14 DAY TRIAL // Mount & Blade is a very interesting project. It began as an indie game, developed with little resources and the stated aim of creating a simulation of Medieval warfare. The project was picked up by Paradox Interactive, which published the game and now there's news that an expansion to the title will be coming this year.
At a Paradox Interactive organized media event that took place in Stockholm, the developers, Talewordls, demoed the game for the first time while announcing what features the expansion would bring. It seems that most of them are implemented as a result of feedback coming from the community of players of Mount & Blade. The strategic Artificial Intelligence will be improved, while players will get more options to deal with situations through diplomatic means. The graphics of the game will also be redone, with High Dynamic Range coming amongst other rendering technologies. The multiplayer element is set to feature death match style battles that are said to support 32 players, maybe even more.
Paradox Interactive also presented details on other games it is working on. An AI assisted unit interface for Hearts of Iron III has been demoed, which is set to make it easier for the player to understand how a unit is doing in reaching its objective and how the player can enhance their combat effectiveness.
Majesty 2 received extra content, with Paradox saying that the game would have 16 missions as part of the single player campaign, while six single player scenarios and eight multiplayer maps will assure the re-playability of the title.
Paradox Interactive has also announced having created a new spin off brand, called Mezmer Games, set to offer independent developers a means to get their games to players through digital distribution. The first game that will be launched under the Mezmer brand will be Stalin vs. Martians, a very weird, yet interesting strategy title.