{{Short description|2003 video game}} {{Refimprove|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox video game | title = Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun | image = VictoriaBox.jpg | developer = Paradox Entertainment{{efn|Mac version developed and published by Virtual Programming.}} | publisher = {{vgrelease|SWE|PAN Vision|NA|Strategy First|UK|Koch Media}} | producer = Johan Andersson | designer = Joakim Bergqwist | programmer = Johan Andersson | artist = Dick Sjöström | engine = Europa Engine | series = | released = '''Microsoft Windows'''{{vgrelease|SWE|November 2003|NA|November 24, 2003<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=David |date=2003-11-25 |title=Victoria -- An Empire Under the Sun Ships |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/25/victoria-an-empire-under-the-sun-ships |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423170802/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/25/victoria-an-empire-under-the-sun-ships |url-status=live }}</ref>|UK|March 26, 2004<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-03-26 |title=What's New? |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/whatsnew-260304 |access-date=2023-04-23 |archive-date=2023-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330003844/https://www.eurogamer.net/whatsnew-260304 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}'''Mac OS X'''<br/>July 7, 2004<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-08-03 |title=Virtual Programming - News: Victoria now shipping! |url=http://www.vpltd.com/news.php?article=14 |access-date=2023-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803195707/http://www.vpltd.com/news.php?article=14 |archive-date=2004-08-03 }}</ref> | modes = Single player | genre = Grand strategy | platforms = Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X }}
'''''Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun''''' is a grand strategy videogame by Paradox Entertainment (now known as Paradox Interactive), released in 2003. It covers primarily its namesake the Victorian period (1837–1901) and beyond, specifically 1836–1920 for the main game, and extends until 1936 if the expansion is installed. The game runs on a modified version of the Europa Engine, and the lead game programmer was Johan Andersson. It was later ported to Macintosh by Virtual Programming.
Unlike previous Paradox Games, which either focused on diplomacy or war, ''Victoria'' focuses on internal management, covering the industrialization and social/political changes in a country. The game itself gives a lot of importance to the economy of a country, having a complex market system which is described as being one of the best economic simulators ever made. Fans of Paradox's games have noted this one for being the deepest game Paradox had yet made, making it quite popular with the Paradox fanbase. However, ''Victoria'' received largely indifferent reviews on release, averaging only 60.4% on GameRankings. Critics cited reasons such as the game's steep learning curve and its relatively dated graphics. A sequel, ''Victoria II'', was released in August 2010, and another sequel, ''Victoria 3'', was released in October 2022.
==Gameplay== {{Unreferenced section|date=July 2020}} The economic system in ''Victoria'' attempts to simulate the flow of resources in a world market. Every province in the game produces a resource. Some resources, such as wheat, are demanded principally by POPs (population units), and can be sold directly. Other materials, such as timber, are consumed mostly by industry - but can nonetheless be sold directly for less profit. The player possesses a wide range of options with which to build their economy, provided they have access to the proper raw materials. All resources can be collected or produced by industry. They can also be acquired on the world market. Access to the world market is granted based on a country's prestige rating.
''Victoria'' has 47 separate resources, produced by collection or production (or in one case both). The game focuses on industrialization in a country, which is driven by technological research. The acquisition of machine parts is crucial to industrialization, as they are needed to build factories.
Diplomacy is managed bilaterally; nations can engage in diplomacy using a variable yearly supply of diplomats, offering various treaties and entreaties to other states. Players can use money to improve relations with the other powers; offer to negotiate for technology, territory, colonial claims, and money; sign pacts of unilateral or mutual defense or full alliances; demand the cessation of colonization of certain areas; and, if all other efforts fail, declare war.
Warfare in ''Victoria'' is a special circumstance of diplomacy wherein two players attempt to invade one another's (national or colonial, depending on the war) territory. It is abstract, and consists of divisions marching to hostile territory and fighting a hands-off battle that the player has no control over save by sending reinforcements or withdrawing. Combat efficiency, however, can be influenced decisively by the player. Appointing generals or admirals influences the morale and organization of the troops, as do technological improvements. An advanced railroad system in a province grants the province's owner bonuses in combat, as well as increased mobility. Provinces can also be fortified and troops will entrench when left alone long enough, both giving enormous combat benefits.
The ultimate objectives in warfare is dramatically different from those of other strategy games: it is generally very difficult to do severe damage to an enemy's economy in a single war, occupied territory is only temporarily in the hands of the occupier, and post-war territorial gains are generally modest and difficult to subdue. However, there are other conditions to peace such as War Indemnities and Humiliation.
Declaring war or seizing provinces from civilized countries without pre-existing claims makes diplomacy more difficult and can eventually lead to preemptive war from other powers. Warmongers tend to discover themselves radically isolated from the rest of the world and forced to engage in warfare almost continuously, which can lead to neglect of industry and prestige.
