Interview on Gamezone.com

[Juboboman]

Why wouldn't they have completed most of it already?

Most expansions/DLC contain art changes and mechanical code changes. Certainly the coding team is still working on the game itself balancing/bugfixing etc, but the art team may well have had nothing to do for a while now since the game has been in such a near complete stage. It makes sense to have them start working on upcoming DLC art assets rather than just twiddling their thumbs.

 

[Heatth]

Why wouldn't they have completed most of it already?

Most expansions/DLC contain art changes and mechanical code changes. Certainly the coding team is still working on the game itself balancing/bugfixing etc, but the art team may well have had nothing to do for a while now since the game has been in such a near complete stage. It makes sense to have them start working on upcoming DLC art assets rather than just twiddling their thumbs.

"Expansions" means the big DLCs, with mechanics change and such. Not the cosmetic DLC or event packs. They need the coding team for that.

As others said, it was probably just some misunderstanding or misspeaking. "Pretty much done" contradicts "we have an idea of what to do". As others said, it probably means they have the design concept of the expansion nailed down, and even might have started with the art assets for it. But the actual implementation is not finished yet.

Edit: In fact, since the answer was to the question "anything planned", maybe that is just what it meant: "Yes, it is pretty much done planning".

 

[Umega]

Nice, they are already working on the first expansion!

 

[HotIceHilda]

I like how he differentiated between DLC and expansions. So from what he said in the article you don't need to buy any of the DLC to acquire new features, you just have to buy the expansions.

 

[Susarian]

Let the DLC vs. Expansion semantics argument begin!

 

[corny.1234]

autoplaying advert with sound = instant tab closure.

Anything interesting apart from the DLC thing?

'Yea, sort of. They won’t got back to the stone age but you can really destroy a planet with orbital bombardments.'

 

[WolfStark]

This is one of those arguments where I think most gamers are a bit spoiled.
If you buy commercial software you pay for the software license and each and every extra AND you usually have to pay for support.
Why? Because making software is expensive and because developers want to get paid for their hard work.

I mean you wouldn't go to a car dealer and expect a car with all sorts of extra equipment for the same price as the base model would you?

There is a (often) difference between a physical product and a creative product. The physical product, like a car, needs constant work and ressources like plastic, metal or parts to produce the extras, they are produced after the car itself is already finished. A creative product on the other hand is made until a specific date and that's it. With your money you pay for the whole process from the start until the very moment the product is finished and that includes DLCs, behind the scenes or bonus songs, depending on the media. New DLC is new work that needs new payment but something that's already part of the development should be capped by the price of the game/album/bluray

 

[goraka]

The first expansion is almost done so I'm assuming all that 'Plant' stuff people have noticed will be in said expansion.

 

[Alucardex]

There is a (often) difference between a physical product and a creative product. The physical product, like a car, needs constant work and ressources like plastic, metal or parts to produce the extras, they are produced after the car itself is already finished. A creative product on the other hand is made until a specific date and that's it. With your money you pay for the whole process from the start until the very moment the product is finished and that includes DLCs, behind the scenes or bonus songs, depending on the media. New DLC is new work that needs new payment but something that's already part of the development should be capped by the price of the game/album/bluray

Sorry but that is just flat out not true.
A software project has a certain scope and budget. What you pay for is that specific content contained within that scope.
DLC is NOT included in that calculation. Usually what happens towards the end of development is that a lot of people (artists etc.) don't really have anything left to do so they are either allocated to another project or start working on DLC and expansions.
So without the added income from selling DLC that additional content would just not get created at all.

 

[Wizzington]

When Henrik says the expansion is 'done' he means the design. Development of it has not started, we're still very much working on the base game.

 

[Philthy]

I'm super eager to know what mechanic or system will be the yumping off point for the new expansion. Alas, we won't find out for another month and a half at least. Never change, Paradox, never change. <3

 

[Juboboman]

When Henrik says the expansion is 'done' he means the design. Development of it has not started, we're still very much working on the base game.

You can't just drop that without a hint. I won't stand for it.

 

[Smiles_]

You can't just drop that without a hint. I won't stand for it.

Sí, sí, sí.


Smiles

 

[jju_57]

Something I don't really get, though...

If the first DLC is already done before the game is even released, why not include it into the base game ?

The answer of course is ...................

MORE MONEY

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

 

[Dakka]

I love how basically all the rest of the worlds gamers go "My god more dlc's? why?" while people playing paradox games go: "YES DLCs EXPANSIONS GIVE ME NOW"

Something I don't really get, though...

If the first DLC is already done before the game is even released, why not include it into the base game ?

Inb4 chaos pre-order shenanigans begin

 

[Cpack]

What is so interesting about a grand strategy game in Space?

Hmmm....the endless space? - Oh yes....so you never ever can reach or explore every star system!!!!

So first DLC? -Expanded universe to 10.000 Star systems.......aaaarrrgh!!!!!! Endless game fun

 

[EP8410]

Thanks for the link. If I don't get a quota of new Stellaris related info each day... I get very very anxious.

No one likes an anxious Canadian.

Haha, i know what you mean!!

 

[Dregonoid]

I love how basically all the rest of the worlds gamers go "My god more dlc's? why?" while people playing paradox games go: "YES DLCs EXPANSIONS GIVE ME NOW"

Because its more like an expansion than DLC. And paradox has endless unrivaled love.

 

[Stadhouder]

Something I don't really get, though...

If the first DLC is already done before the game is even released, why not include it into the base game ?

I think he means that the design is done, as it probably includes a lot of features that they wanted to get in the game, but didn't have time to develop before release. The actual development will probably start once the game is released.

 

[EntropyAvatar]

When Henrik says the expansion is 'done' he means the design. Development of it has not started, we're still very much working on the base game.

If only software was "done" once the design was complete.... actually, I'd probably be out of a job if that were the case.