-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Paradox Interactive intends to go public this year
- Thread starter ashecitism
- Start date
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
I don't mind as long as the PC versions don't start getting suspiciously simplified or something for a future version to run on iPhone.
But I have my doubts about how smooth it would be at speed 5 lol.
I'd prefer turn based versions of their franchises for Phones / tablets tbh. Much more friendly to the mobile experience I would argue. And I want their mainline entries to get touch screen support for windows.
Fragamemnon
Member
Wester's an entrepreneur. It's not so much cashing out as it is wanting his business to be more than it currently is. If you read interviews he's got a vision and their PDS titles have a innovative community driven model that's almost unique across the industry.
I have nothing but disdain for console games in general but I can't fault him for wanting to push his business further.
One thing to keep in mind about public companies is that if you have enough growth and enough vision generally leave you alone. IPO'ing also gives you a LOT of access to capital that you otherwise would only get via much shittier channels. It's not all bad until your growth stagnates and investors give you three to six months before they start demanding your company's assets be parceled out to the highest bidder.
I have nothing but disdain for console games in general but I can't fault him for wanting to push his business further.
One thing to keep in mind about public companies is that if you have enough growth and enough vision generally leave you alone. IPO'ing also gives you a LOT of access to capital that you otherwise would only get via much shittier channels. It's not all bad until your growth stagnates and investors give you three to six months before they start demanding your company's assets be parceled out to the highest bidder.
eyeball_kid
Member
I'm sure that's also what ActiVision and Electronic Arts founders said to themselves and their employees, back when they were artist-led game studios. It just doesn't work that way, because shareholders want high returns for new companies. That kind of constant drumbeat of growth doesn't generally come from releasing niche games and a community-driven model. It won't come from mobile titles, either, unless they get lucky with Clash of Clans style games. They'd probably switch their focus to mobile to meet investor expectations. I can't imagine their historical customer base being happy with that scenario.
HP_Wuvcraft
Banned
It's also not impossible to get a board of directors that actually gives a shit.
Just highly unlikely.
A lot of comments are alluding to the fact this will lead the company to be directed by the external shareholders. An IPO doesn't necessarily mean a listing of all the shares. They could list less than 25% and keep the remaining 75% for the current owners.
Facebook did a similar IPO. Zuckerburg is still majority shareholder (30% roughly)
Facebook did a similar IPO. Zuckerburg is still majority shareholder (30% roughly)
Octavianus
Banned
Daffy Duck
Member
I was going to buy Europa Universalis 4 (after watching my friend play it on hiw YT channel) but I couldn't get my head around what the hell the DLC was all about and the pricing of the DLC was pretty hilarious so I thought screw that.
ClosingADoor
Member
I pretty much see it as a subscription service. $15 every 6 months or so for new features and continued support.
DLC is all optional btw, no need to get it. The patches bring new features already, so you can just buy the vanilla game and play that.
Frozenprince
Banned
JUST GIVE ME VICKY 3 BEFORE YOU TURN INTO A MOBILE FACTORY YOU BASTARDS.
DO ME THIS ONE THING.
DO ME THIS ONE THING.
Palculator
Unconfirmed Member
This
AT LEAST WE WILL MOST ASSUREDLY GET HEARTS OF IRON IV
You will surely get the hearts of iron
Frozenprince
Banned
THE FIVE THOUSAND HOURS I HAVE IN HOI3 MAKE THIS ACCEPTABLE
IT'S TAKING TOO LONG, REMEBER WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO RELEASE IN Q2 2015.
I do and I'm still hyped, so many dev diaries.
Frozenprince
Banned
Frozenprince
Banned
I need it. I need it in my blood. Now.
FrontalMonk
Banned
Pretty much. The game is totally functional without any of the DLC. Typically speaking the DLC adds in big new ideas on how to play the game. As an example, in CK2 there was a whole DLC just for Pagan characters (The Old Blood), and a DLC just for Muslim characters (Sword of Islam). You can totally have a great, full experience with the raw CK2 though, with all the Christian leaders.
