East vs. West – A Hearts of Iron Game

East vs. West – A Hearts of Iron Game
Developer(s)BL-Logic[2]
Publisher(s)Paradox Interactive
EngineClausewitz Engine[3]
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
ReleaseCancelled[1]
Genre(s)Real-time grand strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

East vs. West – A Hearts of Iron Game is a cancelled grand strategy wargame that was to be set during the Cold War era between 1946 and 1991.[1][4]

Gameplay

East vs. West was not an expansion for Hearts of Iron III, but rather intended as a standalone game.[2] Like many of its predecessors in the Hearts of Iron series, East vs. West would have allowed the player to take control of and manage a country, including its political, diplomatic, espionage, economic, military, and technological aspects. In contrast to previous installments in the Hearts of Iron series, the game was to be set in the Cold War era, and not focus mainly on large-scale warfare. The use of nuclear weapons in game would have been possible, but it was to be limited by a nation's state of emergency.[citation needed]

Features

The main focus of the game was the diplomatic, political, economic, military and espionage aspects of countries during the Cold War period and the decisions the player made in regards to them.

Confirmed features included:

  • New espionage system utilizing "spy cards".[5]
  • An extended political module.[6]
  • A Doomsday Clock indicating how close the in game world is to total destruction.
  • The presence of the United Nations to intervene in global events.
  • The ability to customize ships.[7]
  • Nuclear arms race and warfare was to be expanded by a nuclear mapmode, uranium as a resource, factories (centrifuges) to produce enriched fission material, ICBMs that could be launched from silos, nuclear submarines, and a red button.[8]

The game was expected to retain many features included in Hearts of Iron III, such as control over the armed forces, the strategic warfare system, user mods-friendliness, and a multiplayer system with up to 32 players.[9]

Cancellation

No release date was scheduled for East vs. West after the initial Q1 2013 release date was missed, though following a decision to cut major features including multiplayer functionality from the game, the developers hoped to offer a pay-what-you-want public beta in March 2014.[10] The cancellation of East vs. West was announced in a joint statement on 6 March the same year by BL Logic and Paradox Interactive, citing multiple delays in the project.[1][11][12]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wester, Frederik. "A joint statement from BL Logic and Paradox Interactive". Paradox Plaza. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Official FAQ". Paradox Plaza. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  3. ^ "Official Announcement". Paradox Plaza.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ Hafer, Leana (28 November 2012). "East vs West presents the Cold War on a global, grand strategy scale". PC Gamer. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  5. ^ "East vs West Developer Diary 8 – Espionage: HUSH HUSH". Paradox Interactive. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  6. ^ "East vs West Developer diary 5 – The Essence of your People". Paradox Interactive. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  7. ^ "East vs West Developer diary 4 – Master of the Seas". Paradox Interactive. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  8. ^ "East vs West Developer diary 7 – The Big Bang". Paradox Interactive. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  9. ^ "East vs. West Features". Paradox Interactive. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Regarding the future of East vs West – The Beta and Release Date". Paradox Plaza. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  11. ^ Savage, Phil (7 March 2014). "East vs West has been cancelled, Paradox announce". PC Gamer. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Strategia East vs. West – A Hearts of Iron Game została anulowana przez Paradox". Eurogamer.pl (in Polish). 10 March 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2022.