Europa Universalis
Encyclopedia
Europa Universalis is a grand strategy video game released on March 14, 2000 by Paradox Interactive
and distributed in North America by Strategy First
. Originally based on a French
board game
of the same name
by Philippe Thibault, Europa Universalis lets the player take control of one of seven Europe
an nations (others are available in different scenarios) from 1492 to 1792, expanding its power through military
might, diplomacy
, and colonial wealth. The game takes place on a map divided into approximately 1,500 provinces, and proceeds in a pausable real time
format. The lead game programmer
was Johan Andersson
.
The game became a surprise hit for its depth and strategy. Paradox used this sudden success to springboard other titles such as Victoria
, Crusader Kings, and Hearts of Iron
.
Europa Universalis was followed by Europa Universalis II
and Europa Universalis III
as well as Europa Universalis: Rome
.
Paradox Interactive
-External links:*...
and distributed in North America by Strategy First
Strategy First
Strategy First is a software company based in Montreal, Canada. Founded in 1988, the company has published numerous well-known games, such as the Disciples series, Jagged Alliance series, Space Empires series, and Galactic Civilizations....
. Originally based on a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
of the same name
Europa Universalis (board game)
Europa Universalis is a board game published by Azure Wish Editions and authored by Philippe Thibault. It covers the 1492-1792 period and allows six players to play the various powers of Europe .It was later turned into a video game by Paradox Entertainment under the name Europa Universalis.-...
by Philippe Thibault, Europa Universalis lets the player take control of one of seven Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an nations (others are available in different scenarios) from 1492 to 1792, expanding its power through military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
might, diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
, and colonial wealth. The game takes place on a map divided into approximately 1,500 provinces, and proceeds in a pausable real time
Real-time computing
In computer science, real-time computing , or reactive computing, is the study of hardware and software systems that are subject to a "real-time constraint"— e.g. operational deadlines from event to system response. Real-time programs must guarantee response within strict time constraints...
format. The lead game programmer
Game programmer
A game programmer is a software engineer, programmer, or computer scientist who primarily develops codebase for video games or related software, such as game development tools. Game programming has many specialized disciplines all of which fall under the umbrella term of "game programmer"...
was Johan Andersson
Johan Andersson (game programmer)
Johan Andersson is the lead game programmer for Paradox Interactive, the Swedish-based game company which created Europa Universalis series, Victoria series, Crusader Kings, and the Hearts of Iron series...
.
The game became a surprise hit for its depth and strategy. Paradox used this sudden success to springboard other titles such as Victoria
Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun
Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun is a real-time strategy game by Paradox Entertainment . It covers its namesake the Victorian period, specifically 1836-1920 and runs on a modified version of the Europa Universalis engine. The lead game programmer was Johan Andersson...
, Crusader Kings, and Hearts of Iron
Hearts of Iron
Hearts of Iron is a grand strategy computer game developed by Paradox Interactive and published by Strategy First, set in the years 1936-1948. In the game you can control any one nation as World War II unfolds. It was released for Windows-compatible PCs in 2002. A Macintosh version was also...
.
Europa Universalis was followed by Europa Universalis II
Europa Universalis II
Europa Universalis II is an empire-building, computer strategy game based on European and world history spanning a timeline between 1419 through 1820.-Gameplay:...
and Europa Universalis III
Europa Universalis III
Europa Universalis III is a grand strategy computer game by Paradox Interactive. The main game was released for Windows on January 2007, and was later ported to Mac OS X by Virtual Programming on 2 November 2007....
as well as Europa Universalis: Rome
Europa Universalis: Rome
Europa Universalis: Rome is a grand strategy game developed by Johan Andersson of Paradox Interactive. The game is set during the time of the Roman Republic, beginning in 280 BC, before the Punic Wars, and ending with the rise of the Roman Empire in 27 BC...
.
See also
- Europa Universalis IIEuropa Universalis IIEuropa Universalis II is an empire-building, computer strategy game based on European and world history spanning a timeline between 1419 through 1820.-Gameplay:...
- Europa Universalis IIIEuropa Universalis IIIEuropa Universalis III is a grand strategy computer game by Paradox Interactive. The main game was released for Windows on January 2007, and was later ported to Mac OS X by Virtual Programming on 2 November 2007....
- Europa Universalis: RomeEuropa Universalis: RomeEuropa Universalis: Rome is a grand strategy game developed by Johan Andersson of Paradox Interactive. The game is set during the time of the Roman Republic, beginning in 280 BC, before the Punic Wars, and ending with the rise of the Roman Empire in 27 BC...