Paradox Development Studio - Overview

[Johan]

Paradox Development Studio have grown, morphed and changed quite alot through its history, but the core still remains. There will be a history here eventually.

We are now a development studio fully owned by Paradox Interactive, with +30 people on staff, working on 4 games in parallel.

- We have a team of 3 artists led by Aerie, who makes all the art for our titles.
- Besuchov leads one project team of 4 people.
- Doomdark leads one project team of 3 people.
- Birken leads one project team of 3 people.
- Podcat leads one project team of 3 people.
- QA is two people, with Forzaa as QA manager.

- Main staff of me as Studio Manager, Tegus as Engine Programmer, Kallocain as producer, and Regina as PR.

God, we've grown a bit since we were 7 people doing EU3...

Here we at Paradox Development Studio are at Metacritic:
http://www.metacritic.com/company/p...ons=games&num_items=30&sort_options=metascore

 

[Kallocain]

This may be an oversight on Johan's part, but you failed to mention the most critical staff role - who is responsible for maintaining coffee supplies?

We have an office manager that is not hired by us, but by Paradox Interactive who we happen to share the office with.

 

[Johan]

Wow, I had no idea you did EU3 (initially) with only seven people. I'm not sure if I'm more impressed by that fact or by how much you've grown.

We had...

Me as Producer & Project Leader.
Besuchov, aberg & gulgi as programmers.
Marcus & Dick as 2d and 3d artists.
chiwiss doing the scripting/databases.

and during the project, King was hired to do QA.

 

[Johan]

One question thou as I don't know very much of your history, was the Paradox Interactive originally this development team which grew or was there Paradox Interactive as is and you we're a part of it and later the development studio became it's own thing inside it? Did that actually make any sense..?

What is today PI grew out of this team as we needed to sell our games on our own, as our former publisher refused to pay us for HoI1 and Victoria1.

 

[Johan]

Is Artfox gone ?

yes.. he no longer works for PDS, but is now the QA manager for Paradox Interactive..

 

[Kallocain]

[...] I was never sure for awhile what Johan's job really was or who was tied to what project. [...]

(We are still not sure. He is EVERYWHERE!)

 

[Johan]

So...when will Paradox sell PDS to EA?

Serious question though, are the owners of Paradox Interactive and PDS the same?

PDS is owned by Paradox Interactive 100%, and PI is owned by Fred, me, Susana & a few more people.

(We are still not sure. He is EVERYWHERE!)

I DO THE FUN STUFF ONLY!! and lots of boring admin shit.

Could sell it to SEGA, they seem to be handling Football Manager's SI Games very well... And there's no other game of a different genre so similar in its spirit to Paradox titles as FM is.

I love FM.. Have played it since the early 90's back on the Amiga.. Now playing the iPad version while going commuting to work, Colchester just got promoted to the Championship, and my young team should be able to compete in the top within a year or two.

 

[Castellon]

I have noticed a severe lack of monocle and top hat pictures of you, you capitalist exploiter of the programing-proletariat

There is a whole wall of them at the office, and some have been posted on line.
Although I think they could be more classified as mugshots, but they fit your bill.

 

[Johan]

I have noticed a severe lack of monocle and top hat pictures of you, you capitalist exploiter of the programing-proletariat

Well.. its more that we are the workers that seized control!

 

[Captain Gars]

I have noticed a severe lack of monocle and top hat pictures of you, you capitalist exploiter of the programing-proletariat

As Castellon said, we have a wall at the office with pictures like these:

 

[Johan]

When there was described the confusion between PI and PDS, could anyone explain me the confusion of Gamersgate and "Paradox webshop"?

As I know, some times before Paradox founded Gamersgate, but than unleashed it. But why than make another webshop?

the webshop was just to sell cd's directly, but I'm not sure PI still does it, as there was not much interest in it .

 

[Kallocain]

the webshop was just to sell cd's directly, but I'm not sure PI still does it, as there was not much interest in it .

I was told last week that the webshop was closed down for sure.

 

[Kallocain]

The Gameplayoutlet web site?

Well yes. Someone told me it was shut down. But when I look now it's not. Running on fumes I guess.

 

[Kallocain]

Kallocain what game are you currently Producing?

I'm a producer on all our internal titles. Announced or not.