Main Page
Welcome to Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.2,418,663 articles in EnglishArtsBiographyGeographyHistoryMathematicsScienceSocietyTechnologyAll portalsOverview · Editing · Questions · HelpContents · Categories · Featured content · A–Z indexToday’s featured articleAge of Empires is a series of computer video games developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The first title of the series was Age of Empires, released in 1997. Since then, seven titles and three spin-offs have been released. The titles are historical real-time strategy games, and their gameplay revolves around two main game modes: random map, and campaign. The games are set amidst historical events. The initial two games focused on events in Europe and Asia Minor, spanning from the Stone Age to the Classical period; one game explored the formation and expansion of the Roman Empire. The next two games also centered on Europe, but were set in the Middle Ages and the Spanish conquest of Mexico. The subsequent three games explored the early modern period, when Europe was colonizing the Americas and several Asian nations were on the rise. The Age of Empires series has been a commercial success, selling over 15 million copies. The popularity and quality of the games has earned Ensemble Studios a strong reputation in real-time strategy gaming. Ensemble collaborated with Big Huge Games on Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties. Critics have credited part of the success of the series to its historical theme and fair play; the artificial intelligence (AI) players fight with less “cheating” than in many of the series’ competitors. (more…)Recently featured: Chicago Board of Trade Building – Common Treecreeper – European CommissionArchive – By email – More featured articles…Did you know…From Wikipedia’s newest articles:… that the Millersburg Ferry (pictured) in Pennsylvania is the last ferry on the Susquehanna River and the last authentic wooden double stern-wheeled paddle boat operating in the United States?… that Jabal Amman is one of the seven original hills that Amman, Jordan was built on during the Neolithic period?… that it was largely the zeal of Bishop Russell McVinney of Providence that reestablished the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Belgium in 1952?… that the Sapieha beaker, the 16th century beaker, was auctioned at Christie’s and was presented as the gift to Lithuania by brothers Ortiz?… that a USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft crashed shortly after take-off at Bakers Creek, Queensland in 1943, killing 40 of the 41 service personnel on board and making it Australia’s worst aviation disaster?… that Muhammad al-Shaybani, a jurist of the Hanafi school of thought, was the student of Abu Hanifa and Abu Yusuf?… that the Franconian derby between 1. FC Nuremberg and SpVgg Greuther Fürth is the most played football match in Germany with over 250 games between the two sides?… that Australian artist Ben Shearer says blindness in his right eye that resulted from an injury while playing cricket was a reason he began to paint?Archive – Start a new article…In the newsAfghan and Canadian-led ISAF forces begin an offensive against Taliban insurgents in the Arghandab District of Kandahar Province.In basketball, the Boston Celtics defeat the Los Angeles Lakers to win the 2008 NBA Finals.Large areas of southern China are hit by the worst floods in decades with Guangzhou and Shenzhen most affected, and at least 169 fatalities and 1.66 million people evacuated.In golf, Tiger Woods (pictured) defeats Rocco Mediate in a playoff to win the 2008 U.S. Open, his 14th major victory.A new constitution takes effect in Kosovo, whose February declaration of independence has been recognised by 43 United Nations member states.A magnitude 6.8 Mw earthquake strikes Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures on the Japanese island of Honshū.Flooding continues in the Midwestern United States, leading to the evacuation of thousands of homes.Irish voters reject the Treaty of Lisbon in a referendum, thus putting into question the reform program of the European Union.Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events…On this day…June 19: Juneteenth in some parts of the United States1850 – Louise of the Netherlands married Crown Prince Karl of Sweden-Norway.1944 – World War II: The navies of the United States and Imperial Japan engaged each other off the Mariana Islands in the Philippine Sea.1953 – Americans Julius and Ethel Rosenberg (pictured) were executed as spies who passed U.S. nuclear weapons secrets to the Soviet Union.1961 – Kuwait declared independence from the United Kingdom.1978 – Garfield, created by American cartoonist Jim Davis, made its debut, eventually becoming one of the world’s most widely syndicated comic strips.2005 – Only six race cars competed in the United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana after all the Michelin-shod entrants were withdrawn due to safety concerns.More events: June 18 – June 19 – June 20Archive – By email – More anniversaries…It is now 02:49, June 19, 2008 (UTC) – Refresh this pageToday’s featured picturePeyto Lake, located in Banff National Park in the Canadian province of Alberta, as seen from a viewpoint at Icefields Parkway. The turquoise colour is caused by rock flour found in glacier meltwater.Photo credit: Tobias AltRecently featured: Canada Goose – Radiolarians – CeratopsiaArchive – More featured pictures…