Abstract: At this seminar I will cover the origins of Paradox Grand Strategy games, our use of historical settings for our titles, how we turn the challenges of statecraft into compelling gameplay, and what real-life lessons may potentially be learned from our games. In particular I will focus on the role that internal political opposition plays in shaping foreign policy decisions and how this factor, which often goes underrepresented in strategy games, can be used to deepen a player's immersion and understanding of history. I will cover the different ways in which our games have tried to simulate the way in which actors within a polity frequently act against the better interests of the nation as a whole, and the role of competing interests within its political machine.

Bio: Martin Anward is the Game Director for the critically acclaimed Grand Strategy Game Victoria 3 from Paradox Interactive. He is a 20-year veteran of the game industry who has been a part of Paradox since 2013 and has worked on a large number of different grand strategy franchises such as Crusader Kings, Europa Universalis, Stellaris and Hearts of Iron.

Register for the seminar here.