I hate button-fly jeans (Swedish Edition)

Hello from Sweden! I’d share pictures with you like i did last year, but I’ve finally decided that my camera is rubbish. Except when It’s day time and i’m outside, it’s really hard to get my camera to take decent shots, and it doesn’t handle motion so well. I think I need a new one. It’s a shame though, as it was a present from my Step-dad for my 18th birthday, and it has served me well in the past, but now? I dunno… also, I’m renewing my commitment to hating button-fly jeans. They’re just really annoying.

Paradox Interactive are  really a fascinating publisher, I love coming to see them. Apart from obvious cases like Blizzard, Paradox are a perfect example of not only how PC gaming is alive and well, but of how PC gaming is evolving. They’re best known for their more hardcore niche strategy games (my kind of game), but in recent years they’ve really been expanding into other genres. Mount & Blade, a great little medieval action title made by a small Turkish team was their first non-strategy, and since them they’ve been branching out. Magicka, the surprise hit of last year, was their most successful game ever. Plus they’re all just really nice people, and the CEO -Fredrik Wester – is amazing for interviews  and quotes.

They’re also pretty much the only company I’d consider going to work for right now. In terms of my general life ‘plan’, I can imagine me eventually making the move to PR, or something related, after I’ve had my fill of games writing – but if Paradox rang me up tomorrow and offered me a job, I’d seriously consider taking it. I probably would take it. Good people, good atmosphere, good games. One of my favourite (no ex)game writers is now working for them, having crossed the line last year.

Going to cut this one short as I’ll have to be leaving to go catch my flight soon – suffice to say I’ve had a great time as always, saw some really interesting games, and the coverage will be up on Strategy Informer in the coming days.

I’ve never been this far away from home…

… which is a lie, actually. I’ve been to America twice before in my life – once to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and once to Indiana, both of which are ‘further’ away from home than New York. I just wanted to use that Kaiser Chief song for a title. Still, I almost don’t count my previous two trips to the US. In Indiana I was just visiting family, and the California trip I was like, 12? 13? Couldn’t really enjoy the finer points of the place, so this marks my first trip to America as an adult.

I’m here for the next few days to see Paradox Interactive, a Swedish-based videogames publisher who specialise in niche PC titles, mainly strategy. They’re holding their annual conference, and as a change of venue from Stockholm they decided to go to New York instead – result! Had to get an early flight from London Heathrow to Dublin, and then from there to New York so I’ve been traveling/in transit for most of the day.

Almost ended before it started mind… we traveled in a group, and one of our number lost his boarding pass and the muppets at Heathrow kept sending him here there and everywhere. Ended up him and the PR guy in charge not getting on the flight and having to wait for the second one, whilst the rest of us went on ahead. I also had this kid behind me on the plane to New York who I actually wanted to punch in the face, he was so bratty. The fact that he had an American accent just made it even worse!

Anyway… not sure how much you’ll see me over the next couple of days. I’ve got to actually cover the event and write up content for Strategy Informer, as well as socialise and generally have fun. Hopefully I’ll have some interesting stories to tell when I get back.

Oh, and seriously: BEST. HOTEL ROOM. EVER. I mean this place even has a sofa!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time.