Ask Paradox (almost) Anything Thread (no support/tech or code questions)

[Susana]

That's one of the upsides of being privately owned, owning most of your IP's and investing money that only belongs to you and not someone else - you have more freedom to do what you want rather than what somebody else thinks you should be doing. My personal experience is that when I joined Paradox 7 years ago, the forum was one of the quickest way to gage if we were doing the right thing or not, you'd get instant feedback both good and bad. We, and others who do business with us often refer to us as the "Paradox Family" which I think is a pretty unique way of looking at a company. This forum and everyone in it is a natural part of that family so the communication also become more relaxed and genuine. Just like any family you have your ups and downs and sometimes massive arguments but you accept because you're in it for the long haul .

Sus

 

[Fredrik II]

I was wondering today... What was the first game you guys got? Just curious if it would reflect on your later gaming (career?) choices

I got an Atari 2600 in -81 or -82, but I can't recall that it made a great impression on me. I had my first real gaming epiphany with the ZX Spectrum (that I got in -83) with games such as Bruce Lee, Spy vs Spy, Gremlins, Manic Miner and Saboteur (probably just remember 10% of the games I played). Other games that have had an impact on me as a gamer is Defender of the Crown and Fairy Tale Adventure (Amiga), Civilization (Mac) and Excite Bike (NES, I just loved the editor!).

Edit: I forgot Daley Thompson's Decathlon and Ultima IV, they also have a special place somewhere in the back of my head

 

[Fredrik II]

What is your favourite Gyllene Tider song?

My brain just stopped working.

Favorite Metallica song is Master of Puppets. Best live song of all time!

 

[Captain Gars]

This might have been asked but I can't find it, so where did Gars get his name?

It's the very "secret" name Gustav II Adolf (Gustavus Adolphus) travelled under during his visit to Germany in the 1620's. It stands for Gustavus Adolphus Rex Sueciae. When I started at Paradox I needed a new avatar name since I didn't want to use my personal account and this was the only good one I could come up with.

 

[Captain Gars]

My brain just stopped working.

Qualis dominus, talis et servus. Gyllene Tider has never been all that golden in my book either.

 

[Castellon]

Johan has two accounts, too.

Having 2 accounts is not against the rules.
Having 2 accounts without prior Admin approval is.

 

[artfox]

My brain just stopped working.

Favorite Metallica song is Master of Puppets. Best live song of all time!

Totally agree. (But "call of Ktulu" is close to perfection as well)

 

[Kallocain]

Totally agree. (But "call of Ktulu" is close to perfection as well)

I have to agree on Master of Puppets. I'll always have a weak spot for a lot of songs from the Kill'em all album too though. (Hit the Lights! )

What is your favourite Gyllene Tider song?

Um... no. Sorry. Can't stand his voice!

 

[SolSara]

What is your favourite Gyllene Tider song?

I have never liked them.

 

[SolSara]

Do ye make people take their shoes off when they come to your house? I went to a party once in a flat owned by Swedish girls and they made us take out shoes off. Is that normal?

Yes. Always.

Edit: We don't "make" people take off their shoes, swedes have a habit to take off our shoes when we enter our own or someone elses home. If someone would enter my apartment without removing their shoes I would politely ask them to remove their shoes. I find it peculiar that people would not remove shoes when at home or visiting someone, think of all the grime you'd drag in!

 

[SolSara]

Yes. Always.

Edit: We don't "make" people take off their shoes, swedes have a habit to take off our shoes when we enter our own or someone elses home. If someone would enter my apartment without removing their shoes I would politely ask them to remove their shoes. I find it peculiar that people would not remove shoes when at home or visiting someone, think of all the grime you'd drag in!

I made an edit to my answer to RedRalphWiggum if anyone failed to notice

 

[Kallocain]

I would consider it very rude for someone to try and enter my home with shoes on. During the winter (half the year) you would drag in lots of snow and gravel if you kept your shoes on. The floors would be disgusting. Then we have the spring and autumn with mud and gravel. Would leave a mess. If I lived in LA and just went everywhere by car, I'd have more understanding with the shoes on policy, but in our climate... no.
Plus it still feels it would get dirty and dusty everywhere.

 

[Captain Gars]

This may have been asked before, but what is your favorite mod for a Paradox game?

I prefered spending my time making mods rather than playing them, but I like Sacra Romanum Imperium for EUIII as it adds a lot of depths to the HRE

 

[artfox]

Slippers? Why the need for slippers?

Because my slippers are awesome and I love them. I have fluffy slippers with rubber claws.

 

[Captain Gars]

Who runs the facebook, twitter pages etc?

Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey.

 

[Shams]

Who runs the facebook, twitter pages etc?

If you refer to the Paradox facebook page and twitter it's a combination of Regina, myself, Fred and Sus.

The other ones we get help from devs and community volunteers.

You hear the phrase "who tweeted that?!" at least twice a day.

/s

 

[Shams]

Now when Majesty 2 Collection is out, is the franchise been put to sleep for now (no more expansions or sequels for time being) ?

Is Paradox considering resurrecting some other ancient title and bringing it to current century (only maybe doing it yourself this time) ?

( P.S. Where can i apply for CK2 alpha testing ? ;-)

Majesty is going to be around for a long long time. We're releasing Defenders Of Ardania, which is set in the Majesty universe.

Expect to hear more stuff within the next 12 months.

We've always got an eye for the "old stuff" and looking for sensible way to bring them back. Which ones would you like to see?


/s

 

[artfox]

I'd want someone to do a game like The Guild - it was such a great idea for a game and sequels just sucked while add-ons to them were simple rip-offs adding nothing, fixing close to not bugs and charging lots of money for them. They murdered the series basically and then they stabbed the dead body repeatedly when the police was on site already.

I played the game for some time... The original that is, not the sequel. I loved the idea, but I really hated when my workers run away with all my property and did not come back until half a year later. :-( It kind of ruined my experience.

 

[artfox]

They skip alpha testing and leave beta testing to the public JJ Compared to most other publishers Paradox are relatively bug free (compared to stuff like the TW series). I'd say it has something to do with making games because they love it, rather than just for a pay-check.

I don't know about that. We have more alpha testing then many companies that are working with tripple A titles. Honestly I am still amazed by the work progress in Paradox studio compared with other game companies. Here we have really small teams, working with a full title at much faster pace then other companies and making much more complex games. How are we doing that?

I ... Don't... Know...

 

[Kallocain]

I don't have access to those kind of analytics right now. I'll see what I can find.