Paradox Interactive Message Board older than one year ago

Last we heard, Paradox Interactive's publishing deal for Magicka with Arrowhead Games was working out pretty well. This morning, just after a GDC Europe presentation by the niche Swedish publishing house, Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester further added to the game's history of financial success, when he told me that the title has now sold nearly 800,000 units.

"It's gonna pass that [sales milestone] in the next week, week after or so," Wester said. "We're still doing between five and seven thousand a week, so it's a great sales number." He also added that Paradox hopes to pass the one million sales mark by the end of 2011 -- a major achievement for a small team like Arrowhead.

As for the much-loved Vietnam expansion, I wondered if it had achieved the same success that both Paradox and Arrowhead had hoped for. "It's done a few hundred thousand, so the attachment rate is really high," Wester explained.

With those kinds of numbers, it's clear why Paradox is interested in fostering and furthering the relationship with Arrowhead. Back in May, Wester told me that sequels for Magicka are a lock.

The digital distribution wars seem to be very much back on of late, with EA taking the fight to Steam with Origin and both Direct2Drive and Impulse finding themselves with new masters. Then there’s the quiet man, Paradox splinter firm GamersGate. It’s opted for a different kind of salvo – a redesign. Is it bringing sexy back to PC game download portals? Am I being ironic when I write the world’s 312,232,653,764th reference to a half-decade-old pop song, or am I just being lazy? I don’t even know anymore. I DON’T EVEN KNOW.(more…)

The digital distribution wars seem to be very much back on of late, with EA taking the fight to Steam with Origin and both Direct2Drive and Impulse finding themselves with new masters. Then there’s the quiet man, Paradox splinter firm GamersGate. It’s opted for a different kind of salvo – a redesign. Is it bringing sexy back to PC game download portals? Am I being ironic when I write the world’s 312,232,653,764th reference to a half-decade-old pop song, or am I just being lazy? I don’t even know anymore. I DON’T EVEN KNOW.(more…)

But only if you live in the UK or Europe. NO REST-OF-WORLDERS ALLOWED! Sorry, we will have a competition for everyone later today.

Anyway, do you want a copy of Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword? Do you? You know, the epic sandbox melee game made famous by the amazing diaries of Captain Smith? If so then email us at this address with a good name for a horse. The best horse names – as judged by us – will win copies of the game. Easy, eh? OR IS IT.

Usual rules ‘n stuff apply.

As promised, new player-versus-player content has been released for Magicka. The free update features three new modes including Classic Deathmatch and a last-man-standing mode called Brawl. The Krietor mode, named after a Magicka modder, unlocks new spells -- and thus new strategic possibilities -- as the round progresses.

New Magicka DLC is up for purchase as well. First is the Final Frontier pack, priced at $2.99, which includes the Vulcanus Arena map and some new sci-fi goodies (remember that episode of Star Trek?). Also, for $1.99 each, players can pick up the Frozen Lake map, the Watchtower map or the Party Robe pack.

#watchthis The all wizard, all the time PC game Magicka got its promised dose of all-new player-versus-player combat this week, an event that demanded that demands your attention for its smart use of absolutely no gameplay whatsoever. More »

There are booth babes, and there are booth bros.