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King

Part Time Game Designer
11 Badges
Dec 7, 2001
12.504
30
48
  • Crusader Kings II
  • Deus Vult
  • Europa Universalis III
  • Europa Universalis: Rome
  • Sengoku
  • Victoria 2
  • 500k Club
  • Crusader Kings II: Holy Knight (pre-order)
  • Europa Universalis III: Collection
  • Hearts of Iron II: Beta
  • Victoria 2 Beta
Well this is it, the first developer diary for Victoria 2. You’ll be seeing a lot more of these over the coming weeks; we aim for one a week but we know now that this won’t always happen. Either there will be things like holidays (I know what you are thinking: ‘but this is communist Sweden and we do get those kinds of things here’) or major games shows will interrupt this weekly schedule. However, most weeks until gold you’ll see a diary from me.

Well first up, those of you with a keen eye for detail will have seen that this is not Johan posting, so who the hell am I? I am Chris King and I am the designer for Victoria 2. I joined Paradox three and half years ago and my first project was Victoria Revolutions. Victoria has always had a special place in my heart because of that. In a fit of honesty I must say that although I am credited designer, it does not logically follow that everything you see in the game is my idea. Game design is very much a collaborative work and the whole team pitches in at various points. Still the joy of the credit for game design means you end up being the poor guy who has to write everything down. So that’s why it has fallen to me to write the developer diaries.

So the first question you must all be wondering, why Victoria 2? It is probably no secret that Victoria was not Paradox’s most commercially successful title. Which did make it less likely to become a sequel that some of our more popular titles. However, here we are doing a sequel.

There are two main reasons for this, first up was Victoria Revolutions. Now it itself it wasn’t a blockbuster, those of you who follow game sales charts will notice it wasn’t quite able to shift games like World of Warcraft or the Sims of the top of the charts, but as an expansion it had its following. So one idea bounced around was a second expansion to Victoria and ideas were generated. All this came to nought because as a company we decided to not work with the old engine again, but the ideas remained.

Meanwhile the new engine is cranking out games and the code base for the new engine is steadily expanding. With this foundation projects that we did not consider possible a few years ago suddenly became doable. So when it came to decide which game to do after Hearts of Iron 3, there were these ideas sitting around for an expansion to Victoria. These ideas looked pretty cool but more was going to be needed. However, here was the kernel of what we believe is a great game. The rest is history.

Traditionally dev diaries usually include screenshots, but this one sadly doesn’t. For those of you who can’t be bothered to read long developer ego stroking posts and just want to look at the pictures here are some sprites. These are just a small selection of the final in game sprites; we will unveil more as we go through development.
 

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I read it before I answered :D

And now I edit: Thank you, sir, for this!

Though never played Vicky 1 (I know, I should), I strongly believe that this will become one of my favorite P-dox games.
 
Hm now i had too. I like the spirits and the map (That they are standing on) Surely looks interesting :D
 
I like these sprites; I was afraid that you are going to scrap sprites in favour of counters (which I hate).
 
I am not moved by your motivations. I want more. I demand more. And after 600 years of Swedish rule over Finland I am entitled to more. Next development diary better be about the game mechanics, or I WILL taunt you!
 
"999" - is that the strength of each unit?
 
I am not moved by your motivations. I want more. I demand more. And after 600 years of Swedish rule over Finland I am entitled to more. Next development diary better be about the game mechanics, or I WILL taunt you!

It will come atleast we know from the picture that progress is being made :).
 
I am not moved by your motivations. I want more. I demand more. And after 600 years of Swedish rule over Finland I am entitled to more. Next development diary better be about the game mechanics, or I WILL taunt you!

Well if we had known that we wouldn't of bothered with Dev Diaries this early.
 
The sprites look good!

Those numbers under the sprite means number of men? (edit: answered already while I was writing my post)

Lol, the swedish man is the only one looking in another direction.
 
i cannot say i am satisfied with this devdiary, mate. still happy that the diaries have started.
 
The map seems to be covered by a sort of agricultural fields texture, which I imagine looks nice. And I think i can see something resembling a tree next to the Swedish soldier.
So I guess we'll see mountains, deserts and other stuff as well.
How diversified is the textures?
Will we see a city texture as well?
 
Finally the DD's have started.

I applaud this! :D
 
Poor King. Finally caved to the demands for a DD and brought the wrath of the Paradoxians upon himself :(

You got designer, King? Gratz :)

Co- with Johan or what?