Diplomacy as it should be

[Rosacrux redux]

Seems Diplomacy (table-top) fans have a good reason to rejoice: Paradox interactive announced (as expected, after they got the rights a few months ago) that their next game shall be an adoption of the famed board game.

The previous computerized incarnation of Diplomacy, an effort by Microprose nevertheless, has been granted the "worst game of the year" award by many'o'gaming sites and was considered a major flop all over.

With the success of HOI2 under their belt, and with games many strategy fans (including yours truly) love and play, like Victoria, EU&EU2, Crusader Kings, the Swedes at Paradox may be able to create another extraordinary game, to aid TBS fans to waste more of their free time and create more hassle among newly wed couples (sure, speaking from personal experience here ).

Got it: Here is the link to the relevant article in the Paradox forums Diplomacy unleashed

[Slyspy]

Excellent news! Another complicated game with a really unreadable incomprehensible manual. Good old Paradox, bless them. EU2 is my most played game and has been for years.

[el_slapper]

Hey, HoI2 Manual is excellent!(though written somehat small). But I unfiortunately share your opinion about those of EU2, HoI, CK & Vicky..... The first 2 ones being plain false, the third one "good reference card, but where's the manual?", & the fourth one simply unreadable!

No idea about what Diplomacy can give as a result. Can be a blast, or an utter failure.

[Somebody Else]

The board game's great fun, though I can'te really see how a computer version can be anywhere near as good - it requires wandering around with glasses of wine, and plates of food to work...

[th3freakie]

Quit lossing time and go for EU3!

[Aurelian]

Uh, oh.

From the Paradox press release:

“We are all huge fans of the original board game Diplomacy® and want to stay true to the identity and feel, that makes the game so unique”, says Fredrik Lindgren, Director of Marketing and Sales at Paradox Interactive. “At the same time the vision and ideas we are working on are strong enough to bring Diplomacy® into the new millennium which will most definitely attract a new generation of players as well as the true Diplomacy® veterans.”

I am a'feared. Sounds like they are going to take a game that is classic for its clean mechanics and tinker with it in hopes of attracting 'a new generation of players'. What does that mean?

Porting Diplomacy to the computer seems like it should be simplicity itself, but there are serious issues. If play is meant to be against other humans, then there is always the difficulty of keeping seven humans online or returning on a regular basis to complete their moves. If play is against AI, Paradox is dreadful at AI, and diplomacy with the AI would be a quite different experience.

Frankly, I can't see much point (other than getting a 'name' license to work with) of Paradox's decision. Aren't there better things for them to work on?... And this is from someone who loves Diplomacy.

God help us if it's some sort of real-time mechanism.