Age of Empires II in Stores

Age of Empires II is now shipping, adding one more game to an October release calendar that already looks like somebody kicked over a filing cabinet.

The useful part: The game was released earlier than expected and die-hard fans are rushing to get copies. With several retailers reporting sell-outs, fans are comparing notes on which stores might have copies, and the game has even become a hot commodity on auction sites. Age of Empires II is the sequel to the well-known, big-selling real-time strategy game Age of Empires. It spans a thousand years, from the fall of Rome through the Middle Ages, in which players lead one of 13 civilizations into greatness. Listed pricing shows US$49.95, so this is not vapor sitting on a press sheet.