The other category of DLC you'll find is all cosmetic stuff. Different graphics for various units and new music tracks, mainly.
On topic, I really don't like the idea of them going public because the last thing I want is for visionaries like these to be beholden to shareholders at every turn.
Goro Majima
Kitty Genovese Member
I spend hundreds upon hundreds of hours on their grand strategy games so I'm fine with being nickled and dimed for DLC. I always felt like I was just supporting a niche genre made by a small studio.
Now I'm just imagining some wealthy shareholder looking at Victoria 2 and saying "It's a map. How is that fun?"
Yeah I feel like if there had to be a "last one" that'd be my choice. Just make the workshop available forever on Steam and mods will keep all three going forever!
Now I'm just imagining some wealthy shareholder looking at Victoria 2 and saying "It's a map. How is that fun?"
Yeah I feel like if there had to be a "last one" that'd be my choice. Just make the workshop available forever on Steam and mods will keep all three going forever!
You don't need any DLC, Paradox games are complex enough as they are, get DLCs when you're ready for more.
Chobel
Member
Poodlestrike
Banned
Well, if this does result in Paradox becoming a profit-driven hellscape, at least Stellaris is gonna hit first.
i_am_ben
running_here_and_there
What could be more EXTREME than EU4!?
https://youtu.be/itY4vIn9OYo?t=51
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSlGdnbIUw8
Fragamemnon
Member
EA bankrolled a large chunk of the first golden age of PC gaming as a public company. That was a very long time ago but they did it to grow in the market niche that they had established for themselves and build their brand. I don't think a public Paradox will have changed all that much from that idea of taking what you are good at and building on it.
The revenue demands and market behavior of a large megacorp are different than a small or midcap company. They aren't going to be throwing tens of millions of dollars at escape from dangerous places AAA console garbage, a market they have no expertise on and that doesn't engage their core audience at all (and that's a big stinker even more the companies who are good at it).
OverturePT
Member
I love you Paradox, don't break my heart.
I think so too. And yay, mobile and console...
Trail Guide
Member
I would be interested to see Paradox create a console version of Hearts of Iron on console, similar to Firaxis creating Civilization Revolution last gen. Civ Rev was a decent attempt to bring over such a PC centric franchise to the consoles and I really enjoyed it. It didn't replace Civ4 but provided a nice "Civ Lite" experience when I was in the mood for a quick strategy game. If Paradox could do the same with HoI and EU that would be great. I hope that is what is meant by targeting consoles.
In the long run though I'm with the pessimists that see this as the beginning of the end of Paradox. Why make a complex historical PC strategy game when you can turn Hearts of Iron into a Clash of Clans clone on mobile?
In the long run though I'm with the pessimists that see this as the beginning of the end of Paradox. Why make a complex historical PC strategy game when you can turn Hearts of Iron into a Clash of Clans clone on mobile?
ashecitism
Member
he posted on the forums: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/update-on-recent-news.912586/
Ragnar Blackmane
Member
Sounds good and should calm some of the panic in here ^^.
Octavianus
Banned
Well that's reassuring to say the least. Was not looking forward to history repeating itself.
Palculator
Unconfirmed Member
At least they are aware of the dangers. Let's hope they can keep investors in check.
LurkerPrime
Member
Phew. The darkest timeline has been averted.
If you could have the CK2 experience - (no compromises) with a functional User interface/input on a tablet. U want?
https://twitter.com/ShamsJorjani/status/707344487119454216
That sounds ambitious
https://twitter.com/ShamsJorjani/status/707344487119454216
That sounds ambitious
Basileus777
Member
It sounds impossible without changing the design of the game. Paradox struggles with interfaces enough on M&KB.
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
Maybe they'll finally discover vectors during their research into tablet games, and we won't have terrible UIs that don't scale properly with res on the PC side, lol.