how	O
Helios	B-Operating_System
's	O
daughter	O
,	O
Q'nqüra	O
,	O
becomes	O
HIS	O
personal	O
assistant	O
,	O
engineering	O
events	O
so	O
that	O
women	O
become	O
the	O
secret	O
rulers	O
of	O
the	O
universe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
designed	O
and	O
co-programmed	O
by	O
Volker	O
Wertich	O
,	O
creator	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Settlers	B-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
core	O
supply	O
and	O
demand-based	O
gameplay	O
is	O
broadly	O
the	O
same	O
as	O
in	O
previous	O
titles	O
,	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
mechanics	O
have	O
been	O
altered	O
;	O
the	O
player	O
now	O
has	O
direct	O
control	O
over	O
their	O
army	O
;	O
roads	O
are	O
no	O
longer	O
necessary	O
to	O
connect	O
buildings	O
,	O
headquarters	O
no	O
longer	O
automatically	O
generate	O
settlers	B-Application
as	O
required	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
different	O
races	O
now	O
have	O
different	O
economic	O
models	O
,	O
different	O
magic	O
spells	B-Application
,	O
and	O
several	O
unique	O
abilities	O
and	O
buildings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
also	O
the	O
first	O
in	O
the	O
series	B-Application
to	O
feature	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
received	O
mixed	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whilst	O
the	O
economic	O
system	O
and	O
the	O
interrelatedness	O
of	O
the	O
various	O
buildings	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
graphics	O
and	O
animations	O
were	O
generally	O
praised	O
,	O
most	O
critics	O
felt	O
it	O
was	O
too	O
similar	O
to	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
a	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
game	O
with	O
city-building	B-Application
elements	O
,	O
controlled	O
via	O
a	O
point	O
and	O
click	O
interface	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
primary	O
goal	O
on	O
most	O
maps	O
is	O
to	O
build	O
a	O
settlement	O
with	O
a	O
functioning	O
economy	O
,	O
producing	O
sufficient	O
military	O
units	O
so	O
as	O
to	O
conquer	O
rival	O
territories	O
,	O
ultimately	O
gaining	O
control	O
of	O
either	O
the	O
entire	O
map	O
,	O
or	O
a	O
certain	O
predetermined	O
section	O
of	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Campaign	O
mode	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
complete	O
a	O
series	B-Application
of	O
missions	O
,	O
the	O
goal	O
of	O
most	O
of	O
which	O
is	O
to	O
defeat	O
the	O
computer	B-Application
controlled	I-Application
opponent	O
or	O
opponents	O
by	O
gaining	O
possession	O
of	O
their	O
territory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Mission	O
CD	O
expansion	O
added	O
three	O
additional	O
campaigns	O
of	O
eight	O
missions	O
for	O
each	O
race	O
,	O
and	O
Quest	O
of	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
added	O
two	O
campaigns	O
of	O
twelve	O
missions	O
each	O
;	O
one	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
controls	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
against	O
the	O
others	O
,	O
and	O
one	O
in	O
which	O
they	O
control	O
the	O
others	O
against	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Introduced	O
in	O
the	O
Quest	O
of	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
expansion	O
was	O
"	O
Economic	O
Mode	O
"	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
goal	O
is	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
first	O
player	O
to	O
complete	O
an	O
economic	O
based	O
objective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whether	O
playing	O
Campaign	O
,	O
Scenario	O
or	O
Multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
each	O
game	O
begins	O
the	O
same	O
way	O
;	O
the	O
player	O
has	O
a	O
small	O
settlement	O
,	O
a	O
set	O
amount	O
of	O
raw	O
materials	O
and	O
tools	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
predetermined	O
number	O
of	O
settlers	B-Application
.	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
transport	O
materials	O
,	O
tools	O
and	O
produce	O
,	O
and	O
who	O
populate	O
and	O
perform	O
the	O
requisite	O
task	O
of	O
each	O
building	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
New	O
settlers	B-Application
can	O
only	O
be	O
acquired	O
by	O
the	O
construction	O
of	O
residences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
issues	O
general	O
orders	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
ordering	O
the	O
construction	O
