Paradox Interactive & Paradox France

[Ilitarist]

Wow.

Well, I guess fans whining about NPC2 being ruined forever by real time are much happier now. But I'm sad. I fear AGEOD will use the same old engine and couldn't evolve, especially after problems with PoN.

[Robert E. Lee]

Wow.

Well, I guess fans whining about NPC2 being ruined forever by real time are much happier now. But I'm sad. I fear AGEOD will use the same old engine and couldn't evolve, especially after problems with PoN.

Well...NPC2 is still being done. And the result of that game will most likely be integrated in future Paradox games. I hope that AGEOD manages to work on AGE2 at some point.

[Pocus]

Wow.

Well, I guess fans whining about NPC2 being ruined forever by real time are much happier now. But I'm sad. I fear AGEOD will use the same old engine and couldn't evolve, especially after problems with PoN.

PON was perhaps a too big leap. I believe we added more code and features in PON than the sum of all others games had (does this Engrish sentence makes sense, correct me otherwise).

Bigger problem in PON is that there was a need to multithread the AI and work more on inter turn processing time. We will see what we can do about that in the future (no ETA!).

[veji1]

PON was perhaps a too big leap. I believe we added more code and features in PON than the sum of all others games had (does this Engrish sentence makes sense, correct me otherwise).

Bigger problem in PON is that there was a need to multithread the AI and work more on inter turn processing time. We will see what we can do about that in the future (no ETA!).

If you can do that, I will probably buy the game. I don't have enough time anymore at home to play games that require long inter-turn waiting. AACW length is about as far as it goes. Sure I can hang on the forums during office hours, but I can only play at home obviously and when one with kids and other stuff to do can only get 1 hour long playing sessions, Turn based games are great, but turn processing needs to be reasonnably fast !

[De_Spinoza]

PON was perhaps a too big leap. I believe we added more code and features in PON than the sum of all others games had (does this Engrish sentence makes sense, correct me otherwise).

Bigger problem in PON is that there was a need to multithread the AI and work more on inter turn processing time. We will see what we can do about that in the future (no ETA!).

I do think it is AGEOD's most exciting game, so I would love faster turns. Although I am really enjoying RoP and WIA (both in singleplayer and multiplayer), PoN is the best multi player experience I ever had. The amount of detail you guys put into the colonial system, the crisis module, the beautiful map... It is simply a stunning experience, and potentially the best and most fun simulation of 19th century diplomacy, warfare, and colonialism ever to be released.

[Kensai]

If PON ever reaches the refinement ACW has reached, there is no doubt it will be a masterpiece. It is a very complex game, we shouldn't be hard on the small team that developed it. Considering the long-term support by team and modders alike, I am not worried.

[PhilThib]

Yes, there are plans to improve the engine performance which should for sure benefit PON, if only on the hosting time speed. Also, team members are working on events and options checks for error fix and improvements...the game is huge, it takes time, but it's underway now.

As you know, we are a small team, but we always support our games for as long as they last... so even if PON is not dramatically changed, it will receive always the benefit of all our every-day work when applicable...

[H Gilmer3]

I see this with mixed feelings as some do. On one hand, I'm excited that the Ageod team is now back to being dedicated to Athena type games and developing them. But, on the other hand, I'm concerned. The Ageod team saw something in teaming with Paradox and it did not work out. I think that they may have even felt it was imperative to team up with a bigger company like Paradox. That the teaming of the two has been seen as not working seems like a setback of sorts.

I said on Matrix boards that if it came down between buying a game from Ageod or buying a new Paradox game, that my money stays with Ageod. That is how I feel.

Good luck and I hope it all works out.

[Lasse]

While I'm stoked that I'll get more WEGO games, I'm also worried. My impression was that the merger/takeover with/by paradox was basically a bailout. How will Ageod/Paradox France survive, and finance the upgrade to the engine that will have to happen sooner or later? Will Ageod/Paradox France consider using Kickstarter as a method of early financing for their games?

[StephenT]

Will Ageod/Paradox France consider using Kickstarter as a method of early financing for their games?

Kickstarter is only available to US residents, so AGEOD would need to employ a new international member of staff first.

[Lasse]

Ah, didn't realise that - well with the US economy as it is it shouldn't prove to expensive

[James The 1st]

Yes, there are plans to improve the engine performance which should for sure benefit PON, if only on the hosting time speed. Also, team members are working on events and options checks for error fix and improvements...the game is huge, it takes time, but it's underway now.

As you know, we are a small team, but we always support our games for as long as they last... so even if PON is not dramatically changed, it will receive always the benefit of all our every-day work when applicable...

I hope you succeed in making PoN faster. I really like the game, but it just takes so long to play.

[Searry]

I'm sure you guys know what you're doing. The only worry I have is NPC2.
Will it be dumbed down now as they'll probably try to sell it to a bigger market? Paradox games have never been in depth about anything really, and in a pure wargame like NCP2 there should be concequences for everything you do.

[PhilThib]

I have no clue for the moment of what Paradox version of NCP2 will be like. I trust them to do their best however... As for AGEOD games, we are now working on some PON improvements and patch/new scenario...and of course supporting the next project AJE which will arrive quite soon....

Expect more news from us by end of next month for sure...

[koningtiger]

Are you talking about the release of AJE?

[PhilThib]

Are you talking about the release of AJE?

