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

[TinyWiking]

Pretty much .
As long as you get a foot in and you are willing to learn, things come naturally. I've been a store clerk, payment administrator for a betting company, sales rep for Games Workshop and console specialist for Wargaming, just to name a few. All these different experiences taught me lots and I'd say that regardless of what you do or where you work everything you do gives you experience for the future, even if it may seem mindbogglingly irrelevant !

 

[Johan]

haha, then you two made an impressive career so far. So how did you find yourself becoming employed by Paradox?

I had 4 years of experience as a gamedeveloper with two games behind me when I started at the company that later founded Paradox 18 years ago.

 

[Johan]

I'd have to say bribes and lots of homemade cookies !

On a serious note I was living in Paris when the opening appeared and I wanted to return to Sweden so I applied and it worked out! I've been working with games my entire life so this felt like an awesome place to apply to. I actually remember the release of Europa Universalis 2, I was still working at a store called Tradition and we got invited to the release party, I think it was in Gamla Stan. That was my first real interaction with Paradox but it wasn't until I applied for a job here that I remembered that night !

Yeah, in some basement that was an internet cafe, and iirc Vision Park was our publisher in Sweden then.

 

[Trin Tragula]

Cyprus for EU3.

I always used Kongo myself. The EU3 AI very rarely attacks them.

 

[Johan]

sorry I've got to ask again, have you studied all the theoretical basics on your own for your first work as gamedeveloper?

I had learned how to code on my own. back then the manual for computers was basically 'this is how you start programming'

This is what i learned to code with in 87-88.. http://www.commodore.ca/manuals/c64_users_guide/c64-users_guide.htm

Then http://www.amazon.co.uk/Writing-Strategy-Games-Your-Commodore/dp/0946408548 was really helpful in learning some early concepts, but it was kind of hard, as i was 14, and english was not my native language.

I remember making so many fun games on the c64 as a young teen. Before i was 15, i hade my made own strategygame simulating the great nordic war in c64 basic, which had hotseat mp, ai, and all nations playable. Due to the language and my then skills, there were some interesting limits in each country only having a max of 5 armies and 5 navies.

I also made a football manager game with a transfer market and simulating league 1 & 2 in england. ( of before the premier league). I was most proud of my own window/ui system in that, and solving the slow sort of league table while displaying the match results, to nkt have awkward pauses.

Together with a classmate i made a bards tale clone with procedural dungeons, and a world map taking up 3 discs, with 50 unique monstertypes with awesome art and a cool storyline.

My final game on the c64 was a Ports of Call clone, where another more artistical friend made a cool world map in 200 characters only...

During first year of highschool i finally could afford an Amiga and started coding demos for a few years before i got a job at Funcom programming sega genesis games..

 

[Johan]

@Johan is there any way to get a glimpse on your com64 titles? This made me so curious. Sounds like some real retro shit to me

Might not exist anymore, as i just made them for myself and friends, and its 25 years ago i last checked those old disks

 

[BjornB]

Hi, I just saw that Paradox will make an IPO and that you will prioritize the gaming comunity. As a gamer since the first Heart of Iron games even earlier first (Svea Rike) would I be more than happy to participate in the IPO. Could you guys give some colour on how we Paradox fans will be able to participate in the IPO?
Thank you!

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/update-on-recent-news.912586/

There isn't much more we can say at this point I'm afraid.

 

[BjornB]

It's like Capt. Kiwi says. The poster needs to be shipped from the UK and it's very large package driving up the shipping cost. The poster is not available to be shipped from within the US at this time. Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[BjornB]

I hope this gets heard Do you have plans for a complete overhaul for the UI for EU4 and CK2. If yes, what can you tell us?

Not to my knowledge.

 

[TinyWiking]

Why are the shipping options only royal mail? I want to get the chirper mugs, but seeing as the shipping (even within Sweden) is Royal Mail and amounts to at least 16 euro, I won't. Are there no other shipping options in the nordic countries?

Sadly not as the items are shipped from the UK Royal Mail is the only option.

 

[Meneth]

whats being announced on the 15th? and what does Obsidian Entertainment have to do with it?

You'll find out on the 15th.

 

[Meneth]

I have a question about your Clausewitz engine. IIRC is written in C++, right?

C++, yep.

 

[Susana]

Hi all,

Not really sure why Germany wasn't listed but no need to read too much into it as we're just listing examples of markets and Germany is still a big & important market for us. I'll make sure we update it for next time.

