Empire Earth Series
Rick Goodman's 500,000-Year 14-Epoch Human History Real-Time Strategy Opus
Engineered in 2001 by Age of Empires lead designer Rick Goodman at Stainless Steel Studios and published by Sierra, Empire Earth spanned 500,000 years of human warfare across 14 historical epochs—from prehistoric clubs to futuristic nanotech mechas.
Rick Goodman's Magnum Opus: 14 Epochs of Human Civilizations
Following his breakthrough work on Age of Empires, Rick Goodman founded Stainless Steel Studios to realize an unprecedented historical scope. Empire Earth enabled players to progress through 14 distinct epochs spanning half a million years: starting with club-wielding hominids in the Prehistoric Age, progressing through the Renaissance and Imperial eras, and culminating in the Digital and Nano Ages.
Asymmetric Eras, Nuclear Missiles, and Morale Heroes
The gameplay permitted thrilling historical disparities: intercepting wooden frigates with nuclear-powered submarines or overwhelming medieval cavalry with WWI biplanes and robotic cyber-infantry. Bolstered by historical hero commanders (Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Gilgamesh) who emitted combat morale auras, it achieved landmark status in RTS history.