History book of aoe2

[Elvaenor]

I want to do something for the aoe community as well, since I really like aoe! So that's what got me thinking, what else can be done in a community where everything is done already?
So AoEZone contains a massive amount of history of aoe2. Lately I've been playing with the idea to note the complete history of (the competitive/multiplayer aspect) of aoe2 in an all-enveloping 'book'. What do people think of this idea? I figure it should contain a basic introduction of aoe2, with aoe1 and the lead-up to it, the first MSN zone platform that was used to play it online, other platforms that were used until voobly became the dominant platform, the transformation in HD and eventually DE.
Maybe this can be done chronologically or the chapters can be organized otherwise.
I also think it should contain sections with famous events in aoe, like important tournaments, players, and other events (things like scripter/userpatch, the most important admins like robo, mapscripters like chrazini and all the others). The most important people that influenced the direction the game was going (FE/ZeroEmpires/T90 to name a few). Maybe even the most famous drama events that happened over the years?
Also, would people like to help in writing this? I think it'll be really fun to delve deep into the history of aoe2 and note everything there is to know about the history!

So what are things that should be included in such a book?
Any good sources/links to go on?

 

If you need an easy way to write books you can use mdBook: https://github.com/rust-lang/mdBook
You just need to write everything in markdown files and it will get rendered as a book that is also exportable as a pdf or epub.

Markdown Guide

A free and open-source reference guide that explains how to use Markdown.

www.markdownguide.org

And it's easy to host on a github repository with github pages. I would recommend opening a Github repository maybe within the SiegeEngineers and then work collaboratively on it. So it also stays open for input of new people.

 

[Elvaenor]

If you need an easy way to write books you can use mdBook: https://github.com/rust-lang/mdBook
You just need to write everything in markdown files and it will get rendered as a book that is also exportable as a pdf or epub.

Markdown Guide

A free and open-source reference guide that explains how to use Markdown.

www.markdownguide.org

I was thinking about using Overleaf, a LateX editor. It's a really nice tool for collaborating with multiple people online.

 

[n0brain]

@Elvaenor hey if you want to, we could put a repository or at least a link for this on siegeengineers? (i would also suggest joining the se discord https://discord.gg/YXMYDjT, since there is a LOT of people there now involved in all kinds of projects over the years. its usually focused on programming, advanced modding and other projects around aoe2, but many people there should have good lots of background info)

 

I was thinking about using Overleaf, a LateX editor. It's a really nice tool for collaborating with multiple people online.

For sure, was just recommending it as in the developer community I'm often writing documentation collaboratively and git and Pull Requests work really nice together to also get new people in it.

An example for a book you find here:

Introduction - Rust Design Patterns

A catalogue of Rust design patterns, anti-patterns and idioms

rust-unofficial.github.io

The corresponding source code would be this here:

GitHub - rust-unofficial/patterns: A catalogue of Rust design patterns, anti-patterns and idioms

A catalogue of Rust design patterns, anti-patterns and idioms - GitHub - rust-unofficial/patterns: A catalogue of Rust design patterns, anti-patterns and idioms

github.com

It's easy to host on an own subdomain and a nice workflow for new contributors. But you decide, just wanted to let you now a quite established and future proof workflow for that.

 

[Elvaenor]

@Elvaenor hey if you want to, we could put a repository or at least a link for this on siegeengineers? (i would also suggest joining the se discord https://discord.gg/YXMYDjT, since there is a LOT of people there now involved in all kinds of projects over the years. its usually focused on programming, advanced modding and other projects around aoe2, but many people there should have good lots of background info)

Sounds good! I'll join the discord to see if anyone is interested :D

 

[nimanoe]

Also maybe contact @pumukel since this might be somewhat related to his rework of the Best AoE2 players

 

[Elvaenor]

Also maybe contact @pumukel since this might be somewhat related to his rework of the Best AoE2 players

Yes, threads like these actually inspired me for this. Since there is alot of history, but it's also scattered all over the place. I want to get it all in one nice document with sources for all information

 

[pumukel]

Also maybe contact @pumukel since this might be somewhat related to his rework of the Best AoE2 players

I propose you don't, no time for this.

but here are some links:

