East vs. West – A Hearts of Iron Game
East vs. West – A Hearts of Iron Game was a planned grand strategy wargame set during the Cold War era between 1946–1991.[3]
| East vs. West – A Hearts of Iron Game | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | BL-Logic[1] |
| Publisher(s) | Paradox Interactive |
| Engine | Clausewitz Engine[2] |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release | Cancelled[3] |
| Genre(s) | Real-time grand strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gameplay
East vs. West was not an expansion for Hearts of Iron III, but rather intended as a standalone game.[1]
East vs. West, like many of its predecessors in the Hearts of Iron series, 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.
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 make in regards to them.
Confirmed features included:
- New espionage system utilizing "spy cards".[4]
- An extended political module.[5]
- 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.[6]
- Nuclear arms race and warfare is expanded by a nuclear mapmode, uranium as a resource, factories (centrifuges) to produce enriched fission material, ICBMs that can be launched from silos, nuclear submarines, and a red button.[7]
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.[8]
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.[9] The cancellation of East vs. West was announced in a joint statement on 6 March 2014 by BL Logic and Paradox Interactive, citing multiple delays in the project.[3]
References
- "Official FAQ". Paradox Plaza.
- "Official Announcement". Paradox Plaza.
- Wester, Frederik. "A joint statement from BL Logic and Paradox Interactive". Paradox Plaza. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
- "East vs West Developer Diary 8 - Espionage: HUSH HUSH". Paradox Interactive.
- "East vs West Developer diary 5 - The Essence of your People". Paradox Interactive.
- "East vs West Developer diary 4 - Master of the Seas". Paradox Interactive.
- "East vs West Developer diary 7 - The Big Bang". Paradox Interactive.
- "East vs. West Features". Paradox Interactive. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- "Regarding the future of East vs West - The Beta and Release Date". Paradox Plaza.