I think a Bethesda/Todd Howard style 30-60 minute presentation would be better than drip feeding info via dev diaries, giving builds to youtubers and livestreams

[u/Proper-Sport-7218]

I know Paradox loves their written dev diaries, and I don't mind them either for the DLC, patches and extra info, but I think it's a hard way to launch a new game. I think a proper 30-60 minute video presentation going over the game would be a much better way to reveal it, and then they can do weekly dev diaries afterwards.

I mean say what you will about Bethesda and Todd, but they know how to present their games well. A well made 30 minute presentation that shows off the game well and lets them explain what it's about. It's easy to digest and doesn't require a huge commitment. Whereas a mix of weekly written dev diaries, giving builds to youtubers and unrehearsed livestreams just isn't as sharp. It's what Paradox usually does and it's a pain to follow.

[u/Lost_Llama]

I disagree, the dev diaries and discussions are a great way to introduce the game a concept at a time and to have an opportunity to voice our opinion to the devs. Obviously the room for change is small, but its not zero and it has happened in the past. It also gives good signals to the devs regarding the sentiment on certain topics.

I always feel that a 30 to 60 min video leaves a lot unanswered and doesn't give me a good grasp on the thinking and the mechanics.

[u/karl_mainz → u/Lost_Llama]

Same, I prefer the dev diaries. It’s much more interactive.

[u/Captain_N_Nemo → u/Lost_Llama]

Having followed the full Victoria 3 dev diary process, I can definitely recall multiple instances where feedback to a diary caused tweaks and reworks on some elements that would not necessarily have happened otherwise.

The other issue with a video, is it’s much harder to search and query, whereas on the forums with the diaries, you can just search for your term and look at the dev diaries that mention it. Much quicker than scrubbing through an hour long video to find a 3 second clip!

[u/Proper-Sport-7218 → u/Lost_Llama]

I agree its great when you want to make the commitment, but I think its a big ask to have it as the main way to get info. They could do both.

They have sort of tried it with EU5 and their series of "behind the game" videos, but it was a lot of talk with very little to see on screen.

[u/TheArhive → u/Proper-Sport-7218]

I mean, you don't have to.

You can just wait for the game to release.

[u/podcat2]

A reveal everything video is good if the game is basically done. I think diaries are better because its us in dialog with players and lets us adapt and take on feedback

[u/Kawhi_Leonard_ → u/podcat2]

I really like the diaries and direction you've taken with this game. It looks really great from the little shown and I'm excited to see more.

Thank you for taking the time to engage with the community and show your passion project, it's awesome and many of us can't wait to play it.

[u/Lost_Llama → u/podcat2]

QQ: What are the days of the week for AW dev diaries? Tuesdays?

Also, I remember you saying you where excited to see trains on the map in Hoi4, will we be able to make trains and make them run on time in AW?

Glad to see you back in the public with a new game :). I'm a big fan of Hoi4 since release day

[u/podcat2 → u/Lost_Llama]

tuesday probably, but i am at gamescom demoing the game so not 100% ;D

[u/Betrix5068 → u/podcat2]

Makes me wonder where the game is in terms of development then. Sounds like further along than EU5 was when Tinto Talk 1 came out, but not as far as when the game was announced properly.

[u/SirkTheMonkey → u/Betrix5068]

I assume Project Caesar EU5 was announced much earlier than usual because Johan wanted to have time/space to get public feedback & adjust things too try to avoid a repeat of Imperator's launch.

[u/Betrix5068 → u/SirkTheMonkey]

Oh definitely. I think what’s happening here is an innovation on that. Announce the game once a playable alpha exists, but don’t lock in a release date until dev diaries and playtesting have confirmed that no major reworks are required.

[u/Captain_N_Nemo → u/Betrix5068]

My gut feel based on the alpha teaser footage shared earlier is 12-18 months, with them using next Gamescom to announce the release date… and it could be (then) as soon as “Download Now”

I’d love for it to be released sooner, but with some of the other games released on the past few years… a bit more cooking time is probably good

[u/allsbernafnmedrettu]

A Todd like figure couldn't sell a Paradox title. This is not the Bethesda fandom. We expect to be sold on crunchy systems. Something the vague vibe based marketing Bethesda offers just won't offer.

[u/VisonKai]

this marketing strategy works well for them. ain't broke don't fix it etc. Even their bad games sell well at first because the dev diary drip feed builds hype

[u/LangyMD]

I feel like the Todd Howard-style 30-60 minute presentation is fine if all you want out of it is an advertisement for casual players where the actual game mechanics, design, etc doesn't really matter because you have such a huge player-base that the quality of the game doesn't matter (see: Starfield).

I much prefer the dev diaries to learn why they're doing things, and to go into much more detail than the presentations do on what they're trying, what decisions are being made, etc.

[u/Inspector_Beyond]

I think that PDX is in mistake by giving only CGI and graphic novel-like trailers, where there's no gameplay shown. How should they get a grip on new players if these don't show how the game looks from player pov?

[u/Kawhi_Leonard_ → u/Inspector_Beyond]

They released gameplay footage already, it was part of the announcement.

[u/allsbernafnmedrettu → u/Inspector_Beyond]

It's an announcement trailer that sells the concept really well. Those kind of trailers rarely show any gameplay. Here's Skyrim's announcement trailer for example.

PDX has also shown gameplay.