2011
Feb 26: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/world-clan-league-7-coming-soon.55364/ (WCL7 pre-announcement)
Mar 20: https://tyrant.voobly.com/ (TyRanT Voobly clan established)
Mar 27: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/kkabs-team-sponsors-should-know-before-donating.60031/ (Chris complaint)
Apr 1: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/have-no-fear-world-clan-league-7-is-here.60877/ (WCL7 announcement)
10th Apr 10: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/wcl-7-sign-ups.60837/#post-90997 (TyRanT sign-Up)
Apr 11: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/goodbye-for-now.61679/ (Chris goodbye)
15th Apr 15: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/wcl-7-sign-ups.60837/page-3#post-92559 (RVK sign-Up)
May 8: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/world-clan-league-7-begins.63187/ (WCL7 Opening)
Jun 6: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitch.tv (twitch launch)
Jun 21: https://www.youtube.com/user/ZeroEmpires/about (ZeroEmpires YT launch)
Oct 6: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/bo-21-daut-serbia-vs-chris-canada.69341/ (Chris vs DauT Bo21 settings discussion & scheduling)
Oct 8: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/its-on-daut-serbia-vs-chris-canada-challenge-for-bo-21.69342/ (Chris vs DauT Bo21 Announcement)
Oct 21: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/germany-jordan_23-vs-theviper-norway-1v1s-21oct.69601/ (JorDan_23 joins TyRanT)
Nov 26: https://www.youtube.com/user/BBQTurkman/about (BBQTurkman YT launch)
Nov 28: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/daut-serbia-vs-chris-canada-bo-21-challenge.70160/ (Chris vs DauT Bo21 Recorded Games)
Dec 30: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/wcl-7-results-and-prizes.70915/ (WCL7 Conclusion)

2012
Jan: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/daut-halen-kkab-banned.71475/ (Dubai gathering 2012)
Mar 5: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/tyrants-went-to-dubai.72600/ (Dubai gathering 2012)
Mar 15: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/tyrant-_daut_-vs-tyrant-jordan_23-battle-for-1.72833/ (JorDan_23 vs DauT Bo21 Announcement)
Mar 20: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/aoczone-delivers-the-tribal-wars-2012-is-here.72987/ (TTW Announcement)
Mar 22: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/state-of-the-empire-episode-4-tba.73054/ (State of the Empire Announcement)
Mar 23: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxIwuBaJTT0 (State of the Empire Ep. 1)
Apr: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/battle-for-1-_daut_-serbia-vs-jordan_23-germany.73226/ (JorDan_23 vs DauT Bo21 Recorded Games)
Apr 9: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/aoczone-delivers-the-tribal-wars-2012-brackets-are-out.73402/ (TTW Opening)
May 13: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/44904502 (State of the Empire Ep. 3)
Jul 22: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/the-tribal-wars-2012-final-results.76998/ (TTW Conclusion)
Sep 16: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/all-new-the-grand-masters-league.79013/ (GML Announcement)
Sep 22: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/2012-sy-cup-international-invitation-tournament.79690/ (SY-CUP Announcement)
Oct 9: https://syteam.voobly.com/ (SY Voobly clan established)
Dec 13: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheViperAOC/about (TheViper YT launch)
Dec 28: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/release-of-age-of-empires-ii-forgotten-empires-19-gmt-today.83842/ (AoFE release)

2013
Jan 6: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/voobly-ratings-evolution.84244/ (Voobly ladder reform)
Mar 2: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/the-champion-of-bo21-_daut_-vs-theviper-for-1000.86074/ (DauT vs TheViper Bo21 Announcement)
Apr 9: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Empires_II#High-definition_remake (AoE2:HD release)
Apr 18: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/norway-theviper-vs-daut-serbia-battle-for-nr-1-bo21-final.87617/ (DauT vs TheViper Bo21 Recorded Games)
May 12: https://www.youtube.com/user/Resonance22Channel/about (Resonance22 YT launch)
May 28: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/vooblys-new-game-mod-center-is-here.89362/ (Voobly Mod Center launch)
Jun 6: https://www.youtube.com/user/VooblyOfficial/about (VooblyOfficial YT launch)
Jun 12: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/welcome-to-the-medieval-wars-2013.89982/ (TMW Announcement)
Jul 1: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/qualification-stage-begins.90805/ (TMW Opening)
Jul 2: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/userpatch-1-3-support-added-on-voobly.90907/ (UP 1.3 introduced to Voobly)
Aug 13: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/the-top-expert-league-2013.92907/ (TEL1 Announcement)
Sep 3: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/the-userpatch-1-4-is-now-available-on-voobly-for-testing.93567/ (UP 1.4 Beta introduced to Voobly)
Sep 10: https://tyrant.voobly.com/ (Riut joins TyRanT)
Sep 14: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/userpatch-v1-4-rc-installer-preinstalled.93911/ (UP 1.4 Installer with Spectator Mode)
Sep 19: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/clash-of-the-titans-1v1-tournament.94101/ (CoT Announcement)
Sep 22: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/the-medieval-wars-is-completed.94247/ (TMW Conclusion)
Ocxt 12: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/the-top-experts-league-series.95009/ (TEL Series Announcement)
Nov 7: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Empires_II:_The_Forgotten (The Forgotten Release)
Dec 26: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/cot-has-been-completed-introducing-veterans-of-the-clash.97610/ (CoT Conclusion)