of	O
a	O
building	O
)	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
AI	B-Application
handling	O
the	O
delegation	O
of	O
orders	O
to	O
specific	O
settlers	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
major	O
change	O
to	O
the	O
mechanics	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
that	O
players	O
do	O
not	O
have	O
to	O
construct	O
a	O
road	O
network	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Instead	O
,	O
settlers	B-Application
can	O
walk	O
freely	O
around	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
territory	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
AI	B-Application
handling	O
pathfinding	B-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
Quest	O
of	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
added	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
as	O
a	O
fourth	O
race	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
in	O
previous	O
Settlers	B-Application
titles	O
,	O
each	O
race	O
has	O
a	O
slightly	O
different	O
economic	O
model	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
the	O
Romans	O
 '	O
and	O
Amazons	B-Application
 '	O
construction	O
industries	O
require	O
roughly	O
equal	O
amounts	O
of	O
wood	O
and	O
stone	O
,	O
the	O
Egyptians	O
 '	O
requires	O
more	O
stone	O
than	O
wood	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Asians	O
 '	O
more	O
wood	O
than	O
stone	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
new	O
feature	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
"	O
Divine	O
Intervention	O
"	O
,	O
whereby	O
each	O
race	O
can	O
call	O
upon	O
their	O
deities	O
for	O
economic	O
and/or	O
military	O
assistance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Once	O
the	O
player	O
has	O
both	O
manna	B-Application
and	O
priests	O
,	O
they	O
have	O
finite	O
access	O
to	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
spells	B-Application
,	O
the	O
nature	O
of	O
which	O
depends	O
on	O
the	O
race	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
spells	B-Application
include	O
tuning	O
iron	O
to	O
gold	O
,	O
turning	O
enemy	O
soldiers	O
to	O
allies	O
(	O
Romans	O
)	O
,	O
turning	O
fish	O
to	O
meat	O
,	O
starting	O
forest	O
fires	O
(	O
Egyptians	O
)	O
,	O
turning	O
stone	O
to	O
iron	O
,	O
temporarily	O
giving	O
soldiers	O
extra	O
strength	O
(	O
Asians	O
)	O
,	O
turning	O
gold	O
to	O
stone	O
,	O
and	O
temporarily	O
freezing	O
enemies	O
(	O
Amazons	B-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
also	O
build	O
lookout	O
towers	O
,	O
which	O
are	O
manned	O
by	O
regular	O
settlers	B-Application
,	O
and	O
which	O
can	O
see	O
for	O
great	O
distances	O
,	O
but	O
do	O
n't	O
grant	O
new	O
territory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
race	O
can	O
also	O
produce	O
war	O
machines	O
;	O
catapults	O
for	O
the	O
Romans	O
,	O
ballistae	O
for	O
the	O
Egyptians	O
,	O
cannons	O
for	O
the	O
Asians	O
,	O
and	O
war	O
gongs	O
for	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Quest	O
of	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
takes	O
place	O
several	O
hundred	O
years	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
main	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
begins	O
with	O
Helios	B-Operating_System
,	O
Jupiter	O
,	O
Horus	O
and	O
Ch'ih-yu	O
drinking	O
in	O
the	O
3	O
Gorgons	B-Device
tavern	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
encouragement	O
of	O
his	O
friends	O
,	O
Helios	B-Operating_System
is	O
drowning	O
his	O
sorrows	O
,	O
after	O
his	O
son	O
Phaethon	O
died	O
whilst	O
attempting	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
sun-chariot	O
to	O
impress	O
women	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
unable	O
to	O
control	O
the	O
horses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
becoming	O
drunk	O
,	O
Helios	B-Operating_System
is	O
seduced	O
by	O
Medusa	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
years	O
later	O
,	O
she	O
is	O
"	O
killed	O
in	O
a	O
bar	O
fight	O
with	O
Perseus	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
Helios	B-Operating_System
learns	O
he	O
had	O
fathered	O
a	O
daughter	O
,	O
Q'nqüra	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Raising	O
her	O
himself	O
,	O
Helios	B-Operating_System
introduces	O
her	O
to	O
HE	O
,	O
whom	O
she	O
impresses	O
with	O
her	O
irreverence	O
,	O
and	O
when	O
she	O
is	O
of	O
age	O
,	O
HE	O
makes	O
her	O
goddess	O
of	O
the	O
