An cool announcement from Paradox caught my attention. They are doing something unique to celebrate International Women's Day.
As they put it: ?[t]he pages of history books are filled with the stories of great men – but also great women: artists, authors, councilors, and rulers. Would Tenochtitlan have fallen without the language skills of Malinche guiding Cortez? Had the reign of Edward IV not been cut short by illness, would England have still ruled the seas, deprived of the strong hand of Elizabeth I?"
I certainly like the what if potential those questions provide, but the gamers who follow The Update will probably be even happier to learn that a free update for Europa Universalis IV is now available today that adds 100 great women of history to the game. Each character can be generated through event triggers (a weak regency, a colonial empire, certain ideas, etc.). Players will then have choices about how to use these talented women. Some may join your court as advisers, while other might be more suitable for riskier employment as rulers or leaders.
Thomas Johansson, the head of Paradox Development Studio, says that this DLC does something important for the company’s flagship title. "It's no surprise that the role of women in history isn't as well known as that of men,” Johansson says. “Europa Universalis, admittedly, hasn't done a lot to foreground their contributions. We thought that International Women's Day was the best time to do a little bit to help balance the scales and introduce our audience to some very interesting people."
The Women’s History DLC is free for all Europa Universalis IV players today and you can view the full changelog here. I for one applaud Paradox for not just showcasing the contributions of women to history, but also bringing important and empowering women to the attention of gamers everywhere.
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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. Check out his short fiction. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.
Editor's Note Usually I use this space for announcements rather than editorializing, but this story caught my eye and forced me to wade into a controversial subject. To sum up, an American teacher wanted her students to understand why slavery was bad, but in an unusual manner. She asked to kids to imagine they lived in a world where slavery still existed and create posters reflecting this alternate history. People became offended after one kid made a poster featuring a reward for a runaway slave.
Personally I am siding with the teacher on this one. I have always believed counterfactuals are an excellent tool in helping truly understand the importance of historical events. As more generations are born, further separating present day humans from the events in question, it becomes easier to forget or be swayed by others who have a desire to revise how others perceive their ancestors. Furthermore, if Kevin Willmott can create a mockumentary featuring slavery in a modern day Confederacy I see no reason why others can't take from his example in teaching children about the subject.
Okay, hopefully I don't get too many angry comments.
And now the news...
Update: Clockwork Century by Cherie Priest
Cherie Priest, probably the most well-known steampunk author currently, was in the news last week. For one thing, her new novel Fiddlehead, the 5th book in her Clockwork Century, series was announced. Scheduled to come out in November, here is the synopsis from SF Signal:
Ex-spy ‘Belle Boyd’ is retired – more or less. Retired from spying on the Confederacy anyway. Her short-lived marriage to a Union navy boy cast suspicion on those Southern loyalties, so her mid-forties found her unemployed, widowed and disgraced. Until her life-changing job offer from the staunchly Union Pinkerton Detective Agency.
When she’s required to assist Abraham Lincoln himself, she has to put any old loyalties firmly aside – for a man she spied against twenty years ago.Lincoln’s friend Gideon Bardsley, colleague and ex-slave, is targeted for assassination after the young inventor made a breakthrough. Fiddlehead, Bardsley’s calculating engine, has proved an extraordinary threat threatens the civilized world. Meaning now is not the time for conflict.
Now Bardsley and Fiddlehead are in great danger as forces conspire to keep this secret, the war moving and the money flowing. With spies from both camps gunning for her, can even the notorious Belle Boyd hold the war-hawks at bay?
In other news, David Marshall at Thinking about books reviewed her recent novel The Inexplicables. Spoiler alert, he didn't like it and described it as "terrible". Ouch, but everyone is entitled to their opinion, including Eric Brown at The Guardian who reviewed Priest's Dreadnaught and called it a "marvellous steampunk, western and horror mashup that takes time out to examine warfare, racism and gender definitions." Check out The Update's past reviews of Boneshaker and Clementine done by myself and Matthew Quinn respectively.
On a side note, Brown also reviewed James P Blaylock's The Aylesford Skull and Ian McDonald's Planesrunner so click on that article if you want to see the reviews on those novels as well.