2014
Jan 14: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/tyrant-_jidba.98309/ (Jidba joins TyRanT discussion)
Feb 6: https://tyrant.voobly.com/ (BacT, F1Re, slam join TyRanT)
Mar 6: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/sy-china-nations-cup-announcement.100011/ (NC14 Announcement)
Mar 8: https://www.youtube.com/user/FoptMembrillo/about (MembTV YT launch)
Apr 8: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/tyrant-gathering-2014.101077/ (Dubai gathering 2014)
May 6: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/tyrant-gathering-2014.101918/ (Dubai gathering 2014)
May 6: https://www.youtube.com/user/TyRanTAgeOfEmpires (Dubai Skydiving)
Oct 12: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChzLZJo-SxuPHz-oYKAIC_g/about (Spirit Of The Law YT launch)
Nov 1: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/top-experts-league-5-grand-final.105311/ (TEL Grand Final Announcement)
Sep 17: https://www.aoezone.net/threads/war-is-coming-announcement.104408/ (WiC Announcement)

2015
Jan 16: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUT79WUUpZlZ-XMF7l4CFg/about (T90Official YT launch)

 

[Elvaenor]

but here are some links:

That's a very comprehensive list, thanks!

 

[Breakfast]

This seems like a great idea, I think that having a comprehensive history of the game is really helpful. With so much of it undocumented or hard-to-find, it's difficult for new players to learn about how things used to be.

And I'd be interested in helping write it too! I enjoy delving into obscure corners of the internet as I try to piece together drama from the dark ages far too much not to offer my services here.

 

[Byelo]

The idea is just lovely! DauT's 24 hour stream had a segment where he just talked of the old school scene and his part in it. Think that took place around the Christmas of 2019. Might be worth a look?

 

[pumukel]

Nili's aoe2 history vids will also be helpful

 

[Dovahkiin4e201]

This sounds really cool. The old history of the competitive scene really intrigues me.

 

[Elvaenor]

Nili's aoe2 history vids will also be helpful

thanks, I will check those out! I guess nothing is done as of now but perhaps when the time is right I can ask some people in the community who've been around forever for some good stories :D

 

[Elvaenor]

And I'd be interested in helping write it too! I enjoy delving into obscure corners of the internet as I try to piece together drama from the dark ages far too much not to offer my services here.

Awesome man! Sound like great fun indeed :D

 

[wattle]

I would love this and thought a couple times it would be great to have something like that.
Not reading many books, but something like this I would 100% read.

Pumukel did a summary for a couple years which I loved to read.
"Some Looks Back" 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
2018-11-09 pumukel: Office Closed

2017-02-01 UP 1.5 announcement & progress-update (at least I think this was the official public announcement)
2017-07-25 UP 1.5 Public Beta on Voobly
2019-02-28 UP 1.5 RC, Build 6268 (final)

Spoiler

iirc 2019-03-01 scripter disconnecting from irc "brb"

more about UP can be found on https://forums.aiscripters.com or can be said by the people involved

 

[Kantos]

Another idea that could be interesting is to create a YouTube channel that contains the most important games of all the great tournaments that have been played in history, something like a "virtual AOE2 library", mainly for tournaments before 2012, or something like that (only the recording of the game, without comments). In this way it would be easier for everyone to know a little more about the past of this game. It would be a job that would require a lot of time and the participation of many people from the community, but I think it would be interesting if someone can do it.

The idea of the book is great, even easier to do. I hope it can be achieved.

 

Another idea that could be interesting is to create a YouTube channel that contains the most important games of all the great tournaments that have been played in history, something like a "virtual AOE2 library", mainly for tournaments before 2012, or something like that (only the recording of the game, without comments). In this way it would be easier for everyone to know a little more about the past of this game. It would be a job that would require a lot of time and the participation of many people from the community, but I think it would be interesting if someone can do it.

The idea of the book is great, even easier to do. I hope it can be achieved.

AoE2 History: $100,000 Microsoft Tournament (2001)

AoE2 History is a format where I will talk about different old tournaments like: 100k Microsoft Tournament, WCG2001, WCG2002, WCLs, Arbalet Cups, Nation Cups...

www.youtube.com

 

[Funito]

I always though about making something related since i'm one of the guys who remember most about all aoe's eras (almost everything from 2003-2012) (specially players, stats development, even some of the dramas, even the dramas that were never publicly well known), so i'm here to help ha.

 

[Kantos]

AoE2 History: $100,000 Microsoft Tournament (2001)

AoE2 History is a format where I will talk about different old tournaments like: 100k Microsoft Tournament, WCG2001, WCG2002, WCLs, Arbalet Cups, Nation Cups...

www.youtube.com

Yes exactly, that is the idea, but there are only 16 videos there.

 

Yes exactly, that is the idea, but there are only 16 videos there.

I think the videos were clicked less over time, hence Nili was coming to the conclusion (my personal assumption), that not many people would like to see that.

 

[Philippe le Bon]

When did Voobly official streaming team dismantled? I tried to search for the thread I couldn't find it

I believe it was in 2015, maybe 2016

 

[Johnny Walrus]

this would be awesome. Would really hell guys who want to make videos about the aoe2 community

 

[robo]

When did Voobly official streaming team dismantled? I tried to search for the thread I couldn't find it

I believe it was in 2015, maybe 2016

Which 'version' of the team? there have been a number of iterations