Azzi	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Amazons	B-Application
begin	O
their	O
offensive	O
by	O
destroying	O
a	O
colony	O
of	O
Egyptians	O
,	O
overrunning	O
a	O
Roman	O
encampment	O
,	O
and	O
desecrating	O
a	O
sacred	O
Asian	O
mountain	O
,	O
prompting	O
Jupiter	O
,	O
Horus	O
and	O
Ch'ih-yu	O
to	O
ally	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
their	O
initial	O
attacks	O
are	O
repulsed	O
,	O
they	O
are	O
able	O
to	O
disrupt	O
Penthesilea	O
's	O
iron	O
production	O
,	O
hence	O
her	O
ability	O
to	O
create	O
weaponry	O
,	O
forcing	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
to	O
retreat	O
to	O
a	O
more	O
fortified	O
position	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
newly	O
renamed	O
2	O
Gorgons	B-Device
,	O
Jupiter	O
,	O
Horus	O
and	O
Ch'ih-yu	O
meet	O
to	O
discuss	O
strategy	O
,	O
unaware	O
that	O
the	O
Gorgons	B-Device
,	O
nqüra	O
's	O
aunts	O
,	O
are	O
spying	O
on	O
them	O
,	O
and	O
feeding	O
details	O
of	O
their	O
plan	O
to	O
Q'nqüra	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Her	O
plan	O
is	O
for	O
the	O
"	O
Amazons	B-Application
to	O
release	O
the	O
men	O
and	O
become	O
their	O
willing	O
servants	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Impressed	O
with	O
this	O
idea	O
,	O
HE	O
decides	O
to	O
make	O
Q'nqüra	O
HIS	O
private	O
messenger	O
,	O
to	O
which	O
she	O
replies	O
,	O
"	O
I	O
will	O
be	O
your	O
humble	O
servant	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
Helios	B-Operating_System
commenting	O
"	O
In	O
that	O
moment	O
,	O
Q'nqüra	O
,	O
too	O
,	O
had	O
won	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
begins	O
with	O
the	O
Romans	O
under	O
attack	O
by	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
,	O
and	O
on	O
the	O
brink	O
of	O
defeat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
barely	O
survive	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
next	O
attack	O
the	O
Asians	O
and	O
Egyptians	O
in	O
turn	O
,	O
prompting	O
Jupiter	O
,	O
Horus	O
and	O
Ch'ih-yu	O
to	O
ally	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
newly	O
renamed	O
2	O
Gorgons	B-Device
,	O
they	O
meet	O
to	O
discuss	O
strategy	O
,	O
fully	O
aware	O
that	O
the	O
Gorgons	B-Device
,	O
nqüra	O
's	O
aunts	O
,	O
are	O
spying	O
on	O
them	O
,	O
and	O
feeding	O
details	O
of	O
their	O
plan	O
to	O
Q'nqüra	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
the	O
men	O
launch	O
an	O
all-out	O
offensive	O
,	O
although	O
Helios	B-Operating_System
is	O
worried	O
that	O
nqüra	O
's	O
response	O
is	O
too	O
subdued	O
,	O
and	O
she	O
must	O
have	O
a	O
plan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Confidant	O
that	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
are	O
nearly	O
defeated	O
,	O
Jupiter	O
leaves	O
Horus	O
to	O
fight	O
on	O
,	O
whilst	O
he	O
pillages	O
both	O
Egyptian	O
and	O
Amazonian	O
lands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
HE	O
asks	O
her	O
what	O
her	O
future	O
plans	O
are	O
,	O
she	O
explains	O
:	O
"	O
If	O
my	O
Amazons	B-Application
are	O
to	O
deny	O
themselves	O
comparable	O
conquests	O
,	O
then	O
they	O
will	O
embrace	O
the	O
men	O
instead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Work	O
on	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
began	O
in	O
January	O
1997	O
,	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
,	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
had	O
no	O
immediate	O
plans	O
to	O
do	O
a	O
third	O
title	O
in	O
the	O
series	B-Application
,	O
but	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
unexpected	O
popularity	O
of	O
both	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
and	O
its	O
sequel	O
,	O
Volker	O
Wertich	O
(	O
designer	O
and	O
programmer	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
)	O
and	O
Thomas	O
Hertzler	O
(	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
CEO	O
and	O
the	O
series	B-Application
producer	O
)	O
decided	O
to	O
begin	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wertich	O
had	O
not	O
been	O
involved	O
in	O
the	O
making	O
of	O
the	O
second	O
game	O
,	O
because	O
,	O
as	O
he	O
describes	O
it	O
,	O
"	O
after	O
two	O
years	O
programming	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
,	O
I	O
did	O
n't	O
really	O
want	O
to	O
see	O
those	O
little	O
men	O
for	O
a	O
while	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
by	O
1997	O
,	O
he	O
was	O
ready	O
to	O
resume	O
working	O
on	O
the	O
