joi, 2 mai 2013

Europa Universalis IV preview – telling stories with politics in Paradox’ grand strategy sequel g21

Invading France is hard without the Channel Tunnel.

Grand strategy games aren't complicated; you only think they are. Sure, Europa Universalis encompasses economics, diplomacy and war over a 300-year period, as seen from the perspectives of 250 different countries. But thinking you need to know what you're doing in EUIV from the moment you begin playing is like expecting to know the end of a story from the moment you start reading a book.

"EU IV encompasses economics, diplomacy and war over a 300-year period"

"Being intimidated by the mechanics can stop you from seeing the story," says Thomas Johansson, project lead at Paradox Development Studio. "If you go into it and think 'how do I win this game?', then you get stuck. But you don't have to figure out everything at once. If you instead go in and think 'I'm going to play my country, and my goal is only to be bigger than my neighbour', then you're going to figure out things as you go along."

The story is what's important. Do you want to take control of Britain and expand its glorious, prosperous empire? You can do that. Do you want to play as the small German state of Kleve, and hope only to survive the shifting factions of European politics? You can do that, too.

"History isn't balanced," says Johansson. "You could see that as a game design problem, because a small German state won't defeat the French on its own. On the other hand, it's an advantage because the replayability becomes enormous."

Ma-ma-ma-ma my Girona.

"Europa Universalis IV is opening its arms to those of us who have only ever given a cowardly glance at the series before."

People have been playing and replaying Europa Universalis games for a long time, but Paradox are keen to grow its audience by learning from last year's surprise hit, Crusader Kings II. The key lesson lay in how people connected with the game.

"People play the story and not the game mechanics," says Johansson. "And so the key thing with EU is to involve people in the story of their chosen nation, and its strategic choices, its enemies and friends."

EUIV has two devices to make that happen. The first is event chains, which give almost every country its own unique context-based storyline. If you're England and you don't have an heir in the 50 years prior to 1500, for example, then the War of the Roses may take place. It's up to players to deal with these situations as they arise.

The second device is a system of unique national ideas, which help guide you through the sandbox towards interesting and historically relevant decisions. Again, take control of Britain and you're more likely to be pursuing the industrial revolution than if you're in charge of Brandenburg-Prussia.

For returning players, it might be wholesale changes to the trade system that excite, but Europa Universalis IV is opening its arms to welcome those of us who have only ever given a cowardly glance at the series before.