Among other things yes

[John Sedgwick]

Huh, I'm not sure what to make of this. On the one hand, I'm glad that PF will regain autonomy to focus on the AGE engine - I'm a fan of both studios, but I prefer PF's design philosophy and deeper military gameplay over PDS's realtime sandbox approach. On the other hand, I have to agree with OneArmedMexican that this may not be cause for rejoicing. I was leery of NCP2 being developed on the Clausewitz engine, but AGE has really shown its age in PoN, so I was curious what PF could do with a newer engine - but now that PDS is taking over development, I have lost almost all interest in that title.

I'm glad it was a mutual decision and I hope it was made on amiable terms. In a perfect world, PF and PDS could collaborate on a title that combines the best of both worlds, but if that isn't possible, I would rather see PF continue catering to its niche market than see it submerged in PDS's more mainstream approach.

[Searry]

Is there a possibility of a new engine if enough people buy AJE?

[PhilThib]

A new engine means a LOT of time to develop and test..........meaning a LOT of sales....we are speaking multi-hundred thousands here..

What can (and will) be done is to improve on the known weaknesses of the engine now....takes also less time but more manageable for a team of 2 people...

[vaalen]

A new engine means a LOT of time to develop and test..........meaning a LOT of sales....we are speaking multi-hundred thousands here..

What can (and will) be done is to improve on the known weaknesses of the engine now....takes also less time but more manageable for a team of 2 people...

I am happy with what you can and will do. It is already a great engine, and it will be even better once you improve it.

[Taillebois]

Had to re-register, but here are my thoughts as a wargame player and an investor in businesses.

You need sales. Yet you persist in making beautiful games that are historically accurate, but just too difficult for casual players and beginners. By all means keep your grognards happy at the difficult levels, but get new customers in quickly by making the easy levels really easy. Why not issue a patch for all your existing games with a new lower easy level with crippled AI, no supply, no economics, no attrition.

You need more scenarios or more ways of making scenario variations on the fly. Frankly, being told a new game has six historical scenarios is a turn off not a turn on. Six historical scenarios and a thousand non-historical "What-if" variations is a much better value proposition. Perhaps you need to make scenario making and modding easier. Combat Mission is made by a small team at Battlefront. They've done pretty well allowing loads of mods and scenarios to be created. The grognards can mutter about the wrong shape of bayonet and somebody will come up with a mod. Trying to keep too much control over the way people play your games will cramp the market. So what if I want to replay "Last Flight of the Eagle" with Napoleon starting in Paris and Wellington in Amsterdam. So what if I play Combat Mission quick battles as armour versus armour only because I find the "new, better" infantry handling more tedious.

Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. As a business bankruptcy is defeat. I want you guys in business producing games that sell, not telling your pals that you produced the most complex game with more lines of code than anybody else, but that sadly you are now bust.

[Metalist]

Today Paradox announced March of the Eagles - A Europa Universalis Game, so there is no more Napoleon's Campaigns II. I hope in future we will see a true Napoleon's Campaigns II that is developed completely by Ageod

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?674-March-of-the-Eagles

[Franciscus]

Today Paradox announced March of the Eagles - A Europa Universalis Game, so there is no more Napoleon's Campaigns II. I hope in future we will see a true Napoleon's Campaigns II that is developed completely by Ageod

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?674-March-of-the-Eagles

Yes, a dumbed down version where one of the questions a player asked was if it will be possible to play as...Wales !

[Warsage]

Yes, a dumbed down version where one of the questions a player asked was if it will be possible to play as...Wales !

After reading Johan's post (and Welsh player), my (hasty) conclusion: March of the Eagles = [I]Crown of Glory[/I] light?

[koningtiger]

It´s a scenario for EU3. Nothing about NC.

[DaiMonPaul]

It´s a scenario for EU3. Nothing about NC.

The new game seems to be coming out of the work done for NC2. It's still using the Clausewitz engine and will probably have some similarities to EU3, but it seems to be what has emerged out of NC2.

[Ilitarist]

Yes, a dumbed down version where one of the questions a player asked was if it will be possible to play as...Wales !

It is the same concept as AGEOD's, how is it dumbed down?

[Rafiki]

Guys, in any case "dumbed down" is such a loaded expression. "March of the Eagles" will surely have a different emphasis, scope and appeal than NC2 would've had, but implying that the game (and its gamers?) are "downdumbed" isn't very respectful of their intelligence and tastes

[Franciscus]

Guys, in any case "dumbed down" is such a loaded expression. "March of the Eagles" will surely have a different emphasis, scope and appeal than NC2 would've had, but implying that the game (and its gamers?) are "downdumbed" isn't very respectful of their intelligence and tastes

I stand corrected, and apologize. It was a rather hot-headed reaction to Johan's phrase: "One of the key issues we had to address was how to make the game more accessible", and also: "Every country playable"

March of the Eagles will for sure not be on my games-list ever, but to each it's own. Let's hope someday a true NCP2 sees the light of the day.

Again my apologies...

[vaalen]

[quote="Rafiki"]Guys, in any case "dumbed down" is such a loaded expression. "March of the Eagles" will surely have a different emphasis, scope and appeal than NC2 would've had, but implying that the game (and its gamers?) are "downdumbed" isn't very respectful of their intelligence and tastes [/QUO

Would it be better to say it was simplified and made more abstract? Because that is what seems to have happened. And I mean no disrespect to anyone, as there is nothing wrong with people who prefer simpler, more abstract, games. I just do not happen to be one of them.