series	B-Application
,	O
eager	O
to	O
implement	O
ideas	O
which	O
he	O
felt	O
would	O
allow	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
compete	O
with	O
rival	O
titles	O
such	O
as	O
Warcraft	B-Application
II	I-Application
and	O
Anno	B-Application
1602	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wertich	O
's	O
core	O
design	O
principal	O
was	O
to	O
preserve	O
the	O
most	O
popular	O
elements	O
of	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
gameplay	O
,	O
but	O
improve	O
the	O
graphics	O
,	O
and	O
both	O
expand	O
and	O
improve	O
upon	O
the	O
game	O
mechanics	O
as	O
much	O
as	O
possible	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
began	O
by	O
going	O
through	O
feedback	O
from	O
fans	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
quickly	O
saw	O
two	O
recurring	O
suggestions	O
;	O
to	O
improve	O
the	O
unreliable	O
shipping	O
system	O
from	O
Settlers	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
and	O
to	O
implement	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
capabilities	O
,	O
something	O
he	O
began	O
programming	O
immediately	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
the	O
innovations	O
he	O
planned	O
to	O
introduce	O
to	O
the	O
mechanics	O
,	O
and	O
because	O
the	O
supply	O
and	O
demand-based	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Settlers	B-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
going	O
to	O
be	O
more	O
intricate	O
than	O
in	O
previous	O
titles	O
,	O
he	O
felt	O
that	O
forcing	O
players	O
to	O
concentrate	O
too	O
much	O
on	O
logistics	O
would	O
serve	O
as	O
an	O
unwelcome	O
distraction	O
,	O
and	O
so	O
decided	O
to	O
remove	O
the	O
need	O
for	O
a	O
road	O
network	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Instead	O
,	O
settlers	B-Application
would	O
have	O
the	O
freedom	O
to	O
move	O
anywhere	O
within	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
settlement	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
AI	B-Application
handling	O
pathfinding	B-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
early	O
decision	O
was	O
that	O
the	O
different	O
races	O
in	O
Settlers	B-Application
III	I-Application
would	O
n't	O
just	O
look	O
different	O
,	O
they	O
would	O
have	O
different	O
abilities	O
,	O
different	O
economic	O
models	O
and	O
certain	O
buildings	O
unique	O
to	O
each	O
one	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wertich	O
,	O
in	O
consultation	O
with	O
Hertzler	O
,	O
also	O
decided	O
to	O
create	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
high	O
color	O
,	O
a	O
first	O
for	O
the	O
series	B-Application
,	O
which	O
had	O
used	O
8-bit	O
color	O
for	O
previous	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
making	O
some	O
pencil	O
sketches	O
outlining	O
his	O
basic	O
ideas	O
,	O
Hess	O
began	O
to	O
render	O
the	O
graphics	O
in	O
3D	B-Language
Studio	I-Language
Max	I-Language
,	O
as	O
Wertich	O
had	O
decided	O
to	O
integrate	O
the	O
2D	O
isometric	B-Application
graphics	I-Application
of	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
games	O
with	O
certain	O
3D	O
graphical	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
Hess	O
began	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
buildings	O
for	O
each	O
race	O
,	O
creating	O
textures	O
in	O
Adobe	B-Operating_System
Photoshop	I-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
he	O
then	O
"	O
dirtied	O
"	O
,	O
so	O
as	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
lived-in	O
,	O
real-world	O
sense	O
;	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
he	O
ensured	O
the	O
diagonal	O
lines	O
of	O
the	O
Egyptian	O
pyramids	O
were	O
crooked	O
,	O
as	O
he	O
felt	O
to	O
have	O
them	O
perfectly	O
straight	O
and	O
geometrical	O
would	O
be	O
unrealistic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
textures	O
were	O
then	O
"	O
hand	O
painted	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
Gouraud	B-Algorithm
shading	I-Algorithm
was	O
later	O
added	O
to	O
complete	O
the	O
look	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
July	O
,	O
Hess	O
had	O
begun	O
working	O
on	O
the	O
sketches	O
for	O
the	O
individual	O
settlers	B-Application
,	O
paying	O
particular	O
attention	O
to	O
the	O
differentiations	O
between	O
the	O
same	O
settler	O
from	O
different	O
races	O
(	O
the	O
specific	O
differences	O
between	O
a	O
Roman	O
and	O
an	O
Egyptian	O
baker	O
,	O
for	O
