Lovers of Strategy games have gotten another game to embrace themselves in from Paradox Studios. The latest release from the Victoria franchise, Victoria 3, is proving to be an acquired taste for fans. The best Strategy/Sim games have memorable war mechanics, and Victoria 3's combat mode may not be much to write home about - much to the annoyance of some consumers. However, the Victoria franchise has long prided itself on the inner workings of its systems, and Paradox did not disappoint in Victoria 3, producing another masterful design of economic, political, and religious systems. The intricacies and detail of these systems are enough to set Victoria 3 apart from other Strategy games.
Victoria 3 takes players back in time to the days of the Industrial Revolution and lets them partake in history, from colonizing weaker countries to brokering large-scale business deals with fellow superpowers. The game leans more toward an old-fashioned corset-styled SimCity than the conventional strategy of Civilization 6, demanding a micromanaging eye from players to get the best out of their chosen economy. An added appeal of Victoria 3 is the potential to rewrite history, as Paradox offers gamers the chance to change the political atmospheres of their chosen country. Those who aren't fans of royalty can turn Britain from a Victorian Empire into a socialist state, bringing to life a wild fantasy of history nerds worldwide.
Victoria 3's Economic Detail is a Micromanager's Dream
Paradox Interactive employs realism in unparalleled fashion in Victoria 3, building economies using a combination of several factors such as international trade, industrial building, and exploitation of natural resources. The fundamental rules of demand and supply affect the prices of products in the game, which sounds simple enough, but can quickly become confusing for the average gamer. Actions have consequences, and every economic action taken by the player in Victoria 3 kick-starts a chain reaction that will ripple through the industries of their chosen country.
Since Victoria 3 is set during the Industrial Revolution, Paradox Studios - showing experience from their acclaimed artifacts in Crusader Kings 3 - made an effort to stay historically accurate, and coal is the most in-demand resource in the game. Players have to find ways to meet the high demand for coal, and they need to be more creative than simply increasing the number of coal mines or expanding capacity. Just as in the real world, forces of demand and supply are the primary players in an economy. Expanding the number of coal mines in Victoria 3 will create increased demand for mining tools to satisfy the changed capacity, driving the prices for these tools up.
The constant fluctuation in demand and supply is where the intricacies behind Victoria 3's economic system are best on display, especially when compared to a rival like Civilization 6. Increased prices for mining tools will reduce the profitability of coal mining, and again, players can decide to expand workshops to quell the scarcity. However, raw materials like iron and wood are used to craft coal mining tools, and increased production will spike the prices of the raw materials. Coal production isn't the only industry affected by the insatiable forces of demand and supply. All sectors in Victoria 3 are intertwined, and prices of goods depend on the materials they consume and the products they make.
Inflation and Technological Advancements Have Effects on Nations in Victoria 3
Players can find ways to boost their economies by using new technologies to make their production chains more efficient, improving standard of living in Victoria 3. For instance, players can change the mode of tool production for coal mining from manual assembly to a water-tube boiler. These new technologies might use more valuable materials, but the trade-off is worth it, as some can be applied throughout a particular industry. In such cases, due to increased automation, the player's economy will rapidly grow. Players will need to consider some other factors while playing Victoria 3 to build a successful economy. Running some industries at a loss isn't always bad as long as their excesses are used to fuel more profitable sectors in the economy.
Civilizations in Victoria 3 have their economies valued using the gold standard, and stockpiling gold without putting it to use can devalue a player's currency due to inflation. Paradox's commitment to realism is clear, as the game is forcing players to circulate these funds, and they can choose to solve their devaluation problems in several ways. Players can cut back on their monetary reserves through construction projects, reduce revenue by slashing taxes, or get involved in a war. Wars are expensive and a surefire way to eliminate any stockpiling issues.
At this point, some gamers might throw up their arms in the air and give up, but core Strategy/Sim fans are made of sterner stuff. A realistic economic system may cause players serious logistical problems, but the challenge of building a working economy from the ground up is more satisfying than basic button-mashing mechanics that offer no challenge to gamers. Paradox recognizes economics is far from easy, and Victoria 3 contains a comprehensive tutorial campaign for beginners to go through a step-by-step guide to every system in the game.
The tutorial campaign doesn't just tell players what to do with its "Tell Me How" buttons, it goes ahead to tell them the reasons behind why these actions have a particular effect on the game. Economics might not be the simplest thing in the world, but the tutorials go a long way in helping players understand the inner workings of the game. With Victoria 3 set to receive more content post-launch, the economic system might become even better, which is a mouthwatering prospect for gamers.
Victoria 3 is currently available on PC.