Military units in ''Victoria'' are divided into two types: land and naval. Land units fight against enemy land units, and can occupy enemy provinces. They are the key to military supremacy. Naval units provide a more supportive role; bombarding enemy land units and fighting sea battles. Some naval units can also transport land units.
== Reception == {{Video game reviews | MC = (PC) 58/100<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/victoria-an-empire-under-the-sun/critic-reviews/?platform=pc | title=Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun (PC) on Metacritic | work=Metacritic | access-date=2012-10-07 | archive-date=2023-11-15 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20231115125446/https://www.metacritic.com/game/victoria-an-empire-under-the-sun/critic-reviews/?platform=pc | url-status=live }}</ref> | GSpot = 6.3/10<ref name=Spot>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/victoria-an-empire-under-the-sun/reviews/victoria-an-empire-under-the-sun-review-6085089/ | title=Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun Review | work=GameSpot | first=Brett | last=Todd | access-date=7 October 2012 | date=December 4, 2003 | archive-date=1 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001004932/http://www.gamespot.com/victoria-an-empire-under-the-sun/reviews/victoria-an-empire-under-the-sun-review-6085089/ | url-status=live }}</ref> | PCGUS = 62%<ref name=pcgamerus>{{cite journal | author=Chandra, Omeed | journal=PC Gamer US | url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/victoria_an_emp.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018000939/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/victoria_an_emp.html | archive-date=October 18, 2006 | title=''Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun'' | url-status=dead }}</ref> | CGW = 3/5<ref name=cgw>{{cite magazine | author=Luo, Di | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040531064230/http://www.computergaming.com/article2/0,2053,1567854,00.asp | url=http://www.computergaming.com:80/article2/0,2053,1567854,00.asp | magazine=Computer Gaming World | archive-date=May 31, 2004 | title=''Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun'' | date=March 1, 2004 | url-status=dead }}</ref> | rev1 = ''Computer Games Magazine'' | rev1Score = 3/5<ref name=cgm>{{cite journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129082019/http://www.cgonline.com/computer-games-magazine/article/victoria_empire_under_the_sun/ |url=http://www.cgonline.com/computer-games-magazine/article/victoria_empire_under_the_sun/ |title=Lost on the Road to Mandalay |author=Goodfellow, Troy S. | issue=161 |journal=Computer Games Magazine |archive-date=November 29, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> }}
''Victoria'' got mostly mixed reviews from critics. ''GameSpot'' commented on its "wonderful depth" and "great alternate-history ambiance." However, ''GameSpot'' also commented that the game was "more work than play," citing its steep learning curve and overall scope of options.<ref name=Spot/> ''IGN'' commented that the game had unique potential, but was crushed by its "bugginess" and lack of tutorial.<ref name=IGN/> Barry Brenesal ended his ''IGN'' review, explaining, "There's an excellent game struggling to surface in ''Victoria'', and I look forward to playing it just as soon as the requisite patches appear. Now would some kindly soul please create an accurate, intelligent manual for the game?"<ref name=IGN>{{cite web|last1=Brenesal|first1=Barry|title=Victoria Review|website=IGN|date=December 12, 2018|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/12/09/victoria-review|access-date=December 9, 2019|archive-date=June 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602025716/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/12/09/victoria-review|url-status=live}}</ref>
''Computer Gaming World'' found the game more challenging and involved compared to the earlier ''Europa Universalis'' games, but echoed the other reviews by saying that the "lack of a tutorial or at least a thicker manual [was] inexcusable." The reviewer then concluded that at the time of the initial release, before patches, players were in essence "paying Paradox to beta test their game."<ref name=cgw/><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Luo |first=Di |date=March 2004 |title=Uictoria: An Empire Under the Sun |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_236/page/n77/mode/2up |magazine=Computer Gaming World |access-date=26 October 2022 |page=79}}</ref>
== ''Victoria: Revolutions'' == '''''Victoria: Revolutions''''' is the expansion pack for ''Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun''. It was released on August 17, 2006 through GamersGate, and on CD in October 2006.
===New features=== * 15 extra years of game play, extending ''Victoria'' into the interbellum. * An expanded tech tree to cover the interwar period, including aircraft and carriers. * A Doomsday converter which allows players to continue their game in ''Hearts of Iron II: Doomsday''. * A revamped election and politics system, adding a new level of realism to the game. * A new ideology, fascism * An overhauled military system, which will be linked with the player's policy decisions. * A new economic system that brings more realism through various economic models.
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==See also== {{Portal|Video games}} * List of grand strategy video games * List of Paradox Interactive games ==Notes== {{notelist}} ==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.paradoxplaza.com/games/victoria-complete ''Victoria'' at Paradox] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504164901/http://www.paradoxplaza.com/games/victoria-complete |date=2014-05-04 }}
{{Paradox development studio games}}
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