Jim Butcher to Publish Steampunk series
Speaking of steampunk, Jim Butcher, author of The Dresden Files (wait a second, a contemporary fantasy/mystery series set in Chicago...why the hell haven't I read this yet?) will be publishing a new steampunk series for Penguin. Publisher's Weekly was the first to break the news:
Penguin Group is continuing its relationship with bestselling fantasy writer Jim Butcher. The author of the Dresden Files and Codex Alera closed a seven-figure, three-book deal with his current publisher for a new series. Anne Sowards, at Roc, took world English rights to The Cinder Spires: The Aeronaut’s Windlass, and two sequels, from agent Jennifer Jackson at Donald Maass Literary...The Cinder Spires, Jackson said, is set in a world “of black spires that tower for miles over a mist-shrouded surface” and follows a war between two of the Spires: Spire Albion and Spire Aurora.
It’s kinda League of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets Sherlock meets Hornblower. There are goggles and airships and steam power and bizarre crystal technology and talking cats, who are horrid little bullies.
DLC with the Famed Actor’s Powerful Voice Now Available, Trailer of Many Decibels Released
Paradox Interactive released the powerful vocal performance of Brian Blessed as an add-on for their medieval combat title War of the Roses. Players can now charge into battle with the acting legend commanding them to victory. Available as optional DLC for the game, the “BRIAN BLESSED VO” pack replaces the existing announcer with the hearty, dramatic commands of England’s greatest voice. The DLC can be purchased via Steam for $4.99.
Turn your headphones down—or up, if you like that sort of thing—and listen to BRIAN BLESSED in this newly released video:
In addition, a free demo is now available for War of the Roses, allowing any brave warrior to pledge their steel to the houses of Lancaster or York. However, demo players will not gain any prestige inside the game – nor can they enjoy the rich vocal work of BRIAN BLESSED.
Submissions Wanted
Is it just me or is it easier to find submission requests for the horror genre? First off, if you live in the Atlanta area and have horror script you a trying to sell, this Craigslist notice might interest you. Meanwhile, fans of Lovecraft or just weird fiction in general, should check out the Lovecraft eZine and their submissions page. If you need help writing your Lovecraft story, may I recommend The H.P. Lovecraft Archive, an excellent database for your favorite Rhode Islander (well Peter Griffin might be higher on the list).
Had enough horror? Check out Water Closer Press which is calling for submissions for their next issue of Ladies and Gentlemen. Also this segment is never just about writing. Do you have an alternate history web series? Than you might be interested in submitting it to the Chronos Film Fest.
As always, good luck!
Things to do
So many things to do, so little time to do it all in (and don't forget how much a plane ticket costs):
Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update, a blogger on Amazing Stories and a volunteer editor for Alt Hist magazine. His fiction can be found at Echelon Press, Jake's Monthly andThe Were-Traveler. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.
I present my interview with Henrik Fåhraeus, the project lead and lead designer of Crusader Kings II. We talked about the game and the upcoming alternate history DLC.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm a project lead, programmer and game designer here at Paradox Development Studio; kind of a jack of all trades (you don't want to see my graphics though). I started working for the company way back in 2001 as a scripter on Europa Universalis II, and went on to program and design games - most recently Crusader Kings II.
What is Crusader Kings II about?
Crusader Kings II is about the political machinations of the medieval nobility in the period 1066AD to 1453AD. It is about military conquest, intrigue, diplomacy and other interactions between distinct characters with unique appearances, traits and skills as you try to expand the influence and power of your dynasty, playing a succession of rulers down the ages.
How is Crusader Kings II different from other Paradox games like the Europa Universalis series of games?
In our other games you play a country. Characters, if they exist at all, are of secondary importance. In Crusader Kings II, the situation is reversed. You play a character, and the titles he or she holds (such as the king of England) are of secondary importance. What matters is how much power and prestige you can gain for yourself, your successors, and, to some degree, your dynasty. The characters in the game have distinct personalities and motivations in a way that countries don't. Another difference is the feudal system, where kings are not necessarily more powerful than some of their nominal vassals (i.e. you have a complex and meaningful "internal" game within your realm in addition to the external game between realms/countries).
Do you have any favorite characters?
I have a few favorites I like to play; Stenkil, the king of Sweden in 1066 is interesting because of the pagan north and the likelihood of an early, major civil war. I also quite like the d'Hautevilles of Sicily; the Norman conquerors. They are in a precarious position, but have good opportunities to expand. Then there is the count of Vermandois, also in 1066, who is the last ruler directly descended from Charlemagne (he is of the Karling dynasty.) Also, any of the Jimena kings of Spain (Galicia, Leon, Castille, Navarre and Aragon), they are all dynastically allied and can expand into Andalusia (Muslim Spain.) What inspired you to create the Sunset Invasion DLC?