example	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hess	O
had	O
failed	O
to	O
take	O
into	O
account	O
that	O
the	O
designs	O
of	O
the	B-Application
settlers	I-Application
could	O
n't	O
be	O
too	O
complex	O
,	O
since	O
small	O
details	O
would	O
be	O
lost	O
,	O
given	O
their	O
size	O
(	O
32	O
pixels	B-Algorithm
in	O
height	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
week	O
,	O
Wallner	O
presented	O
his	O
first	O
3D	O
designs	O
to	O
Wertich	O
and	O
Hess	O
(	O
the	O
standard	O
Roman	O
carriers	O
,	O
diggers	O
and	O
builders	O
)	O
,	O
who	O
decided	O
to	O
make	O
some	O
additional	O
changes	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
making	O
the	B-Application
settlers	I-Application
more	O
rotund	O
and	O
enlarging	O
the	O
heads	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unsatisfied	O
with	O
the	O
results	O
when	O
he	O
attempted	O
to	O
use	O
3D	B-Language
Studio	I-Language
Max	I-Language
,	O
he	O
chose	O
instead	O
to	O
build	O
an	O
"	O
extremely	O
primitive	O
skeletal	O
settler	O
which	O
we	O
could	O
put	O
under	O
the	O
visible	O
structure	O
of	O
our	O
figures	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
notable	O
for	O
its	O
method	O
of	O
copy	B-Application
protection	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Using	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
's	O
own	O
in-house	O
copy	B-Application
protection	I-Application
system	O
,	O
Sysiphus	O
,	O
pirated	O
copies	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
seem	O
to	O
run	O
perfectly	O
at	O
first	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
iron	O
smelters	O
would	O
produce	O
only	O
pigs	O
,	O
residences	O
would	O
n't	O
produce	O
new	O
settlers	B-Application
,	O
newly	O
planted	O
trees	O
would	O
n't	O
grow	O
,	O
goods	O
placed	O
at	O
a	O
harbour	O
for	O
transport	O
would	O
disappear	O
,	O
and	O
manna	B-Application
could	O
n't	O
be	O
generated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
due	O
to	O
several	O
other	O
factors	O
(	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
many	O
pirated	O
copies	O
came	O
with	O
full	O
artwork	O
and	O
instructions	O
,	O
and	O
so	O
appeared	O
to	O
be	O
genuine	O
copies	O
,	O
whilst	O
even	O
players	O
with	O
real	O
copies	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
could	O
encounter	O
copy	B-Application
protection	I-Application
issues	O
if	O
they	O
had	O
certain	O
viruses	O
on	O
their	O
computers	O
,	O
or	O
if	O
they	O
had	O
older	O
CD-ROMs	B-Device
)	O
,	O
rumours	O
began	O
to	O
circulate	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
suffering	O
from	O
potentially	O
game-breaking	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
,	O
leading	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
to	O
issue	O
a	O
statement	O
:	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
received	O
mixed	O
reviews	O
,	O
with	O
an	O
aggregate	O
score	O
of	O
71%	O
on	O
GameRankings	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
twenty-one	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Writing	O
for	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
(	O
UK	O
)	O
,	O
James	O
Flynn	O
scored	O
the	O
game	O
90%	O
,	O
referring	O
to	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
much	O
slicker	O
,	O
less	O
fiddly	O
and	O
wonderfully	O
deeper	O
challenge	O
"	O
than	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
titles	O
in	O
the	O
series	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
praised	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
,	O
the	O
differentiation	O
between	O
the	O
races	O
,	O
the	O
implementation	O
of	O
manna	B-Application
,	O
and	O
combat	O
,	O
writing	O
"	O
the	O
depth	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
immense	O
,	O
and	O
both	O
the	O
graphics	O
and	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
features	O
set	O
new	O
standards	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Her	O
criticisms	O
focused	O
on	O
the	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
(	O
which	O
she	O
called	O
"	O
streamlined	O
 [ and ] 	O
monotonous	O
"	O
)	O
,	O
poor	O
pathfinding	B-Algorithm
for	O
trade	O
ships	O
,	O
weak	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
and	O
occasionally	O
misleading	O
mission	O
briefings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
she	O
concluded	O
,	O
"	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
 [ is ] 	O
beautifully	O
