Microsoft have announced a International Age of Kings The Conquerors competition, to be ran through LANs in 15 countrys around the world:

Microsoft today announced the debut of the Age of Empires II: The Conquerors International Tournament, which will award $50,000 to the player who emerges victorious in a glorious battle for world supremacy. Over fifteen countries will hold individual tournaments via the MSN Gaming Zone, LAN events, or local partners mid-July through September 28, 2001, to crown a national champion who will receive prize money and represent their country in the world finals. This would-be-conqueror will be sent to compete in the world finals in Redmond, Washington on October 24, 2001, which will be hosted by the legendary game designer Bruce Shelley, among others.

More details, including the official rules and sign-up information for each country, will be available next month.

Age of Empires is one of the most successful strategy game franchises in history, having sold over eight million units worldwide. The series has received numerous awards including AIAS Strategy Game of the Year awards for Age of Empires, Age of Empires II: Age of Kings, and The Conquerors Expansion; as well as the prestigious AIAS PC Game of the Year for Age of Empires II: Age of Kings. Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion challenges gamers to wage war on an epic scale with all-new civilizations, unique units and technologies, and campaigns based on infamous conquerors such as Attila the Hun, El Cid and Montezuma.

Details at the moment are a little vague, however as soon as we know more we will let you all know, its time however to dust of that AOK CD and get practicing, a free trip to compete in a world finals would be heaps of fun.

but AOE is gay :(

why cant they just give me the money for no apparent reason???

I wish MS would make a decent game (its not as though they haven't got the money to invest in one) :/

strewth, that's a lot of money

hah, id laugh if the server crashed.

it seems that we have micro$oft infiltrating the games arena, first games, then xbox, now tornys.

what next?

Nothing less than World Domination, baby.

mmm 50k US, 100K AUS, oooo

So much for the arguement that gaming will never get taken seriously and never have any money in it for the players.

I think it's fantastic the way gaming is heading with these big world wide comps and cash up for grabs.