[UPDATED 2.10.2012]
This article has been updated with additional dates and information revealed since the article was first published.
Paradox Interactive, best known for their cornucopia of PC strategy games and indie hits such as Magicka, today unveiled their games lineup for GDC (Game Developers Conference) 2012—and it includes dwarves, knightly battles, and some tantalizing secret projects as yet to be fully revealed.
Here’s a rundown of the games that Paradox Interactive will be showing at GDC 2012:
A Game of Dwarves
Developer: Zeal Game Studios
Scheduled Release: Q3 2012
Think PC classic Dungeon Keeper and replace imps and monsters with stereotypical fantasy dwarves—those beer-swigging, flatulent, and surly natured dirt-diggers famous for their greed and gusto. A Game of Dwarves puts you in command of swarthy bunch of Dwarves tasked with building and expanding their underground empires.
Remember the 5 D’s of being a fantasy Dwarf: Drink, Dig, Duck, Dodge, and Drink. (Come to think of it, given the height challenges faced by typical fantasy dwarves, you could probably replace ‘duck’ with another drink.)
War of the Roses
Developer: Fatshark
Scheduled Release: Q2 2012
War of the Roses comes directly from the creative mind of Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester. The game is being developed by Fatshark (maker of the very entertaining Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West) under the leadership of former Battlefield producer Gordon Van Dyke. (Note to developers: don’t muck up Frederic’s baby—I’ve met Frederik, and he’s powder keg. Or maybe just a keg.)
Similar to Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West, War of the Roses is a 3rd-person multiplayer combat action game. Replace hats, six-shooters, and cries of “Yee-haw!” with helms, halberds, and “Forsooth!” and you’ve got War of the Roses.
You’ll also be able to select from more than 60 weapon types with which to kill, dismember, or otherwise crush your opponents to see them driven before you. War of the Roses will also place a heavy emphasis on squad-based tactics and feature a detailed combat mechanic to allow for a variety of attacks and parrying (instead of just moving close to an opponent and button-mashing them to death).
Mystery projects to be unveiled
In addition to A Game of Dwarves and War of the Roses, Paradox Interactive will be revealing three new mystery projects, each currently operating under super-secret code names:
Project “JFK”
Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios
The creators of Magicka will be showcasing a mysterious project (that is not Vampire) that will offer “breakneck-paced multiplayer combat with a focus on killing your friends and looking cool doing it.”
Project “Revenge!”
Developer: Critical Studio
Brazilian developer Critical Studio will be showing project Revenge!, which is described as follows: “All you need are two friends and one mortal enemy in this action packed action game in a world that can be described as death trap for heroes and children.”
Project "Silverado"
Developer: Zeal Game Studio
From the minds behind A Game of Dwarves comes a science fiction themed game that combines elements from popular RTS (real time strategy) games, combines them with dash of modern shooters, and tosses in a side order of tabletop war game. I note that they don’t actually define “modern shooter”, so it could be FPS (first person shooter) or something in the mold of a “twin stick” style or even arcade shooter. My Magic Eight Ball says “Ask Again Later”.
Additional titles revealed at Paradox Con 2012
Although I wasn't able to make it out to Stockholm for Paradox Con 2012 in January for all the hookers, blow, and video games that go on there, Paradox was at least kind enough to send me their press releases on some of the shenannigans that went down, which included announcements for the following:
Napoleon´s Campaigns II
Developer: Paradox France
Scheduled release: Q3 2012
Napoleon’s Campaign II is a new historical, grand strategy game coming from Paradox France. The game will feature an extremely in-depth recollection of Napoleon’s greatest campaigns, including Egypt to Waterloo. In addition, you’ll be able to play as the famously height-challenged soldier turned emperor or one of 600 other historical leaders.
Magicka: The Other Side of the Coin
Developer: Zeal Game Studios
Scheduled release: TBD
Magicka: The Other Side of the Coinis essentially a Magicka expansion that putsplayers in the shoes of the bad guys as they take on pesky wizards, elves, dwarves, and other annoying do-gooders. Don’t like elves? Whip up a spell and obliterate them. Don’t like your friends? Same thing—and no hard feelings (but watch your back). Magicka: The Other Side of the Coin will use the same objective-based level progression found in Magicka: Vietnam.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET...
And let's not forget Warlock: Master of the Arcane (coming Q2 2012)--a new fantasy-themed strategy title in a vein similar to PC classic Masters of Magic. We all miss MoM, right? [Read the Warlock: Master of the Arcane preview]
And there's also Naval War: Arctic Circle, a real-time strategy game based upon modern, realistic naval warfare. I previewed this title in a very early stage at Paradox Con 2011, and now it's slated for release in Q2 2012. I also uploaded a developer diary hilairiously named 'Baval Warfare' (now fixed, I promise).
And finally, don't forget the historical strategy game rife with political and social intrugue Crusader Kings II, which launches February 14th—just in time for Valentine's Day.
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