presented	O
,	O
quickly	O
learned	O
,	O
and	O
fun	O
for	O
weeks	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
he	O
praised	O
the	O
graphics	O
,	O
character	O
animations	O
,	O
level	O
design	O
and	O
the	O
tactical	O
aspects	O
of	O
combat	O
,	O
concluding	O
"	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
the	O
best	O
game	O
in	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
series	B-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
new	O
benchmark	O
in	O
the	O
city-building	B-Application
genre	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
he	O
found	O
the	O
pace	O
a	O
little	O
too	O
slow	O
,	O
he	O
concluded	O
,	O
"	O
it	O
strikes	O
a	O
nice	O
balance	O
between	O
the	O
action-oriented	O
mainstream	O
titles	O
and	O
more	O
thoughtful	O
fare	O
like	O
Caesar	B-Application
III	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGNs	O
Tal	O
Blevins	O
scored	O
it	O
6.9	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
writing	O
"	O
Settlers	B-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
a	O
good	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
there	O
's	O
nothing	O
really	O
new	O
or	O
innovative	O
here	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Such	O
problems	O
include	O
the	O
inability	O
to	O
load	O
a	O
game	O
without	O
having	O
to	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
main	O
menu	O
,	O
the	O
necessity	O
for	O
"	O
quirky	O
"	O
disk	O
swapping	O
,	O
the	O
limited	O
control	O
of	O
combat	O
units	O
,	O
poor	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
inability	O
to	O
access	O
the	O
HTML	B-Language
manual	O
from	O
within	O
an	O
active	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
concluded	O
"	O
Settlers	B-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
an	O
entertaining	O
and	O
brain-heavy	O
game	O
that	O
is	O
unfortunately	O
hampered	O
by	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
problems	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpots	O
Ron	O
Dulin	O
scored	O
it	O
6.1	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
arguing	O
that	O
it	O
plays	O
almost	O
identically	O
to	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
and	O
citing	O
"	O
surface	O
changes	O
 [ which ] 	O
make	O
only	O
a	O
moderate	O
improvement	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
he	O
praised	O
the	O
decision	O
to	O
remove	O
roads	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
,	O
overall	O
he	O
felt	O
the	O
game	O
did	O
n't	O
improve	O
on	O
its	O
predecessors	O
,	O
concluding	O
that	O
"	O
those	O
who	O
love	O
the	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
formula	O
will	O
enjoy	O
it	O
,	O
but	O
those	O
who	O
are	O
unfamiliar	O
with	O
it	O
will	O
likely	O
find	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
moderately	O
fun	O
multiplayer	O
game	O
and	O
an	O
immensely	O
repetitive	O
single-player	O
game	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
praised	O
the	O
intricacies	O
of	O
the	O
economic	O
system	O
,	O
writing	O
the	O
"	O
level	O
of	O
complexity	O
sets	O
Settlers	B-Application
III	I-Application
apart	O
from	O
other	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
games	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
cited	O
numerous	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
with	O
the	O
copy-protection	B-Application
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
concluded	O
:	O
"	O
There	O
is	O
something	O
compelling	O
about	O
Settlers	B-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Next	O
Generation	O
rated	O
the	O
game	O
two	O
stars	O
out	O
of	O
five	O
:	O
"	O
It	O
's	O
mildly	O
entertaining	O
to	O
construct	O
buildings	O
,	O
gather	O
resources	O
,	O
and	O
trade	O
goods	O
,	O
but	O
in	O
the	O
end	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
a	O
disappointment	O
,	O
lacking	O
the	O
creativity	O
needed	O
to	O
compete	O
in	O
today	O
's	O
overcrowded	O
RTS	O
market	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
ultimately	O
became	O
the	O
German	O
market	O
's	O
third-best-selling	O
game	O
of	O
1998	O
,	O
behind	O
Tomb	B-Application
Raider	I-Application
III	I-Application
and	O
Anno	B-Application
1602	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blue	O
Byte	O
's	O
Thomas	O
Hertzler	O
commented	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
success	O
:	O
"	O
I	O
was	O
sure	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