The Mongol invasion coming in from the east in the mid 13th century makes playing on that side of the map precarious to say the least, whereas the lords of western Europe have little to worry about. We have thought about this imbalance on and off since the original Crusader Kings and jokingly tossed around various ideas for transatlantic invasions; Atlantis, a Norse Vinland empire, deep ones from sunken R'lyeh... and Aztecs. It's also been suggested on our forum, and I think that was what ultimately made us go with it, for a laugh.
What does the DLC add to the game?
It adds a new culture and religion for the Mesoamerican invaders, with associated character portraits, units and on-map shields. The Aztecs (more properly the Mexikha) arrive at some point along the coast of Europe sometime between 1250 and 1350, with a small chance of them never appearing (though you can, of course, disable the DLC if you want to avoid the invasion.) There is a first probe, where their explorers make contact with local lords. Then, soon after, a huge fleet arrives, disgorging an army to rival that of the Mongol Hordes. Once they have arrived, they will conquer lands indiscriminately until they run out of steam and their initial armies. Meanwhile, there are various flavor events adding to the immersion for players (e.g. the spread of a new disease, news from across the ocean, or the fall of significant cities, like Rome).
How did the Aztecs get the technology to invade Europe?
It is implied that technological advances have progressed at a faster pace in the Americas than they did historically, at least for the Incas and the Mesoamericans. It is also implied that Norse explorers were captured by the Aztecs, giving them knowledge of Europe and its technology.
Will horses play a role in the Aztec conquest of Europe?
Not really. The Aztecs have no horses when they arrive, but they are aware of their existence and are not frightened by them. If they manage to conquer some European holdings - which is very likely - they will be able to raise some horse levies of their own.
Do the Aztecs have immunity to Old World diseases?
Yes, we did not want to take this too far, but we did toy with the idea of a Hollywood-esque ending to the invasion, where they all basically died of European diseases. However, they are only as susceptible to disease as anyone else.
Very War of the Worlds. Do you have any other alternate history DLCs planned?
No. Sunset Invasion is pretty much a one off; part joke and part gameplay variant. If it is favorably received we might consider other scenarios, but our focus on actual history has not changed.
In a first for Alternate History Weekly Update, I will be announcing a free book give-away this afternoon. I will be making the official announcement with the details on how you can win at 3 pm CST.
In the meantime lets welcome our first readers from Barbados and Cambodia. I hope you guys enjoy today's weekly recap of last week's alternate history news.
Since Americans make up more than half of my readership, we will continue our coverage of alternate presidential elections in the lead up to election day (Nov 6). We have articles and book reviews featuring alternate election outcomes and I might even skip next week's Weekly Update and New Releases posts to give you even more political AH.
As they say in my hometown: vote early and often!
And now the news...
Assassin's Creed 3 DLC: Alternate history chosen to avoid fracturing fan base
Ubisoft announced that the reason they created an alternate history setting where George Washington becomes king of the United States to their Assassin's Creed 3 DLC was to avoid fracturing the fan base. Lead designer Steve Masters said:
For me, the DLC has always been a touchy thing for putting important story moments into. Ultimately it fractures the audience and makes it really difficult for people to keep up with what is the canon of the series.
For us, we want to have a little fun with it, and have a less serious experience, a less earnest experience, and setting it in an alternate history environment gives us room and freedom to play around with things in a more whimsical manner. We think people are going to enjoy it, have fun with it - we've just got to remember it's not part of the canon, it's just there as something for players to enjoy.
This means that the Assassin's Creed franchise will remain a secret history, but fans of the game and alternate history can still get a chance to explore other timelines if Ubisoft releases more AH DLC. Those looking to learn more about King George I of America should check out my article Kings of the United States of America and King Washington the Wicked by Robert Rath over at The Escapist where he goes over some of the historical basis for believing Washington could have been America's fist king.
New BioShock Infinite Trailer
Check out the new Bioshock: Infinite trailer:
This new trailer shows off more details about the floating, steampunk American city of Columbia and, if T3 is to be believed, the game is likely to be a "Triple A blockbuster".
More on Dishonored
Wow, this Weekly Update has been heavy on video games, and we continue with our coverage of that medium with more reviews on Dishonored. Steve Blomkamp at The Vancouver Observer gave the game an 8 out of 10 and said: "Dishonored is a very strong new entry into the action stealth genre. With it’s intriguing setting, dastardly conspiracies and nail-biting escapades, I implore any of you on the fence to give it a try. You won’t be disappointed." Meanwhile, Doug Elfman at the Las Vegas Review Journal said "Dishonored" is so good, because its priorities are correct."
