I found AOEO blog desing. Is divided in 4 parts for courious guys designer that want to know why take the desition to do it the game in that style, may be this one is not all truth. But have good arguments and good tips for game makers. http://remember-ensemblestudios.com/2011/08/age-of-empires-online-review--part-3--art-design/ For me the most particular is the desing justification or reasoning of their carton style, but far of this matter probably the most interesting is this image: This one is common in historic based RTS like AOE saga or 0.A.D the proportion of building with units I know the artist and developer knows this one but not all players have a dominance of this rule. And here is the multiplayer concept, this one may be is best than gameplay and art desing concept , because this mostly innovative in AOE saga, not because be original concept, it's because is the first in the saga to adapt to modern online gaming. http://remember-ensemblestudios.com/2011/08/age-of-empires-online-review-part-2-multiplayer/