had	O
the	O
potential	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
successful	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
award	O
given	O
to	O
computer	O
games	O
,	O
board	O
games	O
,	O
interactive	O
online	O
features	O
and	O
educational	O
programs	O
suitable	O
for	O
children	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
received	O
first	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
PC	O
Games	O
for	O
Young	O
People	O
Aged	O
13	O
and	O
Over	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
first	O
expansion	O
was	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
Mission	O
CD	O
,	O
released	O
in	O
April	O
1999	O
,	O
and	O
featuring	O
three	O
new	O
eight-mission	O
single-player	O
campaigns	O
,	O
ten	O
new	O
maps	O
for	O
single-player	O
mode	O
,	O
ten	O
new	O
maps	O
for	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
enhanced	O
AI	B-Application
for	O
computer	B-Application
controlled	I-Application
races	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
map	O
editor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
,	O
Blue	O
Byte	O
released	O
a	O
second	O
expansion	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	O
Quest	O
of	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
,	O
featuring	O
ten	O
new	O
maps	O
for	O
single-player	O
mode	O
,	O
ten	O
new	O
maps	O
for	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
an	O
improved	O
map	O
editor	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
race	O
(	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
)	O
,	O
and	O
two	O
new	O
twelve-mission	O
single-player	O
campaigns	O
,	O
one	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
controls	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
against	O
the	O
other	O
three	O
races	O
,	O
and	O
one	O
in	O
which	O
they	O
control	O
the	O
combined	O
forces	O
of	O
the	O
others	O
against	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
idea	O
to	O
include	O
female	O
settlers	B-Application
stretched	O
back	O
to	O
the	O
earliest	O
conceptions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
always	O
been	O
seen	O
as	O
a	O
potential	O
idea	O
for	O
an	O
expansion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blue	O
Byte	O
's	O
development	O
manager	O
,	O
Erik	O
Simon	O
,	O
stated	O
of	O
Quest	O
of	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
:	O
"	O
Fans	O
of	O
the	O
series	B-Application
have	O
been	O
bombarding	O
us	O
for	O
ages	O
with	O
requests	O
to	O
finally	O
let	O
female	O
Settlers	B-Application
pit	O
their	O
skills	O
against	O
their	O
male	O
counterparts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
Amazon	B-Application
race	O
will	O
no	O
doubt	O
introduce	O
some	O
turbulence	O
into	O
the	O
previously	O
male-dominated	O
Settlers	B-Application
world	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
in	O
June	O
2000	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
contains	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
Mission	O
CD	O
and	O
Quest	O
of	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
features	O
fan-made	O
maps	O
for	O
both	O
single-player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
modes	O
,	O
HTML	B-Language
hints	O
and	O
tips	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
Easy	O
difficulty	O
level	O
for	O
single-player	O
mode	O
(	O
including	O
all	O
campaign	O
missions	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
minor	O
graphical	O
enhancements	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
the	O
original	O
game	O
and	O
both	O
the	O
Mission	O
CD	O
and	O
Quest	O
of	O
the	O
Amazons	B-Application
expansions	O
,	O
and	O
features	O
autosave	B-General_Concept
,	O
4K	B-Architecture
monitor	I-Architecture
support	O
,	O
dual	O
monitor	O
support	O
,	O
adjustable	O
resolutions	O
and	O
sound	O
quality	O
,	O
adjustable	O
cursors	O
and	O
scrolling	O
options	O
,	O
adjustable	O
notifications	O
,	O
and	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Available	O
only	O
on	O
Uplay	B-Operating_System
,	O
the	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
IV	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Heritage	I-Application
of	I-Application
Kings	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Settlers	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
an	I-Application
Empire	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>
