Europa Universalis Press Release

[Johan]

http://www.paradoxplaza.com/newsdetail.asp?id=44

Its only in swedish yet, but the main point of the press release is this.

Blackstar Interactive will publish and distribute the game in Germany, with a release in october 2000.

/Johan

[This message has been edited by Johan (edited 21-08-2000).]

 

[unmerged(50)]

No date for a release in France?
Have you contatcs with french software editors?

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Si vis pacem, para bellum

 

[Paradox Interactive]

http://www.paradoxplaza.com/newsdetail.asp?id=45

In English!

Patric

 

[Sidney]

Originally posted by Johan:
http://www.paradoxplaza.com/newsdetail.asp?id=44

Its only in swedish yet, but the main point of the press release is this.

Blackstar Interactive will publish and distribute the game in Germany, with a release in october 2000.

/Johan

[This message has been edited by Johan (edited 21-08-2000).]

October, that is much sooner than I thought the game would be released basedon dicussions about. I was picturing more of a Dec type release. very good news. Mow get that deal into the USA and I'll be smiling.

 

[Dark Knight]

It's great to see that the game will be available earlier than expected! Does this mean that I can purchase it over the internet in October?

 

[unmerged(45)]

Paradox Entertainment is negotiating with publishers in several other markets.

now thats the bit I'm interested in - EU in the UK by Christmas - that would make a nice stocking-filler

 

[unmerged(212)]

Gentlmen of Paradox,
Congratulations on completing this round of negotiations. It must be nice to see this thing coming together. It looks like you're on track to hit the critical Christmas rush.

Not to nit-pik, but I noticed that the press release commented that the German market could be up to 100k of potential buyers and is considered the 'single most important for PC strategy games.' Does anyone really believe this statement is true. I mean not to take anything away from Germany, but I think its fair to say that the English-speaking world really makes or breaks games. Even if Germans buy a higher percentage of strategy games than English-speakers do, you're still looking at something like at least one million consumers for strategy titles in English world-wide.

Finally, I don't want to be pushy, but hope this means that the demo is getting close. Believe me, you're going to need to send something to the big game sites if this game is going to break-out. E-mail me if you want suggestions on who to contact at which sites.

Jiminov the Banker

 

[unmerged(28)]

Jiminov, when we talk of presumable buyers it is interesting to define what the consumers want. Strategy games might selling well in the english speaking world, but... what games are we talking about? Most games called strategy games aren't really strategy games but tactical resource management games. Secondly, when we talk about the english speaking world we are more or less talking about the United States. It is harder to sell a game in America in which the United States only plays a minor part. EU is a game of great historical details and more or less primarily about European history. So my personal conclusion, which is in noway any official Paradoxial conclusion, is that the European market is the most important market. I think that Germany, France and Great Britain is great and important markets as is the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland. I am inclined to believe that Paradox will be competent enough to sell it in all those languages. They might even sell it in the United States,but IMHO it is not a very strong market for this kind of game. I really hope I am wrong here though... More money for Paradox means more good games for us.

/Greven

 

[unmerged(212)]

Greven,
I'm afraid that I have to take issue with a few of your assertions:

Originally posted by Greven:
Most games called strategy games aren't really strategy games but tactical resource management games.

By this I think you refer to the click-fests which are best represented by titles such as: C&C, Homeworld, Warcraft, etc. Yes, these are selling well in the US as they have a relatively strong action component and don't require a lot of deep thinking about the long-term impact of an action. However, real strategy games such as RRT2, SMAC, CIV & CTP are among the best sellers in the category. These games have a very loyal following as illustrateg by the success of the expansion packs. The buyers of these games are logical candidates for something a bit more refined such as EU.

Originally posted by Greven:
Secondly, when we talk about the english speaking world we are more or less talking about the United States. It is harder to sell a game in America in which the United States only plays a minor part.

No Way José - Imperialism was a huge hit and this was essentially an Old World game. AoE was highly abstracted and doesn't relate to any particular modern nations, although AoE2 was a little closer. Both of these games were very popular in the US. The issue is introducing EU to the US game market in an appropriate manner; while the average gamer is geographically challenged, I promise you that they will be able to comprehend the world of EU.

Look at it another way, a few weeks ago, I asked people to comment on Anno 1602, which as I understand it is the strategy champion of Germany. Nobody on this site rallied to proclaim it as a great game. However, I understand that it was introduced into the US due to its popularity in Germany and had some success. Now Anno 1602 was more of a building type simulator that is maybe geared towards the mainstream game player in the US, however it had no support and to reach your typical casual buyer you have to have a marketing campaign.

EU is different. Its already built up a reasonable cult following on this site, and look at some of the nationalities of significant contributors which are English native speakers (this is in no particular order but is just a sampling):
Hacksaw - US, Sapura - Aussie, Matt W - UK, Dragon - US, Maurice - Aussie, Dark Knight - US (based on Web Address), Bogey - US, Graham D. - Aussie, gbraley - US.

