Ask Paradox Development Studio Anything Live Stream

[Shams]

Hi,

Tomorrow at 20:00 CET we're doing a live stream that's focusing entirely on PDS and their games - over at www.twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive

This is your chance to ask PDS (Johan & Linda will be on the show) questions - I'll turn up the heat on them so have at it.

Bombard me with questions and I'll pick out as many as possible and do my best "bad cop, bad cop" routine.

So yes - for once - this is the time you get to ask us about Rome 2 - our answer will probably not change

/shams

 

[Autonomous]

Cross post from OT thread:

What is your next game? Tell. Now. Go on.

Will you ever do a Dark Ages (400AD ~ 867AD) game? If not, why not?

Any plans for myth/fantasy/future/sci-fi titles, ever?

Is the shift away from a simulationist design philosophy towards a more gamist one in EUIV indicative of a broader trend? Will Vicky 3 have its delicious sperg appeal gutted?

What non-Paradox titles do you play, and what, if any, inspiration do you draw from them?

 

[LeeDub]

Apparently you have three in-house unannounced projects. Are those full (standalone) games? Also, do they make use of the Clausewitz engine?

You keep iterating on the Clausewitz engine. Do you see a successor engine in the next 5 years, or is the current model of iteration sufficient for your present needs?

Any timeline on when the first of those three projects will be announced? The most recent info we got said "probably no later than Paradox Convention 2014".

Cheers, and accept my condolences in advance of the tripe Rome2 questions.

 

[Enewald]

Any chances for a game such as Chariots of War 2, ancient Mesopotamian city states fighting each other, building settlements and burning enemy settlements whilst competing for local hegemony?

Any chances for a game based in ancient China, Spring&Autumn eras and Warring States era?

Whilst talking about niches, precolumbian Americas, with different tribes competing and eventually trying to build an empire to rival the Mayan or Aztec Empires of our timeline, whilst preparing to hold off the Europeans once they arrive?

Also, you are still missing a game that would take place between Eu:Rome and Ck2 Old Gods, meaning a game where Roman Empire is slowly crumbling, whilst the Great Migrations will lay the foundations of modern Europe? Good chances for a Late Antiquity - Dark Ages - Ck2- Eu4 - V2 - HoI3 megacampaign.

As for AI, when looking back at old Eu2 or HoI AI, how do you think the AI in your games will improve over the coming years? Human brains always should be able to give the AI a beating, but it should become more challenging if you just somehow manage to make the AI super smart; the AI having evolved quite a lot IMO over the last decade in your games.

What is with the game expansion icons, when you add all possible Eu3 icons together, you could get 6 icons for one game; now with Ck2 getting expansions/DLC with no additional icons forum users are no more gaining icons as easily.
Are you trying to limit the amount of icons released per year? Also new game avatars coming soon?

Eu2, Eu3, Eu:Rome all came with maps; WHERE IS MY EU4 MAP?
I would purchase one from if you were just selling; I'm sure there is some demand for those, and you as a profit seeking company ought to start producing said products

Will custom forum avatars ever return?

Why wasn't Falalan included in Eu4? IMO Eu2 had best music of all Paradox games I have so far played, V1 coming second.

Now that we have been forced to become Steam users due to Eu4, will Paradox continue releasing products that are not Steam-only in the future? Or do you support giving Steam a market monopoly?

 

[EvilHamster]

Are you ever going to make a daring try and buy the "The Guild" license? (you are kind of the only onces that could make a good game in that series so)

 

[RoboticManiac]

Next game? :3

 

[Me_]

When do you plan to release the dinosaur game?

 

[wolfing]

Would you consider using kickstarter to measure the interest in often discussed but uncertain interest in Fantasy Universalis or Dark Ages Universalis?

 

[Augustus93]

do you want to make HoI4?

 

[Ithvan]

Who is considered the weirdest employee? Why?

 

[LeeDub]

do you want to make HoI4?

This gives me an idea for a question!

What would you say are HoI3's greatest flaws and strengths?

 

[Jokurr]

Let's get some details on what is new with the Clausewitz III engine!

 

[Sn3ipen]

Let's get some details on what is new with the Clausewitz III engine!

Its their final step in the plan to take over the world. Their next game with Clausewitz III will be so addicting that nobody will notice.

 

[hansnery]

Will ever a modern day ww3 style game come out?

 

[The_Duke_]

Do you guys have any new DLC in mind for Vicky 2??? The diplomacy tab and options could be severely improved to the level of EU4, allowing even more 'soft power' strategies. Cheers!

 

[Pitt The Elder]

What's the odds on us getting some internal politics expansion/DLC for EU4? It would be great if that game had something internal to focus on while you're not at war, and also to make your life difficult when are. The faction system was CK2 was great, and what Wiz did with it was nothing short amazing, and I'd love to see something analogous in EU4.


And I understand you guys don't like talking about DLC before it drops, but do you have a timeline in mind for the first one? I expect the answer is no since it's so early, but there's no harm in asking.

 

[Variton]

1. What is supersecret?
2. What is the next PDS game series to be updated by sequel?
3. How do you see it, will PDS do any more "small scale" games like Sengoku or MotE?
4. The largest swatches of history not covered by PDS games are in pre-Roman era. Have you planned a game in this timeframe and if not what are the main reasons? ( Do you see making a game in the era as commercially challenging ? Or do you have problems to fit any good grand startegy game (mechanics) in the timeframe? Or is there just general lack of interest in the ancient times within PDS staff? or...)
5. How do you come up with the idea what game you will develop next? ( Is it a general accumulation of new ideas reaching a certain point, sales analysis or just a "Johan decision"? or...)
6. Is there / has there been any plans to add interactivity to battles in PDS games?
7. Are you fans of ironman? Will we see it in (all) future releases as well?
8. If you ever plan to make a fantasy/scifi game would you prefer to create a universe of your own or buy a licence to existing one?
9. Have you considered doing a TBS?
10. Are PDS games going to be Clausewitz only?

 

[Talq]

When are you announcing the next DLC for CK2.

Will all your games be historical strategy? Have you considered trying some form of fictional or fantasy world strategy game?

 

[unmerged(501710)]

What should a university student do, who is doing a "Computer Engineering" major in Austria, in order to get an internship or a job when he graduates with Paradox Interactive?
Edit:Thanks for asking my question! Don't worry I wasn't rejected by an art school. I'm off to go to programming.

 

[Spartanlemur]

1: Crusader Kings 2 was undoubtedly a great success for PDS. Has it eclipsed Europa Universalis as the studio's "flagship" series?


2: (Rome question!) Many forum users have been discussing the potential of a Rome game based on the character-oriented style of Crusader Kings 2. Do you feel that this approach would suit the setting? If a Rome game does at some point get the go ahead, would this approach be more likely than that taken in the original EU:Rome?

3: Is a kickstarter campaign for a Paradox Development Studio Rome game still on the cards? If so, when might we be able to start throwing money at it?