Age of Empires Online beta open to all

An Age of Empires Online beta is open to all for the next 48 hours or so, developer Gas Powered Games has announced.

You've got until 9.00am on Saturday to download the beta from Games For Windows, though play continues past that date.

The system requirements are reasonably modest:

• System Memory: 1 GB for Windows XP SP 3/Windows Vista Home; 1.5 GB fo Windows Vista Premium/Windows Vista Ultimate/Windows 7 (32 bit); 2.5 GB for Windows 7 (64 bit)
• Operating System: Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows Vista or Windows 7
• CPU: 2 GHz Dual Core or higher
• Video Memory: 128 MB Shader 2 supported card or higher
• Internet: Broadband connection required

Due for full release later this year, the free-to-play MMO is the first entry proper in the long-running RTS series since Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties back in 2007.