 

[unmerged(238)]

Hello All,

I'm a lurker in the U.S. and I'm very interested in European history. I'll buy this game the moment it's available. I agree that there is a large proportion of mindless gamers here who want nothing more than the latest bloodsplashed clickfest. I think it's also true that there is a large and largely silent body of people (count me among them) who can't stand them and are waiting for a substantive alternative. I'm convinced that EU is just such a game and I very much hope there is some way it reaches my shores.

Regards,
Dan Nelson

 

[unmerged(181)]

I'm from the US too. I want to buy this game as soon as it is available. I also managed to convince one friend (also American) to buy it as well (not that he needed much convincing).

BTW, I am one of those strange people who love both strategy games and shoot 'em ups. Duke Nukem followed by Master of Orion 2 can be a lot of fun.

 

[unmerged(28)]

Originally posted by Jiminov:
Greven,
I'm afraid that I have to take issue with a few of your assertions:
(snipping some mighty good arguements)
EU is different. Its already built up a reasonable cult following on this site, and look at some of the nationalities of significant contributors which are English native speakers (this is in no particular order but is just a sampling):
Hacksaw - US, Sapura - Aussie, Matt W - UK, Dragon - US, Maurice - Aussie, Dark Knight - US (based on Web Address), Bogey - US, Graham D. - Aussie, gbraley - US.

Okey Jiminov perhaps I was wrong then.
The important thing is an 'english version' such would be sold in all the english speaking world. Good to hear some optimism.

/Greven

 

[unmerged(235)]

and myself (US):
Though I have not posted before today, I have lurked since May, as have at least seven of my local friends...
EU is the most promising strategy game on the horizon. No product since Civ II has made the months pass so slowly. An English release would produce enough critical acclaim alone to bolster the sales of any other versions.

 

[Dactyl]

Count me as another in the US who is looking forward to being able to play this game. That said, it probably would be a niche game in the US. If you do not plan to release it soon in the US, it would be great if you could work out some way for us poor Americans who are starved for games with some real strategic content to buy it online.

 

[unmerged(212)]

Greven,
Alrightly then - I'm glad we could reach a consensus on this.

Joneseh, DanGuy,
Thanks for taking the initiative to 'Stand up and be counted.' We need to continue to register our collective interest in this game in order to do our part to make sure it reaches the US.

Pole,
I had a feeling you were from the US. I also like some action/arcade games once in a while to 'cleanse the palate.' My favorite game was MK, but I had to give it up after being trounced too many times by 12 year olds. My tactics proved to be no match for their reflexes; I still try it out if its in a movie theatre lobby or in a pizza joint or something - I can still beat the computer most times.

 

[unmerged(90)]

but I had to give it up after being trounced too many times by 12 year olds.

Yes, it looks like the average age of those forums' members is quite old. 27-28 year old veterans who began on TI-99, Amstrad CPC or even Thomson TO-7 !
Well, you know when your time has come...

Yann

Going back to a good ol' Minesweeper

 

[unmerged(241)]

Well, I suppose it is time for me to come out of the woodwork on this one now too. A few questions and suggestions...

Question: If I speak German (which I do) how difficult would it be for me to order a German version for my PC here in the US. (Pretty sure I know the answer, but never hurts to ask)

Suggestion: As stated earlier in this thread, send the demo to several of the big game sites! I can not understate the power of game magazines and online sites. As way of example, I read a copy of PC Gamer while in the airport and read a review of a strategy wargame (well, tactical, but the same basic genre) called Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord, and I liked what I read so much that I ordered it. Now, I would never have known of this game otherwise (It is only available by internet order, and was not advertised heavily)

If the big US sites like the game (And I believe one as novel as EU can't help but impress) then they will help push sales up by way of 'indirect advertisement' here in the US. I know we Amis seem like a shallow lot sometimes, but believe me, there is a HUGE reserve of quiet old grognards just waiting to bite our teeth into a good strategy game. (NOT the common RTSers that some people call strategy wargames, but real ones like EU)

I own the boardgame version of EU, and I have been waiting greatly for the computer release...if this game is not released in the US I will be forced to move to Germany or Sweden and marry me a nice Fraulein. Not that this is such a bad idea, but I have lots of good things going on in the US that I need to stay here for, so I hope Paradox helps me avoid this fate.

Suggestion: Has Paradox considered contacting Talonsoft? They are a nice wargame company here in the US, although I understand they have had some personnel shifts here of late.

Question: If the German version will not run on my computer, what about the UK version? Any Brits wanna be my friend?

Anyone else sitting on the edge of their chairs about this US release thing?


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'Once more unto the breach, dear friends!'

 

[unmerged(212)]

Originally posted by yndenwal:
27-28 year old veterans who began on TI-99, Amstrad CPC or even Thomson TO-7 !

Yann, you flatter me, my first computer experiences were on the grand old Apple ][e, I think it had 16k of memory. This dates me even a few years older than even the 27-28 yr old veterans!

 

[unmerged(90)]

Apple IIe ? Powerful machine! With 16k of RAM it had twice as much as my first TO-7 ! !
I am sure you could beat any of those youngsters at Spy vs Spy or Barbarian...

 

[unmerged(237)]

Belgium ?

Please ?