Kind regards
Susana

Que ?

What ?
"The largest markets today include US, UK, France, Russia and Scandinavia"

• It's simply about markets...and as far as i know France, the UK and parts of Scandinavia are inside

the EU....so....my point stands. What ?

It's the "About Paradox Interactive" part at the end
https://www.paradoxplaza.com/news/year-end-report/

As Voight says though, maybe Paradox are the ones to answer that, rather than us mortals.




But, but....you said


Oh you, you perfidious...english you !
How shall i move in this world when i can't even fully trust digital indentities on the Paradox forum anymore.

 

[Susana]

Hi there, here are some answers to your questions:

1. Paradox consists of three parts, development - publishing & corporate services supporting the organization. Paradox has one management team and then the different parts have their own leadership. PDS is rather autonomous when it comes to operational decisions like who does what and when and how, but strategic decisions like which games to create and what quality to aim for is something that is set by the management team. However, the motivation to do a game ultimately comes from the studio, that type of dedication can't be fabricated outside of the teams themselves. Design decisions in games are taken by the actual development teams, not by the management team or the board.

2. Does Paradox believe that the best platform for PDS games is the PC?
It's not a question about PC or something else. PC is the core of what PDS does and will most likely remain that for any foreseeable future. However, the ambition is always to grow the community by being where our players are.

3. Will the partial sale and the motivation for it (expansion into console and mobile gaming) divert current or potential resources away from PDS?
It will be business as usual, as we've also stated numerous times. Any upcoming plans for what will happen with the company will not change the plans or working methods for PDS.

I recently asked a question to PDS about the partial sale of paradox based on a few concerns I had and I don't think I'm getting an answer. So it occurred to me I should probably ask their overlords

1. How much control does Paradox exert over PDS? aka how much autonomy have they been granted?
2. Does Paradox believe that the best platform for PDS games is the PC?
3. Will the partial sale and the motivation for it (expansion into console and mobile gaming) divert current or potential resources away from PDS?

 

[TinyWiking]

Swedish time !

 

[BjornB]

Hi Paradox,

My first question is do you consider making a collectible card game ?

Second conditional question is if you want to make it would you make a CK, EU, Victoria and HoI themed or totally different themed one?

As answered before, we did try a HoI trading card game. Did not work out quite like we wanted it to. No further plans at the moment.

Wasn't it a 10 year old boy that got his Magica card game kickstarted?

This. But it's not our venture. We've given him permission though.

 

[Hargelid]

How well do you think launch went for Stellaris?

Anyone break out the Champagne?

No champagne yet, but breaking new ground and making space great again
Read more here:
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...-day-one-sales-breaks-paradox-records.927411/

 

[SolSara]

because the paradox games I love are not translated into Italian!!!!!!!!!!!
stellarius ck2 eu4 hoi4 ecc ecc

without adequate TRANSLATION IS HARD TO MANAGE

We are constantly researching and evaluating which languages we should translate our games into, and for Stellaris and HoI4 we decided to go with Polish, German, French, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Russian. Unfortunately, it is not profitable to translate our games into all languages and we have to choose carefully which ones we want. It's something that is constantly changing though. Maybe there's mods out there that can help you? There's a few fan run forums for Italian, see this thread for a couple of examples: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/italian.889829/

 

[Susana]

is there any latins working in Paradox ?

Several people with a connection to latin countries either via marriage or like myself have parents and family there (my dad is from Chile, my mum from Brazil) but to my knowledge nobody hired from Latin America yet.

 

[Susana]

Could we get an update in what is in the works for White Wolf and the The World of Darkness franchise? I have kept watch on their website which hasn't been updated in some time. I've heard ripples of possible deals being sought in the V:TES card game community.

Does Paradox / White Wolf plan to use the previous work being done by CCP to develop a WoD MMO?

Could we get an official patch for Bloodlines?

I'm sure you guys realise you are sitting on the heart of dark supernatural lore. The potential to blow everything seen on t.v. today lies within the World of Darkness.

DONT LET MY DREAMS BE DREAMS!!! JUST DO IT!!!

Any updates from White Wolf will come primarily from the team itself so their website, places like https://www.facebook.com/whitewolfpublishing/ and https://twitter.com/wwpublishing are your best bets.

Kind regards
Susana